Emma's POV He pulled back, his eyes glittering with a mix of love and something much more primal. “You look amazing in this swimsuit,” he murmured, his hand trailing down my waist and tugging lightly at the strap of my bikini. “But I think I prefer you without it.”I laughed, swatting his hand away playfully. “No!" " What do you mean by no? We are on honeymoon. " " Oh, God! Have some patience...”“Patience is overrated.” He grinned, and before I could respond, he scooped me up into his arms, carrying me toward the water. I shrieked in surprise, kicking my legs but laughing all the same.“Ryan, no!” I protested though the excitement bubbling inside me said otherwise.“Oh yes,” he replied, a wicked glint in his eyes as he waded into the shallow water and dropped me in. The cool ocean water rushed over me, and I gasped, the shock of it making me squeal again.“You’re terrible!” I sputtered, splashing him as I tried to get my footing.“And you love it,” he shot back, diving under the w
Emma's POV Ryan’s face lit up when he saw the setup I had prepared: a blanket spread out on the soft sand, surrounded by candles and a basket filled with champagne, strawberries, and decadent pastries. The scene was romantic and secluded, tucked away behind a grove of palm trees.“Emma, this is incredible,” he said, his voice filled with admiration as he looked at me. “You outdid yourself.”I shrugged, smiling at his reaction. “I wanted to do something special for us. After all, it’s our honeymoon. We should enjoy every second.”He didn’t hesitate, pulling me into a tight embrace and kissing me deeply, as if to thank me in his own way. When we finally pulled apart, his eyes sparkled with mischief. “You know, there’s only one thing missing.”“Oh?” I tilted my head, curious. “What’s that?”“Skinny-dipping,” he said with a grin, his hand already moving to untie his swim trunks.I burst out laughing, shaking my head. “Ryan!”“What?” he asked innocently, tossing his trunks aside. “We’re o
Emma's POV Before I could respond, his lips were on mine, soft and teasing at first, then deeper, hungrier. His hand slid down my back, pulling me closer until I was pressed against him, my fingers threading through his hair.In the quiet of the night, under the stars, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared, leaving only us. His touch was electric, igniting something inside me that I hadn’t felt in so long—a raw, unrestrained passion.Ryan’s hands roamed over me, exploring, teasing, until I was breathless with need. But just when I thought things were about to get even more intense, he pulled back, his eyes dancing with mischief."Not yet," he whispered, his thumb brushing over my bottom lip.I groaned in frustration, glaring at him. "You're teasing me."He chuckled, kissing me once more before sitting up. "Patience, Mrs. Wales. We still have the whole night ahead of us."*******Later that night, after we had spent what felt like hours just wrapped up in each other, talking,
Present time Emma's POV The phone on my desk started ringing bringing me back to the present. I knew him, he was not going to leave me alone. So I had to do something, and very soon, as in that case, he would eventually find out about James. I shook my head and started working, but I could not concentrate as my mind was on the elephant in the room. ******Though Ryan said that I could take as much time as I wanted, he was very desperate to get me back in his life. By the end of just two days, Ryan's obsession only deepened.His obsession with uncovering my secret gradually morphed into a roaring storm. At first, his jealousy was restrained, masked behind playful teasing or a passing comment. But it didn’t take long for his true nature to surface. It was as if every casual remark I made, every unexplained absence from the office, only fed the beast inside him. And the more I tried to deflect his probing, the more determined he became to break through my carefully constructed wall
Emma's POV I exhaled shakily, slumping back in my chair as a wave of nausea rolled over me. That had been too close. The panic of nearly being caught still buzzed under my skin, and I knew I couldn’t keep doing this. The lies, the secrets, the constant fear—it was tearing me apart. Worse, it was putting James at risk. If Ryan ever found out the truth, if he ever discovered that James was his son… I didn’t know what he would do, but I couldn’t risk it. I wouldn’t risk it.I needed to get out. The thought struck me with sudden clarity. I couldn’t stay in this suffocating situation any longer, not with Ryan’s possessive behavior growing more intense by the day. I started making quiet plans in my mind—considering moving to another city, somewhere far from his reach, where I could raise James in peace. Maybe I could continue my designing work from a small country town on the outskirts of the city, where no one would know me or my family connections.But as these thoughts swirled in my hea
Emma's POV "She’s been giving me signals, boss," Cade blurted out suddenly, his face flushed with defiance. "You think she’s innocent in all this? She’s been flirting with me for weeks! Always looking at me, always giving me those subtle little hints. She’s just playing the victim now because you’re here." He said and I was taken aback. The room went utterly still. I could feel the blood drain from my face as Cade’s words hit me like a slap. How dare he? How could he twist things around like that, making it seem like I had invited his attention?" What?? No..." I was saying but could not find words due to shock. Ryan’s expression darkened further, his lips pulling back in a snarl. "What did you just say?" His voice was low, dangerous, like a storm about to break.Cade, emboldened by the attention, crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. "You think I’m lying? No, sir! You have known me for three years; I would not lie to you for such a slut. She’s been all over me with her li
Emma's POV "Emma, are you alright?" he turned to me and said, his voice still tinged with anger, "You’re not to entertain anyone else’s advances—inside or outside of work. You belong to me and have the authority to fire anyone in the office without even asking me anything. Come to my cabin! " Ryan said and pulled me with him. " I need water... Coffee. I am coming." I said. " Someone will get it for you, come!" "I am coming. " "Come fast." He said and went away. The possessiveness in his voice, the way he had declared it so publicly, made my stomach twist in discomfort. I knew he was jealous, but this—this was too much. He had crossed a line, and now the entire office was buzzing with rumors.You belong to me.His words echoed in the suddenly too-quiet office. I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment as I realized every single one of my colleagues had heard him. The murmur of whispers began almost instantly, a ripple of gossip spreading through the room like wildfire.I was feel
Emma's POV I couldn’t do this anymore. The constant pressure, the lies, the rumors. It was too much. Ryan’s protectiveness, his possessiveness, was suffocating. I couldn’t breathe under the weight of it all.I had barely managed to collect myself when the door swung open, and I heard footsteps behind me. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was."Emma," Ryan’s voice was soft now, full of regret.I shook my head, keeping my back to him. "Why can’t you just let me live my life, Ryan? Why do you have to control everything?""I’m not trying to control you," he said, stepping closer. "I’m trying to protect you.""By doing this?" I spun around to face him, my tear-streaked face full of anger. "You think punching someone in front of the entire office is protecting me? By declaring that I belong to you is protecting me? You’ve just made everything worse!" I retorted. He looked at me, his expression torn like he didn’t know how to fix what he had broken. "I’m sorry. I just… I can’t st
Emma's POV The hours that followed blurred together—Ryan by my side, holding my hand, whispering words of encouragement. He whispered words of encouragement, his gaze full of love and strength, his fingers tracing soft circles over my skin, soothing me. His strength became my strength, his voice a lifeline. Every time I looked into his eyes, I felt anchored, loved, and understood in a way that words could never express.At last, the moment came. I heard the first wail, and as they placed her in my arms, I felt the first weight of her in my arms and a rush of love so deep, it was overwhelming, and my heart expanded in ways I hadn’t thought possible. Ryan was beside me, his eyes fixed on her with a look of absolute awe. He kissed my forehead, his voice thick with emotion. “She’s beautiful,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. His hand cradled her tiny head, and he looked at me, eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Emma,” he whispered, leaning down to press a tender kiss to m
Emma's POV One month had passed since our island escape, and coming back to the life we’d built here felt different now—lighter somehow as if love had settled into every corner of our home. Ryan had slipped into our family life effortlessly, filling each day with small acts of tenderness that wove us closer together. For the first time in so long, I felt whole.But nothing could have prepared me for the morning. I realized my life was about to change once again.The signs were subtle at first—just an unusual fatigue, a lingering wave of dizziness now and then. I brushed it off as the after-effects of our busy schedules. But soon the signs became clearer, and I found myself looking down at a positive pregnancy test, a swirl of emotions overwhelming me. I sat there, staring at it, joy and disbelief intermingling. I was going to have another baby.Ryan came home later that evening, his face lighting up as he saw me. He wrapped me in his arms, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Hey,
Emma's POV We headed back to our suite, but Ryan had one last surprise waiting for me. When we entered the room, the lights were dimmed, and the air was filled with the scent of jasmine and vanilla.A path of rose petals led to the bathroom, where a luxurious bubble bath had been drawn, candles flickering around the edges of the tub.“Ryan…” I gasped, turning to him with wide eyes. “Did you—?”He grinned, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my cheek. “I figured after a day like today, you deserved a little pampering.”My heart swelled with love for this man, who knew exactly how to make every moment special. He led me to the tub, helping me slip into the warm, fragrant water before joining me. The bubbles rose around us, and I leaned back against his chest, closing my eyes as his hands massaged my shoulders.We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the only sound of the gentle lapping of the water and the soft flicker of the candles. It was peaceful, intimate, and everyth
Emma's POV After several hours in the sky, we began our descent, and I noticed a glimmer of turquoise below, almost like a hidden jewel nestled in a sea of endless blue. As we got closer, I could make out an island ringed with pristine beaches, the sunlight casting golden highlights across the sand. My heart skipped a beat as I took in the scene—the untouched beauty of white sand, palm trees swaying gently, the promise of secluded beaches.“This is…all yours?” I asked, a sense of disbelief coloring my words. It felt almost unreal.Ryan laughed softly, wrapping an arm around me. “Not just mine. Ours. Consider this our private retreat.The thought of it—an entire island, untouched and serene, where we could simply be together—sent a thrill through me. Once we landed, a small team greeted us, but they quickly disappeared after helping us settle in. It was just the two of us, alone in paradise.Ryan wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me close against him. I leaned into his c
Emma's POV Once we were certain that Daniel and Evan were safely behind bars, I felt like I could finally exhale. It was surreal to think that the shadows of their crimes—murder, kidnapping, so many lives shattered—were now confined, unable to reach us. The damage, though, still lingered, especially in Eva’s life.Daniel’s conviction allowed her to obtain a swift divorce and full custody of their son, Danny. But while she had her freedom, she deserved a chance at happiness too.Eva had been through unimaginable hardship, and now, with a young son, Danny, to care for, her life was far from settled. Thankfully, the charges against Daniel made it relatively easy for her to get a divorce and secure sole custody of Danny. Still, she was young and had lost much; it wasn’t right for her to face the future on her own.Ryan, in his characteristic way of looking after people, was the first to offer support. It was Ryan who first suggested a way to help her move forward. He introduced her to on
Ryan's POV As the officers secured him in handcuffs and began reading him his rights, I turned to Emma. She was still trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as though trying to shield herself from the horrors she’d just endured. Her eyes, red and puffy from tears, met mine, and I saw a mix of relief and determination there.“Ryan,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “There’s something you need to know.”I stepped closer, my hand brushing against hers in a gesture of comfort. “What is it?”She hesitated, glancing at James, who clung to my side, his small fingers gripping my shirt. I knelt, cupping his face gently.“It’s okay, buddy,” I murmured. “Everything’s going to be fine now.”I turned to one of the officers. “Can someone take my son outside? He doesn’t need to hear this.”An officer nodded, extending his hand toward James. “Hey, champ, why don’t you come with me? We’ve got some juice and snacks in the car.”James looked at me, uncertainty flickering in his wide
Ryan's POV With a swift kick, the door slammed open, the sound reverberating like a gunshot through the room. Evan spun around, startled but not surprised. He stood over Emma and James, both bound to chairs. My heart clenched as I took in their faces—pale but alive, their eyes widening in shock and relief at the sight of us.“Emma,” I murmured, my voice low but filled with urgency. “It’s alright. I’m here.”Relief seemed to flood through her, and she nearly collapsed in the chair as if she had been holding her breath, the tension finally breaking. But there was no time to rest. Evan was already recovering, his face twisted with rage.“You,” he spat, his voice dripping with hatred. “Always ruining everything.”“This ends now, Evan,” I said, “You’ve done enough.”Evan laughed, “Oh, you think you’re the hero now? After everything you took from me?”My jaw tightened, and my fists clenched at my sides. “I didn’t take anything from you, Evan. You did this to yourself.”Evan’s face twisted
Ryan's POV Just ahead, I saw tire marks in the mud, leading away from the area. I crouched down, examining them, my mind racing. I followed the impressions of the tires in the mud and was shocked by what I saw ahead.I saw a car, just like mine, with the same number.What the hell?He used this to make them think it was me, not him, so they’d believe him.I saw a candy wrapper lying there—a Swiss chocolate candy I’d bought for my son. I picked it up, frustration coursing through me, a flood of helplessness rising with it. I was used to solving problems with precision, but here, every step felt like I was grasping at shadows. Emma and James were out there somewhere—alone, scared, with that monster.Gritting my teeth, I swore I’d kill that man. For the first time in years, I felt powerless, as if everything I valued was slipping through my fingers.Finally, the team managed to pinpoint Emma’s phone’s last ping just outside an abandoned cottage—the perfect hiding place. A surge of deter
Ryan's POV Then, the final revelation, the one that sent a chill through my veins. “Evan doesn’t just want to ruin you, Ryan,” Daniel said, his eyes glinting with perverse satisfaction. “He wants to be you. He’s been planning this for months. Changing his look, studying you—down to your bloody mannerisms. He’s got a way out, a clean record. No one would question it if he walked right back into your life, because no one would know.”The room fell silent, his words hanging in the air, heavier than anything I’d imagined. Evan planned to kill us, to eliminate every trace of my existence, and then live as me—he’d done everything necessary to erase his old life and assume mine, seamlessly.The realization gripped me like a vice. Emma and James were in the hands of a man who was not only ruthless but methodical, who wouldn’t hesitate to kill them just to ensure his twisted plan played out perfectly. I could feel the rage, the cold, calculated fury that settled deep in my bones, overriding t