Eliana Watson I knew Emma wouldn't give in easily. But had she forgotten that I was her mother—I knew her better than she knew herself. My head was aching badly. Did she really have to make it that realistic? A nurse in a mask came into my ward with a tray in hand. "How are you feeling, ma’am?" the nurse asked as she arranged the equipment on the tray. I had expected Emma to be here by my side. Or wasn’t my accident convincing enough? "I feel okay. My head just hurts," I responded. Something was strange, though. This nurse was in a mask—was this how they operated here? "Can I see your face?" I asked. "Why, ma’am?" The lady’s voice seemed forced, as if she was faking it. "Because I would like to know the person taking care of me," I retorted. The nurse smiled before taking off her mask, revealing her face. "You got me, Mum," Lena spoke. "Speak of the devil." I shook my head. "I'm not a devil, Mum. I’m your favorite little daughter," she said to herself, makin
Emma Watson"Mother!" My heart beamed with joy as I saw my mother awake. "Mummy, you are awake!" I rushed toward her, hugging her. "I never thought you would call me that again," she spoke. "I'm sorry, Mum. I was very upset. I didn't mean for the accident to happen," I let the free liquid flow down my face. "No, dear, don't be." She retorted, patting my head. "I should be the one apologizing, dear," her voice was sober. "I shouldn't have compared you to your sister and made you feel less of yourself. "Henceforth, I promise to treat you better and do right by you, my lovely daughter," she pulled me into a hug again. That was it—the feeling I craved, the feeling of belonging, the feeling of being loved. I couldn't believe I was foolish enough to have wanted to throw our beautiful relationship out the window. "Ahmm," a voice interrupted our little reunion. "Hello, Mrs..." A young-looking nurse stretched forth her hand toward me. I had been so engrossed in seeing my
Emma Watson"What do you mean by start afresh?" I gazed at Samantha, who held onto the documents I had almost lost my fingers on. "Yes, ma'am. You haven't been doing it right," she stated. "Oh wow, really?" I shook my head. "I'm exhausted, hungry, and there's no way I'm starting afresh..." "But ma'am..." she was still saying when I packed my bags to leave. "Just wow. I spent eight hours here all in vain," I clasped tightly to my bag as I walked toward my bodyguard, Alex."Are you done, ma'am?" he asked, taking my bag from me. "Yes, I am. Can we please start going? I'm starving." He nodded as he started the car. I could see Samantha walking out of the building, glaring at me as the car began moving. "She was insane if she thought I was going to retype all those pages." "Ma'am, you don't look so good. Didn't you like your first day at work?" "Nothing close to that," I retorted. "Please, is there an eatery close by? I'm starving." "Yes, ma'am," he responded as he
Ray MaverickIt was now 7 p.m., and Emma wasn't back home. My eyes were still swollen from the allergic reaction. "Is Emma back yet?""No, Mr. Ray,""Can you please call Samantha to find out what might be the cause of her lateness?""Alright, Mr. Ray," Abel spoke as he took out his phone and began dialing. "Sir, there's still no answer." And Emma doesn't even have a phone to get across to her. "What about the bodyguard?" "Still unreachable." "Get the car ready. We are going to The Maverick Organization." "Are you sure, sir? I can just go there on my own. Remember, your eyes are still—""My wife is nowhere to be found, Abel.""Yes, sir, but I could just go check what might be the problem.""Get the car started," I retorted, and he walked out immediately. "Lucy," I called out. "Yes, sir?""Do call me when Emma returns.""Alright, sir," she responded. Abel had gotten the car ready, and we were already heading towards the organization. ..."Hi, Samantha," I greeted as
Emma WatsonRayian threw his questions at me like an FBI interrogator. "I forgot about the questions, Rayian," I lied. He sighed before turning to the front. "How are your eyes?" "Fine, they're getting better." "That's nice to hear." The drive to the mansion was silent. I was glad he didn’t ask me any more questions. "Thank you," I muttered to Alex. "Good night, ma’am," he said as he went to park the car. Abel was already here. "Get some sleep. You have work tomorrow." "Yes, boss," I sighed as I walked toward my room. "Won't you be having dinner, Mrs. Ray?" "No, I'm fine, Mira. I just need a bath and some rest." "Oh, alright, ma’am," Mira said and left. I collapsed on the bed. I had never been so worn out in my life. The thoughts of Mum filled my head. She must be wondering why I didn’t return. And also Lena—I could finally visit her in the hospital now that I was allowed to go out. "I miss Lena so much," I whispered. I just hoped she was getting bett
Ray MaverickEmma’s eyes locked onto mine as I stepped into her small, cramped office space. Her entire body tensed, her fingers gripping the edge of the desk like it was the only thing keeping her upright. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” My voice was dangerously calm, but the weight of my anger filled the room. Her heartbeat was so frantic I could almost hear it, matching the tension that thickened the air. “I’m sorry, Boss. I didn’t notice the flash drive was two,” she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. I let out a slow, frustrated sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose as I paced the room. My mind replayed the disastrous meeting over and over, the humiliation of it burning through me like wildfire. “We just lost millions because of you.” The words tasted bitter on my tongue. “Do you have any idea how long it took to bring those clients to the table?” Emma’s gaze dropped to the desk, shame clouding her expression. “You haven’t even been in this company
Lucas Maverick Rayian was dumb, I knew that. But was he dumb enough to think I would let him have the clients buy into his deal? I had seen him hand the flash drive to Emma after she insisted on making the presentation more appealing. I needed a distraction but couldn't find the perfect one—until Samantha emerged from the meeting room, rushing toward Emma. I knew that was my perfect moment. I had her bump into a staff member and switched the flash drive from her. And now, I needed to cause chaos. "Take this to Emma, give her this drink, say it's from her husband, then slip this flash drive into her pocket," I ordered. The staff member nodded and walked off. Money was indeed power. "Done, sir," he returned shortly. I smiled as I watched the drama unfold. "One, two, three, four, five, six," I counted down to Rayian's downfall. "Twenty-four." And then it happened. One by one, the clients rushed out of the organization, raining insults on Rayian—a sight of pure joy.
Emma WatsonLucas' snide comments and laughter seared my skin more than anything else in the room. How did the flash drive get messed up? As far as I was concerned, I had given it to Samantha. And also, how was Lucas able to secure the deal Rayian had worked so hard for? It seemed like we were called here just to get mocked, and Rayian had defended me countless times—even from his sister. Did that mean he had forgiven me? I was already having high hopes until Betty mentioned my wedding ring. Rayian’s hand flung to my fingers, inspecting them. “Where’s your wedding ring?” Rayian asked, his voice hoarse. His gaze dropped to my bare finger. His hand shot out, gripping mine. His fingers tightened as if searching for something that wasn’t there. My throat went dry. What would he do when he found out I had sold his ring for a bus ride? “Didn’t mean to strike a nerve, brother. I thought you knew too,” Betty remarked, her voice laced with mockery. “Betty, don’t test my
Emma WatsonThe late afternoon sun poured through the tall windows of the Manhattan penthouse, casting golden beams across the sleek marble floors. The scent of fresh lilies drifted through the open space, mingling with the faint aroma of roasted coffee from the kitchen. For the first time in months, the silence didn’t feel heavy or dangerous. It felt... peaceful.I stood barefoot by the glass wall, gazing out at the city I once hated for everything it took from me. Now, somehow, it had given me everything too.Behind me, Ray’s footsteps echoed softly across the wood. I didn’t turn. I didn’t have to. I knew his presence by heart now—the rhythm of his breathing, the tension in his muscles when he was deep in thought, the way his energy wrapped around mine like a second skin.He came to stand beside me, his hand finding mine. Warm. Solid. Real.“This view used to make me feel invincible,” he said quietly.I looked up at him, his profile bathed in the soft light. “And now?”He glanced do
Ray The night air bit against my skin as I stood on the rooftop of the Kingstone building, the skyline of Manhattan stretching before me in all its glittering, indifferent glory. The city didn’t know what it had cost me to get here—or maybe it didn’t care. Either way, the end was coming. And I was ready. Behind me, the wind whipped at my coat, and the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. “Are you sure about this?” Lucas’s voice was low, hoarse from the healing wound in his side. I glanced back at him. “It ends tonight. One way or another.” He nodded grimly and joined me at the edge. “We have snipers stationed on the west building, just like you planned. Emma’s team is holding the perimeter.” My throat tightened at her name. We’d said our goodbyes earlier, just in case. She’d kissed me like it might be the last time. Maybe it would be. “They’ll be here,” I said. “Benitez doesn’t miss a chance to gloat.” Luc
Emma I used to think love was the end goal. Like if I could just find the right person, all the broken parts would fall into place and I’d finally feel whole. But love wasn’t the end. It was the beginning. Because when Ray and I stopped running from who we were—and started building toward who we wanted to become—something bigger took root. Something wilder. Braver. Truer. Not a happy ending. A brave one. And that made all the difference. We spent the first few weeks after the wedding wrapped in a kind of quiet bliss. The world slowed down. Emails went unanswered. The Fellowship ran without us for a little while. Priya handled most of the chaos, sending short updates with emojis and bullet points. I skimmed them between morning walks and late-night dips in the ocean. Ray was softer, more still. I could see it in the way he looked at me—like the war inside him had finally gone quiet. I’d never felt more like myself. And in that stillness, something surpri
Ray When I was a kid, I thought power meant control. Silence in a boardroom. Eyes following your every move. A last name that carried weight, made people sit straighter. Turns out, none of that matters when you’re standing in a village where no one knows who you are—just that you show up when you say you will. That’s real power. Not dominance. But trust. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t chasing power to bury my father's shadow. I was chasing purpose—with Emma beside me. We moved slower now, not because we had to, but because we could. Mornings began with thick coffee and open laptops, balancing spreadsheets with outreach emails. The fellowship was growing faster than we planned. Our quiet office above the bookstore had tripled in size, and we were already looking for a new space. We weren’t just funding journalism. We were creating platforms. Safety nets. A family of storytellers, rebels, and truth-seekers. People I would’ve never noticed if I’d stay
The Shape of Forever Emma The breeze was warm, laced with the scent of frangipani and sea salt as I stepped out onto the balcony. Below, the ocean stretched into a horizon so clear and infinite, it felt like time itself paused to breathe. Bali wasn’t what I expected. It was better. No crowds. No headlines. No past. Just us—and the rhythm of waves that didn’t care about who we used to be. Ray was in the kitchen, humming something soft as he sliced fruit. Shirtless, barefoot, sun-kissed. If I didn’t already love him, I would’ve fallen for him right then and there. But I’d already fallen—completely, recklessly, irrevocably. And here, in this quiet corner of the world, it finally felt safe to land. We spent our mornings wrapped in each other, too lazy to set alarms. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we didn’t need to. His fingertips would trace patterns on my skin while the sun climbed higher, and I’d close my eyes, memorizing the silence between our heartbeats. In the af
Ray The wind cut through my coat as I stepped out of the cabin one last time, the cold air snapping me to attention. Snow crunched beneath my boots, and far below, the world stretched out in a sea of silver and blue—mountains frozen in time, quiet valleys that didn’t care about headlines, betrayals, or billion-dollar collapses. Up here, the world couldn’t touch us. But it also couldn’t stay frozen forever. Behind me, Emma zipped up her duffel bag and slung it over her shoulder. Her cheeks were flushed pink from the chill, her hair tied back in a loose braid. She looked at me like she always did—like I wasn’t the broken son of a corrupt empire, but something more. Something worth saving. And maybe—for the first time in my life—I believed her. The train we caught into Lucerne was empty except for an older couple reading a newspaper and a teenage boy scrolling on a cracked phone. Emma sat beside me, her head leaning on my shoulder, one hand looped around my arm. I watched the
Emma The sun rose behind a shroud of pale clouds as we crossed the Swiss border. Ray sat beside me in the back of the SUV, his eyes fixed on the snow-dusted mountains ahead. Lucas dozed in the front passenger seat, snoring softly, a jacket draped over his face like a makeshift shield from reality. I watched Ray in the quiet. The shadows under his eyes hadn’t faded, even after everything we’d done. Even after the truth had finally come out. The Chronicle had published it all. Langston Enterprises. The bribes. The offshore accounts. The ports. The human cost. The devastation left in his father’s wake. It was global news now. Presidents were giving statements. CEOs were distancing themselves. Stocks were crashing. Investigations were launching across four continents. And yet, somehow, the air between us still held that tension. That edge. Because justice came with a price. And we were the ones who’d lit the match. The safe house was tucked into the mountains above Interla
Ray It wasn’t just the name—it was everything that came with it. Langston. In boardrooms, it carried weight. On Wall Street, it opened doors. But in my blood, it felt like a curse I’d spent my entire life trying to outrun. And now, it was time to turn around and face it. I stared at the screen, Emma asleep beside me on the couch, her legs curled underneath a blanket, her head resting on my thigh. The glow of the laptop cast long shadows across her peaceful face. God, she deserved peace. Deserved a life untouched by this war. But she’d chosen to fight anyway. With me. For me. I couldn’t let that be for nothing. I scrolled through the documents we’d compiled—encrypted logs, money transfers, real estate deals, fake nonprofit filings, covert port activity. All of it pointed back to one name: Langston Enterprises. All of it pointed back to my father. Everything we needed to dismantle his empire was right here. The question was—who could we trust with it? Lucas had reached
Emma The morning after the bloodshed, the safe house felt eerily quiet—like the walls themselves were holding their breath. I stood by the window, watching the pale gray mist roll over the hills. The trees swayed in a rhythm that felt too calm, too detached from what had happened less than twenty-four hours ago. Inside me, a different storm brewed. One that didn’t care for peace or clarity. Ray was still asleep. His breathing steady beside me in the bed we had barely touched since arriving. We’d held each other in silence last night, the kind of silence that didn’t beg for words but craved understanding. But even in his arms, I hadn’t truly rested. My mind hadn’t stopped since I’d pulled the trigger. I’d never killed before. I wasn’t even sure I believed in the right to. But when that man raised his weapon toward Lucas, something primal in me had taken over. I hadn’t hesitated. I hadn’t flinched. I’d acted. And I didn’t regret it. That’s what scared me the most. I steppe