EMILY'S POVI stood at the altar, exchanging wedding vows with Ronald. It is supposed to be a happy occasion but it wasn't what I always dreamt of. I forced a smile raising my eyes to meet Ronald's,who also smiled. Deep down I know that we are both halfway getting what we want as we walk down the aisle.I looked around the room, searching for familiar faces. My eyes came in contact with my step father and step sister's eyes reminding me of the pain they caused me. Lia’s smile seemed real but I knew better. Ethan's eyes dawdled on me, making my skin crawl.“You can now seal the vows with a kiss,” Colin said, while the audience cheered on us to kiss. The thought of me and Ronald kissing makes my cheeks grow warm with unease.Ronald placed his hand at the small of my back drawing me close to himself,so close that I could perceive his cologne “This is just a contract, don't read too much into it,” he whispered before locking his lips on mine, making me dumbstruck. The kiss was gentle and
RONALD'S POVI stood by the window, glancing at the villa's lush ground,my thoughts drifted back to the event of the day. Emily stood at the edge of the pool, staring at the pool, her purple flowery dress stood out among the vibrant greens of the landscape. A loud sharp crisp sound interrupted my thoughts, attracting Emily's attention too “Are you expecting anyone?” Emily asked, leaving the pool side, going towards the door .‘ Who could be knocking on the door by this hour?,’ I asked myself, joining Emily at the door.Emily opened the door revealing Raya ,who wore a bold red, a - line , off shoulder crop top and a black mini satin skirt, holding a bottle of wine. “Care for a drink?" Raya said, tilting the bottle of wine.‘Having a drink with them won't harm,’I said to myself, knowing that I couldn't work. Ma'am Claire orders. Work is just a way to keep myself busy and I seem to enjoy it.“ We will join you soon," I said, overlooking Emily's intent gaze. “We can as well have di
EMILY'S POVIt's my first time traveling abroad,my heart bubbled with joy at the thought of going on a tour.I have always loved exploring but there wasn't a chance to do so.“Give me a few minutes to shower,eat breakfast and then go to places to visit today,” he said, heading towards the room.When Ronald informed me about the plan to visit a tourist center in Italy,my heart radiated more warmth making me smile.The ride to the tourist center was serene as a sweet Italian melody blast from the car's Bluetooth speaker.Glancing out of the window, my mind couldn't help but wonder “ Italy is heart stoppingly beautiful.” My lips curled in delight.Upon getting to the tourist center, a tourist guide led us around, showing us the colosseum. “Wow” I uttered, Totally blown away by the colosseum's sheer scale. As we toured with our guide, we bumped into the couples from the villa. Their eyes shone with warmth inviting us to dinner while the tour guide excused us.Luke led us to a mini cafe
RONALD'S POV‘What's she doing here?’ I said in my thoughts. “I believe this is the men's room. You may want to check,” I said, drying up my wet hands with a tissue and pointing to the sign on the wall. Raya's eyes locked unto mine,a bold flicker crossing her face, ignoring my words. She sashayed up across the floor, her footsteps eerily silent. She passed through the stalls, her gaze fixed on me.Raya sultry smile spread, her lips curling upward. Her eyes shone with a knowing glint. With each calculated strides, she walked closer to me,my heart raced as she stood a breath away from me. “I know where I am, Ronald” she said,her smile grew, seductively and velvety. I felt a glint within me but my instincts screamed caution. Raya's sudden interest seemed…dangerous, given that she is also married.I couldn't help noticing the way her hair flowed down her back. The dim lighting seemed to illuminate every curve. ‘What is she playing at?’“ What are you doing here?” I said, curtly, a t
EMILY’S POVI stared blankly out of the window. My brows furrowed, casting a shadow over my eyes, still upset about the sudden change in plans.My expression changed when we arrived home.We were welcomed by the familiar faces of loved ones beaming with warmth greated us.Ma'am Claire out did herself in throwing a party for our return. Ronald's home – Our home transformed into a cheerful celebration hub. “You are welcome dear ones,” said Ma'am Claire, looking beautiful in her tailored silhouette. “This isn't required, Ma'am," I said, my lips curling up into a thin smile. Ma'am Claire eyes sparkled, drawing closer to the stoic Ronald "Oh Ronald, always so serious! Don't be so stern.”“You are too kind , Ma'am,”I complimented, beaming.“It's nothing, my dear,” she said, smoothing my hair “Emily!" “Mia! You are here,"I said, my legs striding forward. “ Ma'am Claire called me to join the welcome party," she said, stretching her hands pulling me into a hug. “You owe me lots of gist,"
RONALD'S POV“Finally,” I muttered briefly, heading to my study room. I didn't ask for any of these,I had been away from home after many years without having the knowledge of who my father was. My father received me with open arms, showering me with riches,I sometimes wonder if he would have accepted me back if he had children with his wife, Ma'am Claire.Living with him for two years made me realize that my father wasn't what I thought he was.I had always been angry at him for abandoning me and mom.All the anger died down when I saw him on his sick bed, hospitalized because of a heart attack ,realization hitted me, I'm about to lose the only family I have left.Father entrusted this inheritance to me and I'm going to protect it.A knock on the door broke the silence,the door opened revealing one of the workers “Young Master, your friend is here,” he said ,head bowed respectfully.“ Let him in and get us a wine from the cellar,” I said “Okay sir,”“Hey Man,” Colin's voice resonate
EMILY'S POV‘Mm..I want to stay in this warm bath forever…,’ I moaned,my thoughts drifted lazily,my mind fogging as I slipped into a calm haze.Subconsciously, I felt a presence,a subtle stir in the air. My heart stirred, sensing someone's gaze on me. My eyes shot open immediately to see Ronald standing shirtless,his shirt in one hand.“Emily,I'm sorry!”he said in a whisper, quickly turning away. “ I didn't mean to —” My face paled,a scream escaping my parted lips“Get out.” My thoughts raced as he strode out of the bathroom.‘He hasn't been standing there forong,has he?’I said in my thoughts, embarrassment washed over me.I got out of the bathtub immediately, yanking off a towel from the towel rack. I slowly walked into the room hoping not to see Ronald.I glanced around the room,he was nowhere to be found,I breathed a sigh of relief . Still embarrassed ,I quickly wore the pajamas I found in the wardrobe.I laid under the duvet on the king size bed,my face still flushed with embar
RONALD'S POV My heart quickened and my feet got rooted on the marble tile but it was her sudden scream that shattered the tension. I exited the bathroom,my emotions raging. Descending to the lower floor, I struggled to calm the desire brewing within. My encounter with Emily has ignited a mix of desires. Desires that I have always wanted to keep at bay. I strode to my study room in the lower floor, my heart still racing as the scene of Emily in the bathtub kept playing in mind.’A cold shower will do,’I slumped at my desk, trying to focus my mind on work but it is not doing justice to what was going on in my mind. “Damn, get your acts together, Ronald. Focus.”I said, racking my fingers through my hair. I slapped my cheeks, a sharp sting snapping me back to reality.Moments later, I stode back in the room. The dim light enveloped me,so I head into the bathroom to take a cold shower. Under the shower I stayed longer than usual, letting the chill wash away my hot body.I stepped out of
EMILY'S POVAs I sat at the kitchen table, sipping my coffee and staring blankly at my phone, I couldn't shake off the thoughts of Ronald that had been plaguing me all morning. I had made up my mind to avoid him at all costs when I get back to work on Monday. But the thought of avoiding him only made my heart ache. Mia's sudden return, beaming with a bright smile, caught me off guard. "Emily," she called out, her voice low and sweet, like a gentle breeze on a summer day.I looked up, my curiosity piqued, and raised an eyebrow. "What's making you smile like that?" I asked, my tone laced with a hint of amusement.Mia just chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief, and said, "I have something to show you." My curiosity was piqued, and I found myself leaning in, eager to know what Mia had in store.Just then, Colin walked in, followed by Ronald. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met, and I felt a rush of emotions: anger, hurt, and a hint of longing. My expression changed instantly, my
RONALD'S POV Ronald went about his morning routine, tackling his tasks with his usual efficiency. But just as he was getting into the swing of things, his phone buzzed with an unexpected call from Calling."Hey, meet me at the usual spot," Calling said, his voice low and mysterious.Ronald's brow furrowed in surprise. "What's up? It's only 2 pm. We don't usually meet until evening."There was a pause on the other end of the line before Calling responded, "Just trust me on this one, Ronald. I need to show you something."Ronald's curiosity was piqued. What could Calling possibly want to show him that couldn't wait until evening?As I drove to meet Colin, the city streets blurred together in a haze of worry and anxiety. The sound of the engine and the hum of the tires on the pavement were the only sounds that filled my mind. I navigated through the crowded streets, my eyes fixed on the road ahead, my mind racing with thoughts of Colin's call. I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease
EMILY'S POV As I lounged on the couch, lost in thought, the door swung open and Mia burst in, her energy infectious. She dropped her bag with a flourish, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Emily, let's eat out today!" she exclaimed, already moving towards me.I opened my mouth to protest, but she was too quick. Her hand shot up, palm facing me, and I felt a familiar sense of resignation wash over me. Mia always got her way, and I knew better than to argue.With a sigh, I let her pull me up from the couch. She propelled me towards the bedroom, chattering excitedly about her day. I shrugged, letting her fuss over me as she rummaged through my closet for a change of clothes.As Mia dug through my closet, her voice bubbled over with excitement, recounting the highlights of her day at the office. I couldn't help but smile as she giggled her way through a story about her boss's misadventure with a cup of coffee. "And then, he stood up, and coffee just dripped down his shirt!" Mia's laugh
RONALD'S POVI sat at my desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of me. It had been a week since I'd sent Emily packing, and I couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that had settled in my chest.I missed her. I missed her smile, her laugh, her sleepy face under the morning light . I even missed the way the calls me, the way my name rolled out of her tongue when we were intimate .But my pride refused to let me admit it. I had to maintain my tough exterior, my confident demeanor. I couldn't let anyone see the vulnerability that was eating away at me.As I glanced around the office, I noticed my subordinates whispering and glancing at me. I knew they were speculating about my relationship with Emily. The fact that she hadn't been coming to work only added fuel to the fire.I felt a surge of anger and frustration. Why did they have to gossip about my personal life? Bunch of gossipers. But deep down, I knew it was my own fault. I had let my pride and ego get the better of me. I ha
EMILY POVI felt like I was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to escape the crushing weight of my grief. My body ached from crying, my eyes burning from the constant flow of tears. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt such overwhelming sadness.As I lay there, I felt Mia's gentle touch on my shoulder, her soft words of comfort whispering in my ear. But I couldn't respond, couldn't even muster up the energy to push her away. I just lay there, numb and broken, as she tried to reach me.I knew Mia was worried, I could sense it in her touch, her voice. But I couldn't reassure her, couldn't even look at her. I just felt too much pain, too much sorrow.As the minutes ticked by, I felt Mia's presence fade away, leaving me alone in my darkness. The silence was oppressive, the only sound was my quiet sobs. I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of my grief, unable to escape.I don't know how long I lay there, lost in my sorrow. Time seemed to stand still, the world outside my
RONALD'S POVI stormed into the conference room, my face a thundercloud. My team, seated around the table, exchanged nervous glances. I couldn't help it - I was still reeling from the pictures I had received the previous day. My mood was in a jumble of mess. "Alright, let's get started," I growled, slamming my fist on the table. My team jumped, taken aback by my outburst."Uh, yes, sir," one of them stammered. "We've got the quarterly reports ready for review."I snatched the report from the team member's hand, my eyes scanning the pages with a mixture of disdain and anger."This is unacceptable," I snapped, my voice rising. "You call this a report? It's a joke!"The team member who had presented the report looked taken aback. "I-I apologize, sir. I'll make sure to-"I cut him off, my face red with rage. "You'd better. I expect to see a revised report on my desk by the end of the day. And if it's not up to par, there will be consequences."The team nodded hastily, eager to escape my
EMILY POVI trudged into the room, my heart heavy with shame, regret and confusion. Ronald's words still echoed in my mind, "I don't want to see you again." I felt like I'd been punched in the gut,my heart shattered,my breath knocked out of me.I began to pack my bags, my hands moving mechanically as I tried to process what had just happened. The question, ‘How did this happen?’ swirl in my mind,I couldn't even remember all that happened before I black out, I just know that I was in the club. I didn't have anywhere to go, no one to turn to. I contemplated calling Mia, but I didn't want to burden her again. She'd already done so much for me.But I didn't have a choice. I had to call Mia. She was the only person I could turn to. I dialed her number, my heart racing with anxiety.Mia's son came to pick me up, and the drive was silent. I could feel Mia's eyes on me, sense her curiosity and concern. But she didn't ask me any questions, didn't pry. She just let me be.When we arrived at Mi
RONALD'S POVAs I stepped into my house, I felt a wave of fury wash over me. My expression was a mask of controlled anger, my eyes blazing with a fierce intensity. My jaw was clenched in a tight line, my face set in a stern, unyielding expression.I couldn't believe what I had just seen. A photo of Emily, laughing and smiling with a drink in her hand, had been sent to me. My mind was reeling with questions and doubts. Why had she lied to me? Why had she told me she was going to a quiet dinner with Mia when in reality she was out partying?I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my trust and faith in Emily shattered. I couldn't believe that she had betrayed me like this. I thought we had something real, something special. But now, I wasn't so sure.As I walked through the house, my footsteps were heavy and deliberate. I was weighing each step carefully, trying to calm myself down before I confronted Emily. But it was no use. My anger and hurt were simmering just below the surface, w
EMILY'S POVThe doctor discharged me, giving instructions that I should have enough rest and should be taken care of. I couldn't stop crying as we left the hospital. The pain and grief were overwhelming, and I felt like I was drowning in my own tears.As we were about to part ways,Ethan turned to me with a pleading look in his eyes."Emily, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me," Ethan said, his voice filled with regret. "I feel like this is all my fault."Mia's voice was sharp and angry. "You're right, it's your fault. Why weren't you watching her? Why did you let her out of your sight? You invited her to the party,you should have made her your responsibility."I reached out and put a hand on Mia's arm. "It's not Ethan's fault, Mia. It's an accident. I'm the one who...who...". I couldn't finish the sentence. The pain was too much, and I felt like I was going to break.But Mia's was unforgiving. “An accident? An accident that could have been prevented if he had been paying attention.”Mia'