“Faith, isn’t that wedding gown a bit much? Only crazies wear something like that,” a woman’s voice echoed from behind me, sharp and cutting through the air. I glanced up, my heart skipping a beat as my eyes locked onto a sight I never thought I’d see. Elena, my sister, was striding down the aisle in a white wedding gown. My mind froze. The audacity. Her heels clicked loudly against the floor, each step demanding attention, drawing every eye in the room toward her. “The party ended early,” she mocked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, didn’t hear? The dress code was all white. You understand, right?” she said, the mockery in her tone so obvious it made my stomach churn.Without hesitation, she pushed Mia aside, invading my space, as if this moment—*my* moment—was hers to steal. She had always been like this, always needing to be the center of attention.“Excuse me, could you move to the back, please?” The photographer’s voice cut through the tension, gesturing politely for Elena
As early as 8:30 AM, I had already arrived at the beach, hoping to lose myself in the calm waves and distant horizon. But as the minutes ticked by, sitting alone became boring. Couples passed by, laughing, holding hands, and snapping photos together. One man was tenderly taking pictures of his girlfriend, framing her perfectly against the shimmering sea, while others played with colorful balloons. I couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of jealousy. Their joy contrasted so deeply with my isolation.Amory’s words suddenly echoed in my mind: “I’ll always be by your side. You don’t have to do everything alone.” I scoffed, shaking my head. How could someone always be there for me? His reassurances, though kind, seemed impossible.I sighed, folding my arms as I scanned the horizon, lost in thought. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amory approaching, his face lighting up the moment he spotted me.“There you are! Finally!” he exclaimed, panting slightly from his brisk walk.“How did yo
As early as the morning light filtered through the curtains, Amory and I returned to the beach. We walked side by side, our steps in sync, with the gentle tide lapping at our feet. I noticed Amory, as always, kept his eyes averted from the water. He had a deep-rooted fear of the sea—one he couldn’t quite shake off. I had teased him about it before, but today, I felt more understanding. “Amory,” I called, breaking the silence between us as I turned my gaze toward him. “What?” His voice was steady, but I could hear the tension underneath. He was waiting for me to continue, bracing himself for what I might say next. “It’s still hard for you to look at the water, isn’t it?” I asked softly, my voice carrying a blend of sympathy and warmth. He stole a glance at the waves, but just as quickly looked away. A small, almost shy smile tugged at my lips, and I chuckled gently. “Do you want me to show you a method? Something that might help?” I didn’t wait for his reply, pulling off my shoes a
As we drove back from the mall, I couldn’t help but notice how Amory’s face seemed to light up every time I glanced at him. His smile was unwavering, his eyes twinkling as they focused on the road. I knew he was replaying the events from the day before, from the laughter to the quiet moments shared between us. It was infectious, and I found myself smiling too, my heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.The hum of my phone broke my thoughts, and I fished it out of my pocket. “Hey, teacher,” I greeted, pressing the phone to my ear.“Hey, Emma. I’m sorry to bother you during your honeymoon, but it’s a bit urgent,” her tone was casual, though I could hear the underlying seriousness.“It’s fine, what’s going on?” I asked, curiosity piqued.“You remember that painting I bought from you a while back? Well, I thought it looked familiar when I saw a friend of mine in England posting about a similar piece. The signature is exactly the same.” Her words made me sit up a little straighte
Variants of dishes were spread across the table, though I hadn’t touched the portion already served to me. My eyes lingered on the plates, the food looking as innocent as ever, but my thoughts were far from trusting. The spoon shook slightly in my hand, unwilling to find its way into my plate. A knot of fear twisted in my stomach, the same thought spinning in my head—*What if mother poisoned it?*Amory, ever observant, noticed my hesitation. “You need to gain some weight,” he said softly, placing a small portion of food on his own plate, offering a reassuring smile. He gestured subtly to eat the same dish as him. “Eat plenty,” he added, trying to coax me.I glanced up at him, then quickly over to Elena, who had just entered the dining room. Her face was a mask of cold indifference as she dragged out the chair and sat down, eyeing the table like a battlefield. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, instead focusing on my father.“Are you feeling better? I heard you passed out,” I asked
“We’re home,” Amory said, opening the door and stepping aside to let me enter. I smiled softly at him as I walked through the doorway. He closed the door behind us with a soft click.“Mother, how have you been?” I called out from the entrance, immediately catching sight of Madam Elizabeth as she emerged from her room.She smiled warmly, walking towards us with her arms outstretched, and I expected her to hug her son. But to my surprise, her arms enveloped me instead. I froze for a moment, glancing at Amory, who looked equally puzzled, his arms still half-raised as if expecting the embrace meant for him.She patted my back gently. “Come in, let’s eat,” she said, breaking the hug and walking towards the dining room, leaving both Amory and me exchanging confused glances.As we entered the dining room, the sheer variety of dishes laid out on the table nearly overwhelmed me. There were plates upon plates of food, far more than I could ever manage to eat.“Oh no, I can’t possibly eat all th
Everybody waited in tense anticipation, all eyes focused on Fielding, who remained silent for what felt like an eternity. Then, with a subtle shift of his body, he stepped aside, revealing my sister Elena. She walked in, smiling, as if she hadn’t just caused a ripple of confusion in the room. Everyone’s faces were a mix of surprise and disbelief—except for Amory, who still hadn’t bothered to look up from his seat.“Wait, aren’t you one of the in-laws?” Grandma’s voice broke the silence, her eyes squinting as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.Elena smiled, bending slightly in greeting. “Hello, Chairwoman,” she said respectfully, then turned to Madam Elizabeth. “Hello.”Before anyone could respond, Fielding’s voice cut through the air. “She’s my guest. Aren’t you going to welcome her?”Madam Elizabeth’s confusion was written all over her face. “Elena… what is going on right now?” Her voice wavered, soft and unsure, as if she were struggling to understand what she was witnessi
I knocked gently on my mother’s office door before sliding it open just enough to poke my head in. I stepped inside with a smile that barely masked the swirling thoughts I was carrying with me.“My gosh, you must be exhausted,” I remarked, making my way over to the large desk where she sat. My eyes danced over the pieces of art scattered around—beautiful creations, all waiting for the right moment to shine. “You’ll need to up the sales to make a case for father. Want me to tell you an easy, surefire way to do it?” I asked, my voice light but teasing as I stood close to her, leaning on the desk.Mother’s brow furrowed with mild confusion. “You?” she asked, eyes narrowing slightly as she leaned forward, her hands folded on the desk. “What is it?”“Me!” I grinned, tapping my chest with a flourish, as if I were revealing a grand secret.“What?” she chuckled, the confusion deepening in her expression as her smile faded slightly.Before I could continue, there was a knock at the door. Mothe
**Emma’s POV** Now I understand that there’s no greater joy than marrying the person you love and knowing they love you back just as deeply. A smile tugged at my lips as both Amory and I signed our names, finalizing our marriage registration. “Now, we just have to…” he said, glancing at me with a playful grin as we both reached for the stamp. “One, two, three,” we counted together, pressing the stamp onto the marriage license. With the finality of that gesture, we submitted our paperwork, and Amory pulled me into a hug, wrapping his arm around my shoulders as we walked through the lobby. “Congratulations!” voices echoed around us, and I turned to see Catherine, Mia, and some of Amory’s colleagues gathered there, cheering in surprise and joy. “Congratulations, brother! Congratulations, Emma!” Catherine’s voice was bright and happy. Her husband chimed in, grinning, “Just like old times, huh?” I couldn’t help but beam back, the warmth of their celebration washing over me
**Emma’s POV** The sun was barely up, and the morning air held a slight chill, but there was a warmth blooming in my heart that no weather could touch. I reached across the breakfast table, picking up a slice of toast, and took a contented bite. “I think my morning sickness is finally gone,” I said with a sense of relief, smiling as I chewed. My mother’s expression softened as she watched me, her own breakfast momentarily forgotten. “Thank goodness,” she sighed, her hand resting briefly on mine. “I was starting to worry about you, you know, since you’d barely been eating.” She reached over to fill my glass with water, the sunlight catching the faint lines on her hands, a reminder of all the years of love and work she had put into raising me. “Do you have a busy day ahead?” she asked, glancing up at me with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. I nodded, swallowing a sip of water. “There’s a meeting with Dad and Grandpa about the foundation, and then I’m meeting Amory in the evening
Emma POV After leaving Amory's father and grandmother, we finally made it back home. The quiet felt almost surreal after everything we'd been through. I helped Amory settle down on the couch, his steps still unsteady, his recovery a slow process. I could see the weariness in his eyes, but I also saw something else—a lightness that had been missing for so long. We hadn’t been sitting long when a sudden chime from outside caught our attention. I quickly stood, realizing what it was. I hurried to the door, finding a delivery man waiting, a small package in his hands. As I took the package and shut the door, Amory looked over, puzzled. “What is this?” he asked as I placed the package on the table. I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s from my mom. She sent some of her special homemade dishes for you. She thought you’d need the extra strength.” “Your mom actually did that?” he asked, looking genuinely touched. I nodded, feeling warmth at the memory of her kindness. “She took such g
Amory POV It had been almost two and a half months since I’d been confined to a hospital bed, and now, finally, I was going home. My body still felt weak; each step was slow and careful, but I was free. Emma, my mom, and I decided to stop by and visit Grandma and Father before heading home. I knew they’d been waiting anxiously for this moment. As soon as we stepped inside, my mother’s voice rang out, “Mother! Honey!” The joy in her voice was unmistakable. Grandma’s eyes widened as she saw me, her expression shifting from shock to sheer happiness in an instant. She rushed forward, enveloping me in a tight embrace, her joy overflowing. “Amory! You’re home!” she exclaimed, beaming. “You did good. You did good,” she murmured, releasing me and turning to give Emma a hug as well. “You, too,” she added, smiling warmly at her. My gaze shifted to my father, who moved closer, his own smile breaking through the usually stoic expression. “You did good,” he said simply, before pulling me i
**Emma’s POV** Two long, agonizing months had passed since Amory been injured by Fielding leaving him lying motionless in that sterile hospital bed, a shadow of the vibrant man I loved. Every day, I had sat by his side, watching the faint rise and fall of his chest, searching his face for any sign of movement, any flicker of life. Even after his second surgery, he lay unresponsive, leaving me to grapple with an ache that felt impossible to mend. I sat quietly, watching him. He looked so peaceful, as if he were only asleep. I reached for his hand, feeling the gentle warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips, and clutched it close. "Amory," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the stillness, "I finally understand why I was given a second chance at life… why I came back." The quiet beeping of the machines filled the silence, steady and constant, a reminder of just how fragile he was. I took a shaky breath, pressing his hand against my cheek, my tears flowing freely as I whispered, “
Emma POV After Madam Elizabeth left, the room fell quiet, filled only with the hum of machines. I was still processing all that had happened when, to my surprise, Mr. Foden entered. It had been days since I’d last seen him—days since I learned the shocking truth that artist Edward Jones was his father.“You don’t look well, Ms. Emma,” he said, settling into a chair nearby. His gaze was steady, filled with a mixture of concern and curiosity.I sighed, sidestepping his observation. “How’s your father doing?” I asked, shifting the conversation away from myself.“He’s at the nursing home,” he replied, his voice carrying a hint of sadness. He studied me closely, then continued, “What I said at the police station was quite shocking, wasn’t it?”I took a deep breath, the weight of it all pressing down on me. “I thought you might be connected to Edward Jones in some way. I didn’t know you were father and son.”He gave a small, regretful shake of his head. “I was sent to an orphanage so young
madam Elizabeth POV I sat down heavily on the couch, the tension from the hospital clinging to me like a weight I couldn’t shake. Emma was with Amory, still in critical condition after his first surgery, and the doctors were already discussing the need for another procedure. My heart twisted just thinking about it. “So, is there no progress on Amory?” Grandma’s voice was soft, yet tinged with worry. She was sitting across from me, her hands tightly clasped in her lap. I let out a long sigh, meeting her gaze. “They need to operate again. I’m so worried, Mother. What if he…” I trailed off, unable to finish the thought. I couldn’t bear to voice my fears. “Don’t say that. We have to be strong, somehow,” my husband interjected as he stood from his chair. His voice was firm, but I could see the concern etched into his face. He left the room without another word, leaving Grandma and me in a heavy silence. Just then, the sharp sound of the doorbell shattered the quiet. One of the mai
Fielding POV The clanking of the cell door jolted me from my thoughts. A police officer swung it open, gesturing for me to step out. I was handcuffed, and as I stepped into the hall, I saw him: my father, sitting stiffly in the visitor center. His eyes fixed on me as I entered, an expression that was as cold as it was unforgiving.For a moment, I froze, unable to take another step. But I forced myself forward, one heavy step after the other, until I reached the chair across from him. We were separated only by a small table, yet the distance felt insurmountable. He remained silent, his face a tight mask of anger and disappointment.After a painfully long silence, he finally spoke, his voice a low growl. “How could you do such a thing?” he asked, his words dripping with disdain. “I thought, maybe, after all this time, you would change. I thought you’d learn something.” His voice broke, raw and filled with an intensity that made me look away, unable to hold his gaze.He continued, his t
We reached the hospital, and Amory was rushed inside while I was directed to the waiting area. I sank into one of the chairs, numb, with tears streaming down my cheeks as the reality of everything crashed over me.“Emma! Emma!” someone called, but I was lost in my turmoil, barely aware of my surroundings. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Amory’s mother, Madam Elizabeth, standing before me, her face etched with worry.“What happened?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear as she knelt beside me.I took a deep breath, trying to muster the strength to explain, but the words felt heavy, almost impossible to say. “Amory… he got hurt trying to protect me,” I finally managed, my voice barely a whisper as I avoided her gaze, feeling the weight of guilt settle deeper in my chest.Madam Elizabeth gasped, her hands trembling. For a moment, I couldn’t bear to look at her, but she surprised me by pulling me into a gentle embrace, her hand rubbing my back soothingly. “It’s okay,