Maya's eyes widened in horror as she stared at her phone. A picture of her naked self, entwined with the popular actor, stared back at her. Her mind reeled as she read the attached message: "Leave Emma alone, or this will be all over the internet."Maya's face burned with shame and anger. Who could have taken this picture? And how did they get it? She thought back to the night she and the actor had spent together, but she could not remember anyone else being there.Panic set in as she realized the implications. If this picture got out, her reputation would be ruined. Her career would be over. She would never be able to show her face in public again. And now she did not have the Lucas family solidly supportung her. They were all about Emma and not her anymore. After all, she was not their biological daughter, just a girl they thought was their daughter for almost two decades.Maya's eyes narrowed as she thought of Emma. This had to be her doing. She was the only one who would stoop
“No! You can't get rid of me so easily. You have been using me and I have been the best I can be for you.” Maya wanted to scream out so loud but she dared not.“No, please, you can't get me out of the way now. I believe I am still useful.” She replied, lowering her voice in a pleading way.“Useful?” He scoffed at her.“Prove to me that you are useful then. I want to see results! Don't come back back here with need of failure else I would not hesitate to get you out of my way and find someone who can do the job better.”“I will not disappoint you this time.”“You had better be. I have been training you and fixed you in that family deliberately for the past twenty years and now you have nothing tangible to show forth.”Maya's eyes widened in desperation as she listened to the harsh words. She knew she had to think fast, to come up with something to prove her worth."I understand," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll get you the information you want. I'll make the head of the family pay
Adriel's eyes sparkled with mischief as he gazed at Emma, his grin still plastered on his face. "The next level of our relationship, my dear," he said, his voice low and husky. "I think it is time we get to know each other better... intimately."Emma's cheeks flushed deeper, her eyes darting away from his piercing gaze. "I don't think that is necessary." she stammered, trying to maintain her composure.Adriel chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, I think it is very necessary." "We have been married for months now, and I still have not seen you smile... truly smile. You know, the kind of smile that lights up the whole room."Emma's gaze snapped back to his, her eyes narrowing. "I smile," she protested, her voice barely above a whisper.Adriel's grin grew wider. "Not like you mean it," he teased, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "I want to see the real you, Emma. The you that is hidden behind those beautiful eyes. The you that's been locked away, waiting to be set fr
"Adriel..yo..you..."“You should get a goodnight rest, Adriel. You don't want to still be tired by tomorrow.” Emma opened her mouth and finally found some words to say.“I am going to rest but then, I just said I love you and I want you to know I mean every word I have said. I am going to give you time to think about it and discover your feelings for me.”“I…err…Adriel…”“You don't have to say anything now. Say it when you are ready.”“I know you weren't really comfortable with marrying me especially when you heard I was crippled if not that you found out the truth later.”Adriel's eyes softened, his gaze gentle as he looked at Emma. "You don't have to explain, Emma. I know I was not exactly thrilled about the arrangement of a new bride at first, but...things have changed."Emma's cheeks flushed, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I know I am not like other women, Adriel. I'm...broken, in a way. But I promise I will make it up to you, I will be the best wife I can be… The very reason
"Emma darling! It's me."As she turned to see who it was that came to see her, she was surprised to see Evelyn rushing up to her.Evelyn's chest heaved up and down, her breath coming in short gasps as she collapsed into the Emma's hand. Her face was flushed, her skin glistening with a fine sheen of sweat. She fanned herself with her hand, her eyes closed as she struggled to catch her breath."Ah...ah...I am so sorry, Emma," she panted, her words broken by gasps for air. "I...I rushed here as soon as I could...I was so worried about you..."Emma's expression softened with concern as she poured Evelyn a glass of water from the pitcher on a table close to her. "Here, Evelyn, drink this. You look like you are about to pass out."Evelyn's eyes fluttered open, her gaze locking onto the glass as Emma handed it to her. She took a long, shaky sip, the water spilling down her chin as she gulped it down."Thank you, darling.""Easy, easy." Emma's hand made its way to her back, patting her softly
"The threads of deceit are always not straight to loosen, but with a gentle tug, the entire web can be unraveled."Adriel's eyes narrowed as he stared at the file on his desk, his mind consumed by the mysterious threats from Maya against Emma. “What did she mean by she was just letting her off the hook this time? Is she threatening Emma with something?’ What did she want from his wife? He could not shake off the feeling that there was more to the story.“I have to do something about this. I just can't sit and watch Maya try to threaten the woman I love.”Adriel did not really know the kind of stiff relationship Emma and Maya shared. Maya was his first bethroted bride and she did not act cruel or mean to him but he was shocked the day he saw the way she acted to Emma at her restaurant.Was she just pretending to him all along?With a decisive nod, Adriel picked up his phone and dialed Maya's number. "Hello, Maya. This is Adriel speaking.”Maya's voice was sweet on the other end. "Adr
“I won’t take this from you, Adriel. Don't raise your voice at me either.""This is an insult. Why would you accuse me falsely of wanting to harm your wife?"“An insult, huh? Are you telling me I was wrong with what I saw and you and Emma are on good terms?Maya's eyes widened, her voice taking on a innocent tone. "Oh, Adriel, I do not know what you are talking about. I would never threaten Emma. We are friends, aren't we?"Adriel's eyes narrowed, his voice firm. "Don't play dumb, Maya. I know what I saw. You were threatening her, and I want to know why."Maya's gaze dropped, her lashes fluttering as she feigned embarrassment. "I don't know what you are talking about, Adriel. I was just...just trying to help Emma. Yes, that's it. Help her."Adriel's jaw clenched, his patience wearing thin. "Help her? By telling her she is lucky you are letting her off the hook this time? What does that even mean?"Deep down, Maya felt Adriel must have seen the text she sent to Emma but it does not ma
“Damn it! I can't believe Adriel would call me over because of that bitch and tell me to stay away from her.”“Hmph! Bitch, your husband just fueled my anger. I am not going to take it lightly with you when I come out of this situation.”Maya was fuming with anger as she repeatedly slammed her hands against the car’s steering, cursing Emma loudly.Maya's face twisted in a snarl as she slammed her hands against the steering wheel this time, the sound echoing through the car. "Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" she shouted, her voice rising with each curse.Her eyes blazed with fury, her pupils constricted into tiny dots. Her skin was flushed and her cheeks burned with anger."Bitch! Emma! You think you are so perfect, don't you?" Maya spat, her voice venomous. "You think you can just waltz in and steal Adriel away from me?"Maya's hands clenched into fists, her knuckles white with tension. She pounded the steering wheel again, the honking sound reverberating through the car."Hmph! Adriel t