**Emma's POV**After returning from meeting the cooking class, the revelation of her being my mother weighed heavily on me. My heart felt raw, and my body was drained from the flood of emotions that overtook me. As I entered the house, I pressed the alarm button, and within moments, Amory opened the door, his face lighting up as he saw me.“You’re home late. You don’t know how much your husband has been waiting for you,” he teased, but his eyes softened when he noticed my expression.Wordlessly, I stepped toward him, letting my arms wrap around his shoulders as I hugged him tightly. I felt his arms come around me, grounding me in the warmth of his embrace. For a moment, everything felt still, safe. When we finally pulled away, he led me to the couch, where he took my hand in his, his gaze filled with concern.“Are you all right, honey?” he asked, his voice gentle.A faint smile tugged at my lips as I reached out, placing my other hand on his. “It doesn’t feel real yet. And… there’s so
**Emma's POV**The shareholders’ meeting was today, but Grandfather was still missing. I had been bracing myself for whatever Hannah would try to push through without him. As we gathered, the atmosphere was tense. The officials settled, and the coordinator began.“Hello, we will now begin Smith’s Group special shareholders meeting. The chairwoman will now kick us off.”Hannah stood, her confidence radiating as she took the stage. Her voice carried through the room.“Hello, shareholders. My name is Hannah Smith. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedules to attend this shareholders’ meeting.”A smattering of applause followed, but both Amory and I remained still, watching her every move. My mother, seated a few rows away, also sat quietly, her gaze fixed on Hannah.“The first item on the agenda is the internal CEO transition. The resolution to dismiss Chairman Henry due to his health issues… we will now vote on the first agenda item. Are there any opposing shareholders pres
**Emma's POV**With confidence bolstering our steps, my grandfather and I walked into my father's home, only to see Hannah rushing out of her car, her face a mixture of anger and panic. Auntie Isabella was waiting for us by the doorway, a calm expression on her face."Welcome, Chairman and Ms. Emma," she greeted."Who…" Hannah gasped, shock and confusion written across her face as she took in the sight of Auntie Isabella standing by my father’s side.Auntie Isabella stepped forward, a mocking smile on her lips. "Long time no see, madam. Don’t you remember me? I thought maybe you'd have improved your housekeeping skills since kicking me out… but it seems I was wrong."“A-All of you…” Hannah stammered, her gaze flickering to my father, trying to comprehend what was happening.“Mr. Michael,” my father called, signaling to his manager standing nearby.“Yes, Chairman?” Mr. Michael replied, moving forward to stand by my father’s side.“What was the first agenda item at today’s shareholders
**Amory’s POV**From where I sat, I watched Hannah and Davis Noah talking in the distance, each of their gestures revealing snippets of tension and conspiracy. Davis handed Hannah a key, and, after a few quick words, she went inside the motel, leaving him alone outside.I leaned on the horn to signal Davis, drawing his attention to my parked car. He glanced around, then walked over, opening the back door and sliding in behind me, his face a mix of curiosity and suspicion.“How did you know she’d come here?” he asked in a low voice, clearly puzzled.I smirked, keeping my eyes fixed on the building in front of us. “Who else would Hannah turn to in her current situation?” I replied. Davis was her only option now that her influence was dwindling.He nodded, exhaling sharply as he processed my words. “She says she’ll pay me ten million dollars to kill a girl named Emma,” he admitted bluntly, clearly testing my reaction.I kept my expression neutral, though a wave of disgust rose within me.
**Fielding’s POV** “What? The family doesn’t need to run the company?” I scoffed, muttering to myself as I entered my room after the meeting. The anger roiled inside me, each word Emma had spoken earlier scratching at my pride. How dare she? Who did she think she was? My phone started buzzing in my pocket, snapping me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen, seeing Elena’s name flashing. Ignoring the call, I tossed the phone onto my desk, leaning back in my chair, attempting to calm myself. But it buzzed again, forcing me to look, this time with the name “Director of Accounting and Liability” flashing. “Yes, I’m here,” I said after picking up, pressing the phone to my ear. “Mr. Vice President, I’ve checked with the leaders of our affiliated companies as you requested,” she said, her voice low and composed. “It appears the ladies from the board have been connecting more frequently with Madam Elizabeth.” “My mother?” I asked, caught off guard. “Yes,” she replied, her tone caut
**Emma’s POV**I was inside my room, packing up my paintings with a heavy heart. Each piece reminded me of the painful memories I was trying to let go. I wrapped one in brown paper, the sound of scissors cutting through the silence.“What are you doing?” Amory's voice echoed through the room, startling me.I turned toward the door, watching him step in. “I’m decluttering my paintings. I don’t want to make sad paintings like these anymore,” I explained, glancing back at the piece I was wrapping.“Don’t throw them away,” he said softly, a cheerful undertone in his voice.“Why not?” I asked, surprised by his reaction.“Because they’re good. Your paintings are really good,” he reassured, his words genuine and kind.I couldn’t help but smile. It felt amazing to hear such encouragement from him, someone I deeply cared about.I looked down, continuing to wrap another canvas. “Since when do you like them?” I paused, turning to face him. “But you know the paintings Hannah sold abroad?”“Yeah,”
**Emma’s POV**“You want an advance?”“That’s industry standard. Half upfront.”“Since when are you a rule follower?”“I didn’t know if you’d be able to pay me the lump sum.”“My daughter is the CEO of a gallery. We can prepare tens of millions in seconds.”“Sure, madam.”“You’ve heard of the artist Edward, right? The guy who killed himself in the mountains? He’s famous. I have a piece of his. If I show it, people will fight to buy it.”Amory leaned forward, pausing the recording on his phone. I looked at him, puzzled. “This is Hannah and Davis Noah? How did you get it?” I asked, trying to piece it all together.“We wiretapped Davis Noah. That woman is definitely planning something,” Amory replied, his eyes meeting mine before tapping the play button again.The voices resumed. “So, are you saying that painting is at the gallery?” Davis’s voice sounded, laced with doubt.“No. Somewhere else. It’ll be ready soon,” Hannah replied, her tone brimming with confidence.Amory stopped the re
After the official authentication came back, confirming that the piece in Mr. Foden’s possession was indeed a forgery, the police raided the gallery. They were packing everything up as Hannah’s manager, under pressure, finally admitted to knowing where she was hiding. But just when they were about to arrest her, she vanished—slipping out at the last second. The police were back to square one, while Hannah was now a ghost in the wind. My pulse quickened as I pulled my phone from my bag and dialed Amory. He picked up almost immediately. “The police said she fled during the arrest,” I said, stepping out of the gallery and scanning the streets as though I might catch sight of her. “Hannah fled?” He sounded as shocked as I felt. “Yes. And… I think she’s with Davis Noah.” The realization hit me as I spoke. “You can hear what they’re saying, right?” I asked, the desperation clear in my voice. “Yes. I’ll call you back,” he said, ending the call abruptly. I made my way out of the ga
**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,