Rita stood there, eyes narrowing, as she began her tirade, words pouring out of her like acid.
"You like acting like a know-it-all all, smart and intelligent, getting all the attention, thinking you know everything," she scoffed. "You didn't listen to Mom, acted like reality didn't exist. It was just you and Dad, always just you and Dad, and you would come to me and cry about 'Mom not loving you.' You confided in me and made me your confidant because you couldn't even make friends of your own. I had to be your friend, and I was younger than you. Couldn't you get friends your own age? But no, you had to turn to me because nobody even wanted to spend time with you."I reminded myself to keep silent, letting her vent, though I could feel my temper rising with each word."And then guess what?" she went on. "Dad died, and you had nobody. So you started getting attention from Eric and his father. When Eric divorced you, guess whose bed you jumped into... You'reIt took Eric two days—two whole days—before he finally decided to come and apologize to me.I was at home that Sunday when Trey walked in and announced, "Eric called."I looked at him and said, "Hey, I thought the two of you were friends, and you hang out, so why are you telling me if he calls you? I don't care..."Trey took a sip of his drink. "I'm telling you since he called because he wanted to come and apologize.""So, it took him two days to decide that he wants to come and apologize?" I asked, raising an eyebrow."Hey, don’t kill the messenger. You should know that after you talked with Rita, he was kind of upset. She said you said some mean things to her, and, you know, it affected her more than she let on or whatever. Naturally, Eric was angry." Trey shrugged. "That’s why it took him so long to come and apologize. It’s not because he was trying to pull anything. I’m just telling you all I know.""Okay, Eric's best friend," I answered sarcastically."Don’t do that," he said, p
Rita was whining.Eric and Trey were fussing over her.Suddenly, she needed a massage. She needed water.Trey went to get her water, leaving me alone with the two vipers. Eric massaged her legs, his hands moving gently as if she were made of glass. He took out his handkerchief, dabbing her forehead, all while she shot me the stink eye, muttering under her breath about how I would never understand.What a dramatic scene.We all came here so her husband could apologize to me, but somehow, she had made this all about her. Complaining, whining, making a scene.I was almost glad that Eric wasn’t acknowledging me. Almost.Trey finally returned, handed Rita the water, and asked how she was feeling. Thank God, she was suddenly fine.Trey took charge."All right, we asked you here because Eric wanted to apologize, so I think we should let him speak."That was when Eric finally looked at me.Really looked at me.For the first time since they arrived, I actually faced him, too. Before, I had onl
Eric scoffed, cutting me off. "What family, Nina? What family? You mean me and you? Where are those kids we should call a family?""You and I were creating a family together, Eric," I said firmly,"No," he said coldly. "Me and Rita, now we’re creating a family."He laughed bitterly. "And I knew it. I just knew we were going to come here and you were going to try and throw our divorce in my face. Trying to use our marriage against me.""No, Trey, that's not what I'm doing. I'm not using our divorce. I'm reminding you who started this. You started this when you decided to go behind my back and sleep with my sister."I inhaled sharply, steadying myself before speaking again. "But you know what? Even though you haven't asked for forgiveness, I forgive you for that. Okay? I forgive you for cheating on me. I forgive you for the betrayal. Because you know what? It was the best gift you could have given me." I looked at Rita with a forc
All of a sudden, the atmosphere in the park changed.Rita, after her initial reaction to the slap, lunged at me. Her face was filled with rage, and before I could even react, Trey intervened, stepping between us.Eric, who had just apologized minutes ago, tried to come at me too. But Trey was there—blocking him."Hey, get your wife! Eric, get your wife!" Trey snapped. His voice was sharp, his stance tense.Eric hesitated, his jaw clenched. Then, without another word, he turned to Rita, grabbing her by the arms and pulling her back. "Calm down," he muttered under his breath.Trey didn’t waste time. He took my hand and led me forward, moving us toward the other side of the park.We walked in silence for a few minutes. My heart still pounding. Then Trey exhaled and said, "Wow, I never thought you had that in you."I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?"But he just laughed. A deep, amu
Emerson's POVI think today is the day.I have given Mina all the time she wanted. I have given her enough time. And I think it’s time that I acted.I know I said I’d give her time. I know I told her I’d set her free. And I know I was supposed to let her come to me. But I’m done waiting.If things don’t work out the way you want them to, you just have to take them.Everything I told Mina was the truth. I really think she still has some kind of feelings toward Eric. I’m not sure what those feelings are—love, hatred, bitterness, loss, grief, longing or any others. I don’t know what it is. But I know there are feelings there.And just when things had just gone downhill this little prick, Trey, came into the picture. He has been a thorn in my side from the moment he appeared.The way he bombarded into my house, took Mina away. And now, he’s taken it even further—created a whole office, and gave her a place to stay. It’s like the two of them are playing house.I know exactly what that bast
That is how I find myself standing in Mina's office, watching Trey kissing her. A bottle of wine and two glasses beside them.....What the fuck is going on here?"Mina, what's the meaning of this? What the hell is going on here?" I shout.The two of them break apart. Mina's hand goes toward her lips, and she looks at me as if she has seen a ghost. She is pale, and I can see the fear and panic in her eyes.I brought her flowers, for God's sake. I was going to take her to dinner. She agreed to meet me here. And then I find her kissing this little boy.What is this? What does it mean?Did she deliberately do this to hurt me? Is she trying to get revenge on me just like she tried to do with Eric? Is she using Trey now to get back at me? Is this what this whole thing is about? Because it looks a little too organised.I turn my gaze to Trey, and that son of a bitch is smiling. His eyes are bright, his mouth twisted into a sickly sweet smile as if he's actually enjoying himself. As if this i
"You're only refusing your true feelings because Emerson is here," Trey continues, his voice growing bolder. "Come on, Mina. What does he have over you? What's the hold that he has on you?"Mina frowns. "What the hell are you talking about, Trey?""That kiss had nothing to do with Emerson?" Trey challenges, tilting his head. "Really? While he's standing right there? He's the reason you're acting like this." His voice lowers, insistent, manipulative. "Let me ask you something, Mina. If Emerson wasn't here right now, would you be acting this scandalized? I mean, you already admitted you kissed me back to know how it felt. Would you be denying it so hard if he wasn’t watching?"Mina's jaw tightens. "I'm not denying anything, Trey," she says, her voice slow, controlled. Too quiet.Trey studies her. "So what are you trying to say, Mina? Do you feel something for me or not? Because I'm sure even Emerson wants to know."My entire body stiffens at his words. I watch as Mina flicks her gaze to
We stand there in silence for a few moments. The tension in the room is thick, and I can feel Mina’s unease.Trey clears his throat dramatically before speaking."As you’ve already realized, Emerson, Mina didn’t text you. She doesn’t want to go to dinner with you. So now, take your flowers and go."I turn to him, caught off guard by his words. As much as I hate to admit it, there’s some truth in them, isn’t there? Mina didn’t invite me here. She didn’t agree to have dinner with me. So what the hell am I still doing here?But leaving isn’t an option. Not now.So instead of walking out, I shrug and take a seat.Trey blinks. "Alright, you’re gonna sit here. Fine. In that case, I’m gonna take Mina to dinner. How would you like that?"Mina sighs, clearly exhausted. "Trey, could you just give me and Emerson a minute?"He frowns. "A minute? Okay, fine. I’ll be right outside.""No," Mina corrects him. "Just… go upstairs. I’ll be there in a few."Trey stares at her, disbelieving. "What’s ther
After a tense silence, Madeline looked between Emerson and me, waiting for an answer. Finally, Emerson spoke."Why don't you give us a few minutes, Madeline?"She frowned, crossing her arms. "What are you even going to discuss? Can't you just say it here? I thought I was a part of this family."I exhaled, trying to ease the tension. "It's fine," I said, my voice softer now. "If Madeline feels like she can handle it, I trust her. She's been there my whole life. She's a great mom—we all know that." I looked at Emerson. "And you know what? I think… fine. It’s okay."Emerson glanced at me, then back at Madeline. "Okay. But anytime you feel like it's too much, Madeline, don’t feel indebted because of what my family and I have done for you. Just tell me, and we’ll get you help."Madeline nodded. "I know that, Emerson. Don’t worry about it."Just then, Jason walked in, looking impatient. "Aren’t you finished with breakfast? I really want to get through these candidates so we can go back to
The next few days were better. I was feeling stronger, and Emerson was spending more time at home. But as much as I loved having him around, I couldn't shake the guilt of knowing he was neglecting work.Jason was here more than he wanted to be, and I could see the frustration in his eyes every time he and Emerson spoke. They had been arguing more than usual, and I knew why—Jason wanted him back at the office. Emerson was slacking, and projects weren’t getting his full attention.And to make matters worse, Eric hadn’t been going to work either after his situation with Rita. Emmerson told me that Eric had filed for divorce and kicked Rita out of the house. I didn't want to stress myself with their issues but I didn't ask questions.But now the weight of the company was falling squarely on Jason’s shoulders, and I could tell it was wearing on him.So that night, as Emerson massaged my feet in bed, I decided to bring it up."Emerson, I think you should go back to work."He didn't look up.
Eric opened his mouth, hesitating. "I was just—1... We ...."But he seemed stuck. His usual confidence wavered, and I could see the turmoil in his eyes. So, I took the initiative for him."Eric just came to see me," I said, keeping my voice light. "He heard I was pregnant and wanted to tell me how happy and excited he was that he’s getting a sibling."I turned to Eric and gave him a small smile."We were just hashing out our little differences," I continued, "because now, we’re going to be a real family."Eric stood up abruptly, nodding his head. "Yeah, yeah, yeah… I’m just gonna— I’m gonna go."Emerson watched him closely. "Okay. Did you need anything?"Eric didn’t look fine. His usual sharp presence was replaced by something… lost.He just kept nodding. "I just— I have to clear my head. I’m just— I’m going to go."Emerson stepped aside, allowing him to pass. Eric walked out without another word.
"Of course, I am serious, Mina," Eric said, unwavering. "I have never been serious about something as much as I am serious about this—about us."He leaned forward, his eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl. "Mina, what’s stopping you? What’s keeping you back?"I opened my mouth, ready to tell him exactly what was stopping me, but he cut me off before I could even form the words."I know you don’t love my father," he pressed on. "I mean, you two weren't even together a few days ago. And suddenly, the moment he finds out you’re pregnant, you’re back together? Just like that?" He scoffed. "You and I both know that’s not real. You weren’t with him because you loved him. You were with him for revenge—because of me. Because you still love me."I clenched my fists, as I forced myself to stay calm.He wasn’t finished. "Do you really want to start a family with my father? For God’s sake, Mina, he’s an old man!" His voice
"Eric, I have no idea what you're talking about. I am—""No!" He cut me off sharply, his voice urgent. "Shhh! Mina, just listen to me, okay? Listen to me."I stiffened at the intensity in his voice."Think about you and me. Think of us as kids. Think of us as grown-ups. We have always been together. We have always done things together. You and I… we could have been the most powerful couple in the world," he said, his eyes locking onto mine.I opened my mouth to protest, but he didn’t let me."Just think of our plans," he urged, his voice filled with desperation. "Think of our plans when we were together. Think of our plans when we were at university. Think of the future we wanted.""Eric, no, wait—""Just think of those as you listen to me, okay?" He moved closer. "We had plans to conquer the world. You and I… we were going to be the richest couple on this planet. You are just so smart. And you're so amazing and intelligent. And when you focus on something, you actually make wonders,
"Thank you," I said, smiling genuinely at Madeline. Her response was a soft laugh as if she couldn’t help herself. I wasn’t upset by her questions, though, and I didn’t think much of it.Emmerson's voice cut through the silence. "Mina has been through a lot, so I’m going to get her to bed upstairs to relax." He turned towards Madeline. "Madeline, I’m sure you’ve prepared the soup, can you bring it up in about 15 minutes so I can help her get showered and changed?"Madeline nodded, looking at me. "Of course."With that, Madeline left towards the kitchen, and everyone else dispersed. Emerson then carried me up the stairs. He prepared the bath for me, making sure the water temperature was just right. We then found ourselves in a debate about whether he should give me a bath. Of course, he won, insisting that I needed help.There was something tender in the way he handled me, every movement was made with love and care. After the bath, he helped me apply oil to my skin, the sensation soo
She looked at me with that twisted, dark smile, the one that told me she thought she had won. As if she had accomplished exactly what she came here to do. But she was still standing in my room, still breathing the same air as me, still existing in my space, and I couldn’t take it. The anger, the pain, the years of resentment came over me. My voice came out in a scream, raw and filled with fury. "Get out! Get out, get out, get out!" The door burst open. A nurse rushed in, followed closely by Trey. His eyes darted between me and my mother, concern into his face. "What’s going on?" he demanded. "Mina, what happened?" I pointed a shaking hand at Kristy. "I don’t want to see this woman ever again in my life!" My voice was hoarse, but I didn’t care. "I’ll get a restraining order if I have to. If I ever see you again, I swear I will make you regret it." The words cut through the air.
She looked at me for a long moment before speaking again."I am willing to give you another chance." She announced.A surprised cough escaped my lips. "A chance?" I repeated, narrowing my eyes. "A chance to do what, exactly?""A chance to prove that you have wished no ill for your sister," she said firmly. "To prove that you actually are part of this family."A disbelieving chuckle slipped past my lips, but my mother didn’t flinch. She pressed on as if she truly believed she held all the power in this conversation."You’re going to call Eric," she continued. "You’re going to tell him that everything that happened with Trey was wrong. You're going to talk to Trey and convince him to tell Eric that maybe he was lying. Just… find something. Make up anything. But make sure that Eric calls Rita, apologizes, and takes your sister back home where she belongs."She said it as if the matter was settled as if she had the final say.
By the time we turned back towards the room, we noticed that the doctor had already left. I guess there had been too much crying in the room. I found myself laughing. "I'm so happy, Emerson." He grinned, his excitement evident. "I'm even happier. You don’t know how I’m feeling right now. I want to—" He let out a breathless laugh. "I want to dance. I want to jump with joy. I want to scream it from the top of this building. I'm going to be a dad, Mina!" "And I'm going to be a mom," I said, my voice breaking as fresh tears welled in my eyes. Emerson's expression softened. "Oh my God, why are you still crying? I don’t think it’s good for the baby to cry so much." "I know," I sniffled, wiping my eyes. "I’m going to try. I really am. But I don’t know how to stop—I’m just so happy." At that moment, my stomach let out a loud rumble. Emerson chuckled. "Looks like our baby is hu