EMMALucas pulled the car to a stop in front of Sienna’s house. The silence between us stretched, thick with everything we had just discovered.For a long moment, neither of us moved. Then, Lucas exhaled, rubbing his temple before stepping out of the car. He walked around, opened my door, and held out his hand.I hesitated before placing my hand in his. His grip was firm, steady, grounding me in a way I hadn’t even realized I needed.“I’m sorry this had to happen,” he said, his voice low.I forced a small smile. “Lucas, your mother was right. You shouldn’t even associate with me. We’re half-siblings. We’ve all crossed the line, but it wasn’t our fault. It was the family’s mistake, not ours. We shouldn’t be enemies.”Something flickered in his eyes. Relief? Guilt? I wasn’t sure.“Thank you,” he said softly. Then, after a pause, “Since we’re family, why don’t you move back in?”I let out a breathy chuckle, shaking my head. “No, thank you. I’m okay.” Then I frowned. “I haven’t seen Grand
EMMA“Emma,” she sighed, stepping closer. “Margaret already knows this. And if she hasn’t acted yet, she will soon. You have something she wants—control. If you don’t fight back, she will take it from you.”I hugged myself, my nails digging into my skin.“I have the password,” I muttered. “And I changed it.”Hailey smiled. “Good. But do you really think that will stop her?”My stomach twisted.“She will forcefully get it from you,” Hailey continued. “Or worse, she will take someone you care about and make you talk.”A shiver ran down my spine.“Emma,” Hailey’s voice softened. “To survive, you have to be heartless. If not for yourself, do it for those who lost their lives trying to tell you the truth. Mrs. Kim. Your mother. Don’t let their deaths be in vain.”I inhaled sharply, trying to steady myself.“You have my number,” Hailey said, stepping back toward her car. “Call me when you’re ready.”She slid into the black vehicle and drove off, leaving me standing in the blistering heat, m
Mark’s grip on the desk tightened as he stared at Kian. “You’re telling me you won’t even run a DNA test?”Kian exhaled sharply. “It’s not important anymore. The picture is enough.”Mark’s jaw clenched. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”Kian’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Even if I took the test, would it change anything?”Mark scoffed. “Yeah, it would. Maybe it would prove that Margaret is lying. Maybe it would prove you’re not a complete fucking coward for believing everything she tells you.”Kian’s eyes darkened. “Watch it, Mark.”Mark shook his head. “No. You watch it. Because Emma’s out there, alone, thinking the man she loved just erased their entire history with one damn photo.”Kian stiffened.Mark’s voice dropped. “Do you know what you did to her?”Kian looked away.Mark’s hands slammed onto the desk. “Look at me, Kian.”Kian’s fingers curled into fists, but he lifted his gaze.“She lost everything,” Mark said, his voice laced with quiet fury. “Her child. Her love. Her
EMMAThe tension in the air was suffocating. Margaret’s gaze burned into me, her perfectly manicured fingers gripping the handle of her designer bag a little too tightly. Sylvia, standing beside her, had a smirk playing at the corner of her lips, enjoying the moment far too much.Mrs. Hailey stepped slightly in front of me, a quiet but unmistakable act of protection.Margaret’s voice was like silk wrapped around a blade. “What an interesting sight. The largest shareholder of E&J personally accompanied by a maid’s daughter on a shopping trip.”Sylvia clicked her tongue, crossing her arms. “Makes you wonder what kind of spell this little nobody has cast to get such powerful people wrapped around her finger.”I took a step forward, unbothered. “Careful, Sylvia. Keep talking like that, and people might think you’re jealous.”Sylvia scoffed. “Jealous? Of you?” She let out a sharp laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Kian is my husband, Emma. I already won.”My lips curled slightly.
Lucas leaned against the doorframe, watching Kian closely. The dim light of the study cast deep shadows across Kian’s face, making the tension between them even more palpable. The air smelled of whiskey and aged wood, the room thick with unsaid words.“If you aren’t actually a Wilson… or if I’m not,” Lucas started, his voice low, deliberate, “what would you do?”Kian let out a short, humorless laugh. “We aren’t close enough for you to joke with me like this.”Lucas didn’t smile. “Who said I was joking?”Kian’s fingers tapped against the desk once, twice. He studied Lucas, his expression unreadable. “You’ve had too much to drink.”“Have I?” Lucas tilted his head. “Or am I the only one thinking clearly here?”Silence.Kian exhaled through his nose, shifting in his seat. “What do you want, Lucas?”“You hated me,” Lucas said suddenly. His voice wasn’t mocking this time. It was raw. “You hated me so much. Do you even know how much you have hurt me?”Kian’s jaw tightened. “Don’t twist this.
EMMA"This is a bad idea, Em."Sienna’s voice barely registered over the thumping bass of the club. Neon lights flickered across her worried face as she clutched my wrist.I tugged my arm free, exhaling sharply. “I need one night, Si. One night to forget everything.”She sighed, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Drinking your problems away won’t change anything.”“I’m not looking for change.” I lifted my chin. “I just want to feel something other than stress.”“You haven't even been to the club before, you don't know how to hold your alcohol, what if you do anything beyond your limit” Sienna said.“I will be fine, do not worry about me.” I said with a smile.Her hesitation wavered, but she finally relented. “Fine. Just… be careful.”I nodded, grabbed my drink, and let the burn of tequila settle my nerves. For the first time in months, I wasn’t thinking about unpaid bills, my mom’s declining health, or the suffocating pressure of my new job.Tonight, I just wanted to be Emma. Not th
EMMA The elevator door slid open, and for a split second, I froze.Kian Wilson.My one-night stand.My boss.His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, recognition flickering across his face. My heart nearly exploded out of my chest.Shit.I did the only logical thing—I ran.“Hey—” a voice called, but I was already halfway down the hallway, my heels clicking against the marble floors.“Why is she running?” I heard someone—probably his manager—ask.I didn’t stop to find out. My only goal was to disappear before Kian could say anything.But the universe had other plans.Because as I turned the corner, my purse—my entire purse—slipped off my shoulder, spilling its contents across the floor.Lipstick. Keys. Phone.ID card.A pair of polished dress shoes stepped into my vision.Fuck.Slowly, I looked up.Kian was standing there, staring down at my ID card like he’d just discovered a plot twist in a novel. His fingers tightened around the plastic.“Emma Anderson,” he murmured, like he was te
BACK AT THE WILSON’S MANSIONKian barely stepped out of his car before his mother’s sharp voice cut through the evening air.“I’ve been waiting for you.”Margaret Wilson stood by the grand staircase, her designer dress pristine, her nails tapping impatiently against a folder she held. Mark, Kian’s manager, stood stiffly beside her, clearly uncomfortable.Kian exhaled, already annoyed. “What now?” “You tell me.” She shot back at him in anger.Kian sighed, already exhausted. “Mom.”She ignored him, flipping open the folder. “Do you know what this is?”Kian glanced at the glossy photos inside—him and Emma at the hotel. His jaw ticked.“Looks like someone’s been busy.”Margaret scoffed. “Busy making a fool of yourself.” She turned to Mark. “A one-night stand. With a nobody.”Kian’s patience thinned. “She has a name. Emma Anderson.”Margaret arched her brow. “Oh, wonderful. That makes it so much better.” She waved the pictures. “This is viral, Kian. The media is eating it up. Kian Wilson
Lucas leaned against the doorframe, watching Kian closely. The dim light of the study cast deep shadows across Kian’s face, making the tension between them even more palpable. The air smelled of whiskey and aged wood, the room thick with unsaid words.“If you aren’t actually a Wilson… or if I’m not,” Lucas started, his voice low, deliberate, “what would you do?”Kian let out a short, humorless laugh. “We aren’t close enough for you to joke with me like this.”Lucas didn’t smile. “Who said I was joking?”Kian’s fingers tapped against the desk once, twice. He studied Lucas, his expression unreadable. “You’ve had too much to drink.”“Have I?” Lucas tilted his head. “Or am I the only one thinking clearly here?”Silence.Kian exhaled through his nose, shifting in his seat. “What do you want, Lucas?”“You hated me,” Lucas said suddenly. His voice wasn’t mocking this time. It was raw. “You hated me so much. Do you even know how much you have hurt me?”Kian’s jaw tightened. “Don’t twist this.
EMMAThe tension in the air was suffocating. Margaret’s gaze burned into me, her perfectly manicured fingers gripping the handle of her designer bag a little too tightly. Sylvia, standing beside her, had a smirk playing at the corner of her lips, enjoying the moment far too much.Mrs. Hailey stepped slightly in front of me, a quiet but unmistakable act of protection.Margaret’s voice was like silk wrapped around a blade. “What an interesting sight. The largest shareholder of E&J personally accompanied by a maid’s daughter on a shopping trip.”Sylvia clicked her tongue, crossing her arms. “Makes you wonder what kind of spell this little nobody has cast to get such powerful people wrapped around her finger.”I took a step forward, unbothered. “Careful, Sylvia. Keep talking like that, and people might think you’re jealous.”Sylvia scoffed. “Jealous? Of you?” She let out a sharp laugh, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Kian is my husband, Emma. I already won.”My lips curled slightly.
Mark’s grip on the desk tightened as he stared at Kian. “You’re telling me you won’t even run a DNA test?”Kian exhaled sharply. “It’s not important anymore. The picture is enough.”Mark’s jaw clenched. “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”Kian’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “Even if I took the test, would it change anything?”Mark scoffed. “Yeah, it would. Maybe it would prove that Margaret is lying. Maybe it would prove you’re not a complete fucking coward for believing everything she tells you.”Kian’s eyes darkened. “Watch it, Mark.”Mark shook his head. “No. You watch it. Because Emma’s out there, alone, thinking the man she loved just erased their entire history with one damn photo.”Kian stiffened.Mark’s voice dropped. “Do you know what you did to her?”Kian looked away.Mark’s hands slammed onto the desk. “Look at me, Kian.”Kian’s fingers curled into fists, but he lifted his gaze.“She lost everything,” Mark said, his voice laced with quiet fury. “Her child. Her love. Her
EMMA“Emma,” she sighed, stepping closer. “Margaret already knows this. And if she hasn’t acted yet, she will soon. You have something she wants—control. If you don’t fight back, she will take it from you.”I hugged myself, my nails digging into my skin.“I have the password,” I muttered. “And I changed it.”Hailey smiled. “Good. But do you really think that will stop her?”My stomach twisted.“She will forcefully get it from you,” Hailey continued. “Or worse, she will take someone you care about and make you talk.”A shiver ran down my spine.“Emma,” Hailey’s voice softened. “To survive, you have to be heartless. If not for yourself, do it for those who lost their lives trying to tell you the truth. Mrs. Kim. Your mother. Don’t let their deaths be in vain.”I inhaled sharply, trying to steady myself.“You have my number,” Hailey said, stepping back toward her car. “Call me when you’re ready.”She slid into the black vehicle and drove off, leaving me standing in the blistering heat, m
EMMALucas pulled the car to a stop in front of Sienna’s house. The silence between us stretched, thick with everything we had just discovered.For a long moment, neither of us moved. Then, Lucas exhaled, rubbing his temple before stepping out of the car. He walked around, opened my door, and held out his hand.I hesitated before placing my hand in his. His grip was firm, steady, grounding me in a way I hadn’t even realized I needed.“I’m sorry this had to happen,” he said, his voice low.I forced a small smile. “Lucas, your mother was right. You shouldn’t even associate with me. We’re half-siblings. We’ve all crossed the line, but it wasn’t our fault. It was the family’s mistake, not ours. We shouldn’t be enemies.”Something flickered in his eyes. Relief? Guilt? I wasn’t sure.“Thank you,” he said softly. Then, after a pause, “Since we’re family, why don’t you move back in?”I let out a breathy chuckle, shaking my head. “No, thank you. I’m okay.” Then I frowned. “I haven’t seen Grand
EMMASilence.A thick, suffocating silence that made my skin crawl.Lucas swore under his breath and turned on his heel. “I need to get the fuck out of here.”Margaret exhaled, brushing invisible dust off her sleeve. “Now you all understand why I kept pushing her away.”Something snapped inside Kian.He lunged forward, flipping over a chair so violently it crashed against the floor, wood splintering.Margaret finally looked at him.Kian’s entire body was shaking. “You knew. And you sat there, playing games with us. You let us destroy ourselves.”Margaret sighed. “Better you find out now than when it’s too late.”“Too late?” I laughed bitterly, my hands trembling. “Too late? What the fuck do you think has been happening? We’ve already crossed the line! There is no fixing this!”Margaret’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “You really want to know why I did all this?”Something about her tone made my stomach turn.I took a shaky breath. “Just say it.”Margaret lifted her teacup again, t
EMMAMy breath hitched.He turned toward me, his expression raw, vulnerable. “I don’t give a fuck about anything else. But this? If this is true…” His throat bobbed, his hands flexing. “Then what the hell are we supposed to do?”I had no answer.I could only stare at him, my own heart breaking at the sight of him unraveling in front of me.Kian never broke. He was always controlled, always in charge. But now, sitting in this car with me, he looked… lost.And it destroyed me.I sucked in a sharp breath. “We need to find out the truth.”His eyes darkened. “And if it’s true?”I hesitated. “Then we end this.”Kian’s entire body tensed.He looked at me like I had just stabbed him straight in the chest. Like I had ripped his heart out and crushed it in my hands.Then, without a word, he put the car in drive.And we sped off toward the Wilson mansion.WILSON MANSIONThe moment Kian slammed the car door shut, the entire household seemed to tense.The butler hesitated before bowing slightly. “
EMMAMy heart stopped.Everything blurred. My knees buckled, and before I could hit the ground, strong arms caught me.Kian.I wasn’t unconscious—I could still hear, still feel. But my body refused to move. My breath came in shallow gasps, my fingers gripping his shirt like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.He lifted me effortlessly, holding me close. I felt how tense he was, the way his muscles locked, like he was barely holding himself together.Behind us, Sylvia scoffed. “Oh, please. She’s being dramatic.”Rage sparked in me, but before I could react, Kian’s voice cut through the air, sharp as a blade.“Shut up, Sylvia. Get the hell out of here.”His tone was so lethal that even she took a step back.Her eyes widened. “Kian—”Kian’s gaze turned to her in anger. “If you can’t help, then get out of my sight.” Sylvia’s expression twisted with fury. “I’m pregnant, Kian! Stop yelling at me!”Her voice rang through the mansion, but Kian didn’t even flinch. His grip on
EMMA“Margaret, stay away from my friend Sienna.” My voice was even, but my hands were shaking.Margaret smirked. “Your friend who betrayed you?” Her tone dripped with mockery. “Your friend who told me all your secrets? Or did you think I just magically found out?”I stiffened.Margaret stepped closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “How do you think I knew about your trauma? About your leukemia? You’re dying, Emma. And your precious friend Sienna made sure of it.”My heart pounded.Margaret let out a slow, satisfied chuckle. “Your medication was switched, dear. Replaced by your darling friend. And yet, you still trust her?”My breath caught in my throat.I turned to Sienna, searching for any sign that Margaret was lying. But Sienna wouldn’t meet my eyes.“Margaret, you killed my mother.” My voice came out in a whisper.Margaret tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Did I?”I clenched my fists. “Stop playing games.”She smiled. “Fine even if you knew I killed your mother you can nev