As the figure approached them, Emma’s mind began to race with fear. She recognized him, he’s someone from her past. She had borrowed money from him to take care of Lukas medical bills and hadn’t been able to pay up. Emma cringed behind Ryan as fear gripped her the more,Tte man's ruthless reputation preceded him, and his cold gaze confirmed it. "You've been quite active," he sneered, his tone heavy and cold. “I thought you could hide from me, but it seems you’ve found yourself a new plaything.” He giggled.Ryan's gaze shifted anxiously between Emma and the approaching figure, his chest constricting with a mix of protectiveness and uncertainty.Yes, he gets treats like this considering his personality but the figure standing at his front , he hasn’t seen him before. “Who the hell are you?” Ryan asked with curiosity “Stay out of this,” the man warned, his eyes narrowing. “This is between me and her, pointing his finger towards Emma. “She’s the one who owes me.”Emma felt her stomach d
Emma stood in silence as she watched Ryan, his words hanging in the air with heavy suspicion.“This isn't just about the money, Emma,” he repeated again, looking at Emma straight into her eyeballs.Emma swallowed hard. She felt Ryan's eyes on her, expecting explanations she wasn't prepared to share. But he was right. The money she owed wasn’t the whole truth, and that man’s rage wasn’t just about the debt. There was something she had taken—something personal—that made him furious.“I didn’t just borrow the money,” she whispered, finally breaking the silence. Her fingers twisted nervously in her lap. “I stole something from him… something valuable.”Ryan’s expression darkened. “What was it?”Emma’s throat tightened as she recalled the day she fled. “It was a USB drive,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to take it. It was mixed in with the documents I had. I found out later that it contained… sensitive information. Details about his illegal dealings, blackm
Emma felt her chest tighten as Leah's words bruised through her heart. The sight of the gorgeous dress made her wonder why she felt reluctant to purchase it considering it was worth every penny. She has always been the one running away in college, but this time, something is different. She wasn’t that same girl anymore.She had Ryan’s credit card in her hand, and she wasn’t going to let Leah see her falter.Leah smirked, leaning closer. “I mean, let’s be real. You can't afford it, and I might probably just buy it so you don't come back admiring it. Even though I don't really need it.”Emma’s fingers tightened around the card, her mind racing. She could feel Mia’s protective energy beside her, ready to launch into a sharp retort, but Emma didn’t need defending—not anymore.Without breaking eye contact with Leah, Emma calmly walked toward the register, holding the dress like it was already hers. “Actually, Leah, what you don't know is that time changes,” she said, her voice steady even
“Selena,” Ryan said with a flat tone, his voice cold with warning, “this isn’t the place or time for your drama.”Selena’s eyes flicked toward him briefly before settling back on Emma. “Oh, come on, Ryan. We both know I’m just stating what everyone’s thinking.” She raised an eyebrow, looking Emma up and down with a disgusting look. “You two just don’t seem to fit. But I guess... people go through phases, right? I’ll just be here when it all falls apart.”Emma’s heart raced, but she kept calm and refused to show any reaction to Selena’s hurtful words. “I believe it hurts to be referred to as the past, like I could hear people gossip and refer to you as ‘was Ryan’s girlfriend,’ but guess what? I am the present; deal with it, Selena.”Selena's smile seemed forced, her eyes sparkling with malice. "Touché," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She stepped closer, lowering her tone. "Let's be honest, sweetheart. You think you can keep Ryan's attention for long? Everyone knows we're me
Emma gazed at the sparkling diamond ring on her finger, feeling its heavy presence. The ring symbolized a commitment, but not one born of love or choice. Instead, it represented a binding agreement, a contract that tied her to a stranger.She had always envisioned her dream wedding, with a loving partner, laughter, and joyful tears. But this reality was far from her fantasy. The man she was engaged to was practically a stranger, someone she hadn't fallen for, hadn't shared memories with, or built any connection with.Emma's heart ached, weighed down by the thought of spending her life with someone she didn't truly know or love. The diamond, once a symbol of happiness, now felt like a burden, a constant reminder of her compromised dreams.Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions as she stood frozen in the spotlight, Ryan’s grandfather watching expectantly, the crowd holding their breath.Ryan stayed on one knee, his eyes locked onto hers with a gentle warmth. But despite his calm dem
Alexander stared at his phone, frowning. The message on the screen was from an unknown number, but the content was unmistakably familiar. His private investigator. For years, this PI had been Alexander’s go-to for all kinds of dirt—digging up secrets on business rivals or personal enemies. But this time, the image attached left a strange sensation stirring in Alexander’s chest.He tapped the photo, enlarging it. It was Ryan Miller, down on one knee, proposing to a woman with dark hair. Emma. The caption beneath read: “Did you see this? Word around town is he’s using the engagement to secure his CEO position. Thought you’d want to know.”Alexander leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. Of course, social media did a fast one; their news is currently trending online, but Ryan was playing a game. He always was. This wasn’t love—this was strategy. But why did that woman seem so familiar? He felt a great urge that he had seen her somewhere before; he just couldn’t remember where and how.
Ryan's grandfather focused on his phone. His eyebrows squeezed together, concentrating. He scrolled through the images slowly.Picture 1: Ryan and Emma holding hands. Smiling warmly at each other.Picture 2: Ryan's arm around Emma. Beaming with joy.Picture 3: Emma's head on Ryan's shoulder. Contentment radiated from their faces.The old man's expression changed; he was impressed, a gentle smile emerged, staring back at Ryan and Emma. Doubts melted away. Concerns vanished. The photos revealed a truth: Ryan and Emma were deeply in love. Their connection was real. Heartfelt laughter. Tender touches. Soulful gazes. The old man's heart swelled. His worries disappeared.Emma sat nervously beside Ryan; they were both focused on Grandpa Miller wondering what he was staring at that took away his attention. Emma had been on edge since the proposal; everything happened so fast, and she was worried that his grandfather would uncover their secret. Would he see through their act? Would he realize
Emma's gaze remained locked on the photos in the envelope, her heart racing. She hesitated, unsure if she should continue looking, but an inexplicable force drew her in.It was as if a mix of curiosity and a twisted sense of obligation to this fake relationship kept her eyes glued to the images.Emma struggled to reconcile the Ryan she knew with the disturbing allegations in the reports. The graphic evidence stared back at her: a woman's battered face, eyes filled with fear, her life forever scarred by brutality.The text accompanying the photos was even worse—a police report linking Ryan to an assault that had been buried, hidden under the power and influence of his wealthy family.The room spun as Emma clutched the envelope tightly. How had she missed this? Emma's eyes widened in horror. Ryan's intensity had always been unsettling, but this was monstrous. She backed away, holding the envelope as if it were poison.Her mind raced with anger, disgust, and shock. She had thought their
The hospital room was filled with a heavy tension. Ryan had just said something strong, and the room felt tense. He was breathing quickly, showing how upset he was. He felt overwhelmed with surprise, confusion, and anger. Margaret, who was nearby, looked very shaken. She took a small step forward, wanting to comfort Ryan, but then stopped. Ryan's eyes locked onto hers, and his stare was strong. He was warning her to stay back. "Don't." His voice was low, but clear.The single word was a clear command, and Margaret seemed to understand it. She stopped and didn't know what to do, and the room felt more and more tense.“I don’t want more riddles. I need the truth, not cryptic answers.”Grand Miller exhaled deeply, his expression weary. Mr. Bell put his hand on Ryan's shoulder to calm him down, but Ryan quickly pushed it away. Ryan's frustration was getting stronger, and he was getting angrier.“Enough, Grandfather!” Ryan snapped. “I’m not a child. Whatever it is you’re all hiding—I can
The room was oppressively silent, the word "son" lingering in the air like a shadow refusing to leave. Ryan stared at Margaret, his chest rising and falling heavily, his heart racing in confusion and anger. asked Margaret again, "Who is your son?" His voice was loud and shaking. Margaret took a slow step forward. She opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't find the right words. Tears filled her eyes.Margaret finally spoke in a soft voice. "You are my son, Ryan," she said. Her voice was shaking with emotion. Ryan's face showed that he didn't believe her. He tried to sit up, even though his body was hurt.Ryan looked at Margaret with confusion and anger. "What are you talking about?" he asked. His voice cracked. “Grandfather, what is she saying? Who are these people?”Grand Miller stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Ryan’s shoulder to ease him back down. “Ryan, calm down. You need to rest,” he said firmly, though his voice carried the weight of guilt.“Rest?” Ryan shot back,
The hospital room remained quiet except for the soft hum of machines. Ryan asked a question, and everyone in the room got quiet. Ryan looked around the room at Emma, Grand Miller, and some people he didn't know who were standing near the door.His voice was very rough, but he wanted an answer. "Who are they?" he asked again, looking closely at Emma. He was very tired and still trying to recover his strength, but he wanted to know who the strangers were.Emma moved a little closer to Ryan, gently holding his arm for comfort while she spoke softly. "Ryan, they're here to help you; they… they’re family.”“Family?” Ryan’s brow furrowed, his confusion deepening. He looked to Grand Miller, who stepped closer, his expression a mixture of guilt and caution.“Ryan, there’s a lot to explain,” Grand Miller said carefully. “But right now, you need to rest. You’ve been through so much.”Ryan wasn’t satisfied. “Rest? I’ve been asleep this whole time! Just tell me what’s going on.”Emma bit her lip,
The hospital room felt very tense. Emma was sitting in a chair, biting her nails. She was nervous.Grand Miller was walking back and forth near the window. His hands were behind his back. The doctors had informed them that the transfusion procedure had begun. Time seemed to drag as they waited for news.Every beep of the monitor and every creak of the hospital floor made Emma’s heart leap as she watched the pouch of blood flow reduce drastically. Emma looked at Ryan. Ryan was not moving or making any noise. But he was breathing. His chest was going up and down. It was like his body was fighting against time. Emma whispered softly to herself, "I just want him to wake up.”Grand Miller paused his pacing and turned to her, his expression softening. “He will,” he said, though his voice wavered with uncertainty. “Ryan is a fighter.”Emma nodded, holding onto the doctor's words tightly. The door opened. The doctor came into the room. He was putting on his gloves as he walked in, after which
Morning came with the pale glow of dawn filtering through the hospital blinds. The soft hum of the medical equipment filled the room as Emma stirred in her chair. She blinked groggily, finding Ryan still unconscious, his chest rising and falling steadily.Grand Miller sat nearby, a shadow of his usual composed self. His face looked tired and worried, his skin looked tight, making him look very serious. He sat anxiously, worried about what might happen next. Recent sleepless nights had taken a toll on him, weighed down by concerns about Ryan's situation and the looming uncertainty of the next day. His mind kept racing, making him feel anxious. Just then, there was a gentle knock at the door. Outside were a man and a woman. They looked unsure but also determined.The man was quite tall and had hair that was turning gray. His face was calm, but also very serious and somber. The man looked like he was thinking very hard about something. The woman with him was shorter. She had a nice face,
Mr. Miller answered the phone quickly, his voice trembling with anticipation. Ms. Cleary, a familiar voice, was on the other end. She announced that she had found the contact information for Ryan's biological parents.Grand Miller’s heart skipped a beat. “You did? That’s… thank you, Ms. Cleary. Thank you.”“I’m sending the details to your phone now,” Ms. Cleary said. “But I need to caution you—they may not be eager to respond. You’ll need to approach this delicately.”Grand Miller said "I understand" in a voice that showed he was both relieved and worried. After that, a message suddenly appeared on his screen. It was the phone number of Ryan's biological parents, Mr. Bell, which made Grand Miller think about his painful past that he had tried to forget.As Grand Miller typed the phone number into his phone, his hands trembled badly. He breathed deeply to calm himself and then made the call.The phone started ringing. With every ring, his heart beat faster. He felt his anxiety growing.
Grand Miller sat motionless by the window, his thoughts tangled with regret and apprehension. The city lights outside were shining weakly. But inside, he was struggling with strong feelings. Emma was watching him carefully. She could tell he was trying to make a very important decision.“Mr. Miller,” Emma began cautiously, breaking the silence, “if there’s even the slightest chance his biological family could help, we have to try. It might be the only way.”Grand Miller sighed, his eyes fixed on Ryan’s pale face, thinking of the best way to explain to Emma. “It’s not that simple,” he said, his voice low and burdened.Emma frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”Grand Miller leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply as if preparing himself to reveal something long buried. “Ryan’s biological parents tried to contact him before. Years ago. They wanted to meet him, to build a connection.”Emma’s eyes widened in surprise. “They did? What happened?”“My son—Ryan’s adoptive father—and I… we r
Minutes after the doctor reassured Emma and Selena about Ryan's surgery, Selena decided it was time to leave. She approached Emma with hesitation, her gaze briefly lingering on Ryan’s pale face.“I’ll be on my way,” Selena said softly. “I’m glad he’s stable.”Emma gave a curt nod, too drained to engage further. Selena lingered a moment longer before quietly slipping out of the room.The quiet didn’t last long. Suddenly, loud noise burst from the hospital's main entrance. Emma heard a gentle humming sound growing louder. It was a group of reporters talking excitedly, cameras clicking and flashing brightly.As she turned to look, her heart felt heavy. She knew exactly who was causing all the commotion.A crowd of journalists and photographers swarmed around Ryan's grandfather, Grand Miller. His usually calm face now looked worried and stressed. His eyes scanned the area, searching for someone.Reporters shouted questions and snapped pictures. "Grand Miller, what's Ryan's condition?" "Wi
Emma's eyes locked onto the figure in the doorway, and her heart stuttered. Selena stood there, unexpected and uninvited. The surprise sparked a mix of emotions, tension crackling through the air like electricity. Emma's voice remained steady, but a hint of tension lurked beneath the surface. "What do you want now?" she asked, each word measured and controlled.Selena lifted her chin, stepping closer to Ryan’s bed, her gaze on his still form before flicking up to meet Emma’s. “I’m here because I care about him, Emma. Just as much as you do—maybe more.”Emma’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t about who cares more. He needs peace, not… arguments.”Selena’s expression hardened. "I'm not here to fight," Selena said, her voice firm but controlled. "But let's get one thing straight, Emma: Ryan and I share a deep past, and I won't let you act like you're the only one who matters to him."Emma straightened, her hand still holding Ryan’s as she looked firmly back at Selena. "I'm not pretending anyt