"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
**Emma's POV**The kitchen echoed with the clinking of dishes and the soft murmurs of the other women behind me. Their whispering had followed me from the moment I entered the room, and now, as I washed the last plate, the anger that had been simmering inside me started to boil.“Did you see what’s online? It’s insane. This whole thing is so unfair to Madam Mira,” one of them whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. “Teacher, you need to keep the water cleaner around here.”I couldn’t take it anymore. I slapped the washing gloves against the counter and wiped my hands dry. I turned around to face them, my anger barely contained.“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sharp. “What’s wrong with the water here? I like it.”The woman on the left raised an eyebrow, clearly confused by my sudden outburst.“All the ingredients we use here are top quality,” I continued, my right hand resting on my waist. I walked to the sink, grabbed a cup, and filled it with water from the tap. “Teacher even got a
**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,