Ryan's POV "I could not help it, but I just didn't want to give any trouble to anyone," I said." I remember you... We were intrigued about you when you came to live with us. We even wanted to play with you..." She said. I smiled"Eva was too young at that time, barely 9, and you were almost 12... Though I liked you at that time and wanted to be friends with you, I was not sure how your parents would take it." I explained. " My parents were very strict, especially my dad; my mom also wanted me to be a perfect lady like her. " She replied. " Yes, I remember how she raised you with perfection. My mom had been very cool with me, so I felt that sometimes they were overdoing it. " I smiled. " I felt that too. " She nodded. " But since I had no right to interfere in your family matters, I concentrated on my studies, though I felt very alone at that time, wanted to talk to all of you, especially you as you were closer to me in age," I said and felt some different kind of expression on h
Ryan's POV " You see, while I had been raised in love, in kindness, Evan had grown up in the cold, calculating world of our grandfather’s ambitions. Though my grandpa was not bad, he was like your dad: strict. He disowned his daughter, but he raised him, giving him all the facilities that I never had until then. Evan knew about me, of course. He had always known. And when I arrived at my grandfather’s estate, he was furious. I was oblivious to that till that time and was happy that he was my family, a part of my parents... But he never even talked to me properly. With time his behavior became worse with me; he started getting even more jealous of me." I explained. " But why? " She asked. " He had lived his entire life under the expectation that he would inherit everything, and suddenly, I showed up, and all of that was taken away from him. He couldn’t stand it. He resented me, loathed me. But I—I thought we could still be brothers. I thought if I gave him time, if I showed him I w
Ryan's POV " Later, one day, he got involved in a serious accident as he was driving while heavily drunk. The other person was very seriously injured and because of that, finely Evan was sent to jail. I broke all relations with him." “So, he’s still in jail?” she asked, her voice laced with surprise.“I think so,” I replied, my tone uncertain.“Why didn’t you ever tell me about him?” she asked, her eyes still clouded with doubt." I didn’t tell you any of this before because I didn’t want to drag you into the mess that is my family. But now, with everything that’s happened, you deserve to know. " She sighed, clearly overwhelmed. “Whatever. I don’t know... what to say.”I looked at her, hoping to find a way through this. “Emma,” I said quietly. “Please trust me. I don’t want to fight anymore. I just want to make things right.”“We’re not fighting anymore,” she replied quietly, her voice void of the fire it had earlier. She sounded exhausted, as though this battle had taken more out
Ryan's POV Her words sliced through me. The thought that she believed I didn’t want James—that I didn’t want them both—was the hardest truth to swallow.“I never told you to get rid of him,” I said, my voice trembling. “That was my brother.”Emma stared at me for a long moment, then finally nodded. “Okay,” she whispered. “But I’m doing it only for James.”It wasn’t forgiveness, and it certainly wasn’t closure, but it was something. And for now, I would have to take it.Just then the door swung open, and James rushed in, his energy cutting through the tension. “Good morning, Mum! Good morning, Dad!” he yelled, jumping up and down.Emma and I exchanged a small smile. For a moment, it felt like things might be okay, if only for James.Emma's POV His beaming face is a picture of innocence and joy. “Good morning, Mum, good morning, Dad!” he chirped, his voice echoing in the room, disarming the tension in an instant. Ryan and I exchanged a glance, the words we had just thrown at each othe
Emma's POV We arrived at the office not long after. The familiar hum of phones ringing and keyboards clacking greeted us as we stepped inside, James’s small hand clutching mine. I felt out of place as if the walls themselves knew this wasn’t supposed to be my life anymore. I hadn’t set foot here in just two days, not since I’d left everything behind to rush to my son. Colleagues turned to greet us, their faces lighting up in surprise when they saw James. "Hello, young man! May I know your name, please? " Jane asked him with a smile. " James!" He said holding my hand." " May I know, what brings you here... So that I can help you. " Kate asked with a smile. " I am here with my mom, I don't need any help, but thank you. " He said politely. “Emma, is this your son?” Kate asked, her tone warm and inquisitive. They must have guessed it already as he was a true copy of his dad. I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes, this is James.”Ryan, standing beside me, beamed with pride as he introduc
Emma's POV As the office began to empty, people gathered their belongings and headed for the lifts. I found myself standing beside Ryan as he finished giving instructions to Kate. She was disappointed that Ryan had claimed ownership of the party, as the staff had originally intended it to be a surprise farewell for me. But Ryan, in his usual manner, had commandeered the occasion, turning it into his gesture—a final parting gift to them, before we returned to our separate lives."I wasn’t expecting that," I murmured once the others had left, folding my arms and looking at him curiously.Ryan smirked, leaning against the desk. “Just thought it’d be nice to have a little party from my side since they were planning to give you a send-off. It's ok, it is normal, me being your husband and the owner of the firm.” With everything that had happened, nothing felt normal anymore, not between us, not in this place. Yet, there was a warmth in his voice that tugged at something deep inside me—a s
Emma's POV When I finally opened my eyes. I saw Ryan's arms around me and James was sleeping on the other side of him. How did he come to sleep next to me? Seriously? Do you want an answer to this? A voice from within said." Good morning, Angel. Please stay, where you are." He said, tightening his arms around me when I tried to get out of his arms. " Leave me!! Immediately!!" " You are so bad... I had such a nice sleep after so long... Six years. You also slept well in my arms, didn't you?" He asked. "No! Leave me, Ryan. " " Don't deny it... It won't change things. I want to sleep..." He said but released his grip on me. I got out of bed and missed the warmth of his body against mine, so I went to the bathroom. My face was a bit red. I freshened and went to the kitchen to make coffee and breakfast. *******I called up George, Lily, and Ruby to inform them that I was coming back with James and Ryan. They were very excited to know that but, at the same time, were surprised
Ryan's POV " I don't know why he said that... maybe he wanted to create a rift between us, wanted you to leave me, and you did just that," I replied. " Maybe, but he was telling all this to that woman, and he didn't know, I was hearing. He was busy having hot and passionate sex. But he was not lying. Was he?" She argued. " Yes, he was lying!! Can anyone say such things while having hot and passionate sex? No!! I think it all was staged. He must have sent that message to you deliberately to tarnish my relationship with you. Who else could have your number to message you about his exact location? Maybe he wanted you to see and hear all that. It did affect our relationship. " I retorted." But how did he get to know such things if you were not close?? " She asked. " We had talked about it just once when I shifted to Grandpa's place. My grandpa asked me what had happened and I told him. He used that against me. I was upset with your dad and wanted to have my dad's share as it was mine
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