Emma's POVDesperation clawed at me as I searched for a way out. My eyes darted around, landing on a fallen branch nearby. Without thinking, I grabbed it, using it as a makeshift weapon to defend myself and protect James. The branch felt heavy in my hands, a symbol of my will to survive and safeguard my family.Evan swung at me with ferocity, but I dodged, barely evading his strike. The forest became our battleground, the sounds of our struggle blending with the nocturnal symphony around us. Every movement was a fight for survival, every breath a testament to my determination to protect my son.James cried out, the sound piercing the night and adding urgency to my actions. With a surge of adrenaline, I swung the branch towards Evan, catching him off guard and forcing him to stumble back.With all the courage I could muster, I looked back at Evan and said, “Alright, Evan. You hate Ryan, don’t you? Leave James out of this. Let him go. Just… don’t hurt him.”Evan paused, a flicker of hes
Emma's POV Every part of me screamed to keep going, but I could sense him gaining on me. Desperation took over, and I darted to the left, hoping to lose him in the thick of the forest. The ground was uneven, covered in fallen leaves and branches, each step a careful dance to avoid tripping.But then, just as I began to think I might have a chance, my foot caught on something—a root, a rock, I didn’t know—and I stumbled forward, crashing to the ground. Pain shot through my ankle, and I bit back a cry, my hands clawing at the dirt as I tried to push myself up.Before I could regain my footing, Evan was there. His hand clamped around my wrist, yanking me up with a force that made me wince. His face was inches from mine, his eyes cold, void of any warmth. “Why did you make this so difficult?” he sneered, tightening his grip. “All I wanted was to take what Ryan has. I didn’t want it to come to this, Emma.”I felt a surge of anger rise within me, a fierce need to protect my family. “You’
Emma's POV He started coming towards me, James got a bit scared, but I was shocked beyond the limit. I knew the man was not worth having around but I had no idea he could stoop to this level, especially when you have a son of the same age. "Daniel?" I said and he grinned. "Nice to meet you after so many years, Emma." He said. "You helped him kidnap James? Why?" " Why?? I hate both of his parents. You humiliated me in front of everyone when you refused to marry me. I was so embarrassed for years. Your husband ruined me. He took away everything from me, my fiance, and my reputation in front of your dad; he ruined my plan, and he is helping your dad and Eva fight for divorce and the custody of my son. Now he will know how it feels when he would never be able to see his son again." " How could you do this? He is just like your son. " I said. " No! He is Ryan's son. The bastard, who ruined everything for me. " He retorted." Mom, who is he? " James asked. "He is another uncle of yo
Emma's POV My revulsion turned to pure horror. “And you thought I wouldn’t notice? You thought I wouldn’t know my husband?”“Emma, Emma… you didn't at that time. Even God was in your favour or you would not have been pregnant already. If you were not unwell, I would have had my way with you, and we would have had a son like this one. ”"Forget it; I would have realized it in a minute if I was in my full senses. I fell in love with him as he was very sensitive and romantic; you might look like him, but you are not him. I love him and loathed you." I said. He sighed, almost pitying. “You’re making such a fuss over nothing. So what if I’m Evan or Ryan? To you, we’re identical. What difference does it make?”I stepped back, disgust flooding me. “It makes all the difference in the world. I married Ryan, not you. How could you even think of getting close to me, pretending to be him?” I yelled at him.“Don’t be so dramatic, Emma.” He waved his hand dismissively. “You think your precious hu
Emma's POV. Daniel had left after bringing us back to the house. Evan asked me to make the coffee and something to eat, and I was about to tell him to tell him. Even James and I were also very tired and hungry. So I made coffee and sandwiches for us. "Here... Take it." I said keeping the mug and plate on the table. " I want to take you right here right now." He said coming closer. I was disgusted with what he said. " Don't you dare come near me, I will kill you. Have you no shame at all? I am your brother's wife for god's sake!!" " No! He took my life away from me; everyone chose him over me; I want everything he has got in his life now..." He started speaking. I started recording his voice on my phone discreetly as I needed proof against him. "From the beginning, I was the shadow, the forgotten one, left to grow up in the empty, hollow corridors of my grandfather’s estate while he—my precious twin Ryan—was lavished with love and warmth, both things I'd never known. It burned
Emma's POV " What do you want from him?? " " Now that I have you and your son tucked away in this secluded, abandoned house in the jungle, it feels as though everything is finally aligning. I could practically taste the power—the empire I would inherit, the life that had always been promised to me yet repeatedly snatched away. I would use both of you, Emma and James, to get exactly what I wanted. And if it meant sacrificing you along the way, so be it. I would do whatever it took. You would see soon enough that your darling, Ryan wasn’t the saint you believed him to be. And when all was done, when I'd hollowed out everything he cherished, Ryan would finally know what it felt like to lose everything. And in the end, he’d have no one to blame but himself." Just then, a flash of movement caught my eye—a shadow slipping between the trees. I dared not look too closely, afraid of giving anything away, but hope flared within me. Ryan. It had to be him. He must have tracked us here.But I
Ryan's POV A message from James’s school with a link to James’s tracker. My heart pounded as I opened it, the pulsing dot representing my son, my little boy, out there in the unknown, moving farther and farther away from safety. It took everything in me to keep my breathing steady.The dot moved slowly, indicating a car, but it was erratic, stopping occasionally before starting again. I relayed the location to my security team, ordering them to monitor it, and I contacted the authorities as well. Every second counted.The location kept shifting. It was going away from the city and then stopped at a filling station then surprisingly it started coming back towards the city. After about 5 minutes, it stopped on the way, and it started moving away from the city again. What the hell was happening?? I was nearly thirty minutes behind them, a lifetime in situations like this, but I pushed forward, my focus razor-sharp. I was halfway to the edge of the city when the dot stopped moving, fi
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
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