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
"What? Elena wants to marry Fielding?" Father asked, his voice laced with confusion.I nodded, knowing the news would catch him off guard. “Yes, they showed up together at our in-laws' place. It was a whole scene,” I paused for a moment as his eyebrows furrowed, his hands stilling on the cup of tea. “I debated whether to tell you, but I don’t think Fielding is a good person. I was hoping you could talk her out of it.”Father’s gaze grew serious, but he gave a small nod of acknowledgment. “Thank you for your concern. You’ve been acting like an adult ever since you got married,” he said, his voice carrying a mixture of pride and reflection.I smiled, though my mind lingered on more pressing matters. “Well, I’m old enough now.”He chuckled softly. “Don’t talk about getting old in front of your father,” he teased, raising the cup to his lips.Hearing the word "father" sent a cold shiver down my spine, memories I’d rather forget pressing at the edges of my mind. Moving to his side, I place
“What? If you're here, come in,” Amory said casually on the phone, his voice calm.“No. I don’t want your staff to see me,” I replied, a playful tone sneaking into my voice.“Okay, I’ll come down,” he said, hanging up.As I shoved my phone into my bag, my eyes caught Zayn standing near the entrance of the company. Our gazes met briefly before I quickly looked away, pretending I hadn’t noticed him.“It’s been a while,” he said, walking up to me.“Yeah,” I muttered, shifting my gaze elsewhere, hoping this wouldn’t turn into a conversation.“Are you here to see the CEO?” he asked.“Yes,” I responded, feeling the weight of discomfort settling in.“How have you been?” he continued, probing, and it was then that irritation flared inside me. I shot him a sharp look.“What are you doing?” I smirked, my patience thinning.He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Just tell me one thing,” he pressed. “Did you really marry the CEO because you love him?”His words struck me like a slap, leaving a
As I walked out of the bathroom, still drying my hands, my stomach growled softly. I made my way into the kitchen, mentally preparing to whip up something simple. But the moment I entered the dining room, I stopped in my tracks. There, on the table, was a full meal laid out for me. Each dish was covered with glass, and right next to them was a small letter.Curious, I reached for the note and read the words aloud, “We promised to fight together. So, you have to eat well.” A smile tugged at my lips, warmth spreading through my chest. I removed the cover glasses, exposing the food underneath, and marveled at the effort.“How did he get so good at this?” I murmured to myself. The thought of Amory preparing this for me made my heart swell. Cooking had never seemed like a chore to him; it was as natural as breathing, something he did without reluctance. As I admired the meal, my phone vibrated on the table, drawing my attention away. The screen lit up with a message from my cooking class
**Emma's POV**"Who asked you to jump in and take a hit for me? You thought I'd be grateful?" Madam Elizabeth smirked at me, her gaze sharp, watching as I rubbed my cheek, still stinging from the slap. "Don't meddle and do things like that. It's not going to change my mind."Her words cut through me, though I didn’t let it show. The tension from the earlier confrontation still lingered, thick in the air, but Madam Elizabeth remained composed, almost indifferent. After the incident calmed down, she suggested we continue the conversation at a restaurant, which was conveniently located near the cooking class building. I hesitated before nodding, regret tugging at me.As we sat across from each other at the small table, the silence was unbearable. I fiddled with my hands, unsure how to start. I swallowed hard before speaking, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's a hard thing to win someone over... especially when you had it and then lost it." The plea in my tone was unmistakable, though