Emma’s Point of ViewI never thought I’d be the kind of person to stake out someone’s house, but here I was, sitting in a car with Ryan, watching Cathrina’s apartment like we were in some damn crime thriller.The heater hummed softly, filling the silence between us, but it did nothing to warm the cold dread sitting in my stomach. The sun had long dipped below the horizon, casting an eerie glow over the quiet street. It had been hours since she ran, and she still hadn’t come back. My fingers tapped anxiously against my lap, my thoughts spiraling into the worst possible scenarios.Ryan, who had been staring out the window, finally turned to look at me. “Emma, you okay?”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “No, Ryan. I’m not okay.” My voice cracked, and I hated the way it made me sound.. small, weak, desperate. But I was.He didn’t say anything at first, just watched me like he was trying to piece together how to fix me.“My daughter…” I swallowed hard. “If we don’t figure this out, if w
Emma’s Point of ViewHospitals had a way of making time feel like it wasn’t moving. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed softly, casting an eerie glow on the sterile white walls. The scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, mingling with the faint aroma of coffee from a vending machine down the hall. I sat stiffly in one of the hard plastic chairs, my legs bouncing anxiously as I tried to get my breathing under control.It had taken everything in me to fight off the panic attack earlier. I had used the same breathing techniques I had learned in therapy back in England... the four deep inhales, holding for a beat, and then the long exhale through my mouth. Thanks to Ryan too It worked. Kind of. My breath had steadied, but the fear? That still clung to me, gnawing at the edges of my sanity.Ryan sat beside me, his knee nearly touching mine, his presence the only thing keeping me from spiraling. He had barely let go of my hand since we arrived, his thumb rubbing small, soothing circles
Emma’s Point of ViewA week. That was all the time I had left before the custody hearing. Seven days to prove my innocence, to fight for my daughter, to make sure Adrian didn’t win. But what if I couldn’t? What if the judge ruled in his favor? The mere thought of losing her made my stomach twist into painful knots. I had fought so hard, endured so much, and yet the finish line still felt impossibly far away.I sat on the couch, gripping a cup of coffee that had gone cold in my hands, barely registering Ryan’s presence beside me. His warm hand rested on my knee, his thumb moving in slow, soothing circles.“Emma, you have to breathe,” he murmured, his voice steady, calm, so unlike the storm raging inside me.I let out a shaky breath. “I can’t stop thinking about it. If the judge doesn’t believe me...”“They will,” he cut in firmly. “We have enough to prove Adrian isn’t the saint he pretends to be. You’re not alone in this, Emma. The court will not give custody to an absentia father for
Adrian’s Point Of View I needed to get a glass of water, hence I walked out of my room and headed for the kitchen. I was halfway down the staircase when I heard my mother’s voice, sharp and commanding, from behind a closed door.“I don’t want excuses,” she snapped, her tone dripping with impatience. “Blacklist her agency. I think their name is B. Carter Events or something. Make sure the word spreads in the industry, I want all their clients to pull out.”My steps halted. My chest tightened as I strained to hear more. A silence stretched for a moment before she spoke again.“Exactly. I want results before the week runs out.”A slow burn of anger ignited inside me. My fists clenched at my sides. I knew my mother was capable of cruelty, but this, this was calculated destruction. She wasn’t just trying to take Lily from Emma, she was trying to rip apart everything she had left.Without thinking, I pushed the door open.She flinched at my sudden entrance, her eyes widening in brief surpr
Emma's Point Of ViewThe car ride was cold, silent, and suffocating. The tension between Ryan and me was thick enough to slice through with a knife. He was fuming, his grip tight on the steering wheel as he maneuvered through the busy New York streets. I could still hear his angry voice from earlier, the arguments that put us at slight odds still echoing in my head like a song on repeat."You make it look like you're trying so damn hard to be proven innocent for Adrian!"That had been the final straw. I had slapped him across the face so fast, my palm still tingled from the impact."I will not stand here and let you speak to me like that! If you won't come with me, then I'll go alone!"Ryan, as stubborn as ever, had eventually caved and followed. Now, here we were, nearing the café where I was about to meet Adrian. I folded my arms across my chest, staring blankly out the window, but my mind was a storm of emotions. Anxiety, frustration, even a hint of relief. I wanted answers. I need
Adrian’s Point of ViewFor minutes I sat glued to my seat at the cafe, the envelop still sat on its spot. I was suddenly scared of touching it, the truth that meant all I had believed from my mother and Celia could have been a lie all these while, then it clicked "I had to go home! Celia couldn't get away with this! Not now! Not ever" I called for the Barista to get the check and she did, I paid and left. The ride home was a blur of fury and disbelief. My grip tightened on the steering wheel, my knuckles white as rage pulsed through my veins. The city lights streaked past, but I hardly noticed. My mind replayed everything over and over intensifying my anger the more. Emma’s unwavering expression, Ryan’s smug threats, and the damning papers now clenched in my hand.Celia.I had given her my life even when it wasn't willingly, married her against my own wishes and desires. And all along, she had been the one responsible for the attack on my mother?This was the last fucking straw.As
Adrian’s Point of ViewThe pain of Betrayal.It sat heavy on my chest like a fucking boulder, making it hard to breathe. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tight that my knuckles turned white, but I didn’t care. The more I thought about it, the harder my foot pressed against the gas pedal. My mind was spinning, my heart hammering against my ribs. Ryan. That son of a bitch.To think Emma had trusted him, let him into their life, my daughter around him and this whole fucking time, he had been playing them like a goddamn fool. My mother’s words echoed in my head, each sentence slicing through me like a jagged blade:"Oh, Ryan? He was the man Celia set Emma up with at the club five years ago. The man who drugged her, had sex with her, took pictures, and sent them to you. We had no idea he turned up in Emma’s life again until Celia told me she saw him and feared he’d tell Emma the truth. But unfortunately for her, the bastard had his own plans. He wanted Emma. Maybe one night with her
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
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