(Emily's POV).“Did you ever think about what if I regretted it and maybe got a chance to be with your daughter again, Jim?”Ben suddenly spoke as my father and I were about to leave. Of course, my dad looked at him and sat back down, and so did I.“You won't get any chance!” I hissed this time, telling him so emphatically.My stomach immediately felt cramped and I was suddenly stressed just imagining him coming back to me. However, I didn't want him to come back and no matter what, even if he changed one day, I would never open the door to my heart for him.“Ben, you really are like a little boy who just grew up, you know. You're not mature at all. Do you think I'll give you that chance? Of course not. So you might as well just dream and enjoy the rest of your life with nothing.”My father immediately pulled my hand to get out of his way and it was a relief to hear him say that, really showing how angry and disappointed he was with Ben.Being outside was even more of a relief, gettin
(Emily’s POV).I tried on several wedding dresses according to Mike's choice and of course as much as possible to fit my stomach for the next month because I was pregnant."How about this? I think I look better in this than I did before," I said as I presented myself in front of Mike.Mike stood up from the chair and he came closer to me. He looked like he was stunned by my appearance and his hands were on my waist."You're beautiful, Love. I've fallen in love with you so many times, you know. You really... leave me speechless."I swallowed. Just hearing his compliments made my heartbeat. He really knew how to please his women and I always fell under his charm."So, this mermaid gown is what I will wear later?" I asked again to confirm.He nodded while frowning and suddenly laughed. "Wait, you call this mermaid gown?"I nodded in surprise. "That's the name, Mike. Don't make fun of it!" I was embarrassed even though I knew that what I said was true. Even the name tag said Mermaid Weddi
(Mike's POV)."So, you’re going to remarry my daughter, huh?"The question came from Jimmy, Emily’s father, with the weight of both curiosity and warning in his voice. His eyes, still sharp despite the health battles he’d faced, focused entirely on me. Emily stood beside me, her hand resting gently on my arm, but I knew this was a moment between Jimmy and me—a moment where everything I’d ever promised to Emily was about to be scrutinized. I was ready for it.Emily had told me that this would happen eventually, that her father—recovering from a stroke—would want to talk to me, man to man. And while Emily was my heart, her father’s approval mattered. It was an unspoken rule. Emily squeezed my arm and kissed my cheek before excusing herself from the room, her father’s office, leaving us alone. The door closed with a soft thud, sealing in the gravity of the moment.I stood across from Jimmy, hands at my sides, and waited for him to make the next move. The old man waved me over to the c
(Emily's POV).“Did my dad make you scared?” I asked Mike, breaking the comfortable silence in the car as we drove toward his mansion. I watched him, his jaw tight as he focused on the road, yet calm. I loved how Mike always seemed to be in control, but after today, after that conversation with my dad, I couldn’t help but wonder if it shook him a little.Mike glanced at me briefly, a small smile tugging at his lips. “No, Love,” he said smoothly, “the only thing that could’ve scared me was if your dad told me not to be with you.” He paused for a moment, letting that sink in. “Even though I’ve known from the start that he liked me.”I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up from my chest. “Wow, Mike, way to be humble,” I teased, giving him a playful punch on the arm. “You’re so confident.”His grin widened as he shrugged. “What can I say? There’s nothing in the world I’m afraid of… except losing you.”Those words hit me harder than I expected. My face flushed, warmth creeping up from
(Emily's POV). "It feels so good, you know. We always enjoy our lovey-dovey every night." I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face as I lay there next to Mike, still catching my breath. My body hummed with a sense of satisfaction, that familiar warmth spreading through my limbs. I rolled over on the bed, resting my head on his chest, the sound of his heartbeat steady beneath my ear. Mike let out a low chuckle, his hand absentmindedly running through his tousled hair. His body was drenched in sweat, but the scent of him—warm, clean, and faintly musky—always made me dizzy in the best way. I swear, sometimes it was like he showered in cologne, but I knew better. He just naturally smelled like that. It was infuriating and addictive all at once. He rubbed his arm, still catching his breath too. "I’ve never been like this before," he admitted, his voice low and a little rough. He turned his head to look at me, his eyes dark and full of something intense. "Not even with… o
(Emily's POV)."I cooked a meal for you to bring to your office," I told Mike as soon as he stepped into the kitchen, still rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His hair was tousled, sticking up in every direction, and he looked at me with a mix of confusion and surprise.“Love..." he started, glancing at the food I had laid out on the counter, the steam rising from the containers. "Why are you cooking?" His tone wasn’t harsh, but there was a clear concern in his voice. He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "Didn’t I tell you not to do this? You’re not supposed to be tired out. You need to rest, especially now."I sighed, wiping my hands on a dish towel before turning to face him fully. "Mike, I want to be useful as your wife. I can’t just sit around all day doing nothing. I want to make sure you have something homemade to eat. You know... something that reminds you of me when you’re at work."His expression softened, but he still didn’t look convinced. I could see the worry in his
(Ben's POV).“Ck! Now you come alone without her?” I asked, my voice dripping with skepticism as Mike appeared, walking toward the bench where I sat. Alone. Of course, he didn’t bring her. He never brings Emily when he comes to see me. It’s like he’s hiding her, shielding her from whatever remains of our twisted connection. Or maybe Emily herself didn't want to come all along to see me.Mike didn’t answer right away. He didn’t have to. His calm demeanor, as always, was as steady as a still pond. It annoyed me to no end. How he could stay so composed when he knew exactly what I wanted, what I had lost. He had everything now. Her love. Her trust. Everything that had once been mine—or at least, what I thought was mine. Don't say I'm not regret it. Of course I regret, but it was only I kept to myself, not to show to my family, people I knew or Emily herself.Without a word, he extended his hand and placed a package of food on the bench beside me. “Eat it while it’s still warm,” Mike
(Mike's POV).“Yeah, I’m just done meeting him, Love. I’ll be back to my office.” I told Emily as soon as I answered her call, trying to keep my voice casual.“Everything's alright? He didn't say bad words to you?”I chuckled and said, “although he said bad words to me, it doesn't mean anything, Love. Trust me, the bad words coming from my enemies or even him, means nothing. It won't make me down.”“I know you would say that, but still I'm worried.”I smiled when I heard her say that. “Meet you later, OK? I love you.”“I love you too, Mike. Be careful on the road.”Earlier today, during lunch, I mentioned to Emily that I was going to visit Ben in prison. I didn’t ask her to come along—I knew she wouldn’t want to see him after everything that happened. She had moved on, and honestly, so had I. But sometimes, things needed to be settled face-to-face, no matter how much time had passed.As I hung up the phone, I reflected on my earlier meeting with Ben. My nephew's arrogance was still th