After David left, Emma felt a sudden strange emptiness in the house. She tried to distract herself by doing something simple—anything to keep her mind from wandering.
She began tidying up, folding David’s shirts and placing them neatly in the laundry basket. The simple task gave her something to focus on, but as she picked up a particularly crumpled shirt, something in the air caught her attention. A faint scent lingered in the room, one that wasn’t hers. It was floral, sweet, and unmistakably feminine. ‘Perfume,’ she thought, her pulse quickening. Her mind raced as she turned the shirt over in her hands, inhaling deeply. It wasn’t her perfume; in fact, it didn’t even resemble anything she wore. She froze. What was this? The smell felt foreign, out of place. Her heart hammered in her chest, and an uncomfortable tension settled in her stomach. The perfume was subtle, almost as if it had been transferred to the fabric by accident, but the thought that it was someone else's scent—someone else's presence—made her stomach twist. She couldn’t just ignore it. Without thinking, she reached for her phone, dialing her best friend’s number. The phone rang, and as soon as the call connected, Emma couldn’t hold back. “Sophie, I need to talk to you. Something’s wrong.” Sophie, who had always been Emma's pillar of support, didn’t waste any time. “I’m on my way,” she said. It didn’t take long for Sophie to arrive, her steps echoing through the hallway as she made her way into the living room. Emma was sitting on the couch, her phone in hand, her face pale and strained. “What happened?” Sophie asked, concerned. “What’s going on?” Emma told her everything—about the strange scent she had smelled on David’s shirt, the same shirt he had left behind when he rushed out earlier. Sophie listened carefully, her expression serious, but she wasn’t entirely convinced. “Maybe you’re just overthinking it,” Sophie suggested, sitting down beside her. “I mean, David’s a busy man. He has a lot of meetings, a lot of clients. Maybe he just brushed up against someone by accident, or maybe the perfume transferred when he was at the airport.” Emma nodded slowly but didn’t feel reassured. Sophie’s words didn’t sit right with her. There was something about the whole situation that felt off. She wasn’t sure why, but the nagging doubt in her mind wouldn’t let go. “What if... what if I’m not just imagining things?” Emma murmured, looking at the floor. Sophie shook her head. “No, don’t start thinking like that. You’ve been married for two years now. I can see the love between you two. You’ve always been so happy together. Trust him, Emma. He’s not the kind of person to cheat on you. He’s not that kind of man.” Emma bit her lip, trying to suppress the turmoil within her. Sophie’s words, meant to comfort her, only made her feel more uncertain. She couldn’t ignore the feeling in her gut, the feeling that something wasn’t right. She looked at Sophie and sighed. “You know how it started, though. You know that we weren’t supposed to be together. I wasn't his first choice, Sophie.” Sophie’s face softened, and she reached out to gently hold Emma’s hand. “So what? He’s not a child, Emma. No one forced him to marry you. You’re the one he chose. The wedding vows... that was his choice. And honestly, I see how he looks at you. He loves you. I can tell, just by the way he looks at you.” Emma stayed silent, unsure whether to trust her instincts or Sophie’s comforting words. She wasn’t sure whether to believe that everything was fine or that something was truly wrong. But Sophie’s presence, her insistence that Emma believe in her husband, helped to calm her—just a little. Sophie leaned back on the couch, tossing a cushion at Emma. "You’re being dramatic, Emma. Maybe it’s just some old lady who spritzed her perfume too close to David at the airport. You know how people are." Emma caught the cushion, rolling her eyes. "Old lady? Soph, it smelled like ROSES, not mothballs." "Fine, maybe it was a young, extremely polite lady who bumped into him. You think he’s out there juggling secret perfumes while running a billion-dollar company? Come on." Sophie grinned, nudging Emma with her elbow. Emma tried to stifle a laugh but failed. "Okay, fine, when you put it like that, I do sound ridiculous." "Exactly!" Sophie said, clapping her hands. "Now, let’s talk about more important things. Like why your fridge has no ice cream. How are we supposed to have a crisis without ice cream?" Emma chuckled, the weight in her chest lifting slightly. "A crisis? You’re impossible, you know that?" "Someone’s gotta be, with you moping around." Sophie winked. Just as Emma thought she might be able to forget about it, her phone lit up with a new text message. She picked it up, half-expecting it to be something trivial, but as soon as she saw the sender, her heart dropped. Anonymous. She opened the message, her fingers trembling. Sophie immediately noticed something was off. Emma’s smile had vanished, replaced by a vacant, pale expression as her phone lit up beside her. “Emma?” Sophie asked, her voice cautious. When Emma didn’t respond, Sophie picked up the phone herself. Below it was a photo of David standing at the entrance of a hotel, his face unmistakable. Beside him was a woman clinging to his arm, her posture intimate. Sophie’s breath caught. She glanced at Emma, who looked frozen in place. “Emma…” Sophie’s voice was soft but heavy with worry. The truth in the photo didn’t need explaining. It said everything."Hey, I know this feels crazy, but we’re doing the right thing. You deserve answers," Sophie said, trying to sound reassuring.Emma nodded, but the knot in her stomach only tightened. She took deep breaths, muttering and convincing herself that she indeed was doing the right thing and deserved answers.Sophie parked outside the hotel, her unease growing as she glanced at Emma, who was pale and silent. Inside the lobby, the buzz of activity only made Emma feel more overwhelmed. “Now what?” Emma murmured, her voice barely audible. “We don’t even know his room number.” Sophie shot her a reassuring look. “Leave it to me.” Marching up to the lobby manager, Sophie greeted him with her usual charm. “Hi! It’s Emma’s anniversary today, and she’s here to surprise her husband, David. Could you help us find his room?” “Ms. Evans! Mrs. Lawson! It’s an honor to see you both again," the manager greeted them with a warm smile. When he heard Sophie's request, he hesitated, his polite smile fa
The moment Emma saw the woman standing in the doorway, her world seemed to shatter. Her legs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed to the ground in shock. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the woman's face — a face she knew all too well. It was the face that haunted her dreams, the face of the woman who had once been the love of David’s life. A breathless, broken whisper escaped Emma’s lips as she called out, “Sister.”Sophie, sensing the growing tension in the room, gave Emma a subtle glance before quietly excusing herself. "Uh, I think I’ll just... give you two some space. Catch you later, Emma," she said, slipping out of the room without another word, leaving Emma standing frozen at the doorway.The air in the room grew thick with awkwardness as Emma and her sister, Allison, stood facing each other. For a moment, neither spoke, the silence hanging heavily between them. Then, finally, Allison took a small step forward, her smile gentle as she opened her arms."Emma," she sa
The car rolled through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space between them. Emma stared out of the window, her eyes distant, lost in thoughts she couldn't share. David, sitting beside her, felt the heavy silence pressing against him. He couldn’t ignore it any longer. The tension in the air was thick, suffocating, and he couldn’t stand it. But when he glanced at her, he froze. Her face was pale, and there was a flicker of hurt in her teary eyes. He couldn’t tell if it was from the argument earlier or something else entirely, but the sight of her tears made his chest tighten.David’s heart raced, a feeling he was not used to. As CEO, he was accustomed to facing high-pressure situations without the slightest hesitation. His composure never wavered, yet in this moment, all of his usual confidence crumbled. He could feel panic bubbling up, and before he could stop himself, he slammed his foot on the brake and pulled the car to the side of the road.“Emm
David and Emma arrived at the manor where Allison was holding her welcome party. The long hallway led them to the grand banquet hall, where the sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air. Guests were clustered in small groups, conversing animatedly as waiters in crisp uniforms walked silently by, offering drinks. The atmosphere was warm, lively, but for Emma, it felt stifling. She scanned the crowd, quickly realizing that the majority of the guests were Allison’s friends, the same people who had always made Emma feel like an outsider.A group of young women, standing at a table near the center, exchanged sharp glances as they noticed Emma entering. Their eyes flickered with disdain, and they made their way toward her. Emma recognized them immediately; Allison’s besties. She sighed inwardly, wondering, for the hundredth time, why her sister’s girlfriends had always been so hostile toward her. One of them, Michelle, raised an eyebrow and offered a faint smile that never quite rea
When Emma stepped through the door of their home, the weight of the evening’s events bore down on her, pushing her to the edge. The laughter, the whispers, and her sister’s perfect life all seemed to mock her. The necklace, her sister’s words, and the knowing smiles of the guests lingered in her mind like an unbearable weight. She couldn’t take it any longer. The anger and confusion surged inside her, and without a second thought, she turned to face David.“David, what else are you hiding from me?” she demanded, her voice trembling with frustration. “How many more lies have you told me? What else have you been keeping from me?” David, caught off guard by the intensity in her voice, stood frozen for a moment. His gentle wife, usually calm and composed, was sounding so bitter and angry, and it struck him harder than he’d expected. He knew the party had hurt her deeply, but he hadn’t anticipated her confronting him so directly. “Emma, please,” he began, stepping closer, his voice soft
The soft glow of the chandelier illuminated the dining room of David's grandfather's mansion, casting a warm, golden light over the elegant table set for an intimate family dinner.David and Emma had arrived not long ago, greeted with open arms by grandpa, an imposing yet kind-hearted man who had always held Emma in high regard. "Emma, my dear," grandpa said with a wide smile, rising from his chair as they entered. His eyes lit up with genuine affection as he approached her. "It's been far too long since you’ve graced this house with your presence." Emma returned his smile, her thin frame and weary eyes betraying the burdens she had been carrying lately. But she masked her emotions, unwilling to trouble the old man with her worries. “I've missed you, Grandpa,” she said softly and hugged him warmly.Noticing her pale face up close, Grandpa immediately clapped his hands to summon a servant. "Prepare Emma’s favorite dessert immediately," he commanded. Then, turning back to Emma, h
Emma groaned softly as she opened her eyes to wake up to an empty bed. David hadn't come home at all, instead he chose to stay with Allison, who had acted weak and desperate for sympathy the night before. But Emma knew better; her sister's asthma was rarely severe anymore, and fainting was likely a manipulative tactic. Yet, David had stayed with her all night. A sudden ringing cut through her thoughts. She grabbed her phone quickly, hoping it was David. But when she saw the name on the screen, her heart sank. It was her friend, Sophie.“I'm picking you up soon. Get dressed and let’s go out. You need a break,” Sophie declared before Emma could even utter a word, leaving no room for argument.Emma managed a weak smile and agreed, grateful for her friend’s concern, though she wasn’t sure if a distraction would really make her feel better. Still, she needed something—anything—to take her mind off of the mess her life had become.---Meanwhile, David remained at Allison’s side, watching
Emma sat across from Sophie in the quiet restaurant, her gaze unfocused and fixed on the table. The remnants of their lunch were still on the table, but Emma wasn’t hungry.Sophie glanced at her phone, a brief frown crossing her face. Looking up, she noticed Emma sitting quietly, her gaze fixed on the table, lost in thought. "I have something I need to take care of, Em," Sophie said, her voice suddenly calling Emma's attention. "I’ll step outside to make a quick call." Emma, completely immersed in her thoughts, gave a faint nod, barely acknowledging Sophie’s words as she continued staring blankly at the table.A few minutes passed before someone slid into the seat across from her. Assuming it was Sophie, Emma didn’t look up.A deep, magnetic voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her attention away. “Here’s your favorite dessert. Want to try it?” Emma froze. Her head snapped up, and she met David’s tender gaze. He was sitting across from her, holding out a plate.Her face darken
"Christian… would you… be willing to be with me?”The moment the words left Emma's mouth, she shut her eyes, unsure if she had said too much or not enough. Her heart was pounding now.There was a pause on the other end. For a second, she thought maybe the line had gone dead.Then his voice came through, gentle and serious."Are you still at home?" he asked."Yes," she replied quietly."Don’t go anywhere. Just wait for me."Before she could say anything else, he hung up.Christian stared at his phone for a second, as if trying to process what just happened. Then a wide smile spread across his face. His heart raced, his hands felt a little shaky, but in the best way possible.Without wasting a second, he grabbed his keys and headed straight for the door. He didn’t care how late it was or how tired he felt. All he knew was that he needed to see Emma right now. When Christian got to Emma’s apartment, he didn’t even wait for her to buzz him in—she was already by the door, waiting.He stoo
Christian pulled up in front of Emma's house. The car ride had been quiet, really quiet. As he parked, Emma unbuckled her seatbelt and said, "Thank you." Her voice was soft, almost distant.Christian watched her closely as she reached for the door handle. He wanted to say something—anything—that would make her pause, look back, maybe smile. But Emma just stared ahead, her face tired and unreadable.Before she could step out, he gently reached for her hand.“Emma,” he said softly, “how are you feeling?”She turned her eyes to him, surprised by the touch. There was a long silence before she finally shrugged.“I’m okay,” she muttered, but even she didn’t sound convinced.Christian gave her hand a small squeeze. “Don’t think too much about everything that happened tonight, alright? I know it feels heavy right now, but things will settle. Your dad… he’ll come around.”Emma let out a bitter scoff and looked away. “You think so? He’s too wrapped up in Isabel and Allison’s vines of lies to s
Christian stepped out of the car and walked straight toward David. His face was cold, and his eyes were sharp."I've given you enough chances, David," Christian said firmly. "More than once, and now, you've lost all your chances."David frowned, confused by the sudden confrontation. Before he could ask what Christian meant, Christian went on."I gave you the first chance to protect Emma. You failed. Then, I gave you a second chance—this time, to take her away with you. I deliberately stayed out of it, hoping you'd finally make a move. But, as always, you hesitated.”David opened his mouth to respond, but Christian cut him off."You decided to still be the same coward Emma fell in love with five years ago," Christian said bluntly.David's eyes showed a flicker of emotion, but he tried to stay calm. Christian just didn't care."Do you know the difference between the both of us?” Christian suddenly asked. “You don't need to answer that; I'll tell you myself. You're a very selfish man.”"
Christian didn’t waste anymore second.He stepped forward and pulled Emma’s hand away from David’s grip. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp and cold. There was no need for words—his action said it all.“It’s getting late already,” Christian said, “Since the restaurant manager is here to handle things, and no one’s talking about what happened anymore. So, I guess everything’s fine and we can take our leave now.”David stayed quiet, his hands by his side, but his eyes followed Emma sadly.Christian turned to Mathew and gave a small, stiff nod. “Thank you for your hospitality tonight,” he said.And just like that, he turned to leave with Emma by his side.But they hadn’t gone far when Mathew called out.“Emma,” he said loudly.They stopped walking. Emma turned around slowly, her face calm but tired.Mathew walked toward her with a guilty look on his face. His voice was quiet and unsure.“I’m sorry… for how things turned out tonight,” he said. “I-”“This is the last time,” she sai
The garden had fallen into complete silence. Allison's words hung heavy in the air, like a bitter fog no one could escape from.David stood frozen, still holding Emma's wrist, but the strength in his fingers slowly weakened. His mind was in chaos, and guilt spread through his heart. Allison's voice kept repeating in his head, making him wonder if he had truly failed as a father.Emma felt David's grip loosen. She looked up at him and saw the guilt written clearly on his face. Her heart ached as she realized what he was thinking. He believed Allison's words. He believed he had been a bad father.Emma couldn’t stay silent anymore. Enough was enough. For too long, she had allowed Allison to control the conversation with her false accusations, her self-pity, and her guilt-tripping. But not anymore.She pulled her hand away gently from David and stepped forward, facing Allison head-on. There was a cold sneer on her lips as her sharp gaze met Allison's teary, dramatic expression."I don’t c
Christian, standing silently at Emma's side, had his eyes fixed on Isabel, but even he couldn't predict what was about to happen. He froze for a second, caught off guard. His instincts screamed for him to protect Emma, to shield her from the flying vase, but before his body could react, another figure shot past him at lightning speed.In that split second, Emma, standing still in shock, raised her arms halfway to shield herself. Her eyelids tightly closed, bracing for the sharp sting of glass and the crushing pain that was sure to follow.But the pain never came.Instead, she felt something else entirely. Strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a protective embrace.CRASH! The vase smashed against the figure's back with a loud, bone-jarring crack. The sound made Emma flinch even more as she closed her eyes even more tightly. Her heart was racing, her breath hitched, but the arms around her didn’t loosen even an inch.A loud voice broke through the heavy silence that followe
The commotion from the garden was impossible to ignore.The loud noise quickly pulled the attention of the guests inside the restaurant. Mathew and his family were not left out. They hurried to the garden, confused and anxious, only to find Allison sitting on the grass, tears running down her face. Emma stood a few feet away, her hands on her waist, her face calm but cold.Isabel let out a gasp the moment her eyes landed on Allison. Without a second thought, she rushed to her daughter’s side, crouching and cupping Allison's cheeks with trembling hands, her voice breaking as she asked, "Allison, what happened?! Who did this to you?!”Allison didn’t answer right away. She was in so much pain that she could barely speak. She was holding her cheeks, which still stung from the heavy slaps Emma had given her. For once, she wasn't faking the pain or the tears. Her head felt light, almost dizzy, from the force of the slaps.David, who had also seen the heartbreaking sight, stepped closer.
Emma wasn't surprised to see Allison standing there, blocking her path in the garden.In fact, she had half-expected it. Ever since the moment Allison had leaned forward at the dinner table, hiding behind her fake smiles and pitiful acts, Emma had sensed that she was likely to find her and cause trouble.There was a flicker in Allison's eyes, a hint of mischief beneath the polished act, and now, standing just a few feet away, that same flicker had transformed into a full-blown, wicked smile.Allison stepped closer, the expression of a wronged saint from the dining room now entirely gone, replaced by the one Emma remembered all too well."I did a wonderful job choosing this restaurant, right?" Allison asked, her lips curling as she spoke. The sweetness in her tone had vanished, and the woman standing before Emma was the real Allison — sharp, manipulative, and utterly unrepentant.Emma met her gaze, her face calm but her chest heavy with old memories. Her stomach twisted, not from fear
Emma let out a long, tired sigh. She placed her fork down on her plate, her appetite already gone even before the main course arrived. The shrimp cocktail she had been picking at just moments ago now sat untouched. No matter how fresh and well-prepared it looked, the sight of it no longer appealed to her. Her stomach twisted with frustration instead of hunger.Would these two ever stop? David and Christian were just throwing jabs at each other like schoolboys fighting over the last piece of candy. She had come here hoping, even though she knew it was almost impossible, for a quiet dinner, maybe even a little peace since Allison and Isabel hadn't said or played out any of their dramas yet.But instead, it felt like sitting in the middle of a war zone, with indirect insults flying across the table like wild bullets. The air at the table had grown thick and uncomfortable. Even Mathew, old as he was, wasn’t blind to the tension. He cleared his throat, loud enough for everyone to hear.