Emma's POV I stood frozen, my mind was spinning as Ryan’s words sank in. He was standing in front of me, looking as if the weight of everything he held back was finally crashing down on him.“I’ve loved you since we were kids, Emma,” he said softly, his voice rough around the edges, as though he was pulling the words from some deep, hidden place. “I don’t think I even knew what it meant back then, but I knew it was you." He said but I could not react. “I remember the first time I really noticed you. You must have been around twelve, maybe thirteen. I had been living with your family for a while, but that day... I saw you differently. You weren’t like the other girls I knew.” he continued to speak. He even counted what kind of clothes I used to wear and how I loathed it. I stared at Ryan as he spoke, my heart racing in my chest. I wanted to scream at him, to tell him to stop, to make him go away. But the words wouldn’t come. “Then there was that time you snuck into my room,” he sai
Emma's POV Ryan’s face twisted with something I didn't understand—regret, maybe. He ran a hand through his hair, the tension in his posture was tightening as if it was taking everything in him to stay standing. “I thought I could keep you close by pretending you didn’t mean as much to me,” he continued, his voice raw with emotion. “But all I did was push you further away. I was an idiot. I was scared. You were this bright, beautiful thing, and I didn’t know how to show it. I was too scared to say anything." My breath was caught in my throat. He was scared? Ryan—the man who always seemed so confident, so sure of himself—was afraid? Of me?"And by the time I realized what I’d done, it was too late. And then, the scandal happened." I flinched at the mention of it, I wanted to say something, anything, but the words didn't come out. The room felt impossibly small like there was no space to breathe between the past and everything he had just revealed.I felt like the air had been sucked
Emma's POV “I came back for you, only for you, Emma. I always loved you. I just never dared to talk about my feelings for you when we were teenagers until now. I even became friends with George because he was your best friend. I was very jealous earlier as I thought that you both had a scene... but when I became friends with him, I asked him about his love life, and he told me about the girl he was in love with, and I was relieved but still was very jealous, so I asked him directly about you. " " Directly?" I asked. " No, I asked him if it was you that he was dating and he told me that he was happily married and you were his best friend. I was feeling so good that you were not with anyone. Now I just had to come back to your life and that day I got the chance when he suggested me to be your fiance. I love you, Emma. I have loved you for almost two decades. " He said. I sat there, staring at him, my defenses crumbling as the truth of our past finally came to light. The silence be
Emma's POV And that confused me more than anything.“Why didn't you destroy my dad?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. “After everything... why didn’t you? It was your main motive right?"Ryan’s expression softened, and he stepped closer, his voice gentle. “Because Emma... I didn’t want revenge. I just wanted you.”I looked down, my mind spinning. Maybe... maybe he wasn’t lying. Maybe everything I thought I knew was wrong. But even if that was true, even if he wasn’t the villain I had made him out to be, I wasn’t sure I could let myself fall for him again. Not when the stakes are so much higher now.Because if he betrayed me this time, it wouldn’t just be my heart at risk. It would be James’s life, our future.Ryan's POV I was close enough now to reach out, but I hesitated. Every instinct in me wanted to close the gap between us, to touch her, to remind her that we were once something more than this. But I knew better than to push too hard.She looked up at me, and for a mom
Emma's POV In the evening, the office was transformed, adorned with streamers and fairy lights, and the gentle hum of conversation filled the room. Soft music played in the background, and the table in the center groaned under the weight of the elaborate spread Ryan had arranged—finger sandwiches, delicate pastries, sparkling wine, and, of course, a cake with “Thank You” written in elegant icing. The scent of food wafting through the air. The clusters of colleagues were already mingling, laughing, and raising their glasses. The party was a whirlwind of activity. James was so excited to see the decorations and food. He was the only child at the party, so he sat down at one table with his favorite snacks and an Oreo milkshake that Kate already ordered for him.I stood by the doorway, watching the scene unfold, unsure of how to feel. This was supposed to be a farewell for me, a quiet goodbye from my colleagues who had become friends over the years, until Ryan came, but Ryan, in his us
Emma's POV Back at home, after the party had ended and James had been tucked into bed, Ryan and I found ourselves in the living room, surrounded by boxes and bags. We had begun the slow process of packing up James’ things and preparing for the move, but there was a bittersweetness to it all—especially for Ryan.He sat on the floor, sifting through old toys, baby clothes, and photos, a quiet melancholy settling over him. I watched from the sofa as he held up a tiny pair of shoes, his thumb brushing over the worn leather with a tenderness that made my heart ache.“I missed so much,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “All these little moments... I wasn’t there.”I didn’t know what to say. What could I say? He was right. He had missed it all—James’ first steps, his first words, his first day at school. And though I had my reasons for keeping James from him, seeing the pain in his eyes now made me question whether I had done the right thing.Ryan picked up a small toy car, one of James’
Emma's POV His words hung in the air, and for a moment, I allowed myself to hope that things would get better. Was his brother really behind everything? Was Ryan truly innocent in all of this? Or was there still more to the story that I didn’t know?As I lay awake that night, listening to the steady rhythm of Ryan’s breathing beside me, I realized that the answers to those questions wouldn’t come easily. But for now, I was willing to give him a chance.Over the next few days, we spent more time together than we had in years. Ryan was determined to help with everything—packing, shopping for new clothes and supplies for James, and even organizing small outings to the park or the shops. It was strange, seeing him like this. He had always been capable of such kindness and such attention to detail, but it had been so long since I had seen this side of him that it almost felt like I was rediscovering him all over again.One afternoon, we took James to the local toy store, letting him pic
Emma's POV The air was thick with anticipation as Ryan’s sleek black car glided smoothly toward the private airfield. I could see the glimmer of excitement in James’ eyes as he gazed out the window, the morning sun casting playful streaks of light across his face. He had been looking forward to this trip ever since Ryan told him that we would go back to his home, and although I knew the journey would be special, Ryan had kept the details hidden. His usual enigmatic way.But I knew something more was in store, something Ryan hadn’t told either of us. My suspicions were confirmed when the car veered off the main road and onto a narrower path that led us to an exclusive airstrip. My breath hitched as I caught sight of a majestic private jet sitting quietly on the tarmac, its wings stretching confidently toward the horizon. It had a logo of his company. Before I could even react, James’s eyes grew impossibly wide, his mouth forming a perfect 'O'. "Is that…? Are we…?" He could barely get
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