Eric's POV As I worked, my eyes kept fluttering over to the clock, which hung on the wall.Collins had not gotten back to me with any reasonable lead or feedback.It almost drove me crazy.What exactly was Joanne up to? Why would she show up at my house naked and get someone to take a picture of us in a compromising position?I had a few ideas for the likely reasons she would do that, but I preferred to remain in denial of it than to bring it into reality by thinking that was why.Every notification on my phone had me rushing over to it, expecting a call from Collins, but they had turned out to be either business calls or messages.I growled angrily as I stood up and paced about for a moment thoughtfully.Joanne had to be stopped.I needed to get to the root of why she wanted to bring me down.I snatched my phone from the desk and scrolled to the last message she had sent to me back at Allura Gardens.I contemplated calling the number for a moment, but it was a private number.I bang
Emily's POV(Flashback)"... Lucy, oh my God!"As I stood in the hospital watching her, her finger trembled, and he pulled the book shut, but I took it from her hands."Did you draw all those amazing designs?" I asked her with my eyes lighting in amazement.She gave a shy nod.Still shocked at the beautiful dress she was drawing on the page, I flipped to the previous pages.There was one spectacular dress on every page, making it seem like a dream come true to me.It felt wonderful seeing someone who shared my passion as much as I did, even someone like Lucy. I miaged how much she could do if she was trained properly and given all that she needed."How long have you been sketching the designs?"She shrugged, playing with her fingers."Since I was thirteen, when some women came with their husbands to the orphanage to adopt kids. They wore the most beautiful dresses I had ever seen. Since I couldn't have any of those dresses, I decided to draw them and imagine I could wear them."My hea
Emily's POV "What's this?"My heart pounded furiously against my ribcage as he approached me, leaving his phone on the bed.I stared anywhere but at him."The growling of your stomach would not let me sleep," I managed to keep my voice firm, but it still wavered a bit."Em... You didn't have to..."My heart shattered at his words.He never meant it when he said he missed my meals. Was this another way to reject my meals again like he had done in the past?His eyes held an unreadable emotion as he stared at me. Why did I make this meal? I swallowed the lump that was building in my chest and steeled my eyes to prevent my tears from rolling out."Oh.. It's - It's fine," I choked out, turning around and heading to the door. "I'll just take it back out."Before I could take another step, his arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me into a firm hug from behind.My heart raced.What was he doing exactly? What exactly did he think of the meal? What was going on in his mind?"Em, than
Eric's POV "Where exactly are you both going?My brows knitted together at my mother's questions.In my eager anticipation, I had barely seen her figure on the couch in the living room as her eyes watched us like a hawk.Emily turned to look at me, and I cleared my throat."We are going on a vacation."The vagueness in my tone was obviously deliberate."Why? What is the occasion?" "My wife and I are going for a kind of honeymoon renewal."Her eyes grew cold, but she said nothing more."We will be backing a couple of weeks. Don't miss us too much," I told her, and she just nodded.I followed her gaze, which was glaring behind me to find her glaring at Emily.Shaking my head in disapproval, I grabbed Emily's hand, and together, we walked out of the house."I do hope some heir comes out of your little fling," my mother's voice sounded behind us, causing us to stop in our tracks and stare at each other."Yes. I need to carry my grandchild!"Wordlessly, or peharps speechlessly, we took f
Eric's POV My hands curled into firm fists at his words.What in the world?The innocent eyes of Mia as she stared at me in confusion kept me from unleashing an outburst as badly as I wanted."I am on a honeymoon with my wife, Tristan. They can not be calling me at this moment for something like that," I stated as calmly I could muster through gritted teeth."I'm not sure about that, sir. The whole country has almost been thrown into a frenzy, and everyone is talking about it, sir. I've tried my best to water down the effect, but the press that released it are refusing to back down. They claim they have stronger implicating evidence against you."My clenched fists ached to slam into something, but I held myself together under the watchful gaze of Mia.I took a deep breath, letting my eyes glance over to Emily for a moment, but I found her staring at me already.Suddenly, the car felt hotter than ever, but I maintained my composure."I'm on a vacation now, Tristan. How about I call yo
Emily's POV My attention was pricked by the event the television was displaying.It was a review of the gala that was held in the previous years.No doubt, it had all my attention, especially when the broadcaster who displayed the live criticism of some of the oldest dressed and worst dressed celebrities who had attended the event.I had always been one to keep up with the latest trends when it came to designing.As I watched the fashion critic continue accessing and reviewing each dress, Joanne's dress for the last gala soon came into view.It was no doubt majestic, making me wonder who had designed such a beautiful piece for her.It also made me wonder why she had chosen me to design for her if she already had a designer who was that good.I was sure I could recreate the dress even more beautifully than it already was, but then, the one I was working on for her was more beautiful, I could bet.Would Joanne have considered me if not for the news that I was Eric Wilson's wife? As I
Emily's POV There I went again, melting into his arms like wax before the fire as his lips danced fiercely against mine.It felt like my mind flew out of the window as I relished every moment of our intimate connection.Peharps, it was the image of his naked torso that made me lose my sense.As his hands rid up my thigh, he lifted me in a swift move and sat me on the kitchen island. My hands explored his chest.I craved to feel the way he had made me feel back at Allura Gardens.It was the strangest feeling ever, to actually be loved and not just used. He had made me see him in a way that I had never seen him before.Back home five years ago, he would barge in and use me for his own pleasure alone, leaving me more frustrated than ever, but that day, he had me feeling like I was on cloud nine.Since I didn't get that every day, I threw caution to the wind for another of such passionate moments.He left blazing kisses down my jaw and explored my earlobe with his tongues while I lost my
Emily's POV When my back hit the wall, I began to shake.He looked genuine, but my mind saw a monster. The moster I had lived with for the most part of my life."P-please," I found myself whispering and pleading with my eyes closed. "D-Don't touch me!"I knew it was possible for him to overpower me and have his way with me if he was so pleased. Somehow, all my resistance and strength vanished into thin air. I felt like the Emily again who had been raped countless times by him..I felt like I was in that room again, and he was coming at me with that dark and traumatising glint of annoyance and dusgust in his eyes.When his hands reached to touch me, I jumped, and a yelp escaped my lips."Em, it's me. I won't hurt you, I promise you with my life."That sounded hard to believe."Why did you bring me here, Eric? Tell me the truth. What exactly do you want from me? Do you want me back so you can dominate me again?"I felt a sense of weariness as I spoke, my body trembling with a sudden f