Bound by the Past

Emma’s pov

I wake up to the sound of Michael’s voice, low and tense, coming from the living room. He’s on the phone, and from the snippets I catch, it’s clear he’s talking to his parents. My heart sinks. We were supposed to meet them today, but it sounds like the plan has changed.

After hanging up, Michael walks into the bedroom, his face clouded with concern. “Emma, I’m sorry. We’ll have to postpone meeting my parents. Something’s come up.”

“What’s going on, Michael?” I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice.

“It’s complicated. I promise I’ll explain everything soon,” he says, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “Just trust me.”

I nod, but a knot forms in my stomach. I don’t know how much more uncertainty I can handle.

Later, as I’m sipping my morning coffee, my phone buzzes. It’s a message from Daniel. He’s back in the U.S. and needs to see me urgently. My heart skips a beat. Despite everything, I can’t ignore his request. I need to know what’s going on.

We agree to meet at