(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
(Mike's POV).“Next time, if she comes and just brings flowers or any other stuff, throw it in the basket. And if she asks or gets mad at you, tell her it’s my command.”I leaned back in my chair as I said this to my secretary. She nodded without a word, her eyes widening slightly before she turned and left the room. I knew she didn’t want to get in the middle of whatever was going on, but it couldn’t be helped. Ellen had to understand that showing up unannounced with gifts wasn’t going to work. Not anymore.I sighed, rubbing my temples as the door closed behind the secretary. Why couldn’t Ellen just give up? After all this time apart, she still showed up like nothing had happened, as if we hadn’t both moved on. Well, I had moved on—clearly, she hadn’t. I thought what we had was just… limited to the bedroom. There were no emotions, no strings, just a mutual understanding. Or so I thought.But Ellen had been around longer than anyone else. I couldn’t deny that. She knew me in ways m
(Mike's POV).“Shopping for our baby’s stuff is what I’ve been waiting for since I got pregnant, Mike.” Emily’s voice was full of excitement, her eyes sparkling with that unmistakable glow of motherhood.I looked over at her as we walked through the aisles of the baby store, and despite how many times I’d thought it, I couldn’t help but say it again in my head—she’s radiant. Seven months pregnant, and Emily looked more beautiful than ever. Sure, maybe it was the pregnancy hormones doing their magic, but I knew better. She’d always been beautiful, from the very start. Now, though, there was something more. She was glowing, full of life, and every time I looked at her, I was reminded just how lucky I was.“You know,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual, though I couldn’t hide my excitement, “if you want, we can design a room for the baby. I’ll get the best decorators to make it perfect. Anything you want, Love. You just say the word.”Emily turned to me, her hand resting gently on
(Emily's POV). “So, are you going to tell us the gender of your baby?” Linda asked, a playful grin dancing on her lips. I smiled at her, feeling a warm excitement flutter through me. “Of course, Linda. You have to be there. It wouldn’t be the same without you.” She laughed, rolling her eyes dramatically. “Oh, don’t worry, I’ll be there. After all, I wasn’t going to miss your wedding a few months ago, and now this? I’m definitely coming.” Her words brought back memories of that perfect day. Our wedding wasn’t the grand spectacle Mike had originally wanted—it was small, intimate, just the way I had always dreamed. I remember Mike trying to convince me to go bigger, to make a statement, but I had stood firm. All I needed were the people we loved there to witness it. In the end, even Mike admitted that it had felt right. “Remember that day?” I said softly, my mind still lingering on the memories. “The wedding?” Linda nodded, her smile softening. “I do. It was perfect. Sma
(Emily's POV).“Why are you still awake, Love?” Mike asked, his voice laced with sleep as he entered the dimly lit room. I looked up from my book, the pages slightly wrinkled from my restless fingers. “Just reading,” I replied, putting the book down on the table beside me. As I climbed onto the bed, the familiar warmth radiated from him, wrapping around me like a cozy blanket.I sat beside him, watching the way he propped himself up on one elbow, a flicker of concern crossing his handsome face. “You’re still thinking about Ellen, aren’t you?”His question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken worries. I searched his eyes, looking for honesty, trying to decipher the layers behind that charming facade he often wore. But Mike was a professional at masking his thoughts; it was hard to tell when he was being completely truthful. He also knew what made me couldn't sleep, that was why he asked.“Just a little,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. The truth was, Ellen’s presenc
(Emily’s POV).Two years had passed, and our lives felt fuller and richer than I’d ever dreamed. Christopher had grown into a bright and beautiful toddler, and every day, I watched him reach new milestones with a mix of joy and awe. His eyes sparkled with curiosity as he absorbed everything Mike and I taught him, and he surprised me constantly with the way he understood and remembered the little things. I couldn’t have imagined that I would ever feel this deeply fulfilled or so endlessly proud of the life we’d created together.This life has changed me, too. Just two years ago, I would never have thought I’d find myself married to Mike—my soul mate and, yes, someone much older than me and, admittedly, the uncle of my ex-fiancé. In the beginning, our bond had been a shocking, unexpected twist that seemed almost too good to be real. But with every shared moment, every quiet evening together and every early morning with Christopher, I felt the truth of our connection. I loved him wit
"Daddy's home, Buddy!"The words spilled from my mouth with excitement I couldn’t contain as I stepped into the living room, only to find Mike already cradling Christopher in his arms. The sight of them together was enough to melt my heart. Christopher, so small and fragile, seemed to sense Mike’s presence the moment he walked through the door, and now his tiny hand clung to Mike’s shirt, his bright eyes wide with curiosity.Mike looked up at me, his face softened with a quiet joy that made my heart flutter. "I think he knows I’m back," he said, his voice filled with wonder.I laughed softly, setting my purse aside. "Of course he does. There’s no way he could miss you."I watched them for a moment, unable to look away. There was something so natural, so effortless, about the way Mike held Christopher. It was as if they were two halves of the same heartbeat, already so attuned to each other that even a few days apart felt too long. I didn’t want to interrupt, so I slipped into the k
(Emily’s POV)."I miss you."The words slipped out before I could stop myself. The moment I saw Mike step through the airport gate, every ounce of restraint I’d held over the past few days just melted away. I practically threw myself into his arms, wrapping him in a hug so tight I thought I might never let go.Mike’s hands slid around my waist, pulling me even closer, and I felt his warm breath against my ear. “I missed you too, more than you know,” he murmured, his voice low and husky. There was a rough edge to his tone, a subtle hint of all the things he wasn’t saying aloud. Before I could respond, his lips were on mine, his kiss hungry, demanding, like he was making up for every moment we’d spent apart. My hands slipped up to his shoulders, fingers clinging to the fabric of his shirt as the airport, the people, everything faded around us. It was just him and me, our unspoken longing filling the space between us until it overflowed.Finally, reluctantly, we broke apart, our bre
(Emily’s POV)."Don't cry, Boy. I'm right here," I cooed softly, bouncing Christopher lightly in my arms. His tiny face was scrunched up, cheeks flushed as he let out another wail, the sound piercing in a way that tugged at my heart.I felt a pang of helplessness, a familiar ache that surfaced whenever I couldn’t seem to calm him. Normally, when Mike was here, Christopher barely fussed. I liked to think it was because he sensed the balance and warmth that Mike’s presence brought. And now, that steadiness was gone, at least for a few days. I could only imagine how strange it must feel for Christopher to have half of his usual world missing."Shh, it’s okay. I’m here. We’re going to be just fine,” I murmured, trying not to let my own frustration leak into my tone.Despite my efforts, his cries only grew louder, his little hands curling into tight fists. I could feel my patience thinning, a creeping sense of unease mingling with the exhaustion that came from trying to soothe him on my
(Emily’s POV)."Take care of yourself, Mike. Call me as soon as you land," I said softly, feeling the weight of his upcoming absence settle over me.Mike nodded, his eyes meeting mine, as he gently cradled my face in his hands. "I will. And don’t worry, you’ll hear from me as soon as I’m down." He leaned in and pressed his lips to my forehead, his kiss lingering, soft and warm. Then, his mouth found mine, and I melted into him, letting myself be consumed by the kiss. It was longer, deeper than usual, as if neither of us wanted to let go. I could feel his unspoken promise in that kiss—a reassurance that he’d come back to me, always.The sound of his assistant’s voice cut through the air, snapping us back to the present. "Boss, it’s time to take off."Mike broke the kiss with a soft sigh, resting his forehead against mine momentarily. "I love you, Emily," he said, his voice filled with a warmth that wrapped around my heart.I managed a smile, my voice trembling slightly as I replied
(Mike’s POV)."Emily, I’ll be heading out on a business trip for a week. Want to come with me?" I asked, hoping to have her by my side for those seven days. Being away from her, from us, even for just a week, felt heavier than it used to. I just hope she wanted to come to me.She gave me a soft, apologetic smile. “Since having Christopher, I feel like I should stay around the house more,” she said, her hand instinctively reaching up to rest over her heart. “He’s so young, Mike. I don’t want him to wake up without his mom around.”I nodded, suppressing the pang of disappointment. It wasn’t as if I didn’t understand. Ever since Christopher had come into our lives, everything had changed—Emily had changed, and for the better, in so many ways. She was the embodiment of patience, grace, and care, and I was a fool to ever try and pull her away from that.“That’s fair,” I said with a grin, leaning down to kiss her cheek. “But,” I added, voice soft, “just remember, let me know if you head t
(Mike’s POV).The evening came too soon, and before I knew it, Emily and I were heading to the Johnson family home for yet another one of these "family dinners." They had never been a tradition before, at least not until Emily and I got married. Now, it felt like some unspoken agreement that we’d all gather regularly, whether I wanted to or not. The whole situation made me question things, wondering why we suddenly needed to meet so often when, in the past, we’d been perfectly fine keeping to ourselves. The irony wasn’t lost on me.Emily squeezed my hand, noticing the tension in my grip as we pulled into the driveway. “Remember, not everything needs to be faced with emotions,” she murmured gently, giving me a smile that made me feel as though we were the only two people in the world. “Tonight is just another dinner. We’ll get through it.”I nodded, taking a breath to calm myself. She was right; Emily had this calming effect on me, something I’d never known I needed until I found he
(Mike’s POV).“You aren’t mad at me? For not telling you about my visit to my father’s?”Emily’s question pulled me out of my thoughts, her voice soft yet searching as she looked up at me. I couldn’t help but smile as I shook my head, reaching to touch her cheek, letting my thumb trace the gentle curve there. Her expression held a touch of worry, but I could see something deeper beneath it—trust, maybe. A need for reassurance that ran deeper than the question she’d just asked.“Not at all,” I murmured, my voice low. Jimmy had told me she’d visited him, and, of course, I knew that meant Ben had been around. It wasn’t exactly a thought I enjoyed. There was still a part of me, small but insistent, that flared with jealousy, picturing Emily in the same space as him. But I wasn’t about to let that ruin this moment. I trusted her. She tilted her face up, catching my gaze with her eyes, which sparkled with a warmth that made everything else fade away. I lifted her chin gently, leaning do
(Emily’s POV).“Why don’t you give up, Ben?”My voice cut through the gentle hum of the garden, breaking the tranquility as I stepped toward him. Ben was hunched over, hands full of grass clippings as he tended to the flowerbeds in my father’s yard. His head jerked up at my voice, his face creased in mild surprise. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to show up here, and certainly not to confront him.The annoyance simmered in my chest as I walked closer, a dull ache pushing me to get the words out, to speak my mind finally. Every time I saw him here, every time I knew he was just around the corner from my life with Mike, it gnawed at me like an open wound.Ben stood up slowly, straightening to his full height, wiping his hands on his jeans. “Emily,” he said, his voice calm but wary. “I didn’t think you’d come here just to see me.”“I came here to ask why you haven’t disappeared from my life,” I replied, my tone sharper than I’d intended. “After everything, why not just… give up?”He loo