Emma's POVI barely registered the warmth of Adrian’s lips on mine before I staggered back, my hand flying to my mouth in shock. His expression was unreadable as he rubbed the back of his neck, stepping away like he’d just set something on fire.“Shit,” he muttered under his breath "I'm... I'm sorry!" he finished before abruptly turning on his heel and storming into his office, slamming the door shut while leaving me frozen in place, reeling.My heart hammered against my chest. What had just happened? One minute, I was explaining myself, and the next, I was caught in the most unexpected kiss of my life. My lips still tingled, his minty breath still stuck in my mouth and I wiped at them instinctively, trying to erase the sensation and the confusion."Didn't he just go on a date with that model girl his mother chose, Celia or what was her name again?" I muttered to myself, my voice barely above a whisper.But there was no time to dwell on the chaos in my mind. The sharp trill of the off
Emma's Point Of ViewI stood outside the ER window, gripping the edge of the counter like it was the only thing keeping me upright. My vision blurred from the hot tears streaming down my face, but I could still hear the doctor’s voice, steady and commanding, cutting through the chaos: “270! Clear!”The sound of the defibrillator charging pierced the air, and I flinched as the electrical pads made contact with Brandon’s chest. His body jerked violently, but the heart monitor stayed the same, the same painful flatlining, that dreadful, endless beep echoing in my ears.“Again!” the doctor barked.Another jolt, another fruitless attempt.The panic rose in my chest like a tidal wave. My brother. My sweet, brave brother. He couldn’t leave me. Not like this.“Time of death, 4:45 PM.”Those words shattered me. “No! No, no, no!” I screamed, my voice breaking as I pushed past the nurse trying to hold me back. I stumbled into the room, collapsing by Brandon’s still body.“Brandon! No!” I sobbed,
Emma's Point Of ViewThe morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a faint glow across the room. My body felt as heavy as my heart, weighed down by grief that still clung to me like a second skin. Waking up didn’t feel like waking up, it felt like resurfacing from a pit of despair, only to be shoved back under again.Brandon was gone.The words didn’t even feel real yet, but they echoed in my mind like a cruel taunt. My brother, my only family, the one who always had my back, was no more. And now, I was alone in this world, no parents, no sibling, just me. I sat up slowly, every muscle aching as if my emotions had seeped into my physical being.My phone chimed on the bedside table, a small intrusion into my cocoon of grief. Picking it up, I saw the message from the hospital."Miss Carter, kindly visit the hospital to collect Brandon Carter's death certificate and finalize arrangements for his burial." A bitter laugh escaped me. "Arrangements. Death certificate." Words I ne
Adrian’s POVThe sky was overcast, a dull gray, as though the heavens themselves mourned with Emma. I stood by my car, dressed in black from head to toe, my phone pressed to my ear as I spoke to the temporary assistant filling in for Emma. “I specifically asked you to cancel all my meetings for the week. Yet here I am, getting emails from Mr. Rodriguez’s assistant saying he’s on his way to New York. Care to explain that?”Her voice trembled through the line. “Sir, I sent out a bulk email. Maybe he didn’t receive it…”“Maybe?” I cut her off, anger bubbling. “You’re supposed to make sure everything is handled, not guess! Emma wouldn’t make such stupid mistakes, and to think I doubled your pay for this nonsense…”“I’ll call him again and... ”“Don’t you dare. You’ve done enough damage already. Just get your act together before I lose my patience with you.” I hung up and rubbed my temples, trying to reign in the irritation.Movement caught my eye. Emma stepped out of the house, dressed in
Adrian's Point Of ViewI strode out of the elevator, the soft hum of its machinery fading behind me as my gaze instinctively darted toward Emma’s desk. Empty. Of course, it was. Today marked the last of her approved off days. She had insisted on returning two days after Brandon’s funeral, but I refused. Emma deserved more than a rushed return to the mundane chaos of work. Grief wasn’t something that could be tidied up and shelved away like office files. And yet, I found myself missing her presence more than I wanted to admit.Work hadn’t felt the same these past few days. Hell, life hadn’t felt the same. The end of the workday had become my sanctuary, a time when I could let my mind wander toward thoughts of be returning home to her.The familiar sight of my office greeted me, but I stopped short. A figure sat in one of the visitor chairs, legs crossed, perfectly manicured nails tapping against the armrest. Her emerald-green dress was as short as her patience, and as I stepped inside,
Emma's Point Of View I didn’t realize how deeply exhaustion had claimed me until Adrian’s voice broke through my dreams. “Hey, we’re here,” he said softly, shaking me gently. My eyes fluttered open, and I groggily noticed my head resting against his shoulder. Heat flushed my cheeks as I immediately straightened up.“Oh, God, sorry, I must have inconvenienced you all flight” I muttered, fumbling to wipe my cheek.Adrian gave me a lopsided grin. “Yeah, you almost damaged my ear with your loud snoring I'm quite sure people behind us heard you.”“Adrian! I don’t snore!” I shot back, giving his arm a light shove, but my indignation faded as I tried to defend myself. “That’s ridiculous. Brandon would've... ”My voice caught, and the weight of reality hit me like a sledgehammer. Brandon wouldn’t have teased me about snoring or anything else ever again.Adrian’s expression softened instantly. Without a word, he draped his arm around my shoulders. “Come on,” he said quietly, “don’t hold it in
Emma's Point of viewThe sizzle of butter melting on the skillet and the aroma of fresh bread filled the air as I danced through the kitchen, letting the upbeat rhythm of the music on the sound system take over. I wasn’t just making breakfast; I was putting on a show, twirling the spatula in one hand and shaking my hips like I was headlining a concert. The final note of the song played, and I struck an exaggerated pose, laughing at myself."Bravo!"The sound of clapping made me whip around, nearly dropping the spatula. Adrian stood in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame with a sly grin plastered across his face.“How long have you been standing there?” I asked, cheeks flaming as I tried to feign nonchalance.“Long enough to see Adele's long-lost twin in action,” he teased, walking into the kitchen.I rolled my eyes, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips despite my embarrassment. “Good morning,” I muttered, brushing past him to grab a plate.“Good morning,” he replied, r
Emma's Point Of ViewThe morning sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm glow. I stretched lazily, expecting to hear Adrian's sarcastic morning greeting, but the cabin was eerily silent. I checked the kitchen, the porch, and even the little reading nook he favored, but there was no sign of him. Irritated, I grabbed my phone and called him. The line rang three times before going to voicemail. Again."Figures," I muttered, tossing the phone on the counter.It was our last day at the resort, and he was already MIA. I wasn’t sure why his absence annoyed me so much. After all, we weren’t exactly a couple. Still, I couldn’t shake the pang of disappointment. Resigning myself to a solo morning, I whipped up a quick breakfast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and orange juice. As I ate, my gaze wandered to the window. The beach was alive with activity,, there were couples strolling hand in hand, kids building sandcastles, and guys with surfboards heading toward the waves.May
Adrian's Point Of ViewOutside Lily's room I couldn't help but let my tears run freely, I was holding back for the sake of Emma, she was already a mess, how do I let her see this mess of a man.I spent 5 years without my child and now that I'm finally getting back with my daughter, this happens. It feels like the universe doesn't want me anywhere close to being a father. "We are all done Sir" I had sat through pierces of syringes with out an iota of pain as my mind was pain stricken enough to register such minor pain. Looking at the tiny plaster placed on the pierced area, I knew it was worth it. "This was for Lily, anything for my little girl." I assured myself, turning to the nurse and asked "When should I expect the results?""Blood match should be out within 24 hours" she said, I nodded before getting back to the room.Emma had slept off while crying, she had her head on the bed while holding Lily's tiny hands. My heart ached at the sight before me, Emma had been through a lot
Emma's Point Of View "So Princess, who told you that babies are bought?" I asked as we drove. I briefly glanced at her through the rear mirror, to see her playing with her stuffed rabbit which was always in my car. "In a book mummy, we read it that beanies are bought in a baby store" she says innocently not taking her eyes off the teddy for a secondI chuckled and continued driving, Adrian’s return into our lives may have been an unexpected event but it sure made me see life in a new phase. "Who knows how his mother is faring?" I thought quietly as my mind reeled into the events of these last few months. She may have acted like a self-centered witch but she is still Adrian's mother, I know what it means to lose a family member, she may not be dead but her absence would definitely take a toll on AdrianThe rest of the drive was familiar blur if thoughts, when we finally arrived at the school gate, I got out and helped Lily out of the back seat“Hey baby, be good at school okay?” I
Adrian’s Point of ViewWaking up to a cold, empty bed wasn’t something I was used to these past few days. The absence of Emma's warmth beside me felt strange... Off, even. I stretched my hand over to her side, but all I felt was the chilled sheets. Frowning, I sat up, ruffling my messy hair, my bare feet brushing against the cold wooden floor as I slid into my slippers.“Emma? Love?” I called out softly, though I already knew she might not be in the room.The bathroom light was off. Empty.I sighed, pushing my groggy body out of bed. The house was oddly quiet, too quiet for a place that usually buzzed with Emma’s soft humming or Lily’s endless chatter. As I padded down the stairs, the faint melody of a nursery rhyme echoed from the kitchen. A soft smile crept onto my face."Twinkle, twinkle, little star..." I stopped by the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the frame. There they were.. Emma, with her messy bun falling out of place, flipping pancakes with that peaceful lo
Emma's Point of ViewThe Prison lights buzzed faintly above me, a dull hum that had become all too familiar in the past weeks. I sat on the edge of the cold, metal cot, twisting my fingers together, my heart racing with an unsettling mix of hope and dread. Today was my hearing, the day that would determine whether my life spiraled deeper into chaos or finally clawed its way back to normal.I glanced at the rusted clock on the wall in the hallway. Its slow, dragging ticks only heightened my anxiety. Every second felt like it was mocking me.The sharp jingle of keys snapped me out of my thoughts. A guard appeared at the cell gate, his eyes scanning the clipboard in his hands before calling out, "Emma Carter, you have a visitor."I blinked, surprised. "A visitor?" I echoed under my breath. My heart thumped painfully hard against my ribs as I stood, wiping my clammy palms against my jeans.“Let’s go,” the guard said gruffly.I followed him through the echoing corridors until we reached th
Adrian’s Point of ViewOne week in and I feel like I'm losing it, the weight of the world seemed to be crashing down on me, my fingers drumming impatiently on the glossy surface. Tomorrow was the damn court hearing, and I hadn’t heard a single word from Pedro since he walked out of the cell with Emma’s staff records. Days of silence... nothing.The tension was driving me insane.Papers were scattered all over my desk from financial reports to legal documents, you name it. But my mind wasn’t on any of them. Instead, it was stuck on the thought of Emma sitting behind those cold bars, waiting for me to pull off a miracle. And Lily... God, Lily. She kept asking when her mom would be home, and each time, it felt like a knife to the chest.My phone vibrated sharply against the wood. I snatched it up without even looking, but when I did, I frozePedro.“Finally,” I muttered before answering, “Pedro. Please tell me you’ve got something.”“Turns out,” Pedro’s gravelly voice echoed through the
Adrian’s Point of ViewMy mind ran wild as I drove out of the house, the only sound interfering with my thoughts were just the sound of the car engine. My hands gripped the steering wheels tightly as my knuckles turned as white as sheet. Lily sat in the backseat, her tiny hands clutching her backpack, while Paul, Naomi’s Son, gazed out the window, unaware of the storm that was brewing in my mind.“Daddy,” Lily’s soft voice broke through my thoughts.I glanced into the rearview mirror, locking eyes with her big, innocent ones. “Yes, princess?”She hesitated, her fingers playing with the strap of her bag. “When’s Mommy and Aunty Naomi coming home?”My chest tightened. God, how was I supposed to answer that? I forced a smile, even though my heart was heavy. “Very soon, baby. Mommy’s just… handling a little business. She and Aunty Naomi will be back before you know it.”Lily’s small head nodded, but her eyes told me she didn’t buy it. Kids... they always seem to know when you’re lying. I
Emma’s Point of ViewFor the first time in what felt like forever, I woke up feeling completely at peace. The warm weight of Adrian’s arm draped over my waist, his steady breathing against the back of my neck.. it was everything I had once thought I’d never have.Who would have thought we’d end up like this? After everything we’d been through, all the battles we had fought, all the pain, all the betrayals... yet, here we were. Together.I let out a contented sigh, shifting slightly under his hold. He tightened his grip around me, pulling me even closer to him."You're not trying to escape, are you?" he murmured against my ear, his voice thick with sleep.I chuckled, tilting my head back to look at him. "Escape? I must be crazy if I ever think of running from this."His lips curved into a smirk, and he trailed his fingers lazily along my bare shoulder, sending shivers down my spine. "Good. Because I have no plans of letting you go, Emma."I turned in his arms, looking up at him with pl
Adrian’s Point of ViewThe moment I pulled into the driveway, I felt it. That suffocating weight pressing against my chest. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Celia’s car was still parked outside, sitting there like a goddamn reminder that I wasn’t free... not yet.I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my fury in check, but the anger was already flaring up inside me like an uncontrollable fire. I had given her and my mother clear instructions to be gone before I got back. My mother had obeyed, but of course, Celia never listened. She was too stubborn, too manipulative, too damn convinced that she could somehow still control me.Slamming the car door shut, I strode toward the house, my steps heavy with purpose. This needed to end. No more games. No more power struggles. No more Celia.As soon as I stepped inside, I spotted her in the living room, standing there like she owned the damn place. She was dressed in a silk robe, her hair perfectly styled as
Emma's Point Of ViewI woke up to the memory of Adrian’s touch still burning on my skin. His hands, his lips, the way he whispered my name like it was the only word that ever mattered. “I love you, Emma. Nothing can make me stop loving you.”And, God help me, I had believed him.I rolled over, expecting to find him there, still asleep, his strong arm draped over me, his face softened in the morning light. But the bed was empty. Cold. My heart sank, and my mind spiraled into a mess of regret. Had I been too stupid, too easy? Had I let myself fall back into his arms just to be left alone again?I buried my face in my palms. "Damn it, Emma. You should have known better." I murmuredJust then, the door creaked open. My head snapped up, half-expecting Lily to waltz in like she usually did. But instead, there he was.. Adrian... standing in the doorway with a tray of food.And shirtless.My eyes drifted from the tray to his abs... defined, strong, everything I used to trace my fingers over f