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 My father's gaze swept over Ryan with the thoroughness of a hawk examining its prey.“Mr. Wales,” Ryan said, extending his hand with a firm, confident grip. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”My father’s handshake was brisk and devoid of warmth. He looked Ryan up and down, his expression a mixture of skepticism and condescension. “Mr. Ryan Taylor,” he replied, his tone clipped and his words laced with an air of superiority.There was an undeniable tension in the air. My father’s disdain was palpable, and it was clear that Ryan’s profession as a journalist, struggling model, and actor did not impress him. He had always believed that only those of high social standing were worthy of his daughter’s attention, and Ryan, with his unconventional career path, did not fit the bill.As we moved into the drawing room, my father’s remarks began to reveal the true depth of his disapproval. “I must say, Emma,” he began with a hint of derision, “your choice of a fiancé is quite... unconv
Emma's POV While we were about to have dinner with my parents, the inevitable happened. My sister Eva and Daniel, the man I was supposed to marry and the one my sister was marrying, now walked into the living room. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Ryan and me together."Emma," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You look… well," Daniel said, his tone is carefully neutral. "Thank you, Daniel," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "You too.""What a pleasant surprise, I didn't realize you would come with a man,"My heart raced as I tried to maintain my composure. " Daniel, this is Ryan, my boyfriend. And Ryan, he is Daniel, Eva's Fiance. " Ryan, ever the diplomat, extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, Daniel." Daniel just looked at us and didn't bother to shake hands. There was a brief, awkward silence before Ryan stepped in, his hand resting possessively on my lower back."Daniel, I’ve heard a lot about you. Emma mentioned you’re quite the business mind."Daniel seeme
Emma's POV The tension in the room was so thick that it could easily be cut with a knife. Everyone was wondering if what he said was correct. " We have photographs that we clicked on our dates, I am living with her as my apartment has gone into redevelopment. We have many ways to prove that we are together I don't know how you could be so sure that she was single till last week, until and unless you were stalking her. Can you tell me why you were doing that when you were engaged to her younger sister Eva? How does it matter to you if she is dating someone or is single? Eva, dear, don't you think, you should be asking him questions instead of him asking her? He is not her boyfriend or fiance now. Emma is not bound to answer him, but I guess he is, to you." Ryan said, and Eva looked at Daniel, now he was looking uncomfortable. Ryan turned the table in a matter of a few seconds. His reassuring presence was the only thing keeping me from falling apart." All of you, please stop arguing
Emma's POV He was right, but the weight of Daniel's words was pressing heavily on my mind, and I finally broke down. " I am feeling very guilty about lying to my parents l. He's right, Ryan. My parents deserve the truth. This has gone on long enough."Ryan sighed, his expression pained. "Emma, I know this is hard. But if we come clean now, everything we've done will be for nothing. Your parents will never trust you again." He said. I nodded. Tears streamed down my face as I considered the implications. The web of lies had grown too much.He just wiped my tears and pulled me in his arms. For a change I let him hold me as I was feeling very guilty. Finally, I calmed down and realized that I was in his arms, I moved back, getting awkward I had never seen him in such an intimate setting before. The way his shirt strained against his broad shoulders, the way his fingers deftly unbuttoned his cuffs before rolling up his sleeves—it was all too much. He moved with an easy confidence, compl
Emma's POV I grabbed my pajamas—a plain tank top and shorts—and clutched them to my chest as if they could shield me from the intensity of his gaze. "I'm going to change," I said quickly, heading for the bathroom."Take your time," Ryan called after me, his voice laced with amusement. "I'll just be here... waiting."I could practically hear the smirk in his voice, and I had to resist the urge to slam the bathroom door behind me. Once inside, I took a deep breath, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My face was flushed, my eyes wide with a mix of anxiety and something else I wasn't ready to name. This was ridiculous. He was just a man. A man who had agreed to help me out of a tight spot, nothing more.But as I stripped out of my clothes and pulled on my pajamas, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than just a simple arrangement. The way he had held me earlier, when I broke down in front of him, the way he had wiped my tears away so gently... it had felt too re
Emma's POV We fell into an easy conversation after that, swapping stories about our childhoods, our likes and dislikes. For a while, it was almost as if we really were just two friends hanging out, the awkwardness slowly fading away. But every now and then, I would catch him looking at me with a strange intensity, his gaze lingering on my lips or the curve of my neck, and the tension would creep back in.At one point, he reached over to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear, his fingers grazing my skin. The touch was brief, but it sent a shiver down my spine, and I turned my head quickly, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest"Emma, you are so beautiful." he said softly, his voice low and serious now. I swallowed hard, my heart beating faster. " Ryan, You know we don't have to keep up this act when it's just the two of us. You don't have to say all that to me."He was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he reached out and took my hand in his, his thum
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
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
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