Emma's POV The doctor left and we were alone again. " I think I should go and sleep, or I might sleep here. " " Do you want me to make a bedtime drink for you? Something hot and milky, spiced with something alcoholic as the doctor suggested? " He asked but I shook my head. " I don't want your help in this matter, I can manage. " " Okay, since you can manage, I will go, but do you mind making me a cup of tea or coffee? " He asked. I tried to get up, and though I winced with pain, I managed to go to the kitchen. But when I picked up the kettle to make tea, I winced. " Did you just see, you can't even make a cup of tea at the moment, so stop being stubborn and let me help you. Shall I carry you upstairs? " He asked. I shook my head immediately. " No, the sofa in the kitchen is as comfortable as my bed. " I said, he nodded and took me to the couch and put me on it so gently as if I was a porcelain doll and made me sit there. His hands were slightly calloused, the strength in his
Third person's POV "You are safe in your home. You had a bad dream just because of the incident... " He was saying when Emma stiffened. "Not this morning... Something that happened... before." She managed to whisper. He got tensed hearing it. "Do you want to talk about it? " He asked. She came to her senses and tried to withdraw herself from his arms. But he held her against him as she really needed it. Her throat ached probably as a result of the screams. She swallowed against the pain. She had to tell him the truth; otherwise, he would think that she was a coward. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to." He whispered against her ear and somehow she felt the temptation to turn towards him and wanted him to kiss her senseless.The thought made her forget about her dream. But the very next moment she realized what she was thinking and was shocked. " I want to tell you... I need to tell you. She told him the story of the raid at the bank and about her
Third person's POV As Emma gradually regained consciousness, her eyelids fluttered open, and the sterile surroundings of the hospital room came into focus. Confusion clouded her gaze momentarily until the memory of the recent bank incident flooded back. Panic welled up within her as the recollection of the armed intrusion and her vulnerability resurfaced.She instinctively reached for her shoulder, where the searing pain had lingered before the darkness took over. The throbbing ache now served as a visceral reminder of the traumatic event. Her hands trembled, mirroring the internal turmoil that gripped her.As the medical staff and concerned faces surrounded her, Emma grappled with a deep-seated fear. The echoes of past trauma, long suppressed but now forcefully resurrected, reverberated through her mind. It wasn't just the recent bank incident; it was a haunting reminder of a life-altering event that had scarred her soul.In the fragile moments of wakefulness, Emma's trembling inten
Emma's POV " I am not doing anything that is not right. I know that I am attracted to you, but don't worry, I would not get turned on to see you when you look as if you are going to pass out at any moment. " He said with a smirk. " What?? Am I looking like that? " I asked. " Yes, you are. How is the pain? " He nodded. " Too much !! " I said honestly. " Then please take rest. " " Has my house help come yet? " I asked him. " Why? " " I need to go to the washroom and freshen up... Take bath. " " She is not here, I will take you. " He said and I shook my head. " No, I will manage. " I said but he picked me up and put me down inside the washroom. " I will wait outside. " He said and went out of the washroom. But I was having too much pain now. A few tears rolled out of my eyes. I was frustrated as hell as I could not do anything on my own. It was so humiliating that I could not even manage to undress myself for taking a bath. I looked at myself in the mirror and was shocked
Emma's POV We started having food and everything tasted so good that I could not help moaning. But the next moment I saw him looking at me with his thoughts somewhere else. " Hey!! What happened?? Are you not enjoying it? " " I am... " He said weirdly. " Then have your food. " I said and continued having our makhni daal with spicy Butter paneer and the flatbread called Naan. The food was so tasty that I could not help licking my fingertips, which got smeared with the rich, thick, buttery gravy. He again kept looking at me. I raised my eyebrow at him to ask without speaking as I was enjoying the food so much that I didn't want to say anything. He just gulped and shook his head. Anyway, we finished the food and came out he made me sit in the car, and then we came back home. The moment he stepped into my luxurious penthouse, his eyes shone in amazement. "Emma, this place is like a dream! I have been dreaming of living here ever since I visited you for the first time," he exclaimed,
Emma's POV As the days passed, Ryan's antics continued. From playful pillow fights (which I adamantly refused to participate in) to surprise movie nights, he was determined to inject fun into our pretend relationship. However, my annoyance reached its peak one evening when I found him rearranging my carefully organized bookshelf."Ryan, what are you doing?" I snapped."Just giving your books a new home. They needed a change, it is so boring being in the same place for so long," he replied, oblivious to my frustration.I huffed, trying to contain my irritation. "I like my books where they were. Put them back."He gave me a mischievous smile. "You need to learn to go with the flow, Emma." I glared at him, he raised his hands in surrender and placed them as I had arranged them. Despite our arguments, he had a knack for picking up on the subtle cues of my preferences. One day, he surprised me with a cup of my favorite tea, perfectly brewed."You looked like you could use one," he said,
Emma's POV I was adding the maple syrup when he came very close to me while keeping my coffee mug in front of me. I was startled, and the maple syrup spilled on my other hand. " Oops sorry! " He said. I shook my head with a smile and went to wash my hands. " Hey, stop!!! " He said and caught my hand in his, and before I could understand anything, he wiped the syrup with his forefinger and licked it. What was that?? " I told you I don't like the wastage of the food. " " Leave my hand, it is sticky. " I said but I was shocked by his next action. He pulled my hand to his mouth and he licked the little spot where I had spilled the syrup. I was shocked as hell at his intimate gesture. " Ryan!!! What are you doing?? " I asked but I didn't sound offended but shocked. " Cleaning your hand. " He looked at me with an innocent smile, as if he was born yesterday. " Don't dare to do that again. " I said. " Oh, God!! My dear girlfriend, we have to pretend that we are in a relationship,
Emma's POV The journey to my parents' estate was surprisingly pleasant. The four-hour drive wound through the picturesque English countryside, with rolling green hills and quaint villages passing by. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, and the sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light. Ryan seemed to sense my tension and made it his mission to keep me entertained.He played a mix of classic rock and indie tunes on the car stereo, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. Occasionally, he’d glance over at me with a playful grin, making me laugh with some ridiculous comment or another. At one point, he even pulled out a bag of my favorite snacks, which I hadn’t realized he’d brought along."You're full of surprises, aren't you?" I asked, genuinely amused."Well, I aim to please," he replied, flashing that charming smile that could probably melt steel.As we drove, Ryan made a point of holding my hand, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles. It was a small gestur
Emma's POV Suddenly, James tugged at my sleeve, pulling me from my thoughts. “Mummy, are you okay?”I forced a smile, nodding. “I’m fine, sweetheart.”Ryan’s eyes flickered toward me, his expression softening for just a moment before he turned back to James. “Right, let’s finish up and get home. We’ve got a living room to camp in, remember?”As we left the diner, James happily chatted about all the “camping” supplies they’d need; I couldn’t shake the growing unease in my chest. Ryan was laughing and planning with James as if we were a normal family, but things were far from normal. I wasn’t sure if I could let my guard down.One thing was clear, though: James was thrilled. And as long as he was happy, I would go along with their ridiculous plans… even if it meant letting Ryan be a little too close for comfort.We reached my home, and he stopped the car; before he could say Anything, I got out of the car, turned on my heel, and headed for the door. He followed behind me, his footsteps
Emma's POV Ryan raised an eyebrow but didn’t press it. Instead, he turned back to James. “So, mate, I’ve been thinking. Once we finish this monstrous milkshake, we should plan something fun. You know, a real adventure. How about we build a fort when we get home? Or…” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “We could camp in the living room tonight. I’ll bring my torch, and we’ll tell scary stories. What do you say?”James gasped, bouncing in his seat. “Can we, Mummy? Please? Can we camp in the living room?”I blinked at them, half-expecting Ryan to burst out laughing at the absurdity of his suggestion. But he was dead serious—and so was James. “I don’t think we have space for that…”Ryan cut in, shaking his head. “Emma, where’s your sense of adventure? We don’t need space. We’ll make it work. Move some furniture, throw down some blankets. It’ll be like we’re out in the wild!”“Camping… in my flat?” I asked, incredulous.“Exactly,” Ryan said, giving me a grin that I both hated and… found a l
Ryan's POV Great! Simply great!! Now you see, my love, how I won you back; no matter what happened in the past, I am going to resolve it and have you in my home, in my bed, and my arms, soon, very soon. You are mine!! Emma's POV “Fine,” Ryan said, finally relenting, though his tone was still far too smug for my liking. “If you insist on your flat, we’ll go there. But don’t think this is over, Emma. We’ll talk more about what’s best for James.”I glared at him but said nothing; he drove back toward my flat. I was looking out of the window. Just then James asked from the back seat, “Mummy! Can we stop for lunch? I’m starving!”“Starving?” Ryan scoffed dramatically, quickening his pace to catch up with James. “Didn't you eat breakfast, son?”James giggled. “But that was 3 hours ago! I’m a growing boy.”Ryan smiled at him through the rearview mirror. “Alright, alright. You’re right. A growing boy needs fuel. How about we stop at that diner just up the street? The one with those massive
Emma's POV “Are you out of your mind?” I hissed, barely able to keep my voice steady.Ryan’s eyes darkened, his smile fading into something more cold, more calculated. “Yes, I am. I’ve lost all sense of reason after finding out you’ve been hiding our child from me. The best I can do now is ensure he lives with me, where he belongs. You can come along if you like, or I’ll take you to court. And trust me, Emma, I’ll make sure you don’t get to live with him. You deprived me of his love. The choice is yours.”His words struck like a blow, knocking the wind out of me. I knew he wasn’t bluffing. He had the resources, the connections, and the determination to follow through. And James—oh God, James would be caught in the middle of this, pulled apart by our war. My stomach twisted at the thought.I stood there, my pulse thundering in my ears as Ryan’s words sank in. His smile was too calm, too assured as if he already knew how this would play out. As if he’d won. I clenched my fists, resisti
Emma’s POVHalf an hour ago…I woke up in the quiet stillness of the hotel room, my head heavy but the sharp edge of the migraine thankfully dulled. Soft morning light filtered through the curtains, and I blinked, adjusting to my surroundings. The space beside me brought a pang of unease. Where was Ryan?My heart quickened as fragments of last night flickered in my mind—Ryan’s warm, steady hands taking care of me, holding me through the worst of the pain. Was it real, or had I dreamt it? And now, he was gone.Then the realization hit me like a cold wave. James. School.Ryan had been insistent about removing James from the hostel, determined to bring him home. My breath caught as dread clawed its way into my chest. He hadn’t waited for me to wake up. He didn’t as he was going to take James away from me.“Oh, God,” I muttered, panic rising. Why hadn’t I realized it sooner? I shouldn’t have agreed to this, I shouldn’t have let him take the reins. I had to stop him.I threw on yesterday’s
Ryan's POV I wasn’t going to let our son stay in that hostel any longer. He belonged with us, with me. And I knew Emma. She wouldn’t let me take him away from her. She loved him too much for that. It was the one card I had to play, and I was going to play it carefully and strategically. She’d have no choice but to come back. And once she was here, once we were together again, I’d make sure she never left.I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, and smiled. “You were born to be with me,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her skin. “And I’ll get you back, my love. By hook or by crook.”She stirred slightly, but I didn’t move. I wanted to hold her longer, to stay like this forever, but I had things to do. I couldn’t afford to waste time, not when the plan was already in motion. I gently untangled myself from her, careful not to wake her, and slipped out of bed. She needed her rest. Last night had taken its toll, and I wasn’t going to rush her recovery. I could wait. I h
Ryan's POV I hadn’t planned for things to turn out this way.But this time she shocked me. Not only did she leave me without saying a word, even when we had a baby together. Why did she leave? What was the reason that had torn us apart? My jaw tightened as the memory surfaced. How could she not have told me? Didn’t I deserve to know? Didn’t I have a right to be angry?But then, looking at her now, so pale and fragile, all that anger seemed to dissolve into something else. Something softer, more desperate. I didn’t just want answers. I wanted her. I wanted to hold her, pull her close, and make all of this go away. I wanted her back in my life, in my arms, where she belonged.But I couldn’t do that. Not yet. Not until we talked. Talked.Despite everything, I could never fall out of love with her. For now, I had to be patient. I had to let her rest, let her heal. There would be time for everything else later.But as I sat there, watching her sleep, I knew one thing for certain: I wa
Ryan's POV I sat down next to her, not saying anything at first. She didn’t move, didn’t look at me, but I knew she was aware of my presence. After a while, she spoke, her voice, barely a whisper, “I hate it here.”It wasn’t a dramatic statement, just a simple, heartbreaking truth. She wasn’t talking about the river or the house or even her life. She was talking about being stuck in a world that didn’t let her be herself. I didn’t know what to say. I was just a kid too, barely able to handle my own emotions, let alone someone else’s.But I wanted to comfort her, to let her know she wasn’t alone. So, I did the only thing I could think of—I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It wasn’t much, but it was something. She looked up at me then, and for the first time, I saw her really look at me, not as her older brother, or a family friend, or some orphan boy her parents had taken in, but as someone who mattered to her. It was in that moment that I realized I cared about
Ryan's POV Everyone was worried about her, and she was hiding in my room. I had no idea how she’d managed to slip past her mother’s watchful eyes, but there she was, curled up under my bed. At first, I thought she was just playing some game, but then I realized she was sleeping. She must have been so exhausted from constantly having to be someone she wasn’t. I watched her for a while, not sure what to do. Should I wake her? Should I let her sleep? In the end, I just left her there. She looked peaceful, and I wasn’t about to disturb that.When she got up and I felt the moment under the bed I bent to see her. " Hello!! " " H..Hi!! " She said looking a bit scared. " Come out!! " I said and she came out feeling embarrassed for being caught. " What are you doing here?? " I asked. " Hiding." She bit her lip. " But why?" I asked her. " My mom wants me to learn to play music and Dad wants me to take classes to be like him... I..." She told me hesitantly. " And you don't want to do th