Christopher sat at his desk trying to calm his mental faculties as he ended the call. He had no idea why Emile wanted to talk but he was sure it wouldn’t be anything good. He hoped that this wouldn’t be the last conversation they had. He didn’t wish for much. He was happy to stand behind and watch her smile. He hoped to heavens that he wouldn’t be denied that right.As he thought of the many reasons for ‘Can we talk’, a face flashed by his mind’s eye. He clenched his fists as he thought of whether the reason was Daniel. Were they going to reconcile? He sighed deeply as his lips curled up in a derogatory smile. Although he felt a painful tug in his heart, he realized that it didn’t matter as long as she was happy!Reigning his thoughts that were racing around like mad horses, Christopher left his room to meet Emile at the Café downstairs as they agreed.Emile was waiting at the café downstairs when Christopher came down.“What’s up?” Christopher asked with a calm and casual façade as h
“I, the heiress of Burke industries was reduced to living the life of a lowly prostitute” Emile’s sobs became more heartbreaking “By day, a tool to vent his anger and by night, a tool to douse his sexual needs. In society, I became a joke, a notorious woman who used despicable means to steal a husband but incapable of keeping him; who was not even worth mentioning in front of an evening partner of my husband.”“I had to stop work and cut-off contacts with all my friends…. Living my nightmare day in and day out, without even knowing the charge I was guilty of.”“Every day from then on was a living hell till 2 months ago when Michelle came back.” Emile managed say these words between sobs.Christopher’s knuckles were white from being clenched; the veins on his temples bulging from anger. Although she hadn’t used so many words to explicitly say what she went through, hearing the pain in those
Emile seemed to have been suck in a vortex, relieving the moments from six months ago. She knew that she should get as far away from the vortex as possible… but she couldn’t; It seemed like someone pushed her in… into her worst nightmare!She was sitting at her desk chatting with her Grandpa’s photograph. This was a habit she developed ever since Grandpa passed away. Whenever she had something pressing on her mind, she would sit at her desk talking as she stared at a picture of her Grandpa’s picture. He had a serene amiable smile that it would calm her mind and somehow had the magic to put her worries back in her stomach.That day, was no different from any other except that it was his death anniversary and she had just lighted a candle and was offering a remembrance prayer when Daniel barged in –“You witch….”“Daniel???” Emile stood up in shock. He had never been rude towards her in all these years; moreover, they seemed to have been getting on well these past months. He had even to
Emile had just turned to face Daniel and didn’t expect the kick; She fell backwards onto the shards as she tried to balance herself.“Ahhhaaa…” Emile cried out in pain. Blood seeped out through the cuts onto her dress, but Daniel didn’t seem to have noticed this and dragged her back onto the bed as he forced her. He didn’t seem to hear her rejection nor her screams of being in pain. He didn’t stop until she couldn’t hold on any longer and fainted.Daniel looked at Emile in disgust as he tidied his clothes and walked out of the room without a second glance just like last night. He didn’t even bother to cover her with a blanket.Daniel left early the next morning as he had a meeting with overseas delegates without even giving Emile a second thought.Alice was surprised to see that Emile had not made breakfast again. She wondered if the young lady had become enlightened. She didn’t understand
Emile heaved a sigh of relief as she noted that Daniel was not at home. She had no idea why he turned into the devil but after two days of torture, she was truly afraid of him. She decided to send Alice back as she had been at hospital taking care of her and didn’t have time to go home. Alice cooked a few light meals for Emile and left after changing the dressing for the wound on Emile’s back since she couldn’t convince Emile. She knew the young lady had her best interests at heart and didn’t argue further. In the afternoon, after eating the meal that Alice had prepared, Emile ate her medicines and was about to head upstairs when she heard the door opening. She froze in fear not knowing what to do. She didn’t want to see Daniel if she could help it but fate wasn’t so kind. Daniel walked into the lounge room and saw Emile standing with her back facing him. He didn’t know what happened to him, every time he saw her, it was like anger would explode like a volcanic eruption. “Decided
The next month was more bearable; less torturesome, with Daniel returning less frequently. Even when he returned, Emile didn’t have to worry about endless torture…. His phone would always dutifully ring after half an hour to an hour and would almost always leave immediately regardless of whether he was frustrated or not.It would be a lie if Emile said she wasn’t jealous as she saw his indulgence towards Michelle. But those feelings wouldn’t last long, she had no longer had any fantasies or requests from Daniel; he had crushed all of them with his ruthlessness’ Now, she was patiently biding her time; waiting to embrace the endless blue skies, the bliss of freedom!Two days before their third wedding anniversary, Daniel returned in a fowl temper and tortured Emile the whole night before announcing the next day that Michelle would be returning to stay with them. He warned her not to come up with any of her tricks or else he would make sure she paid with her life. Emile’s only response w
Christopher sat up straight in anticipation as he saw her eyelids fluttering. He rang the bell in excitement as he stood close to her bed.Emile slowly opened her eyes in trepidation even though her head was heavy and her eyelids refusing to budge. She was worried that she would be back in the villa the moment she opened her eyes. She stared lifelessly at the ceiling.“You’re awake.” Christopher sighed in relief “Thank the heavens.”“Huh?” Emile turned her head in confusion; Her eyes stared at Christopher in disbelief for a few minutes before a smile broke out on her lips “It’s you… I am back!”“Yes… yes… yes…” Christopher agreed without hesitation even though he had no idea what she was talking about. To him, all that mattered was that she was awake.The doctors came in along with the nurses after being alerted by the alarm. They did a thorough check before turning to advice Christopher-“She seems to be much better although the fever is yet to subside. We will observe for 2 more days
Emile was discharged from hospital 2 days later. Abbey was waiting patiently for Emile to get back before hounding her to make up for lost time. The ladies spent the next day indulging in beauty salons while Christopher busied himself with all the work that had piled up.The next day, they gathered on Emile’s balcony for breakfast. They had stayed here for close to a month and wanted to plan what and where to go next.“I need to finish 2 more assignments before stretching my legs.” Abbey opened the conversation once everyone settled in with their breakfast.“How many do have to finish?” Emile grumbled.“This trip seemed to be an oasis of a travel blogger.” Abbey smiled happily “Most of the snippets we sent were selected by the editorial board.”“The flipside is” Abbey scrunched her lips “I have to write up.”“What about you?” Abbey pointed the spear at
The rest of Burkes followed suit without waiting for either Chris or Emile to respond; curiosity had gotten the better of them.Little baby was not stupid. How would he dare question little aunt? He looked over nonchalantly before making a gesture with his meaty fingers to indicate payment.“What do you want?” Both Harry and Addison asked in excitement.“I am very rich for the time being, so I will let Leo choose.” Little baby responded with a smug look and passed the honours to Leo.“Take us all on the trip to the Alps when fifth Uncle Walter is taking them.” Leo didn’t have to think as he told Addison what he wanted.Addison agreed without a second thought and walked back into the room the adults were seated, humming a song only to be despised by his mother, which he totally ignored and sat down happily with a thick skin.The fate of the rest of the Burke brothers were similar; no one was spared. Henry who was complacent looking at the miserable fate of his brothers, got a rude wake
“Where are you going?” Henry teased as he caught the little overlord and hurled him in the air.“Put me down.” Bruno frowned, flailing his legs anxiously “I haven’t finished discussing with little uncle.”Everyone laughed as Henry put Bruno down, who promptly ran to Chris, looked up at him curiously, awaiting his decision.“Hur…hur…hur….” Chris chuckled “How would I dare renegade on a promise to our little overlord?”“Then when can we go?” Bruno asked seriously, taking no offense to the title, to him, this was recognition of his ability.“When we get back and whenever you say the word.” Chris never had any qualms indulging his nephews and nieces.“Where are we going?” Leo asked curiously.Bruno looked towards Chris who shrugged “It’s up to to the owner of the reward to decide, I am just the charioteer.”“Then let’s go to the ocean king’s castle.” Bruno didn’t have to think twice to make a decision.Chris “”Everyone burst out laughing, only the little ones looked curiously at Chris.“
He was smart enough to decipher big treasure's cryptic message that he could find the answer by testing them himself, after sulking for a while, thinking about big treasure’s words over and over again. He rushed to Chris’s room once again, pulled Big Treasure aside and whispered hurriedly before running away. He then ran off to the apartment where the Burkes where resting. He went over to call Leo and Liam to play with him in the backyard with a crafty look in his eyes. All the Burke kids followed Leo and Liam to play, the main intent for the older kids following them was to keep them safe.He turned around to look at Leo with a guilty look in his eyes as he asked cautiously, “Would you stop talking to me if you find out that I landed you in trouble to test you?”“Why do you want to test me?” Leo demanded with a frown.“Because it is very important to me.” Bruno blinked his eyes, lowering his gaze as he whispered, “Like life and death situation that grown-ups talk about.”“Well, in tha
After the excitement died down, everyone decided to go out, sight-seeing, like proper tourists. Adam invited his friends who politely stayed back at the hotel sensing that Adam and the rest had family matters to sort out, to join the group. Just like that, the Burkes, Walters, Adam’s three friends, the two masters, Chris’s senior brother, Bai-Min and Lai-Li set off on their wild-life adventure, that they had booked with one of the tour groups. It goes without saying that the group included Adrian and his little family and Neil who dragged Chiara along with him. What was unexpected was that Emm pulled Amy, Abbey’s assistant to tag along with them. Luckily for Amy, she had Beth who got dragged into the family outing by Marcus to keep her company. Her boss had ditched her without a conscience the minute her ‘knight in shining armour’ appeared. On their return trip, even though they were all chatting, what attracted everyone’s attention was little treasure’s soft cute voice “Daddy, is it
The next morning, everyone was in high spirits without even a trace of the anxiety that passed through; although they were still waiting for an explanation, a closure to whole saga. The breakfast table was lively and cheerful. “Son, tell me is Emile really pregnant?” Elizabeth couldn’t hold herself back anymore. She asked once everyone had settled in the lounge area to relax after breakfast. “Um” Chris nodded although he was displeased inwardly; he wondered if his mother had truly changed or whether she was about to revert to her old ways. “Tell us how you know what was wrong with Little aunt.” Miles piped in from the background, turning everyone’s attention towards big treasure and little treasure, after being signalled by Marcus. He didn’t know why eldest brother wanted him to divert the topic, but he still obeyed. He didn’t always have to know the reason; eldest brother was in charge; he would follow whatever eldest brother asked him to do. “Daddy was too lost. We knew we had to
Outside the room, Chris Jnr finally managed to coax little treasure and sighed in relief. There was nothing he could do about it, his little ears and heart hurt from listening to little treasure’s wails. He would compensate his little brother in other ways. “How is your mommy?” Chris asked once little treasure had been coaxed. “She is fine.” Chris Jnr thought for a minute before answering; his mommy looked fine, she was sleeping peacefully. He leaned forward, close to Chris, gesturing little treasure to come close and whispered with a soft voice “Daddy, I touched a dragon.” “A what?” Little treasure’s eyes widened, surprise mixed with disbelief, reflecting in those adorable eyes. “Um” Chris Jnr nodded with all seriousness in affirmation to little treasure but not before he gestured little treasure to be quiet. “Daddy, are dragons real?” Little treasure leaned even closer as she whispered. “Maybe…” Chris shrugged before closing his eyes and mind linking with the two treasures “Da
“Jnr might be a good option.” Chris’s master slowly opened his mouth once he finished sifting everyone’s faces through his mind.Hua Yueren lifted his eyebrows questioningly.“He has been around her while she was away. Naturally, the apparition although only a figment of Azure’s consciousness, it will still be sharp enough to sense a friend from a foe. Also, since he is her biological son, his spirit must have a lingering smell of her essence.”Hua Yueren nodded; he didn’t have any better solution. They would re-think their plans if this one backfired.Chris’s master transmitted his message to Spector who promptly brought Chris in, in his usual manner of teleportation.Chris Jnr greeted the two masters and stood straight, neither servile nor overbearing, quietly waiting instructions; his demeanour brought a glint of admiration to the eyes for both men.“Son, can you see the apparition surrounding your mother?” Chris’s master knelt beside Chris Jnr so that he could level his gaze with h
Emile felt a bit anxious as she entered the room with Chris’s and Neil’s masters. Although she knew them, she wasn’t very familiar with them. She looked towards Lai-Li with an anxious gaze; Lai- Li was the only person in the group whom she knew a little better.“It will be alright.” Lai-Li comforted in a gentle voice as she saw Emile’s gaze resting on her uncomfortably.“Master Walter’s mood might get agitated and that won’t help us.” She explained patiently as she saw that the concern in Emile’s gaze hadn’t dispersed. “Neil is not used to our world, and he will be in a daze and that will not help our cause as we will need to be quick.”Although Emile didn’t fully understand, she nodded. She had seen Chris do unbelievable things before, stuff that couldn’t be explained by logic and science alone.“It will be quick. Everything will be back to normal as soon as you wake up.” Lai-Li coaxed gently as she patted her hands while Emile’s lids gradually grew heavier and finally, she closed her
“Daddy, little treasure is here.” Emm tugged Chris’s pants with grievance. She had been waiting patiently for daddy to coax little baby and carry her, but little baby had no intention of coming down.“Daddy’s little treasure is the most understanding treasure in the world.” Chris smiled as he knelt and carried Emm along with Bruno and headed to wait in front of the door.“Little brother, let me…” Darcy stepped forward extending his hands towards Chris with a sheepish smile. He wondered if he really was not cut out to be a good father; he was happily standing watching the drama unfold when Grace nudged him with a reproachful glare as she gestured with her eyes towards Bruno.“It’s okay.” Chris chuckled looking at Darcy’s embarrassment before turning his doting gaze towards his little treasure and then Bruno.Neither looked at him as they were both looking at the closed door with similar anxious expressions although the cause of their anxiety was different. Little baby’s world only had B