After the laughter and clinking glasses had settled into a comfortable hum, I excused myself from the table, slipping quietly down the hallway to the restroom. The evening had gone smoothly so far, and I needed a moment to gather myself, to let it all sink in.As I washed my hands, the door opened, and Tessa slipped in beside me. Her eyes sparkled as she met my gaze in the mirror, a grin spreading across her face.“Finally, Em!” she said, nudging me playfully. “I can’t believe you’re engaged—to my cousin, no less!” She clasped her hands together dramatically, a mischievous glint in her eye. “I was beginning to think you’d make us wait forever.”I couldn’t help but smile. Tessa’s happiness was genuine, infectious, and it washed away the last of my nervousness. “I know,” I murmured, returning her grin. “It still feels surreal.”She tossed her long hair over one shoulder, examining me as if seeing me in a new light. “Just wait until the wedding! I’ve been dreaming up plans ever since
The morning passed in a peaceful hum, the diamond on my finger catching the light every now and then, reminding me of the promise it held; my redemption with my Tycoon.Monday had come roaring in, leaving me buried in a flurry of tasks at work. Between handling emails, tackling reports, and preparing for the afternoon meeting, I barely had a moment to breathe, let alone find time to see Christopher. A quick text exchange was all we managed—a few shared words and a warmth that lingered even amid the chaos. He asked if I was doing alright, and my fingers lingered over the screen as I typed back that I was, grateful for his small check-in. Somehow, that brief connection settled my nerves for the day.After work, I finally reclaimed my car, which had been waiting in the company lot since last Wednesday. It felt strange getting behind the wheel again, almost like picking up a piece of myself that had been left on hold.As soon as I arrived home, I was met by my mother at the front door.
Chapter Seventy-One; A Sleepover with TessaAs we drove through the streets, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of anticipation and curiosity. Christopher had been quiet but attentive, his hand resting on the steering wheel, his other occasionally drifting over to rest on mine. A comforting silence filled the car, one that felt intimate in its simplicity.Today, he had chosen to discard his chauffeur, and drive me around for a bit.We made a sudden stop, and I glanced up, a bit surprised. He’d pulled over in front of a small ice cream stand, the neon sign glowing against the night. He leaned over, a playful smirk lifting one corner of his lips. “I thought you might enjoy a treat,” he said, a hint of warmth in his tone.Moments later, he handed me a cone with my favourite vanilla flavour, which he had obviously found the information from Tessa, and I couldn’t help but smile. The first bite was cool and creamy, the sweetness melting on my tongue. For a moment, it was just the two of u
Chapter Seventy-Two; An Exciting Morning The sun was barely awake when Tessa jolted me out of bed, her enthusiasm utterly unmatched for this hour. She flashed a mischievous grin, hands on her hips as she insisted on dragging me out for a morning run. I groaned but followed her down the elevator to the street below Christopher’s penthouse. I had to admit, part of me was glad to be doing something active after the past few intense days.As we jogged through the quiet streets, Tessa kept up a lively commentary on everything from the brisk morning air to her latest smoothie recipe, guaranteed to boost energy and slim the waist.I tried to keep up with her chatter, but my energy was quickly fading. My breaths became shallow, and each step felt more like a trudge. By the time we made our way back to the building, my heart was racing, and I was almost certain I’d collapse on the spot.Christopher was waiting for us by the entrance, eyeing us both with an amused, sceptical look as we caugh
Chapter Seventy-Three; A Weight Off Her ChestStella’s face froze. She stared at me as if I’d just sprouted a second head. Her mouth opened slightly, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and something close to awe.“Oh. My. Goodness, Emily! Are you serious?” she finally whispered, her voice rising slightly with each word. I nodded, biting back a smile. “Yes, Stella, I’m serious. I’m engaged to Christopher Moore.” Her hands flew to her mouth, and she shook her head, blinking as if trying to process the information. “How could you just...drop that bomb on me like that?” She let out a little laugh, looking at me like I’d just confessed to being a secret spy. I could tell she was somewhere between amusement and disbelief.I couldn’t help it; I laughed, too, the sound soft and light, feeling the tension melt away a little. Stella was always so composed, always calm and in control, but now, her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity and excitement.She chuckled, slowly starting to regain her
Tessa was in her element, practically bouncing from one end of the mall to the other as she “explored” what she called the best-hidden gems in the area. And I had to admit, her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself laughing along as she pulled me into one boutique after another, insisting that I try on everything she liked. After finally finishing our spree, Tessa waved her hand dismissively and called over her chauffeur to have everything she bought sent to her house. “Now that that’s done,” she said with a mischievous grin, “let’s go for a swim.”“A swim?” I raised an eyebrow. “Where?”Tessa’s smile grew wider. “You’ll see. I have a surprise.”Before I knew it, we were heading into an elegant hotel nearby, one of her mother’s properties. Tessa greeted the staff like an old friend, and within minutes, we were at the private indoor pool. The pool area was stunning, with warm lighting that reflected off the still water, casting gentle ripples of light against the wa
“I’m sorry to ask this question, but it’s your mother’s brain short circuited?” Christopher asked me and immediately, Tessa and I burst into a peak of laughter and almost crash into each other while at it. Christopher has me rolling in a belly laughter with his question, so much that I forget my sadness for a moment. “I’m sure I had clearly warned her not to bother you, especially with matters that concerns your sister, but it seemed like my warning did not get across to her,” Christopher continued, his gaze darkening further. He didn’t seem to find the situation funny. Tessa finally controlled her laughter and said to him, “Go ahead with whatever choice of words you want to use for Emily’s Mum, she will never be offended by it.” I shrugged, totally carefree about it because at this point, there is no dignity left to savage. Even I want to sometimes know how my Mum’s brain functioned. I mean, how could she call to tell me about Brenda? Did I ever mistakenly tell her to keep
Christopher is right, I need more energy to face my enemies, so I pick up my cutlery and continue eating, but who would have known that I would throw everything up after that?“Emily, are you that upset?” Tessa asked as she uncapped a bottle of water and passed it to me.I took it from her weakly and used some of it to rinse my mouth before handing it back to her.“Trust me, I’m trying to be strong here, but it looks my system recognizes that I can’t pretend anymore,” I said, looking Tessa in the eye.She noticed how tired I was and grasped my arm before helping me out of the washroom.“If you don’t want to go back home, you can follow me to my place. Emily, you know I hate to see you like this,” Tessa said to me with a tinge of bitterness in her tone. I can tell that she’s a little upset with me for exerting myself, but there isn’t much I can do.I don’t want to start staying away from the house once the situation is unfavourable for me because I don’t want to give Brenda any l