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
Emily’s POV My eyes flicked open, and the first thing I saw was the white ceiling. I felt a slight pain in my head, although it’s nothing compared to how it was a while ago. The beeping sound of the machine cut through the thick silence, accompanied by the heavy scent of antiseptic lingering in the air.I sat on the bed, groggily taking in my surroundings. I inspected myself in the mirror, bringing my hand to my cheeks. There was a white bandage on my head and the sterile white walls stared back at me.Then I heard footsteps and the feminine voice of the figure approaching. “Miss. Emerald, can you hear me?”“Yes. Yes, I can,” I replied, wincing in pain. She flashed me a warm, inviting smile, her eyes holding me in their grasp.“Do you remember anything?” She asked, stepping towards me, her sharp eyes hovering over my features.I tried to remember but everything was all hazy.. The last thing I remembered was getting into an argument with Collin and stepping out of his home.The nurse
Collin’s POV I tried reaching Emerald for the umpteenth time, but all I got was the same robotic voice on her cell phone: “The number you’ve dialed is not reachable at the moment. Please try again later.”A deep sigh of exhaustion escaped my lips as I tossed the phone on my sofa. My stomach bubbles with frustration as I clench my fist. Gritting my teeth, I banged my fist on the wall and growled.“What have I done? What the fuck have I done?. I - I failed you, Emerald. I'm at fault for everything that happened between us,.now I see why you haven’t been picking my calls.”Those words rolled out of my tongue with tears stinging my eyeballs. Bringing my hand upward, I brushed my fingers into my hair and sighed once again.“I’m at fault for everything that happened.. I should have just told her the truth back then. I recalled when Colin had told me to make her aware of my involvement in the Mafia but I had refused. I should have told her since..” I walked into the kitchen and placed my h
Emily's POV My fingers danced across the keyboard as I kept searching for any information relating to the Salvatore's Protection Services. I took a deep breath as my gazed at the screen, reading the every lines and every details with keen interestWhile scrolling through the information, an article got my attention. It was news from a local business journal that highlighted Colin's humanitarian efforts..My gaze settled on the caption under a photo which says: “Colln, CEO of CSquare’s enterprise is with Salvatore's Protection service team at the charity gala.I sulked in a breath and my gaze went to the man standing beside Collin in a navy suit. I knew I'd seen him somewhere before. Now, I remember – He's one of the men I saw with Lorenzo at the Sydney café I clicked on the image to zoom in closer so I could take a good view of his face. According to the article, Salvador's protection services had provided security for the eventI reclined on the chair, my mind racing with variou
Emily's POV My chest constricted as the time ticked by.. That afternoon after picking Carl from school, I relaxed on the sofa and watched his favourite animation with him. I tried to engage in some activities with him so I could shove off those pressing thoughts in my mind. Minutes turned into hours and it was eventually in the evening. Carl shifted his gaze at me and asked, “Mom. I'm getting hungry. When will I eat dinner?” “I'll go prepare your favourite meal now,” I said, brushing his hair with my fingers. After planting a kiss on his head, I got on my feet and strolled to the kitchen. “Help me with the utensils. I'm about to make dinner,” I said to her as I grabbed a green apron and tied it around my waist.After styling my hair in a bun, I seasoned the salmon with salt, pepper and some herbs.“I need you to cut the asparagus into spears, Brenda,”“Okay, ma'am.” She replied politely and did as instructed. When she was done cutting it into spears, she gave it to me while I st
Author's POV Lorenzo's words echoed in her ears, friendly but firm. She knew he was trying to make her free around him since he could see how uncomfortable she was.. Emerald stole a glance at the other customers in the café who were either eating, chuckling or chatting.The chandeliers dangling from the ceiling, cast a warm glow on everyone's faces. The atmosphere was inviting and less tense but Emily could feel a certain weight gnawing at her chest.The weight of the decision she had made coming to see Lorenzo. Now, all she hoped for was that her decision to see him was worth it.“You told me to ask you any questions?” Emily asked, raising a brow..Lorenzo’s lips conformed into a thin line as he smirked.. He nodded, confirming her thoughts.Emily gave a small nod and said, “You are friends with Collin and have known him since childhood, am I right?”“Yes, you are,” Lorenzo nodded before taking a sip from his coffee..Emerald heaved a deep sigh, her eyes narrowing as she searched Col
Author's POV Emily felt a chill run down her spine as she read the notification that flashed on her screen. It's a text from Lorenzo. She wouldn't deny that he had suggested that they meet somewhere so they could discuss better “Mom. Are you alright?” Carl asked, his brown orbs hovering over Emerald’s features, a hint of concern in themThe thunder rumbled and the clouds congregated, their dark masses ominous and foreboding. Emerald gasped as the chilly air came in contact with her skin. Carl glanced around and he noticed some people exiting the parkHe looked up at the sky with his large doe eyes before taking his gaze back to Emerald.“Mom. Do you think it's going to rain?” Carl asked, clutching Emily’s hands tightly, a hint of fear in his eyes.“I think so…” Emily replied, her voice near a whisper.“Are we going home now?” Carl asked, and just then, Emily's phone buzzed, the sound cutting through the tranquility. Emily's heart skipped a beat at the message that flashed on her sc
Emily's POV The morning light illuminated the room, rays from the sun seeping through the blinds. The blaring sound of the alarm pierced the silence, and I stretched my hand to smack it.I yawned as I got up from the bed with my arms wide apart. It was a Saturday morning, and the sun was up already, casting its warm glow on the city. “Eight thirty,” I mumbled after stealing a glance at my wristwatch. I stared at myself in the mirror, a warm smile tugged at my lips but when I recalled everything that happened yesterday. The threats, Colin's secrets and my conversation with Logan.I walked into the bathroom and sank into the bathtub, letting my head rest against the edge as I stared upwards. As I relaxed, the warm water came in contact with my skin and I felt a sense of calmness wash over me.“Collin…” I said and then sighed, the weight of betrayal hanging heavily on my shoulders“Each time I think about you, I feel I still don't know who you are.. .” I said, staring into the dista
Logan's POV “What are you trying to say, Logan? What makes you think Martha made them?”“Because I can tell… she does all the cooking in the house.” I countered.“Well. You're wrong today. I was the one who prepared your meal today.”Vivian liedI scoffed, and took a glass of water to drinkDropping it on the table, I said, “Well. I walked in on Martha preparing the meal, so that settles it – she's definitely the one who made it.”Vivian gasped, and shook her head. “I only told her to watch the meal while I went inside to receive a call.”I could sense that she was lying so I called Martha.“Yes, sir.” She replied “Who made the meal?” Martha paused, fearing to stare at Vivian.“You don't have to be scared.” “I made the meal but missed it. Vivian was also with me while I was preparing it. We diced some ingredients together.” She replied, trying to cover up for Vivian.I let it slide and brought up a new topic.“I thought I gave Martha a day off, Vivian. Why did you threaten her no
Logan's POV As I drove into my courtyard, I couldn't shake off the feeling about what transpired between me and Emily a while ago. I could recall how she was so concerned about me. The way she pulled me to safety. Everything happened too quickly but it was so intense and suspicious.I parked my car and sat in for a while, the thoughts replaying in my head. Her wide eyes, face filled with worry and how she had touched me left me curious.I took my gaze to my wrist where she had touched me. I wouldn't deny that I felt some electrifying spark run through me where she had touched me..“Emily. Are you sure you're alright?” I asked, as though she was right here with me in the car.Her face still flashed in my thoughts, her cologne and warmth still lingers like permanent stains. I knew her response to my question was rehearsed. Her eyes hold something – fear.I turned off the ignition of my car and extracted my car key from the ignition before alighting from the car.I strolled into the hou
Emily's POVMy skin prickled with goosebumps at the sight of the approaching vehicle. The vehicle hurtled towards us with its tires screeching on the pavement. Logan's brows furrowed as he stared at me, his face etched with bewilderment. My heartbeat rampaged as I neared him and grasped his hand, pulling him to safety.Luckily, the vehicle sped past him and didn't collide with him at all..I felt beads of sweat trickling down my temple as I watched the car drive into the distance.I breathed with relief when I realised it wasn't that same person who had collided with me on purpose. Logan stared at me, confused. I guess it seems like I'm overreacting. Well, maybe I am overreacting but I wouldn't blame myself, not after what I'd experienced earlier today.Who knows if that same person is targeting Logan as well?“Emily,” Logan spoke, his voice soft and gentle. He took his gaze to my hand which were clasped in his wrist I traced his gaze and released him from my grasp at once.He looke