CHAPTER 39Despite her obvious disdain, I remained composed, refusing to let her hostility shake me. I knew that earning the acceptance of those around me wouldn't be easy. As I continued down the stairs, I couldn't help but wonder who this woman was and why her animosity was directed at me. But for now, I pushed those questions aside.Lunch awaited, and though her cold gaze lingered, I would not allow her judgment to dampen the joy I felt at being part of Alexander's life. I was seated at the dining table, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was filled with an uncomfortable silence, the kind that makes your skin crawl and your mind race. I could feel the coolness of the marble tabletop seeping through the thin fabric of my dress. The room was grand, much grander than anything I was used to, a testament to Alexander's wealth and status. The chair across from me scraped against the floor, pulling me from my though
Chapter 40The setting was indeed romantic, and for a moment, I felt a pang of jealousy towards a love story that had begun in such a beautiful place. I found myself imagining Alexander proposing to me once more in such a beautiful place. We moved towards the gazebo, and as we sat, I felt a sudden shift in the atmosphere. Her icy demeanor seemed to harden further, if that was even possible."Emma," she began, her voice cold and hard. "I want you to understand something. I despise you."I felt a jolt of shock, but before I could respond, she continued. "I will never accept you as a part of this family. No matter what you do, no matter how hard you try, you will always be an outsider to me. A mere low class girl that is undeserving of my family's high class status."Her words stung, but I refused to let her see that. "May I ask why, ma'am?" I asked, meeting her gaze squarely."You think I do not know?" she spat, her eyes gleaming with anger. "You think I don't
CHAPTER 41I stormed into my room, my heart pounding with rage and frustration. How could I let my emotions spiral out of control like that? I prided myself on keeping calm and collected, but today, it was as if a tempest had taken hold of me, tearing through my carefully constructed facade.I took a deep breath, desperately trying to quell the storm brewing inside me. I knew I needed to calm down before facing Alexander again. He didn't deserve this much of my anger, no matter how justified it felt at the moment, we just got married and I needed to reel him in with love and not push him away in anger. With trembling hands, I poured myself a glass of water and sipped it slowly, hoping its coolness would soothe the fire raging within.As the water flowed down my throat, I could feel the tension dissipating, replaced by a sense of clarity . I glanced at my phone to check the time, and the digital display read 5:30 PM. Alexander had arrived home five minutes
CHAPTER 42Silence hung heavy in the room, the weight of our words filling the void. I reached out, gently touching his hand, seeking a connection, any sign that he still believed in us. "Please, Alexander, trust me. Trust that what we have is genuine, that our marriage was never part of some grand scheme. I want us to work through this, to find a way back to each other."He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and uncertainty. "Emma, I want to believe you. I want to trust you, to see where things go for us. But right now, I'm drowning in a sea of doubts and confusion. I need time, space, to find the truth amidst all this chaos."I nodded, tears streaming down my face. "I understand, Alexander. I'll give you the time you need, but please know that my love for you is unwavering. I'll fight for us, for our family."Alexander's next words echoed in my ears, piercing through my heart like a thousand shards of glass. "Don't call it love,
CHAPTER 43I reached out, my hand trembling as I tried to bridge the growing chasm between us. "Please, Alexander, give me a chance to show you that this is all just one big misunderstanding. Give us a chance to heal, to discover the love that could bound us together."Silence engulfed the room, heavy with unspoken words and shattered dreams. Alexander suddenly turned around and walked out from the room. I stood there in the room, tears streaming down my face, as Alexander walked out without looking back. His words echoed in my mind, a constant reminder of the fractured trust and shattered love.As I tried to calm myself down, Alexander's phone rang, jarring me out of my thoughts. I picked it up, intending to hand it to him, but the name on the caller ID caught my attention. It was the hotel staff cleaning lady.Fury surged through me like a wildfire, the realization that someone had lied to Alexander, tarnishing my reputation and destroying our trust. I
CHAPTER 44Dragging myself out of bed, I stumbled down the staircase, my steps unsteady. The house was silent, and the dimly lit dining room beckoned me. However, as I approached the refrigerator, my legs gave way, and I nearly crumpled to the floor. Just in the nick of time, Alexander appeared out of nowhere, catching me before I hit the ground. His face was etched with concern but tinged with anger. "Emma, what on earth are you doing out here at this hour?" he demanded, his voice laced with frustration.I blinked, taken aback by his sudden appearance and his tone. "I... I was hungry," I managed to stammer out, my voice small and weak."Didn't you have dinner?" He asked fiercely; " No"Anger flashed in his eyes as he scolded me, "You should have eaten dinner, Emma. You're jeopardizing your own health, and the health of our unborn baby."His words hit me like a slap across the face, and a pang of guilt washed over me. I hadn't realized the impact my
CHAPTER 45Once inside my room Alexander gently dropped me to stand on my own two feet; I turned to make my way towards the bed, seeking the comfort of its soft embrace. However, Alexander's firm voice stopped me in my tracks. "No, Emma," he said gently but firmly. "You've just eaten. It's important to stay upright for a while."I looked at him, a mixture of surprise and confusion evident on my face. Alexander has never asserted his authority in such a way, but I trusted that he had our best interests at heart. With a nod of compliance, I settled myself into a nearby chair instead, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment.Alexander pulled up another chair, situating himself across from me. The room seemed to hum with a quiet energy, the air heavy with unspoken words. I observed him, his features etched with complexity, and wondered what thoughts lingered behind his guarded expression.Silence draped over us like a fragile veil, punctuated only by
CHAPTER 46Maria, watched me with a mix of concern and amusement. She had been keeping a close eye on me ever since I had began eating. At first, I found her constant stares somewhat intrusive, but now I realized she was only concerned for me and Alexander must've already informed her of my pregnancy."Another plate, Emma?" Maria asked, her voice tinged with a hint of disbelief.I nodded, my mouth full of food, before swallowing hastily. "Please, Maria. I can't seem to get enough. The baby is taking up so much energy."Maria's eyes widened as she placed another heaping plate in front of me. "But you've already eaten so much! I've never seen anyone with such an appetite."With a sheepish grin, I shrugged my shoulders. "I can't explain it. It's like a fire that burns within me, demanding to be fed constantly. I suppose it's just one of those pregnancy cravings."Maria's expression softened, and she took a seat across from me. "Well, you're eating for two now
CHAPTER 130Emma's POV Just like the wind, the days cane and flew by. Before I knew it, it was Asher's birthday. I've been trying my best to convince Alexander and Olivia to at least reach out to their mother but neither of them were willing to give me a listening ear. Turned out fyn Mrs Collins was actually so wrong about both of them. At first Olivia would walk away from me at the mention of her mother but then after I had told her the story Mrs Collins had told me, I noticed that she had warmed up a bit.I could easily tell that for Olivia, all it took was a face to face apology from her mother and all will be okay. She is most definitely going to forgive. But Alexander.....He was a case study, I once had to bind him for him to be able to hear me out. I spoke about all the things Mrs Collins had told me and even explained just how much I feel for her as a mother that I am too. But Alexander always had a reply that undermines mine.There was no
CHAPTER 129Emma's POV " Olivia was already in a coma. For three long years, she lay there, and I couldn't bring myself to come home. I felt so ashamed and guilty. I thought I had ruined my daughter's life. I did get the alimony and thought to redeem myself in both their eyes by the fact that Olivia at least got something off from the marriage."Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to Mrs Collins' heartbreaking confession. The weight of her guilt was palpable. She had made grave mistakes, but deep down, I could sense her love for Olivia.Mrs Collins looked at me, her eyes filled with regret. "Emma, during those years, I couldn't face Olivia, but I couldn't bear being away from both my children any longer. That's why I returned for Alexander. I wanted him to get married to a girl of my choice, someone I had thoroughly investigated and thought would be good for him. I knew it would be hard convincing him after all that happened with Olivia but I had
CHAPTER 128Emma's POV Mrs Collins nodded, her gaze filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Emma. Your words give me hope. I've made many mistakes, in my life but the greatest of all was neglecting them. Making them live their lives like my little puppets. I want them to know how much I love them."She sat back on the bench and let out a huge depressed sigh. I wondered how many mistakes she had made to make Alexander and Olivia be so mad at her.As we sat quietly on the bench Mrs Collins and I, a question burned within me. I mustered up the courage to ask, "Mrs Collins, may I ask why you were this way with your children. I do not want to seem intrusive but, we're your parents the same way with you?"Mrs Collins sighed, a mix of sorrow and regret on her face. She turned to me and said, "Emma, I wish to tell you a story. Do you wanna hear it?" She asked and I nodded gently." We weren't always so wealthy, you see, my parents weren't that poor, we were comfortab
CHAPTER 127Emma's POV A years later....A full year had flown by, and our little Asher had grown into a lively and mischievous toddler. On this particular day, Maria, Olivia, and I found ourselves engaged in a playful chase, trying to catch Asher and get him to put on his clothes. But he giggled and ran about, refusing to cooperate."Come on, Asher! It's time to get dressed," I called out, feeling a mix of exhaustion and amusement.But Asher just giggled even louder, darting away from us with his tiny legs carrying him swiftly. I could feel my energy draining, and I was close to giving up when I noticed him heading straight for the entrance of the mansion. Panic surged through me, and I hurried to catch up to him, not wanting him to hurt himself on the stairs of the pavement.Just as I reached the entrance, my heart skipped a beat as I came face to face with a pair of feet in ruby shiny slippers. I followed the gaze up, and shock washed over me like a ti
CHAPTER 126Emma's POV "This is for you, Emma. We thought it would be perfect for those late-night feedings and soothing moments."I sat down in the rocking chair, feeling its smooth wood against my back. "Thank you, Alexander. It's just what I need to cuddle and bond with Asher."He smiled warmly. "And see that shelf over there? It's filled with all the books Olivia and I loved reading when we were kids. We want Asher to grow up surrounded by stories and imagination. Who knows, he could be an artist like the both of us or be a writer like Olivia had always dreamed of being."I walked over to the shelf, tracing my fingers along the spines of the books. "Oh, I can't wait to read to him every night."The room was complete with a changing table, adorned with soft, fluffy towels and neatly organized diapers and baby products. There was also a small dresser for Asher's tiny clothes, each item carefully folded and arranged."Everything is ready for our little p
CHAPTER 1253rd person POV Dr. Johnson offered a faint smile, touched by his devotion. "That's the spirit. Remember, miracles do happen, and we're going to fight with everything we have to give Olivia the best chance at recovery."As the doctor turned to leave, he paused and looked back at Alexander and James. "Take care of yourselves too. It's important to stay strong for her. I'll be back to update you as soon as there are any changes."With that, Dr. Johnson disappeared down the corridor, leaving Alexander and James alone with their thoughts and worries. "She'll be fine, am sure of it," Alexander whispered, his voice filled with determination. "She has to be. She's not leaving me this way."James squeezed his hand, his voice filled with hope. "She won't. This is the most cowardly way to die giving Olivia's personality."And so, with heavy hearts and unwavering love, Alexander and James prepared themselves for the long and uncertain hours ahead. Wit
CHAPTER 1243rd person POVA week before...After Olivia had gotten shot and passed out to the ground, James kept trying his best to wake her up, he was slapping lightly at her face as tears streamed down his cheeks. He had never looked or felt so vulnerable in his entire life.Meanwhile Lance was raging in anger as the policies had caught up to him and Alexander followed. He glared at Alexander like he wanted to chop him into pieces at that exact moment."Alexander! You fool! What do you think will happen to your company? Your fucking life work? Do you think just because you turned yourself in means you won't get punished? I will reveal it all! I will!." She yelled non stop but Alexander had his cool emotionless face on the whole time. Slowly he leaned into Lance."Do you really think I had no idea about these consequences? And don't forget, I also know the most darkest of your secrets. Do you remember that Andrew?" He said and pulled away.There was a
Chapter 123Olivia's POV Just as I was lost in my thoughts, the door suddenly swung open, and Alexander walked in, cradling a precious bundle in his arms. It was Asher, Emma and Alexander's baby. I watched as surprise flashed across his face when he noticed me sitting there. He looked overwhelmed, but there was something else in his eyes, something I couldn't quite place."Olivia?" Alexander's voice quivered with astonishment. " You're finally awake? Since when? What are you doing here?""Alexander" I called, standing up and taking a few steps toward him. "I... I wanted to see Emma. I've missed her so much."His gaze shifted from me to Emma, and that's when he saw the tear stains on her face. His eyes widened, and he hurriedly made his way to her side, gently passing Asher into my waiting arms."Emma, my love," Alexander whispered, his voice filled with longing and concern. "I've missed you more than words can express. Please, come back to me. I've made everything okay. I fixed it a
Chapter 122Olivia's POV After the examination, the doctor looked satisfied. "Everything looks good, Olivia. You've come a long way, and it's great to see you awake and well. We'll keep you for a little longer for observation, but if all goes well, you should be able to go home soon."I frleanedt so relieved to hear that. Home sounded like the best place to be right now, I didn't like the hospital smell or the food here.As the doctor left the room, I turned to James, gratitude shining in my eyes. "Thank you for being here, James. And thank you all for never giving up on me."James held my hand tightly, his voice filled with emotion. "Olivia, you scared me so much. I couldn't bear the thought of losing you."Tears welled up in my eyes as I realized the impact my absence had on him. "I'm so sorry, James. I didn't mean to worry you."He shook his head, his voice filled with a mixture of relief and sadness. "It's not your fault, Olivia. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself from