I sat in the car, staring at the warehouse, my heart racing as I wondered what Christof and Ethan could be doing to poor Wayne. After a few minutes, Christof walked out, his eyes locking onto mine from the door with a smile. He approached me with an unsettling grin."Did you enjoy the show?" he asked, his wide grin only deepening. I glared at him, but that only made his smile grow wider."Your Ethan is a good actor, isn’t he?" Christof continued. I furrowed my brows, confused by his words. Why couldn’t he just get to the point? "What are you talking about?" I asked, frustration edging into my voice."He did say you were naive, but I didn’t think you were this naive," Christof replied. Ethan thought I was naive?"Come on, Emily, use your brain. Did you really think you had him at your mercy?" Christof's voice dripped with condescension. "While you were planning ways to kill him, he was planning ways to kill you," he added, and my heart skipped a beat. "I don’t understand," I stammered.
Three years later."I can't believe you're getting married," I said to Jennifer, standing behind the makeup artist, fulfilling my maid-of-honor duties."I know, right? Who would’ve thought?" Jennifer smiled. No one ever imagined she'd be the first among us to get married. She was always the flirt, the one who loved to explore."Honestly, I always thought Emily would be the first to get married," Rose said as she walked into the room, holding Jennifer's bridal veil. After Rose's mother and Jennifer's father divorced, they were left with nothing. Rose lost all the privileges that came with being a Coleman, leaving her broke and desperate. She’d walked into my store one day for an interview, and I almost didn’t give it to her. But after talking to her, I realized she had the experience and deserved the position. So I hired her, and as she started working for me, I saw that the only reason she had been difficult in the past was because of the Coleman name. We became friends, and I convin
For three years, I had not spoken to Ethan. I avoided him and any place I knew he might be because I couldn’t bear to see him and not be with him. But I couldn’t be with him if he was still a criminal. As I stared at him, my heart broke all over again. Our eyes met, and his face curved into a smile. My heart fluttered, and I quickly looked away. I turned my gaze back to Jason, but it wasn’t the same. Seeing Jason no longer made my heart race, and all I wanted was to look at Ethan. “Don’t look at him, Emily,” I warned myself as the wedding ceremony drew to a close. We began throwing flower petals at the bride and groom as they walked down the aisle. “Hey, beautiful,” Jason said, walking over and holding my hand. “You look handsome,” I smiled, but my eyes betrayed me, glancing briefly back at Ethan, who hadn’t taken his eyes off me. “You think?” Jason blushed, adjusting his tie. He did look extremely handsome—his brown hair neatly styled, the black suit enhancing his beautifu
I blushed slightly, knowing I was going to say yes. I had been waiting for Jason to ask me out for days now, but he seemed to be taking his sweet time. "I’ll tell him I’ll think about it," I teased Jennifer, laughing as I watched her huff at me."Let’s hurry, please, we have so much to do today," I said, trying to change the subject as my blush deepened."Okay," Jennifer said, rushing toward the door. I followed behind her, checking her dress to make sure everything was perfect. We hurried downstairs where the driver was waiting to take us to the photoshoot. While Jennifer and Luca took their pictures, I kept getting calls about the lunch arrangements."Emily, where are you?" Irene asked, as soon as I picked up her call. It was the fifth time one of Jennifer’s bridesmaids had called me from the venue, and I was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed."I’m with the bride and groom, and they’re taking pictures," I explained to Irene, who sounded panicked."Why? What’s going on?" I asked, fe
As Ethan's lips crushed on mine, I felt a wave of desire, the desire I had bottled up for three years, three years of longing for his touch. Ethan's lips moved against mine, gentle at first, but growing more insistent as the seconds grew by. My body betraying me as I melted into his touch. Wrapping my hands around his neck and kissing him back, he tasted sweet as always, the craving I had felt for him rushed back like a wave, and all I wanted was for him to have me As we broke apart for air, Ethan's eyes locked onto mine, burning with a fire that I knew all too well. 'I've missed you,' he whispered, his voice husky with emotion. But I didn't reply, my mind blurred with desire. I bit my lower lips, staring at him; all I wanted to do at the moment was just f**ck him. out of breath, I pulled him to the changing room, closing the door and pushing him against it. "F**CK me!" I commanded, crushing my lips on him, I threw caution to the wind, forgetting all my anger and everything I held
I rushed to the bathroom, quickly washing and wiping myself before heading to the garden, where everyone was already seated, waiting for the bride and groom. "Hey!" Jason said as soon as I arrived at our table."Hello," I smiled back, watching him stand up and kiss me on the cheek."I thought you were coming with the bride and groom," he wondered."I had to leave them to attend to a planning emergency," I said as he pulled out a chair for me, and I sat down."Oh! What happened?" he asked, giving me a welcoming smile—one of the things I liked about him. He always listened, like Ethan; he listened and tried his best to help me solve my problems."Can you believe it? The baker didn’t deliver the cake. I had to go there myself to get it," I explained. He knew about the trouble we had with the baker, how she kept changing her prices and adding extra charges for trivial things."That's terrible," Jason replied. "But is it ready now?" I nodded. "Ethan helped. You know how smooth he is with
As soon as he said the words, "I think I love you," my heart sank. 'Love'. It was a heavy word, and suddenly my heart began to race. I couldn’t love him back, and I didn’t want to be deceptive. “What’s wrong?” Jason asked, probably noticing the tension in my body.“I still love Ethan,” I admitted, locking eyes with him, waiting for his reaction. But he didn’t look fazed; it was as if he’d already expected those words.“I know,” he said, and my eyes widened in surprise. He knew. “You and I have been dancing for over five minutes, and I’ve lost count of how many times you’ve glanced over at his table,” Jason continued, his words making me feel terrible. I hadn’t even realized I was doing it. “But I don’t care,” Jason added, his voice firm. “Just give me a chance, and I’ll make you forget him.” He said it so confidently that I couldn’t help but doubt him. Could anyone really make me forget Ethan? But if Jason insisted, maybe I could try.“Sure,” I smiled, glancing briefly toward Ethan
"But seriously, Emily, it's not safe for you to be standing out here. I already called your cab company and canceled," Ethan said. I stared at him in disbelief, unsure whether he was lying or telling the truth. Could he even do that? I wondered.I glared at him, and his mischievous grin widened. "It’s fine if you don’t believe me," he said, walking back to his car. "You’ll just have to wait and find out. I hope you'll still be safe by then." His words made me swallow hard. I glanced around—he was right. It was late, getting darker, and there wasn’t a soul in sight."Fine!" I huffed, rushing after him."Did you really cancel my cab?" I asked, sliding into the passenger seat. Ethan laughed."Of course not. Can I even do that?" he replied, and before I could protest, he locked the door and started driving. I sighed, sinking into the seat, trying to ignore his occasional glances."Where are you going?" I asked, noticing he was heading in the wrong direction. "The hotel’s that way," I poin
"What are you waiting for? Don’t leave the poor guy hanging," my father teased, raising his fist in the air. "Say yes," he said, joining the chants. The moment those words left his lips, it felt like the world paused. Everything I had ever wanted, everything I had ever hoped for, was falling into place. My father’s approval was the last piece of the puzzle. With a heart full of joy, I turned to Ethan, my voice shaky with excitement. "Yes!" I said, extending my hand to him. Ethan's smile widened as he slid the ring onto my finger. He lifted me into the air, swirling me around, and I giggled, my heart fluttering with excitement. It was a moment of pure bliss, as though nothing else existed in the world but us. When he finally set me down, I noticed Jennifer walking toward me, a soft smile on her face as she held a beautiful white dress in her hands. "You always said you wanted to get married in your mother's dress," she said, holding out my mother’s wedding gown, now perfectly alte
"What's going on, Dad?" I asked, my voice rising above its normal pitch, my heart starting to race. "Just come home, Emily. Now!" he yelled, ending the call abruptly. I stared at the phone, my mind blank. What could possibly be the problem? I couldn't think of anything, except maybe, like my mother, my father was sick too. I took a deep breath, dialing Ethan's number to inform him that I was getting on the next flight to Ashville."My dad just called me. He sounded really panicked. I think something is going on, and I have to go home now," I said as soon as Ethan picked up the call."Is everything okay? Did he say what was wrong?" Ethan asked. I shook my head as if he could see me."No, he just said I should come home. I'm going to the airport now to get the first ticket home," I felt the need to keep him informed."Just hold on. I'll call the pilot to take you," Ethan said, reminding me that he had a private jet. "I'll call the driver to take you to the hangar right now," he added,
"Long story short, his parents aren’t dead," Ethan said as he pulled into one of his mansions."What?" I exclaimed. "Don't shorten the story! Please, tell me the full details," I demanded, watching him park in the underground garage.Ethan sighed and turned to face me. "Wayne’s parents are not dead," he repeated.I narrowed my eyes, waiting for more. "They're at the island," Ethan continued.My eyes widened. "When I took you to the island, I used the opportunity to see them. They've been hiding from Christof because he wanted them dead. They stole from both me and Christof," Ethan explained.I nodded, starting to piece things together. "And the video?" I asked.Ethan smiled. "Faked. It was a video I made to convince Christof they were dead. He was starting to doubt my kills," he said with a shrug."And you didn't tell me? You let me judge you all this time?" I said, feeling a pang of guilt."Your judgment wasn’t far from the truth. I have killed people, Emily," Ethan said, locking eye
"So, tell me," I said, staring at him, my eyes glistening with curiosity.Ethan smiled. "A very important person owed me a favor. When Rose called, I decided to cash it in," he said.I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Who is this very important person who could easily turn a death sentence into nothing?" I wondered aloud.Ethan chuckled. "That’s my little secret," he teased, and I smiled."But," he added, "it wasn’t exactly changed from a death sentence to nothing. Someone else took the blame."My eyes widened, and I shot him a sharp glance. "An innocent man took the blame for you? That’s not fair!" I scolded."I wouldn’t call him innocent," Ethan replied casually, his tone so nonchalant it made me roll my eyes."I thought you said you’ve changed," I huffed, folding my arms across my chest."I have changed," Ethan insisted, but I just rolled my eyes again."Then tell me exactly what happened," I demanded, noticing he was only giving me snippets of the story. My eyes stayed fixed on him,
"Please, let's be a family," Ethan pleaded, kneeling before me and pulling out the ring, the same ring he had proposed with over three years ago. I watched him, a weak smile tugging at my lips. "I don't think this is the best place to propose," I said softly, glancing around the hospital room. "Besides, the floor isn't exactly sanitary. Please, get up." I said everything except what he wanted to hear."Well, answer me so I can get up," he replied, a smile playing on his lips. I glanced over at Jennifer, who nodded, urging me to say yes. I looked back at Ethan, my sweet Ethan, still on his knees."I love you," I said slowly, "and I would love to have a family with you. But I can't marry you." The words felt heavy as they left my mouth. I helped him to his feet, but I could see the hurt in his eyes."Why not, Em?" Jennifer’s voice cut through the silence that followed my answer."Marriage is... too heavy," I explained, feeling the weight of my father’s disapproval bearing down on me.
"Then don’t do it," Jennifer urged softly, her voice steady but filled with concern. I shook my head, tears streaming down. "I have to," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I don’t have enough love to give them at the moment. They deserve more than a broken mother," I thought to myself. The nurse, standing nearby, remained silent, her face professional yet kind. She quietly placed her Doppler aside and handed me a tissue to wipe my tears. “You can head back to the doctor’s office,” she instructed gently. Jennifer and I both nodded, and we made our way down the hallway, my heart heavy with each passing moment.As we got to the doctor's office, we pushed open the door without knocking, only to stop abruptly. Another patient was seated inside. “Oh! Sorry,” Jennifer exclaimed, starting to close the door, but the doctor’s voice cut in. “No, Ms. Sanders, come in,” the doctor urged, his tone serious but also welcoming. I hesitated at the door, reluctant to walk in or speak about my choice
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Jennifer’s voice was soft, yet filled with concern as she held my hand tightly. We walked into the clinic, the sterile smell of the place overwhelming my senses, and my heart raced in my chest. I could barely focus as I tried to take deep, steady breaths. "Yes, Jen," I replied, though the words felt hollow, like I was trying to convince myself just as much as I was convincing her."You just found out you're pregnant," she continued, her eyes searching mine for any flicker of doubt. "Wouldn’t it be better to wait? To think it through a little more?" Her voice was gentle, but beneath it was a plea.I shook my head, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay. "I don’t want to change my mind." The words came out firmer than I expected. I didn’t want to be swayed. I couldn’t be. I needed to do this before the weight of everything crushed me completely."I’ll go in myself," I urged, my voice quieter now. "Wait in the car with Irene and the others." I couldn’
“What!” I exclaimed, my eyes widening in disbelief. I turned to Jennifer, who looked just as shocked. “It can’t be,” I stuttered.Jennifer turned her head towards me, confusion etched across her face. “I thought you said you and Jason never…” she wondered.I nodded. “Never,” I echoed, panic rising within me.Jennifer looked back at the doctor, her voice firm and certain. “You must be mistaken, doctor. My friend has been celibate for over three…” Before Jennifer could finish, I cut her off. “I haven’t been celibate!” I whispered, feeling the heat of shame wash over me. My mind flashed back to the afternoon of her wedding, the memory of Ethan flooding back, the heat of the moment, our impulsive connection, and my frantic rush to escape afterward, forgetting the after pill.Jennifer’s expression shifted to one of motherly concern. “Who?” she asked, her voice firm. I bit my lip, avoiding her gaze, my eyes darting to the doctor, who was watching our exchange intently.“Ethan,” I murmured,
Six Weeks Later: The Final Hearing"Please, don't go through with it," I pleaded, my eyes fixed on Ethan as we stood together just before the trial. For almost six weeks, he had refused my visits, and this was the first time I'd seen him. He looked thinner, worn down by time in custody."You look pale. Are you okay?" Ethan asked, concern flickering in his eyes.I shook my head. How could I be? I had been feeling sick constantly, throwing up, dizzy, and suffering from headaches."Are you eating well?" Ethan’s voice softened. "Isn't Jason taking care of you?" He asked and I frowned at the mention of Jason. "We broke up," I whispered, my voice barely audible. After Ethan turned himself in I couldn't bear be with Jason, i was always sad around him, never giving him the time and attention he deserved, hence i had to break up with him, but he didn't takes it well, he insisted he could wait for me to heal and feel better, but i knew from the bottom of my heart that I could never love him. N