Emma’s POVThe day began like any other, filled with the hum of keyboards and the soft murmur of coworkers exchanging pleasantries and my desk was its usual mess, a sea of sticky notes, contracts, and a half-empty coffee mug that I kept forgetting to refill.The normalcy of it all was a comfort, a break from the storm that had reentered my life just days ago.I was in the middle of reviewing a financial report when the intercom on my desk buzzed, I jumped slightly, startled out of my focus.“Emma, this is Mr. Carter, please come to my office.” His tone was clipped, and professional but laced with something else.Urgency, perhaps?I pressed the button to respond, “Of course sir. I’ll be there in a moment.”Hanging up, I quickly saved my work and grabbed a notepad, just in case he needed updates on the Newman deal. The possibility of something being wrong pressed at me as I walked briskly down the corridor, heels clicking against the polished floor.When I reached his office, I knocked
Emma’s POVThe next day, walking back into the office felt like stepping into the lion’s den, my heels clicked against the polished floor as I tried to maintain some semblance of composure.The events of the previous day still swirled in my head, Jeff’s fury, Sam’s emotional pleas, and the suffocating tension that had turned my life upside down.But this was work, I needed to keep it together.As soon as I entered the open office space however, it became painfully clear that keeping it together was going to be nearly impossible. Whispers rippled through the room, and I could feel the weight of every single pair of eyes on me.I clutched my bag tightly, pretending not to notice the blatant stares and the hushed conversations.“Good morning Emma.” Rachel greeted, her tone far too cheerful, her eyes glinting with curiosity.“Morning,” I replied, brushing past her desk as quickly as possible, but she wasn’t about to let me go so easily.“Emma, wait.” She called out, rushing to catch up wi
Chapter 40Emma’s POVThe moment I stepped out of the private lounge, my head felt like it was spinning, the weight of Sam’s words pressed against my chest, making it hard to breathe.He wanted another chance.A chance to be the father he had never been, the partner he should have been. His voice had trembled with regret, his eyes had pleaded for understanding, for forgiveness.And for the first time since he’d returned, I saw something in him that had been missing before, desperation.I swallowed hard, stepping back into the main ballroom. The dazzling chandeliers, the laughter, the clinking of champagne glasses, it all felt distant, muffled, as if I was watching everything through a thick fog.My eyes darted across the room, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces, until they landed on one that was far too familiar.Jeff.He stood near the bar, his broad shoulders tense, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his suit trousers and his gaze was fixed on me, dark and unreadable.I knew he
Emma’s POVThe days after the gala had been a haze of emotions, a relentless tug-of-war between my past and my present.No matter how hard I tried to ignore it, Sam’s words clung to me like an old melody I couldn’t forget but I once had a life with Jeff, although it crumbled, we still had it.But Sam was right about one thing in the midst of my current confusion and that was that, he was the father of my children. No matter how much time had passed, that fact wouldn’t change.And that truth gnawed at me.I lay awake for nights, staring at the ceiling, thinking about what it would mean for Jason and Anna to meet him. Would they like him? Would they feel an instant connection, or would they shy away from him like he was a stranger? Because that’s exactly what he was to them, a stranger.Still, something in my heart whispered that I owed them this.So, before I could talk myself out of it, I picked up my phone and sent the text.Emma: I’ve been thinking, you should meet them.The respons
Jeff’s POVI sat in my study long after Emma had gone to bed, staring at the dim glow of my desk lamp, my thoughts a tangled mess.Tonight had been a wake-up call.I had spent the past months trying to repair the damage I had done to my marriage, trying to prove to Emma that I had changed, that I was ready to be the husband and father I should have been from the start, but no matter how hard I tried, I felt like I was losing her.And now, Sam was back.I clenched my fists, the name alone igniting a slow burn of anger deep in my gut.I had spent years avoiding the reality of my mistakes, but I couldn’t avoid them anymore, Sam had been there when I had pushed Emma away.He had been there when she had needed someone. He had been there when I had been too caught up in my pride and resentment to be the man she deserved.And now, because of my failures, I was at risk of losing everything.I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk, exhaling slowly. If I wanted to fix this, if I wanted t
Emma’s POVI was at home, in the space Jeff had kindly cleared up and told me I could use as an office, sifting through paperwork when my phone vibrated beside me. I glanced at the screen and felt my stomach tighten.It was a text from Sam.I hesitated for a moment before picking it up. We hadn’t spoken much outside of work lately, not since Jeff had started trying to rebuild things between us and yet, here he was, reaching out now.I tapped the notification, and his message appeared on the screen.Sam: Lunch? There’s something I want to talk to you about.I exhaled through my nose, debating whether to ignore it. Meeting Sam for lunch didn’t feel like the best idea, not with how complicated things had already become.Jeff had been making an effort, an effort that, if I was honest, I wasn’t sure how to handle just yet.Still, I wasn’t naive. Sam never reached out without a reason. Before I could overthink it, another message popped up.Sam: Before you say no, it’s just lunch. Nothing m
Emma’s POVThe drive home was a blur.My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles ached, but I couldn’t bring myself to relax. My mind was spinning, replaying every word, every smirk, every calculated move Sam had made.He had played me.From the moment he sent that text, from the moment he sat across from Jeff in that restaurant, he had been pulling the strings and I had walked right into his trap.A shudder ran through me as his final words echoed in my head."I’ll do whatever it takes to get my kids Emma. Whatever. It. Takes."I swallowed hard, my stomach twisting with unease.What if he really could take them from me? Sam had money, and connections. He had the ability to paint me however he wanted in court, to manipulate the system in his favor. And worst of all? He knew exactly how to get inside my head.The thought made my throat tighten.I had never felt so powerless.By the time I pulled into the driveway, my body was running on autopilot. I barely registered t
Emma’s POVThe morning of the custody hearing dawned clear and crisp. The kind of morning that should have felt peaceful, but instead, it carried an electric charge in the air, something almost tangible, like the quiet before a thunderstorm.For the past few weeks, Jeff, Valerie, and I had spent countless hours preparing for this day. Every document, every testimony, every shred of evidence that could prove I was the best person to raise my children had been carefully compiled.And now, it was time.But for some reason, instead of waking up with the usual knot of dread in my stomach, I felt confident.I didn’t know where the sudden surge of assurance came from, but as I stretched and got out of bed, I knew one thing, I was ready to fight.I walked down the hall to the twins' room, taking a deep breath before pushing the door open. Jason and Anna were curled up under their blankets, breathing softly in sleep. For a moment, I just stood there, watching them, feeling my heart swell with
Emma’s POVI woke up to an unusual silence.I tried opening my eyes, blinking rapidly as sunlight was peeking into the room from behind the curtains, I stretched my hand across the bed, expecting to feel Jeff’s body beside me, but the space was empty.I sat up rubbing the sleep from my eyes, listening for any sounds from downstairs but the house was quiet, too quiet. That alone made my heart race.Slipping out of bed, I grabbed my robe and walked toward the hallway, "Jeff?"My voice called out in the silence, but there was no response.I checked the twins' rooms first, but their beds were made, untouched since the morning, that only deepened my confusion. Where had they all gone without telling me?I rushed back to the bedroom, grabbed my phone and immediately dialed Jeff’s number, it rang a few times before he finally picked up."Hey sweetheart." His voice was calm and steady, that was a good sign. "Jeff where are you? Where are the twins?" I asked, the concern in my voice was very
Emma’s POVThe house had never felt so heavy before.Even though the twins were back, safe and unharmed, a strange silence settled over our home, lingering in every corner, stretching between every conversation.It wasn’t the comforting quiet of peace but the unsettling silence of wounds too deep to be seen.Jason and Anna weren’t the same as well, I didn't expect them to be, if they were, I would be scared too.They had always been energetic, filling the house with their endless chatter, their giggles bouncing off the walls, their feet constantly thudding against the wooden floors as they ran from room to room.But now, they barely spoke unless spoken to.They flinched at the slightest sound, their tiny hands gripping mine or Jeff’s whenever they were startled. At night, they screamed in their sleep.The nightmares came more consistently, each one worse than the last. I would rush into their room, hold them close, whisper reassurances, but nothing seemed to help, I had never felt so
Emma’s POVThe warehouse loomed ahead, its rusted metal walls towering over us like the remnants of a forgotten war zone. The air was thick with tension, the weight of what was about to happen pressing heavily on my chest.The dim street lights cast long shadows across the cracked pavement, making the entire place feel colder, darker, more ominous.I tightened my grip on my phone, my heart pounding as I dialed Sam’s number. It rang once. Twice. Then his voice came through, laced with smug amusement.“Well, well, Emma,” he drawled, as if he were expecting my call, “Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you’d lost your nerve.”I exhaled sharply, keeping my voice steady even though my fingers trembled slightly, “This is your last chance Sam. Come out now, surrender. It’s over.”There was a pause, then a chuckle.“Over?” He repeated the word like it was some kind of joke, “You really think you have me cornered? That I’ll just walk out with my hands up, begging for mercy?”I force
3rd Person POV The air inside the apartment was thick with tension, the kind that clung to the walls and seeped into every breath. Jeff sat at the dining table, his hands pressed together, fingers interlocked, staring blankly at the scattered notes in front of him.Emma stood by the window, arms crossed, her eyes tracing patterns in the city skyline beyond. Ronan leaned against the counter, arms folded, silent but ever watchful.The three of them had spent hours going over their options, trying to find a new angle, a fresh lead, anything that would give them an advantage over Sam, but so far, they had nothing.It had been days since Sam’s last demand and the eerie silence that followed had only made Emma more restless.He had told Jeff to sign over Anderson Industries, a demand so outrageous that she had expected immediate retaliation when Jeff refused to comply, but instead, nothing.No threats. No follow-up. No new moves. Just silence.Emma wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a
Emma’s POVThe tension in the apartment was thick, heavy like a storm cloud that refused to break. The air buzzed with almost tangible electricity as Jeff and his team methodically prepared for the mission.Guns were checked, magazines were loaded, and communication devices were tested. Tactical vests were strapped on, each movement precise, and rehearsed.No one spoke unless it was necessary, their focus absolute. This wasn’t just a simple operation, it was a mission to bring the kids home and every man in the room understood the weight of that responsibility.I stood on the sidelines, watching them move like a well-oiled machine, but unlike them, my thoughts were restless.My instincts, sharp and insistent, screamed that something was wrong.I couldn’t pinpoint why but there was an undeniable sense of unease curling in my gut, growing stronger with each passing second.It wasn’t just nerves or anxiety about the danger. No, this was different. It felt like a warning, a whisper of imp
Emma’s POVThe silence between Jeff and me stretched long and heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts and the weight of the impossible choice before us.The air in the living room felt stifling, the tension so dense that even breathing felt like a challenge. I sat on the edge of the couch, my fingers gripping the fabric tightly as I tried to keep my frustration at bay.“We need to go to the police,” I said finally, my voice firm, leaving no room for argument.Jeff didn’t react immediately.He stood by the window, his hands shoved into his pockets, staring out into the darkness.The city lights cast a soft glow over his features, but even in the dimness, I could see the rigidity in his posture, the way his jaw clenched as if he were physically holding back his response.Then, finally, he turned to me, his expression hard, “No.”My brows furrowed, “No?”“No,” he repeated, this time with more force, “We’re not going to the police.”Anger flared in my chest. I shot up from the couch, taking a
Emma’s POVI stared at my phone, my fingers gripping it so tightly that my knuckles turned white. The silence in the room was suffocating, thick with fear and uncertainty.Every passing second without a word from Sam felt like another needle pressing into my skin, another breath stolen from my lungs. It had been more than twenty-four hours, twenty-four hours of waiting, of pacing the room, of replaying every worst-case scenario in my head until my stomach twisted itself into knots.Across the room, Jeff stood by the window, his hands resting on the windowsill, his back rigid, his posture unyielding. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the barely contained rage in the way his fingers twitched every few moments.His phone sat on the table beside him, useless. There had been no ransom demand, no threats, nothing but a cruel, unbearable silence.I hadn’t slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I imagined Jason and Anna trapped somewhere unfamiliar, scared, crying out for me.The thought
Sam’s POVSam leaned back in his leather chair, fingers tapping rhythmically against the surface of his desk as he listened to his assistant rattle off updates.The muted sound of the city hummed outside the large glass windows of his office, but his focus was solely on the chaos he had orchestrated."Sir, the protest outside Anderson Industries escalated just as you predicted," Nathan, one of his most trusted associates, reported, "Security had to step in and there was some minor damage to company property. Employees were unable to enter the building for a while, and some even walked out, frustrated by the lack of order. Investors are getting skittish. Anderson Industries' stocks have already dropped by seven percent since the incident began."Sam smirked, his lips curling in satisfaction.Seven percent was a good start, but not enough, not nearly enough.Jeff Anderson was a titan in the business world, a man who had spent years solidifying his reputation, building a company that see
Emma's POV The world around me had stopped moving. The air felt too thick to breathe, the sounds around me too distant, as though I were trapped inside a nightmare. The moment I realized my twins were gone, something inside me shattered.I turned wildly, searching through the thinning smoke, scanning every face in the crowd for a glimpse of their tiny figures. The panic in my chest grew unbearable, twisting my stomach into painful knots.“Jason! Anna!”My voice cracked as I called their names, my vision blurred with unshed tears.“Lock down the building!” Jeff’s sharp command cut through the chaos, “Check every exit! No one leaves until we find them!”His security team was already moving, spreading out through the crowd, pushing past confused protesters and bewildered employees. Some people were shouting in frustration, others were yelling accusations, but I didn’t care.My children were missing.I felt Jeff’s hands on my shoulders, gripping tightly, “Emma listen to me,” he said, his