EmmaI can't believe I agreed to invite that man, Jonathan, to Samuel's birthday party!I feel a twinge of regret after making that decision, but at the same time, I feel a bit excited.But I still don't understand why a man like Jonathan would like me, a single mother who has to rely on her estranged brother to put a roof over her and her son's heads.As the day of the party draws closer, I try to push my doubts and insecurities to the back of my mind and focus on making the day special for my son. I spend hours decorating the house with Delilah and preparing food for the guests.Sebastian suggested that we hire a chef, but I wanted to cook for my own son.As I put the finishing touches on the decorations, I can feel my nerves starting to kick in. What if Jonathan doesn't show up? Or worse, what if he shows up, and everyone starts to gossip about him and me?No, I'm being silly."Are you okay, Emma?" Delilah asks me. "You look nervous.""I'm fine, Delilah," I reply with a smile. "Jus
JonathanI stare at the beautiful woman in front of me and smile. We are sitting on the terrace at a small cocktail table. She is holding the glass of wine I gave her earlier but barely drinking from it. I can see how nervous she is by the slight trembling of her hand. I'm afraid she could drop the glass any moment now!"Emma, relax," I say, but that seems to make her look at me with a terrified expression even more.I take a deep breath and try to think of something to say to ease her nerves. "You don't have to be so nervous around me, Emma. I'm just a regular guy, like anyone else."She looks at me with wide eyes as if surprised by my words. "But you're not just anyone else," she replies, her voice shaking slightly."Sure I am. Look, I even have a normal human hand." I smirk and take her hand in mine.As I hold her hand, I can feel it trembling slightly, and I know that she's still nervous. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze and say, "There's nothing to be afraid of, Emma. Just re
Emma "Don't forget you have that date with Jonathan tonight," Delilah reminds me with a grin on her face. My eyes turn wide. "Oh." "Don't look so shocked," Delilah giggles at my reaction, but honestly, I had completely forgotten about it. The other night, the wine made me so woozy that I said yes to Jonathan. But I don't have the guts to call him and say no to him." I take a deep breath and try to gather myself. "Thanks for reminding me, Delilah," I say with a forced smile. I know I need to go through with this date, even if I'm not really feeling it. Delilah frowns. "Honey, you don't have to do it. I'm sure Jonathan will understand." I shake my head. "No, I want to. I promised him I'd give him a chance." I remember that part. I was tipsy, not wasted. Delilah gives me a reassuring smile. "Alright then, but if you're not feeling it, don't force it. Remember, you don't owe him anything." I nod, grateful for her support. I gasp again. "I don't know what to wear on a date!" Delil
Jonathan "I am in love with that woman," I announce after convincing Olivia and Simon to meet me. Simon chuckles, then turns serious when he sees the look on my face. "Wait, dude, you're serious?" "I am a thousand percent serious. I love Emma, and I want to marry her," I say again. It feels right when I say it out loud. Olivia smiles at me warmly. "Wow, that's amazing! I'm happy for you." Simon raises his eyebrows. "You met her a total of 4 times and had one date with her. And now you want to marry her?" "I've never been more sure of anything in my life," I reply confidently. "Emma is the one for me, and I want to spend the rest of my life making her happy." Olivia and Simon exchange a glance, then nod in agreement. "Well, we're behind you all the way," Olivia says. "What's the plan?" "I want to propose to her soon," I say, feeling my heart race with excitement. "I have this whole romantic plan in mind, and I know she's going to love it." Simon grins. "Alright, but you proba
Emma I can feel excitement slowly building up inside me after I get off the call with Jonathan. He asked me out again, but this time, he invited Sam too. "You look stressed. Don't worry so much, silly," Delilah chuckles as she sees me running around to get things together for Samuel. I smile at Delilah, trying to mask my nerves. "I just want everything to go smoothly. It was fine when I was with Jonathan alone, but now with Sam..." Delilah walks over and places a hand on my shoulder. "Relax, everything will be fine. He will love Sam. Who wouldn't?" I take a deep breath and nod, letting her words sink in. "You're right. Sam is a great kid. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything right and that he has a good time." Delilah gives me a reassuring smile. "You will. Just be yourself and have fun. And if you need any backup, you know I'm here for you. Besides, it should be him stressing about impressing you and Sam. I laugh, feeling a bit more at ease. "Thanks, Delilah. I appr
Jonathan I realize that it's not just about giving gifts but a way to show her that I care about her and pay attention to her interests. I want to make her feel special and appreciated. A dress, I think to myself and then call my secretary again. She answers immediately. "Yes, sir?" "Hey, Cally. Could you send me the best websites for dresses? I want to purchase one for someone." I wait for her to send it to me, then I get to work. I scroll through the site to find the perfect dress for her. After a few minutes of searching, I finally find a dress that catches my eye. A light blue silk dress. I imagine her in it and feel my pants tighten. Down boy, I scold myself in my head, then text Delilah to find out Emma's size. I let Cally know which one to buy, and after a while, I saw an email from her confirming that the gift for Emma has been prepared and will be delivered tomorrow. I smile to myself. I close my laptop and lean back in my chair. I know winning Emma's heart won't be
Emma I run my fingers over the delicate silk of the dress. I've never seen any dress so beautiful, let alone wearing it. "Go ahead and try it on," Delilah says and smiles encouragingly. But as I hold it in front of me in front of the mirror, I feel weird. "I don't know if this will suit me," I say. "Of course, it will. Put it on immediately," Delilah orders. I laugh at her enthusiasm and then go inside the bathroom to change. I slip into the dress, and I can feel the smooth, silky fabric slide against my skin. It's like nothing I've ever worn before, and I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Will I be able to pull it off? I take a deep breath and step out of the bathroom and into the dressing room. Delilah's eyes light up when she sees me. "Oh my goodness, you look stunning!" she exclaims. "That dress was made for you." I turn to the mirror and can hardly believe what I see. The dress fits me perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. The color brings out the warm
Jonathan Fuck...maybe I am going too fast. The last thing I want is to scare her again by acting like a horny teenager. But she is not pushing me away. Instead, she took my hand in hers, still staring into my eyes. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to push her away or make her feel uncomfortable. The cool breeze hit us both, and I felt her shudder against my arms. "Shit, you're cold. Let's get you inside," I say. "Maybe you can give me a tour of your house." She smiles. "Sure," I say, smiling at her. "I'd be happy to show you around." I start with the living room, then the kitchen. Then we move upstairs. "The upstairs has three bedrooms and a small terrace," I tell her. Emma looks around in amazement. "It's such a beautiful house." she pauses before speaking again. "Where do you sleep?" "Usually in the master bedroom," I say, gesturing towards the door at the end of the hallway. "Can I see it?" sh
Emma It's my wedding day. I feel like I'm in a daze, floating in the cloud. I can't believe this is happening to me and I'm about to marry this amazing, gorgeous man of my dreams. Things can't get any better. I look at Sam, who is running around and giggling with some of the other kids in his house. He is wearing a tiny tuxedo and looks absolutely adorable. My heart swells with love and pride. I can't believe how fast he's grown up and how lucky I am to have him in my life. As I take a deep breath, I can feel the excitement and anticipation building up inside of me. I can't wait to walk down the aisle and see my husband-to-be waiting for me. "Sam, be careful! You will trip over the decorations!" Delilah scolded him, but he only giggled louder. Delilah couldn't help but crack a smile and look at me. "Ready for your big day?" she smirks. "I don't know," I giggle nervously. She raises an eyebrow. "You don't know? You're not getting cold feet, are you?" I shake my head frantically
Jonathan I go back to the building to check on Alaric. I made sure to have Ray send someone to kill the wasps ahead of time and give Alaric medical attention if needed before my arrival. Alaric is sitting on the chair with his face and body swollen, but he appears to be breathing. "I see you survived the wasps," I comment. "Fuck you," Alaric mumbles. "I came here to give you good news and bad news," I say. He looks at me with confusion. "What?" "The good news is that Emma and I are getting married, and Sam will officially become my son," I say. "Samuel is my son," Alaric barks. "Not anymore, he isn't. You will be waiving all rights as his biological dad," I say, putting the adoption paper on his lap. Alaric glares at me as he looks at the adoption paper. He doesn't say anything for a few moments. I watch as his expression turns angrier. "I don't want to give up my rights," he says. "It's not up to you anymore," I reply. "I've already talked to my lawyer, and everything is
JonathanHere I am at the abandoned building again, three days later. I kept my promise to Alaric and didn't show up until now, leaving him in the dark. I'm sure he is covered in his own piss and starving. The thought gives me comfort. "How was life in darkness, Alaric? It's not fun, is it?" I ask after taking the tape off of his mouth. There is no window down there, so Alaric wouldn't have known the difference between day and night. "Fuck you, asshole! What the fuck is wrong with you, man?" Alaric barks. "I couldn't begin to tell you. Are you ready to confess yet?" I laugh. "Confess what? I didn't do anything!" Alaric shouts. "Ah, so we are still playing the game. Say, Alaric, are you hungry?" I ask and shake the Mcdonald's bag in my hand. "I am fucking starving, man. You left me here tied up for three days!" he says as if I don't know what I did already. I take the burger out and take a big bite. "Mmm...you know I have all the money in the world, and I can afford expensive f
Jonathan "Emma doesn't want the police involved," Sebastian says. "I see..." I say grimly, but I'm not surprised. "I don't blame her. They will ask her a lot of questions in court. It'll keep reminding her of her painful past." Sebastian nods. "There must be an alternative. I want that bastard Alaric to suffer, even if it's in an unconventional way." "Leave that to me. I'll take care of Alaric," I say with gritted teeth. Sebastian narrows his eyes. "Emma is my sister. I shouldn't put this all on you." I shake my head. "You don't understand, Sebastian. I'm taking this personally because I love Emma. She broke down in front of me and told me everything. I could see the pain in her eyes, and it broke me. I'll do anything for her, and I personally want to cause that piece of shit pain." "Alright. Just keep me updated. I have your back," Sebastian says. I nod, then head over to my meeting with someone really special who can help me with my plan. I know it's risky, but I'm willing t
Emma "Mommy! Where were you?" I smile as Sam runs toward me with his arms wide open. I pick him up in my arms, laughing. "Did you miss me?" I ask, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Sam nods his head enthusiastically, burying his face in my shoulder. "Yes, mommy! I missed you so much!" he says, his voice muffled by my shirt. I hold him tight, feeling a surge of love for my little boy. "I missed you too, baby," I say, stroking his hair. "What did you do while I was gone?" "We played cars and watched cartoons!" he exclaims, his face lighting up. "That sounds like fun," I say, smiling. "Did you eat your lunch?" "Yes, I did!" Sam replies, grinning up at me. "Good job!" I say, giving him another kiss. "I'm so proud of you." Sam giggles, squirming in my arms. "Mommy put me down! I want to go get a snack. I'm hungry!" "Okay, okay," I say, lowering him to the ground. "Go get something to eat." I say, feeling my eyes well up with tears. I hope his happiness lasts forever. Sam looks be
Jonathan I feel anger surging through me, but I keep calm for Emma's sake. I need to keep my head clear so I can think of a plan to find that bastard Alaric. And when I do, I will rip both of his arms off. "What happened to him?" I had asked her, and she shook her head. "I don't know. He broke up with my mom after I got pregnant. Maybe he got scared," Emma told me. "And your mom? Did you ever tell her any of this?" I ask. Emma looks down at her hand. "I tried once, but she got mad and beat me. She said I was just making up lies to hide the fact that I got pregnant by some loser." I take a deep breath and try to push down the rage that's boiling inside me. Emma has been through enough already, and I need to stay focused on helping her. I gently put my hand on her shoulder and give her a reassuring squeeze. "Listen, Emma. You did nothing wrong. Alaric is the one who should be ashamed of himself for what he did to you. And your mom... well, she clearly didn't handle the situati
Emma I wake up in his arms in the middle of the night, engulfed by his warmth. I feel his steady breath against my neck as I snuggle closer to him, appreciating the way his arms feel wrapped around me. It is as if I am cocooned in a bubble of safety. I trace my fingers over his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing under my touch. It is a comforting rhythm. Why am I like this? Everything was perfect last night, he did everything right. He didn't push me into anything and showered me with warmth. And yet, I had my stupid panic attack and messed everything up. I touch his lips softly, careful not to wake him up. I can't believe I let my past get the best of me. I ruined the moment even though I wanted him to make love to me. I have to make things right, I think to myself, then climb on top of him to kiss him all over his body. And now he is awake, staring at me with those blue eyes, making me feel even more guilty about rejecting him last night. "Emma. You don't ha
Jonathan Fuck...maybe I am going too fast. The last thing I want is to scare her again by acting like a horny teenager. But she is not pushing me away. Instead, she took my hand in hers, still staring into my eyes. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my head. I don't want to mess this up. I don't want to push her away or make her feel uncomfortable. The cool breeze hit us both, and I felt her shudder against my arms. "Shit, you're cold. Let's get you inside," I say. "Maybe you can give me a tour of your house." She smiles. "Sure," I say, smiling at her. "I'd be happy to show you around." I start with the living room, then the kitchen. Then we move upstairs. "The upstairs has three bedrooms and a small terrace," I tell her. Emma looks around in amazement. "It's such a beautiful house." she pauses before speaking again. "Where do you sleep?" "Usually in the master bedroom," I say, gesturing towards the door at the end of the hallway. "Can I see it?" sh
Emma I run my fingers over the delicate silk of the dress. I've never seen any dress so beautiful, let alone wearing it. "Go ahead and try it on," Delilah says and smiles encouragingly. But as I hold it in front of me in front of the mirror, I feel weird. "I don't know if this will suit me," I say. "Of course, it will. Put it on immediately," Delilah orders. I laugh at her enthusiasm and then go inside the bathroom to change. I slip into the dress, and I can feel the smooth, silky fabric slide against my skin. It's like nothing I've ever worn before, and I can't help but feel a bit nervous. Will I be able to pull it off? I take a deep breath and step out of the bathroom and into the dressing room. Delilah's eyes light up when she sees me. "Oh my goodness, you look stunning!" she exclaims. "That dress was made for you." I turn to the mirror and can hardly believe what I see. The dress fits me perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. The color brings out the warm