Mathew had just finished freshening up after a long day. He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his shirt. The warm water had washed away the fatigue from his body, but not the heaviness from his mind. The evening had started with a confrontation he hadn’t expected, and the stormy look in Emma’s eyes earlier still lingered in his memory.He sighed and reached for his phone, intending to check the time, when it suddenly rang.It was Ernest, an old friend and business partner."Mathew, how are you doing?" Ernest called out over the phone. "Just calling to remind you that we’re all meeting at the golf center tomorrow, same time. Hope you’ll make it?"Mathew let out a soft chuckle. "I’ll be there. I could really use the relaxation.""Good," Ernest replied. "We all need a break sometimes. Alright then, see you tomorrow.""See you," Mathew said, ending the call.The call ended, and Mathew slipped the phone into his pocket. He stepped toward the balcony, opening the glass doors to let t
The long dining table was filled with various dishes, carefully prepared and arranged. Mathew sat at the head of the table, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. But his eyes were not on the food.They were focused entirely on Claire.The little girl sat quietly beside her mother, politely using her fork and spoon as she ate.Mathew found himself watching her more than he intended to. He observed the way Emma gently peeled the bones from the fish before placing them on Claire's plate. And every time, Claire would softly say, "Thank you, Mummy," before continuing her meal.There was something about the way she did it that stirred something within Mathew. He hadn’t expected it, but there it was. A warmth tugged at him. He told himself it was just curiosity. But deep down, a small voice whispered the truth he wasn’t ready to hear.He was beginning to like the child.She had a calm aura, and her gentle smile reminded him of someone. Of Emma—when she was much younger, before li
Ever since the dinner a few weeks ago, Mathew had developed a habit that Emma was slowly getting used to. He kept calling her almost every other day, each time with the same question: "When are you bringing Claire over again?" It had started out casually, almost as if he just wanted to spend time with his granddaughter, but now it was becoming predictable. A pattern. So when Emma’s phone buzzed that afternoon and she saw her father's name lighting up the screen, she knew exactly why he was calling. She picked up the phone with a weary sigh. "Hello, Dad." “Emma,” Mathew's voice came through, firm and deliberate. “How’s Claire?” There it was. “She’s fine, Dad. She’s just finishing up her drawings,” Emma replied, already anticipating the next line. “I want you both to come to the house this evening. I have something very important to announce to the family.” Emma hesitated. “This evening? I might need to check my schedule—” “Emma,” Mathew cut in, his tone more ser
“What?!” Isabel shot up from her seat. “You’re giving company shares to her child?”“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Allison said, standing too. “Dad, that’s absurd! Claire is—she’s just a child! She doesn’t even have a father publicly acknowledged! What will people think?”“That I’m honoring my blood,” Mathew said coolly. “Moreover, I also gave Henry part of my shares too, didn’t I?”“Henry’s case is different!” Isabel pointed at Emma. “So you’re rewarding her for getting pregnant out of wedlock?”Emma stood up, unable to listen anymore. “That’s enough, Isabel.”But Mathew didn’t even flinch. Rather, he took Emma's hand into his- a silent reassurance that he had everything under control, and she had nothing to worry about.“This has nothing to do with Emma’s past and everything to do with Claire’s future. If I had known about my granddaughter from the start, I would’ve done this long ago. I won’t deprive Claire of her inheritance.”Isabel paced now, clearly agitated. “Mathew, you’re j
David burst through the door of the hospital room, his face pale with worry.He scanned the room, his eyes immediately falling on Henry, who lay unconscious on the bed, surrounded by beeping monitors and sterile white sheets."What happened?" David's voice trembled slightly.He rushed quickly to Henry’s side, looking from the doctor to Allison."Is he going to be okay?"Allison, standing at the foot of the bed, flinched at his arrival. She had been standing there, her eyes so glued to Henry that she didn't realize the moment he entered.David’s eyes darted between the doctor and Henry. He needed answers… now."The doctors are still evaluating him," the nurse at the side of the bed murmured. "But he’s currently out of immediate danger. He’s stable for now."David nodded absently, his mind still racing. He quickly turned back to Allison."What happened, Allison?" he repeated, his voice growing more urgent. "Why didn’t you call me sooner?"Allison shook her head, trying to hold back her
David stepped out of Henry’s room, the door clicking softly shut behind him. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, his brows knit tightly in thought. He hadn’t even taken more than a few steps before he spotted Emma walking briskly down the hallway toward him, her posture rigid, her expression unreadable. He paused when he saw her. Emma's father had been the one to call him and had told him about the sudden collapse, about how Emma had performed CPR on Henry, and how it was thanks to her that Henry was still alive at all.But Mathew hadn’t told him everything.He hadn’t told him how Allison had managed to pin the blame on Claire and accused the little girl of being responsible.The mere idea felt absurd. Claire? The gentle, sweet, innocent child he'd met? No. That couldn’t be.As Emma neared him, she showed no sign of stopping. She looked straight ahead as if he wasn’t even there. David saw the slight tension in her jaw, the determination in her eyes. She was angry…rightful
David stood by the door, watching quietly as Emma spoke in hushed tones with the doctor treating Claire.He couldn’t hear what was being said, but his eyes stayed fixed on the two of them—on Emma gently rubbing Claire’s back, brushing a few strands of hair from her daughter’s forehead, and then wrapping her in a soft hug. Claire clung to her for a moment before Emma leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.There was something in the way Emma lingered for just a second longer—like she didn’t want to let go for a second.And then, she walked away through the opposite side of the hospital room.David remained where he was, unsure for a moment whether to stay or leave. But something in his chest tugged him forward. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was concern. Maybe it was something he didn’t even want to name.He slowly stepped into the room.Claire was sitting up on the hospital bed, her small fingers toying with the edge of the blanket covering her. She looked up when she heard his footst
Emma?David stepped onto the terrace, his eyes immediately drawn to a figure curled up in the corner.Emma sat there, her back against the wall, knees drawn to her chest, and her face buried in her arms. Her shoulders trembled with each silent sob. The sight of her like this tugged at David's heart.He approached slowly, careful not to startle her. Without saying a word, he sat down beside her, leaving a respectful distance. The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. Emma didn’t lift her head right away. She stayed still for a long moment, her face hidden behind her arms, as the tears quietly soaked her sleeves. She could feel David’s presence sitting beside her without saying a word. He didn’t rush her or ask questions. He simply waited.Finally, after what felt like forever, Emma slowly raised her head. Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, met his. There was no need for words between them. The moment their eyes locked, without a second thought, he reached out and
Allison was busy going through her phone in the hospital ward, trying to kill the boredom surrounding her, when she suddenly heard the door open. She looked up, and her eyes met her mother’s. Isabel stepped inside with her usual calm expression, closing the door gently behind her.For a second, neither of them spoke. Isabel walked over and placed her handbag on the chair before sitting down beside her daughter.“Mother,” Allison greeted, putting her phone aside and straightening up a little.Isabel returned her greeting with a soft nod, her sharp eyes scanning her daughter’s face, as though trying to read her emotions. After a short silence, Isabel spoke first.“How’s Henry doing?” she asked in a quiet tone.Allison sighed, her face pulling into a tired frown. “The doctor said his heart was a bit weak from too much running around. That’s what made him collapse, but... they assured me he’s getting better.”Isabel gave a small nod, her fingers lightly tapping against the armrest. “That
Emma?David stepped onto the terrace, his eyes immediately drawn to a figure curled up in the corner.Emma sat there, her back against the wall, knees drawn to her chest, and her face buried in her arms. Her shoulders trembled with each silent sob. The sight of her like this tugged at David's heart.He approached slowly, careful not to startle her. Without saying a word, he sat down beside her, leaving a respectful distance. The silence between them was heavy, but not uncomfortable. Emma didn’t lift her head right away. She stayed still for a long moment, her face hidden behind her arms, as the tears quietly soaked her sleeves. She could feel David’s presence sitting beside her without saying a word. He didn’t rush her or ask questions. He simply waited.Finally, after what felt like forever, Emma slowly raised her head. Her eyes, red and swollen from crying, met his. There was no need for words between them. The moment their eyes locked, without a second thought, he reached out and
David stood by the door, watching quietly as Emma spoke in hushed tones with the doctor treating Claire.He couldn’t hear what was being said, but his eyes stayed fixed on the two of them—on Emma gently rubbing Claire’s back, brushing a few strands of hair from her daughter’s forehead, and then wrapping her in a soft hug. Claire clung to her for a moment before Emma leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.There was something in the way Emma lingered for just a second longer—like she didn’t want to let go for a second.And then, she walked away through the opposite side of the hospital room.David remained where he was, unsure for a moment whether to stay or leave. But something in his chest tugged him forward. Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was concern. Maybe it was something he didn’t even want to name.He slowly stepped into the room.Claire was sitting up on the hospital bed, her small fingers toying with the edge of the blanket covering her. She looked up when she heard his footst
David stepped out of Henry’s room, the door clicking softly shut behind him. His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, his brows knit tightly in thought. He hadn’t even taken more than a few steps before he spotted Emma walking briskly down the hallway toward him, her posture rigid, her expression unreadable. He paused when he saw her. Emma's father had been the one to call him and had told him about the sudden collapse, about how Emma had performed CPR on Henry, and how it was thanks to her that Henry was still alive at all.But Mathew hadn’t told him everything.He hadn’t told him how Allison had managed to pin the blame on Claire and accused the little girl of being responsible.The mere idea felt absurd. Claire? The gentle, sweet, innocent child he'd met? No. That couldn’t be.As Emma neared him, she showed no sign of stopping. She looked straight ahead as if he wasn’t even there. David saw the slight tension in her jaw, the determination in her eyes. She was angry…rightful
David burst through the door of the hospital room, his face pale with worry.He scanned the room, his eyes immediately falling on Henry, who lay unconscious on the bed, surrounded by beeping monitors and sterile white sheets."What happened?" David's voice trembled slightly.He rushed quickly to Henry’s side, looking from the doctor to Allison."Is he going to be okay?"Allison, standing at the foot of the bed, flinched at his arrival. She had been standing there, her eyes so glued to Henry that she didn't realize the moment he entered.David’s eyes darted between the doctor and Henry. He needed answers… now."The doctors are still evaluating him," the nurse at the side of the bed murmured. "But he’s currently out of immediate danger. He’s stable for now."David nodded absently, his mind still racing. He quickly turned back to Allison."What happened, Allison?" he repeated, his voice growing more urgent. "Why didn’t you call me sooner?"Allison shook her head, trying to hold back her
“What?!” Isabel shot up from her seat. “You’re giving company shares to her child?”“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Allison said, standing too. “Dad, that’s absurd! Claire is—she’s just a child! She doesn’t even have a father publicly acknowledged! What will people think?”“That I’m honoring my blood,” Mathew said coolly. “Moreover, I also gave Henry part of my shares too, didn’t I?”“Henry’s case is different!” Isabel pointed at Emma. “So you’re rewarding her for getting pregnant out of wedlock?”Emma stood up, unable to listen anymore. “That’s enough, Isabel.”But Mathew didn’t even flinch. Rather, he took Emma's hand into his- a silent reassurance that he had everything under control, and she had nothing to worry about.“This has nothing to do with Emma’s past and everything to do with Claire’s future. If I had known about my granddaughter from the start, I would’ve done this long ago. I won’t deprive Claire of her inheritance.”Isabel paced now, clearly agitated. “Mathew, you’re j
Ever since the dinner a few weeks ago, Mathew had developed a habit that Emma was slowly getting used to. He kept calling her almost every other day, each time with the same question: "When are you bringing Claire over again?" It had started out casually, almost as if he just wanted to spend time with his granddaughter, but now it was becoming predictable. A pattern. So when Emma’s phone buzzed that afternoon and she saw her father's name lighting up the screen, she knew exactly why he was calling. She picked up the phone with a weary sigh. "Hello, Dad." “Emma,” Mathew's voice came through, firm and deliberate. “How’s Claire?” There it was. “She’s fine, Dad. She’s just finishing up her drawings,” Emma replied, already anticipating the next line. “I want you both to come to the house this evening. I have something very important to announce to the family.” Emma hesitated. “This evening? I might need to check my schedule—” “Emma,” Mathew cut in, his tone more ser
The long dining table was filled with various dishes, carefully prepared and arranged. Mathew sat at the head of the table, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. But his eyes were not on the food.They were focused entirely on Claire.The little girl sat quietly beside her mother, politely using her fork and spoon as she ate.Mathew found himself watching her more than he intended to. He observed the way Emma gently peeled the bones from the fish before placing them on Claire's plate. And every time, Claire would softly say, "Thank you, Mummy," before continuing her meal.There was something about the way she did it that stirred something within Mathew. He hadn’t expected it, but there it was. A warmth tugged at him. He told himself it was just curiosity. But deep down, a small voice whispered the truth he wasn’t ready to hear.He was beginning to like the child.She had a calm aura, and her gentle smile reminded him of someone. Of Emma—when she was much younger, before li
Mathew had just finished freshening up after a long day. He stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his shirt. The warm water had washed away the fatigue from his body, but not the heaviness from his mind. The evening had started with a confrontation he hadn’t expected, and the stormy look in Emma’s eyes earlier still lingered in his memory.He sighed and reached for his phone, intending to check the time, when it suddenly rang.It was Ernest, an old friend and business partner."Mathew, how are you doing?" Ernest called out over the phone. "Just calling to remind you that we’re all meeting at the golf center tomorrow, same time. Hope you’ll make it?"Mathew let out a soft chuckle. "I’ll be there. I could really use the relaxation.""Good," Ernest replied. "We all need a break sometimes. Alright then, see you tomorrow.""See you," Mathew said, ending the call.The call ended, and Mathew slipped the phone into his pocket. He stepped toward the balcony, opening the glass doors to let t