Author’s POV Vivian walked slowly into the room with wide eyes as she took in the scene before her.. Her fists clenched, her brows furrowing as she gazed at Logan’s laptop, which was on the bed. The white screen was clearly visible with the bold inscription of the word, “Custody Battle Strategy,” written on it. Her heart became heavy as she read every single line, a reminder of Logan’s plans to fight for Carl’s custody.She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Logan is still not giving up on this, is he?”Her lips twitched as she sneered. She scanned the entire room and creased her brows when she noticed Logan wasn’t in the room.“Where is he? I thought he walked in not long ago.. Did he leave the room for somewhere else?” She mumbled, several thoughts swirling in the mind.Just as she was about to leave the room, she heard the sound of a shower running from the bathroom. Since he was in the bathroom, she stole that moment to peer at the content in the laptop. Heading towards the bed, she sa
Emily's POV I worked on my buttons, as I swept an appreciative gaze at my body. Raising my head, I looked into the mirror, and a smile tugged at my lips as a beautiful elegant lady stared back at me.Sighing, I shoved my fingers into my hair as thoughts about Vivian crossed my mind. I could recall the last time I saw her and Mrs. Michelson at the mall the day before yesterday.“Pregnant…” I mumbled, a sly smile curled at my lips. Not that I found it funny but it's so ridiculous that she's expecting a child for him and yet, he's so keen on getting custody over Carl. Can't he just let me have him? He was never in his life all these years… Why is he so interested all of a sudden?What if we hadn't crossed paths, would he have known I had a son for him?The creaking sound of the door cut through my thoughts. Carl stepped in, looking cute and smart in his uniform.“Good morning, mom!” He greeted, wrapping his arms around me..I knelt to his level and showered his head with sweet kisses.
Emily's POV Across the country, the streets of New York are alive with the hum of activity. The city is bustling, but in the quiet corner of her rented apartment overlooking a small cobblestone street, Kate sat alone. I sighed as I paced frantically in her room, slipping my fingers into my thick brunette hair. The soft afternoon light filters through the lace curtains, bathing the room in a golden glow. I nibbled my lower lips, my pacing frantic with a heavy silence lingering in the air. Kate appeared forlorn as she stared into the distance.. She was lost in thoughts, the weight of the situation heavy on her shoulders. When her phone buzzed, we shifted our gaze to it. Before she could reach for her phone, I grasped it and clutched it tightly, a stern look on my face. “I have to pick the call, Emerald. I - I ..” “No, Kate..” I cut in, my voice overshadowing hers Swallowing the lump in my throat, I added, “You won't pick his calls any longer.. I don't care if he gets mad
Emily's POV The knock on the door continued, my heart racing with anticipation as I neared it. Kate swallowed hard and wanted to skirt past me but I held her hand, and stopped her. “Who do you think it might be?” I asked Kate who shrugged, having no clue who it might be. She skirted past me, wanting to approach the door but I stopped her by holding her wrist. “Let me see who it is. Just stay here…” I whispered, while she nodded in acceptance. I tore my gaze from her and approached the door. Taking a deep breath, and called out in a calm voice, “Who is it?” “It's me.. Jeremy,” The voice came through, and I exchanged a glance with Kate whose eyes went wide a little. Her brows creased as her face turned a deep shade of red. “Don't let him in..” She said while I nodded. “I’m sorry Jeremy. Kate doesn't want to speak to you..” “Oh I think she does..” He scoffed. “We have something important to discuss..” “Well I don't want to argue with a cheat like you. Get the fuck o
Emily’s POV~ I took in a deep breath, my eyes fixed on the phone, which was still buzzing in my grip. Gently, I swiped the Accept button and brought the phone to my ear. With a smile tugged at my lips, I replied in a calm voice, “Hello, Collin.” “Hi sweetheart, how is your day going, sweetheart?” Collin asked, his voice filled with affection. “Fine. Everything is fine,” I replied, itching my nape as I hinted at thoughts on why he had called. Not that I always expect reasons for his calls, but I had this feeling that he called me to discuss something important with me. I mean,there are times he’d call just to check up on me or ask about my day with nothing else to say, but I had this lingering feeling that there was something important he wanted to discuss with me. “You’re still at work, right?” He asked curiously. My brows shot up as I shifted my gaze to Kate. I nibbled my lower lips, wondering why he’d asked. Or perhaps he was already at my workplace and had been sear
Emily’s POV ~>I kept a forced smile on my face as I made my way into the dimly lit bar, which was filled with a lot of people. Murmurs and laughter echoed in the background, coupled with the soft music emanating from speakers. I saw a couple at a far end, chatting and whispering as they swilled several shots of their drinks.I tried to blend in as I ordered a drink. “What do you need, ma’am?” The server asked as he approached her with a smile on his face. I inspected him. He was in a white button-down shirt with the establishment logo embroidered on the sleeve. He paired it with trusty black pants and polished shoes.“Nothing much, just a cappuccino.” I replied, while the man’s gaze was fixed on the ring on my finger. He raised his head to stare at me, a warm, inviting smile on his face.“Coming right up,” He answered, and left.He returned after some minutes, dropping the cappuccino carefully on my table with ease. I smiled as I took the cup off the saucer, my grip on the handle wi
Emily's POV.“What are you, Lorenzo?” I asked, my heart racing as I stared at those mysterious eyes of his. His lips pulled in a smirk, dimples on either side of his cheeks. “You'll get to know me soon, Emily..” He spoke calmly, his words weighing heavily on my shoulders. What made me even more shocked was that he didn't address me as Emerald but rather, as Emily.How on earth did he know that I was Emily? “Everything you said about Collin…” I said, and swallowed the lump in my throat with my curios eyes hovering over his features.“What do you mean by him being a threat to me?” I asked, my voice trembling even as I tried to remain calm I just wanted to know the truth. I just want to know what he's been hiding from me.. perhaps there was something about Collin that I have no clue about .“Why do you say my engagement with him might complicate matters? What exactly do you mean?” I asked, gripping my bag tightly.Lorenzo smiled and dipped his hand in his pocket, his strong cologne w
Emily's POV. My lips twitched, my face twisted with questions as I stared at Collin. He gazed at me quizzically, his eyes glinting with curiosity at what I had said. I flipped my hair to the side of my neck, still trying to believe that maybe, just maybe everything Lorenzo said about him wasn't true. “Did Lorenzo say that to you, Emerald?” Collin asked, his lips quivering. I nodded, confirming his thoughts with a stern look on my face. He swallowed the lump in his throat, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he shoved his fingers into his hair. “You have to tell me what Lorenzo meant by my relationship with you complicating things? You have to tell me why I'm not safe being with you? I'm sure you've been hiding things from me, Collin.” I snapped, my eyes welled with unshed tears. Collin shook his head and approached me, his face masked with guilt. He wanted to place his hands on my shoulder but I retraced my steps, preventing that from happening “Lorenzo said I'm t
Author's POVCollin's eyes blazed with rage, his eyes hovering over Cecile's features. Cecile swallowed the lump in her throat, her grip on the whiskey bottle tightening. “Evening, Collin. It's good to see you. What are you doing here?” She asked, a forced friendly smile on her face. Vivian’s gaze lingered on the two of them. She could sense that something was off between them. An underlying tension perhaps..“Cut the act, Cecile. I don't need the fake greetings.” Collin replied, his face etched with rage.Her eyes went wide, a sense of uneasiness washing over her.She held her breath as Collin took a step forward, closing the distance between them. He placed his hand on the wall, leaving her trapped in the centre, his brows knitted in rage.“What the hell is going on?” Vivian crossed her arms, her brows raising slightly as she stared at them in confusion.“What did you tell Emerald?” Collin asked, his voice low, a hint of threat in it Cecile clutched her purse, unable to meet his
Author's POV Collin gulped down the lump in his throat as his eyes locked on the gun. He sucked in a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew Lorenzo wasn't the one to make empty threats. The air was thick with tension, their eyes boring into each other's.“Come on, Lorenzo. You're taking things too far,” Collin spoke in calm voice. “You know you don't have to do this…” He added, gnashing his teeth.Lorenzo cocked the gun, still aiming it at Collin, a fierce expression on his face.“You have to choose one, Collin. Emerald or the Mafia..” He threatened, his voice cutting through the thick silence between them.Lorenzo's expression shifted into a serious demeanor, his eyes cold and hard with his muscles tensed.Collin was unable to respond. His lips quivered with his thick breath billowing in the air.“It's high time you chose one, Collin. She's clearly done with you but you're too blind to see it. Why can't you just let her go?” Lorenzo bawled, his voice raising an
Author's POV Silence enveloped in the dimly lit room of a luxury mansion. Every member was seated, surrounding a large table. The light flickered, casting a warm glow on their faces. Everyone's attention was on Lorenzo who was addressing them on a particular issue. After the meeting, Collin went out to have a quiet time. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey and decided to light his cigarette.He was in deep thoughts. He couldn't stop thinking about Emerald. Her words kept echoing in his head and he could still recall how angry and disappointed she was when she learnt of his relationship with Cecile.He stared into the distance, watching as cars zoomed off across the streets, their blaring horns piercing the silence. Sadness loomed around him and he felt a certain emptiness build in his heart. He hadn't been himself since Emerald broke up with him.He lost his appetite, barely hanging around with friends or doing things he often does. But even in his sad state, he couldn't afford to miss th
Emily's POV The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow in the room. I could recall everything that happened yesterday. Even when I got home, Colin had called Incessantly, desperate to receive forgiveness from me. I sighed as I sat upright, my fingers finding their way to my temple. I shut my eyes and gave my temple a light massage, hoping to clear my mind from everything. Today is a new day and I don't want the weight of yesterday to keep clinging around me.Stepping off the bed, I strolled to the bathroom to have my bath. When I was done, I selected a few clothes to wear and I ended up wearing a classy blazer suit with pants. I styled my hair in a ponytail and applied minimal make-up to my face. A sly smile curled at my lips as I applied a shade of lipstick on my lips.Today is a shareholder's meeting at Logan's company and I couldn't be more excited…I have a plan to achieve. After wearing my wristwatch, I swept a gaze at myself in the mirror, a hint of ad
Emily’s POVSilence stretches between us, sharp and suffocating. My eyes hovered over Collins's features as I waited for him to respond. When the server brought our coffee, I took mine and blew the steam off the surface.A small tugged at my lips as I took a sip, trying hard to stay calm. He's about to make his confession which I know might shatter me but I'm ready to stay strong and accept whatever it is “Emily..” Collin began, his voice calm and gentle, cutting through my thoughts I dropped my cup on the saucer, my eyes never leaving his..He swallowed his saliva and I watched as his Adam’s apple bubbled swiftly. “I know you're mad at me because of everything that's happened. About my involvement in the Mafia and about—-”“--- Cecile.” I interrupted, my face firm. “You've told me about your involvement with Lorenzo, Salvatore's company and the Mafia. I'm aware of that. What I need to hear right now is your relationship with Cecile. You told me you were friends which I believe wa
Emily's POv“What. What did you just say, Emerald?” Collin stammered as he asked, his voice cracked over the line“Are you trying to tell me you have no clue what I'm saying?” I asked, my voice icy but calm..“Emerald, please listen…” He implored. I'm sure he's still shocked that I got to find out.“Collin. I don't wish to speak to you right now.. ““Emerald please, I need to hear me out. There's nothing going on between me and Cecile. I promise…” “How can I trust you? You've already broken my trust, Collin. You've given me every reason to doubt you!” I spat, my voice laced with skepticism.“Can I Atleast say something?” “Let's meet tomorrow at Pearson's café. You said you wanted to see me in person so we could discuss right?” “Okay. Thanks, Emerald.” He spoke.Before he could say anything else, I hung up and slid my phone into my bag. I readjusted Carl in my arms making sure he was as comfortable and snug.Swallowing the lump in my throat, I took my first step but I felt this une
Emily’s POV A wave of satisfaction washed over me after I’d given Cecile a piece of my mind. I felt satisfied after telling her everything. I felt so light; it felt like a weight was seized off my shoulders..She thought she would make me sad with those revelations, but little did she know that I’m already prepared for what was to come. I already knew what she was going to say, and it wasn’t a surprise to me. She expected the news to devastate me.“You’re so strong, Emerald. I’m glad you didn’t tear up in her presence or gave her the satisfaction of seeing you cry,” Kate spoke, her voice filled with warmth.We’re currently on our way back home. Kate was the one driving. I took my handkerchief and wiped the drop of tears from my cheek.I might have acted strong in front of Cecile, but I wouldn’t deny that I feel brokenKate placed her left hand on mine, while using her right hand to steer the steering wheel“I’m so sorry, Emerald, and I’m also proud of you as well. You saw the red fl
Emily's POV I took my phone from her at once, and my blood boiled with rage when I saw that menacing look on her face. She crossed her arm, a devilish smile curled at her lips as she assessed me from head to toe“You're indeed beautiful, Emerald.. Quality dress, flawless skin, loaded bank account, soft life, luxury. I mean, I can keep counting every blessing you have without stopping, Emerald.” Cecile began, a dark Chuckle erupting from her throat.I stared at her with clenched fist, knowing full well what she was up to.. She's aware of my dwindling relationship with Colin and is obviously here to make fun of me. I tried to keep myself calm, not wanting to exchange words with her because I know she's not worthy of it..“You have everything, Emerald but there is one thing you're never going to have or experience…” She said, stepping closer towards me with her smile deepening “I don't have your time, Cecile. I have something important to do…” I said and was about to turn when she h
Emily's POV I tried to shake those feelings off me. I took in a few deep breaths, not wanting any thoughts or worries to drain me completely. As I made my way into the design studio, my workers welcomed me with smiles on their faces. My heels clacked on the polished tiles, my aura dripping with confidence as I swept my gazes at each of their faces.“Morning, everyone,”. I said, a warm smile on my lips.I was greeted with the sight of sketches, gemstones and half finished jewelry. This particular section in the imperial company is where we make our designsJade, my secretary, walked up to me. She handed me a book with contained some recent designs we made I looked up at the rest and asked, “What collection are we making today?” “We are creating the new spring collection.” One of the workers replied. I guess she was the only one to remember.“You're correct, Adele. We need to create a fresh set of designs for the upcoming spring season… I'll have to put us in groups just like we di