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 POVThe menacing voice sent shivers down my spine, my pulse beating fast. My grip tightened on the phone, my knuckles turning white. “Who is this?" I stuttered, trying to keep my voice firm. "Why are you doing this?”The line went dead.My body shook as I Lowered the phone, fear gripped me making my breath unsteady, my chest rising and falling. My mind imagines the worst-case scenarios.“Oh God,” I whispered, covering my wide open mouth with my hands, my eyes glancing at the room erratically. I quickly rose up from my chair, nearly knocking it over, my legs wobbling and threatening to fall beneath me.Running to the window, I pulled the curtain shut, my heart beating faster than normal.“What if he is close by, watching every one of my moves?”As panic took hold, my vision blurred leaving me lightheaded, leaning on the wall and sliding to the floor. My phone still in my clenched hands, I dialed Ronald's number with shaky hands.“ Ronald, it's Emily,”I stuttered. “He called…
RONALD'S POVAs I sped home,my heart pounded against my chest, racing with every passing mile.My palms gripped the steering wheel tightly, adrenaline rushing through my veins.I stepped out of my car as soon as I drove into the driveway, walking briskly to the bedroom.I opened the bedroom door and rushed to Emily's side,my heart racing with every step. The fear in her voice still resounded in my mind.“Who would dare pose a threat to her?”Emily's beautiful face is now masked with a worried expression,locked mine, making my heart ache. “What happened?”I asked,my voice low.Emily explained the strange calls and threats she has been receiving from an unknown person. I clenched my hands into a fist. I will find who is behind this and will make sure he pays .‘This is so ridiculous. I'm not overreacting,am I? But …what if her life is in danger? No,I won't let any harm come near her,I will protect her,”" I'm here, he won't do anything,” I said, assuring her and drawing her closer to m
EMILY'S POVI stepped into the restroom, answering the call I wish I had ignored“Why are you contacting me?” I spat,fuming with anger.“Emily, please,can we talk in person? Ethan pleaded over the phone.”I want to explain something,”“Nothing you say will change the past. You shattered the trust I have for you by cheating on me with my step sister . What could you probably have to say?”“Emily, I know I'd done wrong but —”“Don't just . Don't. You hurt me , Ethan. And now you are contacting me, knowing that I'm married? Show some decency.”“Emily, I —”“Don't contact me again, Ethan. There is nothing left to discuss.”I said, hanging up the call. I rested on the wall of the restroom, thinking about the just concluded call. ‘Where did we go wrong?’I said in my thoughts. Our relationship has been filled with laughter,love and genuine connection.My mind replayed all the memories, searching for signs but everything seemed fine –or so I thought. The feeling of the pain and betrayal still
RONALD'S POVOur conversation was flowing effortlessly when Emily's phone rang, breaking the moment. She seemed to reject the call each time it rang but the caller didn't back down and kept calling.Seeing that the caller was persistent, Emily rose up from her seat excusing herself to go to the restroom.I sipped my wine slowly as I gazed out of the 5-star restaurant window, gazing at the environment. ‘It's been a while I felt like this. The only person I open up to is my friend Colin but surprisingly , I have begun to do the same to Emily,’ I said in my thoughts. ‘ Do I see her as a friend now?’“Good afternoon sir," A waitress said, standing before me with a warm smile. “ I have a message for you, sir," she said, sliding a discrete wrapped envelope across the table.I opened up the envelope wondering who could have sent a message to me. The envelope revealed a simple, typewritten note:“ The fold greets you, old friend.We have been watching. We know where you are . And know who yo
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'