Chapter Twenty-One

Emilia

The morning was chill and filled with promise as I walked into the office, my steps were super confident, I held my head up high. 

It had been a while since I had felt like she truly belonged here, but today, something definitely felt different.

 The whispers from the other staff had faded. 

I could see the way people looked at me now, with total and absolute respect, and perhaps even a bit of admiration. 

The change was palpable and I liked it. Jayden was nowhere to be found, and neither was Katherine. 

They were probably hiding their faces dey to the shame and total embarrassing situation the had faced in multiple occasions. It was as though the storm they had caused had passed, and the calm was after a long time finally setting in. 

Iwalked in through the office, greeting a few employees who waved or nodded at me. I smiled back, feeling a slight sense of raw peace settle over me.

I went through the usual routine of meetings. Richard had arranged for me to meet with some of the company’s shareholders, introducing me with a warmth that made me feel really valued.

 It wasn’t just for show Richard was genuinely proud of me. Every single handshake I gave, every introduction, felt like a step forward for me, and I reveled in the new level of respect I was commanding.

It was refreshing. It had been so long since I had felt truly seen—not as a victim of circumstance, but as someone who had earned her place. I wasn’t just Richard’s wife anymore. I was Emilia Kane, a woman of her own merit, and the people in the room and everywhere now acknowledged that.

By the time my workday ended, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I didn’t have to look over my shoulder anymore. The constant scrutiny, the judgment, they had all dulled, and the office seemed like a place I could truly thrive. 

There was no Jayden to manipulate me, no Katherine to sabotage my life. I felt free.

That evening, when I arrived at home, I expected a quiet night like the quiet day I had. However, as I walked through the front door, my eyes were drawn to the hushed yet unrecognizable voices coming from the living room. 

I froze for a moment. 

Visitors? I hadn’t rally expected anyone, especially not at this time of the night.

Stepping further inside, I saw Richard talking with a few other people in the living room. At first glance, I didn’t recognize them, but as I approached, Richard turned and smiled, his expression warm.

“Hello love,” he said, standing to greet her, “I would like you to meet some of my family.”

My brow furrowed slightly as Richard made the introductions. First, he introduced his uncle Alan Kane, a man in his late fifties, he stood with a sharp suit and even sharper eyes. He had a very commanding presence, and when he shook my hand, I could feel the weight of his gaze, assessing me. Then there's his wife, Shayla Kane, she stood next to him, a striking woman with a cool, collected demeanor. I smiled politely at her, but it was the last introduction that caught me off guard Jacob Kane, Richard’s cousin. I had seen him around the office some time ago, a silent figure, but now he stood before her, looking just as cold and calculating as the rest of his family.

“Nice to meet you, Emilia,” Jacob said, though his tone lacked warmth, his words a little too formal. There was an underlying tension in the room, one that I could almost feel in the air.

“Likewise,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reached my eyes. There was something about the way they all looked at me—Alan’s calculating stare, Shayla’s polite indifference, and Jacob’s barely concealed disdain, that made me feel very very uncomfortable. They didn’t seem hostile at all, not in the traditional sense, but there was a coldness in their very presence that I couldn’t just ignore.

The evening wore on, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wasn’t quite welcome. I mean this was my home now, I was married to Richard. The conversation ebbed and flowed around me, but still I felt like an outsider, an intruder in their midst. Richard seemed to be enjoying himself, but his family’s attention was not on me. They were too busy exchanging knowing glances, their words polite but it was hidden with an underlying sense of superiority.

After a while, I could feel her discomfort mounting. I had been trying to make polite conversation, but it felt like I was pushing against a wall. I glanced at Richard, hoping for a sign of support, but he was just carried away and lost in the conversation with his uncle.

It was then that I had made up my mind. I had had enough of this unfair treatment. I didn’t need to stay in this uncomfortable space, pretending that everything was fine when it was clear that the Kanes at least, this side of the family didn’t like me. And I didn't care, I wasn't planning on letting them get to me. Not at all

With a small sigh, I stood up, excusing my from the conversation. “I’m sorry, but I think I need to get some rest. It’s been a really long day for me.”

Richard looked up, surprised by my sudden departure. “Hey, is everything okay?” he asked, his voice softer now.

“Yeah. Yeah, i'm fine, just a little bit tired,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’ll see you later.”

Without waiting for his response, I turned and walked toward the stairs. As I made my way up, I could hear Richard’s voice from below, his family still chatting among themselves. My heart sank, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that my place in this family was still uncertain. Richard had chosen me, yes, but his family clearly stillhadn’t.

I walked into our bedroom and closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment, letting out a breath I didn’t realize i'd been holding. I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me in my body. The day had been full of good things, but now, in the quiet of the room, I couldn’t deny the weight of the tension that I had felt downstairs.

There was a knock at the door. I jumped slightly, not expecting anyone. “Emilia?” Richard’s voice called softly from the other side.

My heart skipped a beat. She took a moment to gather my right before opening the door.

Richard stood there, his brow furrowed with concern. His usual easy smile was replaced with a more serious expression. “I noticed you left early. Are you sure everything is okay?”

My eyes met his gaze, my lips pressing together in a tight line. “I just… I don’t know if I belong here yet,” I admitted softly, looking away for a moment. “Your family, they… they don’t like me. I feel like I’m intruding.”

Richard’s face softened, and he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He reached for my hand, his fingers warm against mine, I could totally feel it. “Emilia, I told you that my family can be difficult. They have high expectations, and they don’t always know how to show it, but I chose you. None of that matters. They don't matter at all. What matters is us.”

My breath was now caught in my throat as I looked up at him. He was right there, standing so close, his eyes locked on mine with a softness I hadn’t expected after the day I had just had. It was very much amazing.

Before I could even respond, he gently cupped my face, his thumb brushing my cheek. He leaned in, his lips capturing mine in a tender kiss. The world seemed to melt away as I closed my eyes, leaning into him. For a moment, nothing else existed—no awkward family dinners, no doubts, just Richard and me and the baby.

When he pulled away, his hand rested on the small of my back. “Emilia, I know this is all a lot, but I’m here with you. You don’t have to do this alone.”

I smiled softly, her heart fluttering in her chest. “I’m not alone,” she whispered. “Not with you.”

And for the first time since everything had started to shift, I felt somewhat at peace. For now, at least, I could forget about the world outside these walls, forget about the judgment, the pressure, and simply be with him.

As we sat down together, my heart swelled with a feeling I couldn’t quite put into words. I had fallen really hard for Richard even harder in this moment, my trust in him growing deeper. Despite everything that had happened, despite the doubts and uncertainties, I knew that i was exactly where I needed to be, by his side.