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 James was alone, his small hands clasped in his lap, his face downcast, and a hint of confusion in his expression. I bit my lip to keep from calling out to him then and there. If I moved too quickly if I made any sound… Evan might catch us before we could escape.I slipped inside, silent as a shadow, and crouched down to James’s eye level.“James,” I whispered, my voice trembling with relief. His head shot up, his eyes widening with a mixture of surprise and joy as he recognized me.“Mummy! What are you doing here?” he whispered, his voice tinged with both confusion and relief. “I thought you said you’d pick me up, but..”I managed a weak smile. “Shh, sweetheart. I’m here now, but we have to be very quiet. We’re playing a special game, alright? We need to be as quiet as mice, okay?”James nodded, his face lighting up with determination as if he were on the grandest adventure. I scooped him up, holding him close as I tiptoed back toward the door. Every creak of the floor an
Emma's POV I was tired as hell because of the tension and stress I went through. The night stretched out before us like a dark, uncertain path. The tension between us was palpable, unspoken fears lingering in the silence as we drove.“I’m here, Emma,” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “I won’t let anything happen to you or James.”I looked at him, his expression fierce and determined, and for the first time that night, I felt a glimmer of hope. Whatever Evan’s intentions, whatever darkness lingered in his heart, I knew that together, Ryan and I could face it. We would protect our family, no matter what it took.And as the road stretched on ahead of us, I held on to that hope, letting it guide us into the safety of the unknown. But just then, I realized that we were not going home; in fact, we were going in the same direction I had rescued James from. What was going on? " Why are we going back in that direction?" " We are going somewhere safe; he would not even think of find
Emma's POV Something about his voice sent a shiver through me. It sounded flat, devoid of the warmth that Ryan usually had in his words, especially when he spoke to me. It was then that the unease flared into something more, a low hum of fear that prickled at the base of my spine. I opened my mouth to question him further but hesitated, knowing James was still in the car, sensing that any outburst could frighten him.I don't know why, but I started panicking now; he had the I-card. I looked at the front pocket of his shirt where he had kept it, but it was not there now. Where was James' I-card? Did he throw it somewhere, shutting down the only link I had to anyone who could help us? Oh, God!! No!! I need to check him.But before I could think of anything, the car stopped abruptly. We were in the middle of nowhere—an isolated area deep in the woods, shrouded in mist. Ryan turned off the engine, and silence swallowed us whole. The only sounds were the soft rustling of leaves and t
Emma's POV A dizzying wave of fear threatened to overwhelm me, but I forced myself to remain calm for James’s sake. I had to keep my wits about me if I were to protect him.Inside, the air was stale, thick with dust and the unmistakable scent of damp wood. I resisted the urge to pull back, instead scanning the space with forced interest.“It’s…charming, but very untidy...” I said, though my heart raced as I took it all in. “Do you spend much time here?”“Not really,” he replied, a touch too quickly. “But it’s out of the way.”“And what about work? Won’t you need to get back soon? I mean… with everything happening at Taylor Empire, won’t people be looking for you?” I asked. His face tightened for just an instant, but it was enough. “I’ve arranged things. No one’s going to miss me for a little while," he said. Of course! Because you are good for nothing. My inner voice said. But my stomach turned. I knew how dedicated Ryan was to the business, how much he cared for it—and the family
Emma's POV "You know that I love to make an omelet for both of you as much as you like to eat it, but I am very tired today. You know I had such an important meeting today and as soon as you called me, I rushed to find you. I am having a splitting headache. Please manage it on your own and fix something for me as well." He said. " Oh, sure!! I will, though it would not be as good as you make it. " I replied with a smile. " I will make them for you when I am feeling better, in a day or two maybe. I love to see you both enjoying my special omelet." He said. James looked at me with big eyes, but I shook my head very discreetly and thanked God that he understood and didn't say anything. " I will go and air the rooms, and clean them. In the meantime, you make food. " He said and went out. " Mom!! When did Dad make an omelet for us? What's wrong with you, he makes pancakes. " He whispered. " I know it, you know it but he does not... " " Why, Mummy?”“Because…” I glanced at Evan, my v
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