I took a deep breath and turned to look towards Eric. As soon as my attention was on him, and Tina and everybody else in the boardroom had already left, he full-blown started laughing. A booming voice, just laughing, like someone who was on the verge of blasting, on the verge of full-blown blowing up. I was just about to talk to him, but then I realized that our discussion was not going to turn out well. He was going to do one of his spectacles, and today was not the day for him to test me. After all, he had done, today was not the day that he thought he was going to try and cause a commotion.So I started putting my things in order and then stood up."So you're just going to leave?" he asked. He was seared while removing his tie and buttoning the top of his buttons."What do you want, Eric?" I asked him pointedly."You're not going to do it, are you?""I'm not going to do what, Eric?" I responded my voice calm but edged with impatience. "Ask specific questions so I know how to answ
Eric took a deep breath as he looked at me. The room was charged with silence as the two of us stared at each other until he asked, "Why are you really marrying her, Dad? Why are you really marrying Mina? I mean, do you know how people make fun of me? My own father taking my wife away from me, I am the laughing stock of this whole city. I can't even go out with my friends anymore because all they do is make fun of me. You're making a mockery of me. I mean, what kind of a father marries his son's wife?" I cut him off before he could go further. "I'll stop you right there, Eric. Mina is no longer your wife. Why can't you just get it in your head? You are no longer married to Mina. She is your ex-wife. She is no longer married to you. She is my fiancée. You are married, but not to Mina. You are married to Rita. That's who your wife is. You cheated on your wife, Mina, and you divorced her. Just comprehend that you slept with your wife's sister when the two of you were married for m
“What?” I asked her, my tone steady but my mind racing.Tina sighed, shaking her head as if the answer was obvious to everyone but me. “Oh, come on. It ain’t right. I mean, Mina, seriously? She was like a daughter to you. You used to be a father figure to her. I mean, she saw you as her father. You and Robert were friends when he was alive. She was like your little girl in those days.”“Yeah, I know,” I cut her off before she could go further. “You’re stating the obvious. Do you think I don’t know that? You think this is news to me?” I looked at her, my eyes steady, unwilling to let her manipulate the conversation further.But she wasn’t done. She pushed forward with her charade, relentless in her questioning. “And to top it all off, she was married to your son.”I stopped her with a firm tone. “I also know that, Tina.”She continued, undeterred, “Your only son. Your only heir. The only blood relation you have in this world. She was married to him, and you’re still going to get marrie
I couldn’t help myself. I suddenly burst out laughing. It wasn’t a polite chuckle or a suppressed giggle. It was a full-blown, gut-wrenching laugh that echoed in the room. My stomach ached, and I had to lean back in my chair to steady myself. The absurdity of it all hit me like a tidal wave, and I couldn’t contain it.When I finally looked up, wiping tears from my eyes, I saw Tina Flager’s face. She was staring at me, astonished and horrified, her lips parted in disbelief. Her expression only made it harder to stop, but I managed to rein myself in.“I’m sorry, Tina,” I said, holding up a hand as I struggled to catch my breath. “I’m sorry. That was either the biggest insult I’ve ever received in my life or the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. And instead of choosing the dark side, I decided to find it funny. It’s funny.”Tina didn’t respond. Her eyes stayed fixed on me, her disbelief unwavering. I pressed on, my voice now tinged with a mix of amusement and exasperation.“I mean, how lon
"What do you want me to do? How do you want me to make this right?" I asked Tina, my voice steady but weary as I watched her and waited to hear what she had to say.“For starters, I want to see Mina,” she said, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.“That’s fine. She’ll be coming to work tomorrow, and the two of you can sit down and talk, whatever you want.” I offered.“No,” she interjected firmly. “I will be leaving tomorrow night. I want to have dinner with her before I leave.”“Tomorrow then,” I replied, nodding. “Not a problem. Do you want it to be just the two of you or would you want me there?”“No,” she said with a faint smile. “I’m in town, and I haven’t seen my friend in such a long time. Plus, I’m here with my son, and I want him to meet Mina before the two of them start working together.”“Okay. What do you propose?” I asked, trying to gauge her intent.“I want us to have a family dinner together, my family and yours” she declared. “I’ll come with my son. You come with M
Mina"So, what do you think?" I asked Emerson, my voice steady, but my heart was pounding so hard it felt like the beats might echo through the room. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. It was alive, alive and nervous because I had no idea what Emerson was thinking.What if I had made a massive mistake? What if this was too soon? What if all those beautiful days in Paris didn’t mean we were ready for this step? What if I had completely misread the signals?"Hmm," he finally said, his tone neutral as he walked past me, and then turned around.I couldn’t read his expression, only the broad line of his shoulders and the way he moved, deliberate but calm. He glanced around the room, his silence stretching until I couldn’t bear it any longer.He was standing there, the same unreadable look on his face.“Come on,” I said, my voice shaky but light, trying to mask my nerves. “What do you think? Just tell me. Give it to me straight.”“Um… it’s not bad,” he said, shrugging.“Not bad?” I repeated, my
Thank you for making my day," Emmerson said, his voice soft and genuine as his eyes locked with mine, holding my gaze in a way that made my heart skip. He wasn’t just saying words; he was letting me feel them. He wanted me to understand, to truly grasp what he meant. And I did.I saw it in his expression, the sincerity in his tone. I understood him completely, and more than that, I believed him. Every single word.“This has turned out to be a very good day," he continued, his lips curving into a smile that felt like the sun breaking through clouds. "And I’m sure it’s going to be even better, all because of you." He paused as if searching for the perfect words to express himself. "Thank you.”I felt a warm flush in my chest at his appreciation. But then his expression shifted slightly, just enough to catch my attention. A shadow of something darker flickered in his eyes. "Because yesterday…" he trailed off,“Yesterday was a total disaster.” His shoulders tensed as he exhaled, shaking h
I was still coming down from my high, the adrenaline and warmth coursing through me, and I wanted to say something—anything. Before I could, his phone rang again."Sorry," he said, letting me go as he moved toward the phone and picked it up. His brow furrowed as he answered. "What's so urgent?" he asked, his tone clipped but controlled.As he listened to whoever was on the other end of the phone, I decided to get up. I headed into the bathroom for a long, cold shower, the rush of water grounding me. By the time I emerged, wrapped in a towel, he was still on the phone, pacing the room and giving instructions.I moved into the wardrobe, deciding to focus on myself. I applied oil to my skin, carefully following my skincare routine, and then picked out something light and comfortable for the day. As I worked, I couldn’t help but notice Emerson’s voice filtering through the wardrobe door, his tone steady but laced with authority. He was busy—too busy, it seemed, for us to spend any real
After the nurse disappeared, the silence in the waiting room thickened. Every pair of eyes turned to me again.Tina’s gaze was sharp and accusing, her lips pressed into a tight, angry line. Eric didn’t bother hiding his disgust. He looked over me with disdain. Rita threw glances at me now and then and I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I knew which side she was.I sat there, wondering.Why does Trey want to see me?The question circled in my mind over and over like a broken record. It made no sense. Why would he want me, of all people, by his bedside? This wasn’t just strange—it was absurd. Whether he realized it or not, he was putting me in a position I didn’t want to be in, a position I didn’t ask for.The minutes dragged on in agonizing silence.Finally, Tina broke it with a snarl. “Oh no. No one is stopping me. I’m going to see my son.”Without waiting for anyone’s response, she marched off furiously as she barreled down the hallway in search of Trey’s ward.Emerson exhal
I couldn’t believe it. Trayson was awake. Talking. Alive. Relief and dread worked together inside me. I was glad he was conscious—no one here wanted a murder charge hanging over their head. But he was awake.Do you understand what I mean?He was going to talk. And what would he say?Would he say that Emerson attacked him? Would he twist the truth in his favour? Every eye in this room had already judged me. Even the officer, who was supposed to remain neutral, seemed to believe I was guilty.The worst part? Tina.This was the same woman who had spent the entire dinner praising me, gushing about how much she liked me. Her son had said so himself too. Now, here she was, transformed into a raging lioness, accusing me of being a monster who had hurt her son. And no matter what Trayson said—no matter what those security tapes from the restaurant revealed—Tina wasn’t going to believe that her precious son was an arrogant asshole.BUT, No alcohol in his system? Seriously?I remembered the fla
Everyone's eyes turned toward me, their expressions thick with anger, surprise, hatred, and disappointment. I could feel their judgment like sharp knives against my skin.Emerson's hand moved to his face, shielding his eyes as though trying to block out the truth or perhaps the sight of me standing there. He was the one person I wanted to look at, the one person whose reaction I needed to see. But he didn’t meet my gaze. I stood frozen, letting their stares cut into me, letting their judgment pour over me.Tina’s hand trembled as she raised it, pointing at me. Her voice was sharp, almost unrecognizable.“You tell me—what did you do to my son?”She pushed herself up, her entire body shaking with rage. I couldn’t move. I stood there, rooted in place, my breath caught in my throat, my mind blank. Tina was coming for me, and I didn’t know what to do.Eric grabbed her arms just in time, pulling her back as she lunged toward me. “Tina, stop!”The police officer stepped between us. His cal
“He is not dead, Tina!” Emerson snapped, his voice filled with frustration. “Stop acting as if he’s dead. He is alive and doing well. He is going to wake up, he’s going to regain consciousness, and he’s going to say what happened. Why are you causing all this ruckus? Why don’t you wait until he wakes up and speaks about what happened?”Tina’s expression hardened, her face replaced with suspicion and anger. “Because I’m afraid that one of you will get to him before I do,” she retorted. “Maybe you’ll get rid of him before I can find out the truth. And I’m going to protect my son.”Emerson’s face twisted in disbelief. “ Are you serious right now? I can't believe this, now you think we want to do what?“ Emerson released a sad laugh before he continued. “It’s okay if you don’t want me or Mina to go close to him. You’re his mother. You’re the first person he’s going to see. He’s going to tell you everything.““ And when he does tell me something, I don’t want any of you to flee. You’re g
I sat there on the chair, just sitting, staring at the walls, watching nurses and doctors pass by, their steps brisk, their faces a blur of calm and urgency. They came in and out, speaking softly, holding clipboards in hushed tones. My mind was blank. My body felt distant, as though I was a spectator of my own life.Then, out of nowhere, I heard the hurried click of heels—a determined, sharp sound cutting through the quiet of the hospital. Voices followed voices trying hard to be composed but strained.Tina and Emerson appeared first. They weren’t walking together; they were locked in a tug-of-war of anger. Emerson’s face was tight, his jaw clenched. Tina, her eyes wild, was a storm barely held in place.And behind them, a police officer.The sight of the uniform turned my stomach to ice. Panic surged through me so violently that I thought I might be sick. It’s done. We’re done. Everybody knows. I didn’t know how far this would go, but my mind raced to the worst. Was I an accomplice?
They were all staring at me, waiting. The room felt smaller, and my heart raced. I was nervous. Too nervous. So I blurted the first word that came to my head."Nothing."Tina’s eyes darkened, her voice rising. "What do you mean nothing? Treyson is lying in there. He is hurt. His life is on the line, and you’re telling me that nothing?""I mean… nothing really happened," I stammered, my voice weak. "I don’t know what you expect me to say. I just… I don’t know what happened."Her anger rose as she stepped closer. "What do you mean you don’t know what happened, Mina?""Okay, let’s just calm down," Emerson interjected, his tone soothing as he placed himself between us. "I get that our emotions are running high, and we all want answers, but let’s take a breath."Tina was having none of it. Her glare burned right through me. "No. I want to know what happened to my son. You and Mina were the ones with Trey when it happened, and I want to know exactly what went down. Are you going to tell me?
I know some people are going to call me a hypocrite, but Eric always treated Tina with respect—almost like she was his mother. He had just called her his godmother at dinner for Christ's sake.This was so inappropriate.I didn’t know if he was taking advantage of the situation, taking advantage of her, or if he didn’t even realize what he was doing. I didn’t know.But seeing the look on Rita’s face?Now that was good.That was priceless.The way she got mad. How her face turned red with fury. My heart released some heartache.As we reached them, Rita shifted her body, positioning herself firmly beside Eric. Emerson and I stood directly in front of Eric and Rita.Emerson didn’t waste time.“How is he? What did the doctor say? Is he going to be alright”Tina, trying her best not to cry, answered, “They haven’t told us anything. Ever since we got here, nobody has told us anything. I don’t know how my son is doing. I’m so worried. I just hope he gets out of all of this alive.”Eric reach
The car grew silent again, but of course, Rita couldn't just let the moment be. She decided to shift her attention from me to Emerson.“Mr. Blackwind—oh, I’m sorry,” she started awkwardly.Emerson didn’t miss a beat. “It’s fine, Rita. We’re family. You can call me Emerson.”I couldn’t help myself. “Or, Dad. You can call him father.” I gave a low laugh, the kind that dripped with sarcasm. If she was going to call him Dad, how exactly was she supposed to refer to me?Classic!The thought amused me more than it should have. I started laughing again. Rita shot me a glare, but then she straightened her posture, composed herself, and chose to ignore me. Smart choice.“What do you think happened to Trey?” she asked, her voice suddenly filled with curiosity and concern. “I mean, he was fine one minute, and then he just fell, and there was blood everywhere. Do you think it could be… a disease? Maybe he fainted from something else? Maybe he had a heart Attack Or an allergy to the food?”She li
The car was silent as we made our way to the hospital. The hum of the tyres on the road was a dull soundtrack to my chaotic thoughts. 'Oh God, please let Trey survive. Please don’t let anything bad happen. Please, just this once, let everything be okay.'The prayer looped in my head, unspoken but desperate, until a voice broke through to the present.“Mina? Mina?”I didn’t respond. I was too lost in my thoughts.“Mina!” Rita’s voice sharpened, as she shouted.I turned my head sharply toward her.“What do you want, Rita?”“Have you seen Mom? Have you talked to her lately?”I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping before I could stop it.“Of course, you know I haven’t. You’re the one who talks to her all the time. You’re her bestie, aren’t you? You’d know if I had because she tells you everything.”Rita continued. “I think you should call Mom. At least check in on her. Whatever happened between the two of you—she’s still your mother.”Another scoff, sharper this time.“After what she said at