Emma walked through the front door, her mind still reeling from the events of the day. She wanted to reach out to Maya, to make sure she was okay, but something held her back. As she entered the living room, Adriel looked up from his book, concern etched on his face. "Hey babe, everything alright? You look a bit shaken." Emma forced a smile, not wanting to worry him. "I am fine, just a long day." Adriel raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You sure? You can tell me if something is wrong." Emma hesitated, tempted to confide in him. But she knew he wouldn't be happy if he found out what she was doing - putting herself in harm's way to protect Maya. So she lied, trying to sound convincing. "Really, I am fine. I'm just tired." Adriel nodded, though his eyes lingered on her face, searching for any sign of deception. Emma felt a pang of guilt, but pushed it aside. She could not let him worry about her, not now. He had more than enough to handle, not this. She walked over to the kitchen, tryi
In one gulp, Maya drank everything. Evelyn kept watching her from the corner of her eyes. Dabbing the edge of her mouth to clean off some lemonade on her lips, she said, “I drank it already and nothing happened. I wouldn't poison myself or anyone.” “Hmph!” Evelyn humped, watching Maya intently. She still did not believe Maya would not do anything if she had the opportunity. Just as Maya had drank her own glass, Emma accidentally knocked over her own glass, spilling lemonade all over the table and Maya's hand. "Oh no, I am so clumsy!" Emma exclaimed, as she quickly grabbed a napkin to clean up the mess. Maya's eyes widened in frustration, her plan foiled once again. She could not believe her bad luck. Evelyn, still suspicious, eyed Maya's glass warily. "You know, I think I'll pass on the drink. I am not really thirsty anyway." Maya's face fell, her anger and disappointment barely contained. She knew she could not try again, not now that Evelyn was even more suspicious. "It's oka
Evelyn turned to leave, her movements abrupt. Adriel called out a goodbye, but Evelyn just waved over her shoulder. As the door closed behind her, Adriel turned to Emma. "What's going on with Evelyn? She seemed really worked up." Emma shrugged, her eyes still fixed on the necklace. "I don't know. She's just been really scared about something lately.” Adriel raised an eyebrow. "Scared? That's not like Evelyn." Emma shrugged again, her expression betraying her inner thoughts. "I don't know, Adriel. Maybe she is just stressed or something." Adriel nodded and continued to his room but Emma rushed behind him and held on to his chair, wheeling him forward. “It's been a while since you did this.” He mumbled to her. “You always complain that I don't need to wheel you around and that it is electric, so…” “But you know I want you to do this for me sometimes.” He chuckled, patting her hand on his shoulder. “So how is the case with Darwin? I know he is still in the police custody.” She as
"Emma the daughter of Mr Lucas was betrothed as a bride to our young master at 17 years. She is 21 years and has come of age now and it is time for the Lucas family to keep their own part of the deal and marry her to the young master." The butler read out the content of the letter he held in his hands. It was from the Carlos family. Emma sat quietly on one of the chairs in Mr Lucas's study. He had called her in when the letter came in. She sat, facing the butler directly but she was lost in her own thoughts. "It feels like yesterday." she mumbled. Her mind traveled back in time to the time when she was a free bird and could do whatever she liked without anyone restricting her. "I miss life in my hometown." Emma mumbled, her lips moving. "You should prepare yourself, you would be meeting your husband to be probably by tomorrow." Mr Lucas stated but he did not get a response and he looked up to see a dazed Emma whose lips moved. "Were you saying something to me?" he asked, snap
As soon as Emma left her father's study and was going down the stairs, she bumped into Maya and was met with a scowl from her switched sister who was standing in the hallway.Maya's arms were crossed, her eyes narrowed in annoyance."Watch where you're going!" Maya snapped as Emma stumbled backward, her eyes wide with apology."You've been crossing my path ever since you came to this house. I wished I never got to see you again after that day but unfortunately, here you are as the daughter of Mr Lucas. I prayed for them to find evidence that you were some sort of illegitimate child but tsk tsk, you are their child. You should know this still, I am still and will remain their first child."Emma did not say a word, her eyes fixed on the floor. She knew better than to engage with Maya when she was in a mood. Besides, Maya was always in the mood to pick fights and annoy her and she wasn't one to respond to such."Are you deliberately not talking to make me look like a fool? Gosh!" exclaim
"Hello, miss Emma Lucas. What's with the smirk or should I call it a smile? It's been on your face ever since you came in." he smiled, waving his hand in front of her."Oh, I am sorry about that. I was a little carried away in my own thoughts.""Really? Are you already having some dirty thoughts about what you would do to me. As you can see, I won't be able to do much to you." he said, deliberately lowering his voice.Emma's eyes squeezed into a little frown but she covered it up quickly, "I shouldn't be having such dirty thoughts now. I was just thinking of something else.""Well it's fine if you say so. I am however worried.""Worried about what?" she asked, looking at him in the eyes."Uhmm that you would find it uncomfortable to get married to me. Besides you aren't Maya and I don't know you too well to discern what you think about me.""Maya and I are two different people and I am here because you called for me. You wouldn't just call for me as a busy man that you are, you are he
Today was the D-day. They never met again after the meeting at the restaurant until today.Emma kept a straight face as she sat before the mirror in the dressing room. She was all dolled up already and it was just her and Evelyn in the room."You shouldn't have agreed if you wouldn't be smiling at all. Where's that smile I have always been used to? I can't see any of that today." Evelyn her best friend commented as she fussed with pinning the veil rightly."Do I have to keep smiling all the time? I am not angry or against the marriage. I am just tired from all the stress of running around for this day. Besides, can't you see what is all over my face? How can I smile with this?""But then you shouldn't let it show on your face for the next couple of hours. Or is he...""What is it?" Emma asked, looking at her friend's reflection in the mirror suspiciously."Maybe he isn't as cute as Liam. Remember Liam, right? Don't tell me you forgot him after leaving us for some years?"She managed a
She said goodbye to her family but not with Maya who was not around for the earlier hours of the wedding to show up late at the reception throwing her evil stares."You've got this, darling. I will miss you.""I will miss you too. I can't promise to have you come around to the house yet but then I will keep in touch with you and let you know once you can come pay a visit." Evelyn and Emma hugged each other so dearly before pulling apart to meet Adriel who was already waiting for her inside the car.Evelyn was more than a friend to Emma. She was the closest person to her and she referred to her as her sister who knows everything about her, including her strength and weaknesses.She kept waving a goodbye until the car was out of sight."It's not like you won't see her again. Your acts are childish." Adriel scoffed by the side.Emma burst out laughing. He looked at her surprised by her sudden outburst. He had expected her to whine and pull a sad face."Sorry about that but I couldn't he