Emma's POVI didn’t know how to respond to him, so I simply nodded, though my mind was a whirl of conflicting emotions. I wanted to say that I wasn’t ready for this, that I wasn’t sure if I would ever be ready. But the truth was, I didn’t know if I could accept him as my partner or let go of him now, not after everything we’d been through.Ryan seemed to sense my turmoil, because he didn’t push me for a response. Instead, he took a step back, creating the distance he’d spoken of, though it felt like a physical ache in my chest. He smiled at me, a little ruefully, and said, “Don’t worry, Emma. We’ll figure this out together.”The words were meant to reassure me, but all they did was deepen the conflict inside me. Because as much as I wanted to figure this out, as much as I wanted to believe that we could take things slow and find our way, I couldn’t ignore the past that was weighing down on me.I’d spent my entire life surrounded by men who had no respect for women. My father had treat
Emma's POV The physical attraction between us was undeniable, a spark that seemed to flare every time our eyes met, every time our hands brushed against each other. It was something that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, especially when it felt like it was building, like it was just waiting for the right moment to explode into something more.Shit!! What was happening to me? I couldn’t ignore the way my heart raced whenever he was near, the way my skin tingled whenever he touched me, the way my thoughts kept circling back to him no matter how hard I tried to distract myself. The attraction between us was undeniable, and it was only growing stronger by the day. And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to take that final step, to let go of the fears and doubts that were holding me back.And so we continued our delicate dance, moving closer and then pulling back, never quite crossing the line but never fully retreating either. The tension between us was palpable, a constant underc
Present time...Emma's POV My alarm went off, bringing me back from memory lane. I realized that I didn't sleep a wink for the whole night, just kept thinking about how we met and I didn't even realize that I was going to make the biggest mistake of my life. Shaking my head, I got ready and went to the office, or he would not hesitate to fire everyone on the staff; I could not let it happen to my colleagues, so I went to the office. When I stepped into the office that morning, the atmosphere felt suffocating. The familiar hum of the air conditioner, the muted conversations, and the clatter of keyboards all seemed like distant noises, buried beneath the heavy weight of what lay ahead. After six long years of avoiding Ryan and burying the memories and heartache, I was back in his world, and I was completely unprepared for it.Ryan, my husband...though I struggled not to even think of him in those terms anymore, was now my boss. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, I was to be his assis
Emma's POV Ryan reached for a stack of files on his desk, sliding them toward me. “These need to be reviewed by the end of the day,” he said, his tone was all business now. “I want a detailed report on each one. No mistakes.”I glanced down at the files, noting the sheer volume of work he was piling on me. It was an unreasonable demand—there was no way I could get through all of this in one day, not without sacrificing quality. But I knew that was exactly what he wanted. He was testing me, pushing me to my limits, seeing how far he could go before I snapped.But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. I wouldn’t break, not in front of him.“I’ll get started right away,” I said, reaching for files and getting up to take them away to my cabin. My voice was calm and controlled, even as my stomach twisted in knots. " Stay here; I want you to work here and discuss them with me so that I get to know about the status immediately. We have to work a lot." " Why don't I take them to my cabin,
Emma's POV The next coffee was met with an equally dissatisfied response. “The temperature’s all wrong. I like my coffee hot, not lukewarm.”By the third attempt, Kate was visibly trembling as she placed the cup in front of him. Ryan didn’t even bother to taste it this time. He simply sniffed the aroma and shook his head. “This isn’t what I asked for. Do it again.”What the hell! I watched as Kate’s hands shook while she retrieved the cup and left the room, her eyes wide with panic. It was clear she was terrified of making another mistake, knowing that Ryan’s temper was infamous.The fourth coffee was rejected for being “too strong,” and by the time Kate brought the fifth, she was a bundle of nerves. Her eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and her hands were trembling so much that I feared she might drop the cup.As she walked towards Ryan’s desk, her foot caught on the edge of the rug, and she stumbled. The coffee cup tilted dangerously in her hands, and before I could react, the s
Emma's POV He let out a low chuckle, the sound sending another wave of shivers through me. “You can’t fool me, Emma. I know you.”I didn’t respond, refusing to acknowledge the truth in his words. I had to stay strong, had to keep my emotions in check, but it was becoming increasingly difficult with every passing second.“Do you remember how it used to be between us?” he asked his voice a whisper that sent goosebumps down my arms. “The way you used to look at me, the way you used to touch me?”“Stop it,” I said, my voice shaking as I wiped the last of the coffee from his skin. “This isn’t appropriate.”“Isn’t it?” he murmured, his hand closing around my wrist, holding me in place. “I think it’s exactly what we both need. We both want each other, always have, and still do. ”I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, his fingers warm against my skin. My heart pounded in my chest, the memories of our past crashing over me like a tidal wave. I couldn’t let myself fall into that trap a
Emma's POV I shook my head, trying to regain some semblance of control. "You are highly mistaken. I have buried my past, Ryan. We can’t go back. Too much has happened, and we’re not the same people we used to be." He took a step closer, and I instinctively took another step back, but there was no escaping the intensity of his gaze. "Maybe we’re not the same, but that doesn’t mean this thing between us isn’t real. We owe it to ourselves to see where it could lead." He caressed my temple, my cheeks, and then his hand slid to my neck. I felt a pang of longing in my chest, a small part of me wanting to believe him, to let myself fall back into his arms and forget all the pain that had come between us. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t allow myself to be hurt again."I’m sorry, Ryan," I said, my voice breaking slightly. "I can’t do this. I won’t. I don't have anything for you in me now, I have moved on in my life." I said firmly. "Moved on? No way! With whom?" He raised his eyebrow with a ver
Emma's POV He was still standing behind me while I started removing the stain. I couldn’t stop the thoughts racing through my mind. Though I hated to accept it even to myself, I knew Ryan was right—there was still something between us, something I couldn’t deny, no matter how hard I tried. But that didn’t mean I could let myself fall for him again. I had to stay strong, had to keep my guard up, or I would only end up getting hurt.But as I started to rub the stain from his shirt, I could feel his hot breath caressing my nape, arousing me. Shit!! Stop it! Think of something else. I screamed at myself in my mind. But how could I not think of him when he was standing there behind me like that with his bare, hard chest pressed to my back like that, and his arms were caging me there with his hot breath creating havoc in my body? Oh, God!! Tell him to step back. " Ryan, what do you think you are doing??" I asked getting annoyed. " Watching you cleaning my shirt." He replied like an inn
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