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
**Madam Elizabeth's POV** Stepping into their gallery company, I let my eyes wander over the various paintings displayed, each one meticulously framed and hung. The room was filled with artistic expressions for sale, each piece seemingly more grandiose than the last. I barely paid attention to them as Hannah Smith led the way to her office. We entered her office, and she quickly served me a cup of juice, setting it in front of me with a forced smile. The tension between us was palpable. “That’s why I said she was inadequate for the Emgrand Group from the start,” she began, her voice laced with satisfaction. “And now here we are. I’m ashamed,” she added, though her tone betrayed the relish she was taking in this situation. I looked from the cup to her, unamused. “I don’t quite understand,” I said, my gaze steady, watching as her smug expression faltered. “Excuse me?” Her voice cracked slightly, a flicker of panic crossing her face. I reached out, slowly lifting the cup as I insp
**Amory's POV**I got a call from Father. We were having a family meeting, and Emma wasn’t invited—just us. The air was thick with tension as we waited for Grandma to come out of her room. The usual warmth of these gatherings was nowhere to be found today. Fielding sat beside me, fidgeting, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on all of us.“Grand, are you feeling better?” Fielding asked softly as Grandma finally settled into her chair.“Yes, I’m fine,” she replied, her voice low and steady, offering a false sense of comfort.Father’s gaze fell on me, his eyes expectant. I could feel the pressure to speak, but I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I finally spoke, my voice quiet, my eyes fixed on the empty plate in front of me.“I know that my wife and I have caused you all a lot of concern. I apologize for that. I’m sorry,” I said, feeling the weight of guilt settle in the pit of my stomach.Fielding sighed beside me, then took the moment to speak. “I feel like I’ve brought turmo
**Amory's POV**“I heard from the Deputy CEO,” I said, raising my head to meet Zayn's gaze. “I heard you suggested we don't do anything about the news regarding my wife and the company.”“Right. I did,” Zayn replied, his eyes shifting uncomfortably, avoiding mine.“Are you trying to avoid the issue? Or are you trying to make it a bigger one?” I asked, leaning back against my chair, my voice steady but pointed.Zayn’s face twisted in confusion. “CEO, I just…” he started, but I cut him off before he could finish.“Yes, I know. I know you want to screw me over, Mr. Zayn,” I said, locking my gaze on him, waiting for any hint of deflection.“What?” he exclaimed, visibly rattled.I straightened up in my chair, reached for my phone on the desk, and unlocked it. Without breaking eye contact, I opened the gallery, selected a video, and slid the phone across the table toward him.Zayn glanced at the screen, and I saw his face drain of color as the video played. It showed him entering my house—u