Emma's POV For the next few days, Ryan’s subtle games continued, but they were becoming harder and harder for me to ignore. It wasn’t just the physical closeness he created when we were around others—though that was maddening enough. It was the way he maneuvered through every moment, every glance, every brush of his fingers, making it impossible for me to escape him even in my mind. He knew what he was doing, and I hated how easily I was falling into his carefully set trap.He had always been able to read me better than anyone, and now he was using that knowledge to his advantage. When we sat together at dinner, he would rest his hand on the back of my chair, his fingers occasionally grazing my neck. The simplest of touches, yet they sent sparks of heat coursing through my body, a reminder of what he was capable of. When he whispered in my ear, the deep timbre of his voice melted me inside, making my heart pound in my chest.I caught him watching me, sometimes with a quiet intensity
Emma's POV His hand moved to my cheek, his thumb tracing the outline of my jaw in a slow, sensual caress. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, his eyes darkening with desire. “Even more beautiful than I remember.”I felt my knees go weak under the weight of his gaze. Six years apart, and yet it felt like no time had passed at all. He was still the man who could make my heart race with just a look, the man who knew exactly how to touch me, how to unravel me.His lips hovered dangerously close to mine, and for a moment, I thought he would kiss me. But he didn’t. Instead, he let the tension build; the anticipation heightened until I was practically trembling with need.“You want this, don’t you?” he asked, his voice a low, seductive rumble. “I can feel it. I can see it in your eyes.”I swallowed hard, my mind spinning. I wanted to deny it, wanted to maintain some semblance of control, but the truth was undeniable. I did want him. I wanted him more than I had ever wanted in my life.“Yes,
Emma's POV The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room. My head nestled against Ryan's shoulder, feeling his warmth and the soft, rhythmic beat of his heart beneath me. I felt strangely new, like a version of myself I had long forgotten. A laugh bubbled up, and I quickly stifled it, feeling utterly ridiculous for lying here flushed and smiling like a lovesick teenager. But then again, wasn’t that what I was? At least, that’s what it felt like, waking up in Ryan’s arms.The memories of the previous night fluttered through my mind, making me flush as I looked up at him. His eyes opened slowly, and he caught me staring, his lips curling into that maddening, knowing smile that always left me a little breathless.“Good morning,” he murmured, brushing a loose strand of hair away from my face.“Morning,” I whispered, smiling despite myself, feeling both shy and undeniably happy."You are looking exactly like you looked after our first night in L
Emma's POV They played for about half an hour, and all of them were laughing, and we all were pleased to see everyone so happy. Finally, my dad was tired and he asked everyone to come out for breakfast. My mother, sister, and I were already seated; they joined us. But that was only the beginning of Ryan’s morning antics. Under the table, his hand found mine, giving it a subtle squeeze, and when no one was looking, he would brush his fingers along my arm, sending tiny thrills up and down my spine. Every touch, every glance, seemed to say, This isn’t over, Emma.I could feel my cheeks heating again and hastily looked away, focusing intently on my toast." Wow! This toast looks like a masterpiece, doesn't it, Emma?" Eva asked. " Hunh? What?" " You are looking at the toast on your plate as if you have not seen anything like that for too long. Are you so interested in that toast or is it something or someone else that has your attention? " She wiggled her eyes and burst out laughing.
Emma's POV After a month...It had been a month since everything settled back into place—back into something that felt like home. I could barely believe how fast the days had flown by. It was like the entire world came rushing toward me the second I resurfaced. Clients and fans welcomed me with open arms, and I was almost overwhelmed by their enthusiasm. I missed this, but I didn’t realize how much until I came back. Every sketch, every fabric choice, every fitting—it’s all mine again, and it felt... right.Ryan had also resumed his role at Taylor Empire with that effortless confidence he has. I could see his focus, his drive, and how he brought that same passion to everything he did. Even James noticed it. “Daddy is so busy, but he still smiles,” he told me one evening, grinning with the pride only a five-year-old can muster.And James—he was blossoming. He loved school, and every day he had a new story, a new adventure. It had become our little tradition that one of us, either Ryan
Emma's POV A chill crept over me, settling low in my stomach. Ryan was busy for the day because of that meeting. And even if he was not, he wouldn't have just changed our plans without telling me, would he? He knew how much I’d been looking forward to this outing with James. And yet… he’d simply come here and whisk him away?I managed a polite smile, though it felt brittle. “Thank you,” I murmured, my voice sounding far too thin in my ears. I turned and walked back toward my car, feeling as if I were moving through water, each step weighed down with confusion.I reached for my phone as soon as I got in, dialing Ryan’s number. It rang once, twice, three times, and then went to voicemail. My fingers trembled as I gripped my phone, staring down at the unanswered call screen. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but an uneasy feeling gnawed at me, twisting my insides. I’d told Ryan this morning that I’d be picking James up today, and he hadn’t said a word about changing the pl
Emma's POV I stared at the screen, barely able to comprehend what I was seeing. It was Ryan. It had to be. But… how could it be? I replayed the conversation she’d just had with his PA. Ryan had been in his meeting for two hours. There was no way he could have left the office and come here. And yet… there he was, clear as day, picking up our son.I felt my knees go weak, clutching the edge of the desk to steady myself as a horrifying thought crept into my mind.But if not Ryan… the thought was so absurd that I instantly dismissed it. There wasn’t anyone else it could have been. Except… Evan.No!! A cold, hard jolt shot through me, taking my breath away. No!! It couldn’t be.But the idea had taken root, and no amount of logical reasoning could shake it free. Evan had fooled me before, had shown how effortlessly he could step into Ryan’s shoes, his voice, his gestures, everything. The memory of it was a shadow I thought I’d left behind, but it lingered, resurfacing now in a rush of ic
Emma's POV I heard him curse softly under his breath, his voice tight with anger and fear. “Emma, I’m coming to you now. Don’t move. We’ll find him. I swear to you, we’ll get James back.”I clung to his words, holding onto the fragile hope that we would be able to bring our son back. But as I stood there, alone in the school hallway, the weight of her fear bore down on her.The thought of my innocent, sweet boy in Evan’s hands filled me with panic so intense it felt like it was tearing me apart from the inside. My mind raced with horrifying possibilities—what Evan might do, how he might harm my son just to hurt me and Ryan.A wave of helplessness and urgency washed over me as I stood frozen in the school hallway. The weight of what had just happened was too much to comprehend, yet my mind snapped into action as if driven by some primal instinct. My son was out there, with Evan—a man I had hoped was gone from our lives forever—and I couldn't afford to waste another second.No!! I coul
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