(Emily’s POV). “Do you want me to help you?” I asked Laura as I stepped into the kitchen, the smell of garlic and herbs filling the air. She was moving around gracefully, her sleeves rolled up, hands busy chopping vegetables, and the stovetop bubbling with what I assumed was her signature sauce. Laura turned her head, giving me that warm, knowing smile. "Are you sure Mike would be okay with that?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I thought he didn't allow you to get tired with all these activities." I sighed softly, leaning against the counter for a moment. “He’s protective, yes… a little too protective sometimes,” I admitted with a slight shake of my head. "But cooking? It’s hardly abnormal. I’ve missed being in the kitchen. I miss cooking for Mike.” Laura chuckled, wiping her hands on the apron tied around her waist. “Well, if you’re that eager to help, I won’t stop you.” She stepped aside slightly, gesturing to the cutting board. “Why don’t you chop
(Emily’s POV)."Hi, I cooked lunch for you. Is it okay if I come to your office?" I asked, my voice light as I held the phone to my ear. I had just finished packing the lunch into the food box, ensuring everything was neatly organized. Mike had been so busy lately that we barely had time for lunch together, and it might brighten his day if I surprised him. But still, I wanted to make sure he didn’t mind me dropping by.On the other end, I heard his deep chuckle, the sound instantly warming my heart. “Of course it’s okay,” Mike said, his voice filled with affection. “I’d be more than happy if you came over. I’ve missed having lunch with you.”A smile crept across my face at his words. “I’ll come over, then,” I said, already feeling the excitement build inside me. “I’ll have the driver take me. Should I bring Christopher along, or do you want me all to yourself?”Mike laughed again, a low, soothing sound. “As much as I love our son, leave him with the staff today. You’re still recover
(Mike’s POV).“Why are you here? Why can you—” Emily’s voice trembled, her question left unfinished as she stood frozen in shock, her wide eyes fixed on the figure in the doorway. Ben.The air seemed to thicken, a heavy silence falling over the room. I could feel the shift in Emily's body beside me, her hand gripping mine tightly as cold sweat beaded on her brow. I stepped in front of her instinctively, pulling her closer to my side. My chest tightened at the sight of him, anger swirling within me like a storm waiting to break loose."Who released you from prison?" I demanded, my voice sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade. Ben, my nephew—the man who had nearly destroyed Emily with his lies, his betrayal—stood there in front of us as if it were nothing as if the past hadn’t happened.He had no right to be here.Ben’s face was blank, expressionless, his eyes void of the usual arrogance I had always despised. He didn’t answer my question immediately. Instead, he took a step
(Mike’s POV)."Who the hell are you? Get off me!" Ellen's voice pierced through the walls, full of desperation and fury. I stood just outside the door, hearing her screams as she fought against the men I had sent to retrieve her. She must have been struggling hard, like a cornered animal, thrashing wildly. Ellen had no idea that it had been me behind all this. But she would soon find out.I’d instructed my men to bring her in—quietly, efficiently, no unnecessary attention. I wanted to confront her face-to-face, one-on-one. And it wasn’t until they caught her, wrestling her into submission, that Ellen realized the gravity of the situation.The truth was, Ellen thought she could get away with anything. Meddling in my family’s affairs, making reckless decisions that endangered everything I cared about. She’d underestimated me. She always did.As I approached the door, wearing black leather gloves I’d slipped on in preparation for this meeting, I braced myself. If things got rough, I wa
(Mike’s POV).“Hey, how’s your day?” Emily greeted me with her usual warmth the moment I stepped through the door. Her voice was soft, comforting—like it always was. But today, it couldn’t chase away the exhaustion hanging over me. I closed the door behind me and exhaled slowly, loosening my tie. "It was fine," I replied, my voice flat. I didn’t want to worry her. Not yet.Emily gave me a look—one that said she knew better. She always did. She could see right through me, the way I held tension in my shoulders or how my jaw clenched when something was on my mind. Without saying a word, she knew I wasn’t fine. "You look tired," she said softly, walking up to me, her gaze full of concern. Her fingers brushed against my arm, coaxing me gently toward the living room. "Come on, sit down for a minute."I didn’t resist. She guided me to the sofa, and I sank into it with a heavy sigh. I leaned back, letting the cushions take the weight I had been carrying all day."I’ll make you some tea,
(Emily's POV).“Can you tell me more specifically what you decided for her?” I asked, my voice quiet but insistent as I slipped under the covers. Mike had already turned off the lights, and the room was dark except for the faint glow of the bedside lamp. We were supposed to be getting ready for bed, but my mind was still spinning from everything I’d found out earlier.Mike paused, standing at the foot of the bed, his hands lingering at the hem of his shirt. He sighed deeply, a sound that seemed to carry the weight of the world. "Why do you want to know more, Love?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.I could feel his hesitation, but I wasn’t going to let him evade this. Not now. "Because I know you," I said softly, looking at him in the dim light. "I know you’ve done something... something more than you’ve told me."He sat down on the edge of the bed, still not looking at me, and I could see the tension in his shoulders. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched b
(Emily's POV)."Tonight, there’s a big family dinner. It includes Ben. Do you want to come?" Mike’s voice broke through the comfortable silence as we sat at the dining table, enjoying breakfast.I paused mid-bite, the fork suspended between my plate and my mouth. The food I had been casually enjoying suddenly felt like a lump in my throat, and I had to force myself to swallow. Ben. Dinner. With the Johnsons. Mike’s family. It meant I had to meet him; Ben - my ex.I placed the fork down gently and turned to look at him, trying to hide the shock I felt. My heart started to pound. Ben and I hadn’t been in the same room since... since everything fell apart between us. And now I am married to Mike, his uncle. The idea of sitting across from Ben, of having to face him while pretending everything was fine—it was daunting.But I couldn’t refuse, could I? Not when Mike was asking. Not when I’d already stepped into this complicated world when I said yes to him."I... I guess I should go," I
(Emily's POV).Mike leaned against the counter, his eyes watching me carefully. His gaze held a mix of concern and anticipation, as if he was waiting for me to reveal how I truly felt about last night.“How’d you sleep?” he asked again, a little softer this time, as though he already knew my answer.I sipped the coffee he handed me, letting the warmth settle the unease still lingering from the night before. “Better than I thought I would,” I replied, though my voice didn’t sound as convincing as I’d hoped.Mike’s eyes flickered with understanding. “It was a lot to handle,” he admitted, moving closer to me. “You being there, with him... It was bound to stir up something.”I stared into my coffee, swirling it around absentmindedly, trying to push away the thoughts of Ben’s lingering glances, the tension that had filled the room like a heavy fog. No matter how much I wanted to pretend last night didn’t affect me, it did.“Yeah, it brought up a lot of old feelings,” I admitted quietly, f
(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