CHAPTER 34The reality of our situation weighed heavily upon me, and the hope that had flickered within my heart extinguished.But deep down, a small ember of hope refused to die. Perhaps, just perhaps, love could find its way into Alexander's heart. Maybe, with time and patience, our fragmented promise could be mended, and the icy walls around him would thaw. The car rolled to a stop in front of Alexander's grand mansion, a symbol of his wealth and power. As I stepped out, my heart heavy with the weight of his words, he marched forward without sparing me a glance. I followed, my steps faltering, as if I were an unwelcome intruder in my own life. Once inside, a woman approached me with a warm smile. "Hello, I'm Maria, Mr. Alexander's maid. Welcome to your new home Miss Emma." Her kindness provided a fleeting moment of solace amidst the storm brewing within me. "Thank you, Maria," I managed to utter, my voice betraying the sadness that clung to me like a
CHAPTER 35Her eyes held a mixture of sympathy and concern as she approached me. "Miss Emma, are you alright?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine care.I forced a weak smile, attempting to hide the pain that threatened to consume me. "I'll be fine, Maria," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just give me a moment alone."Understanding my need for solitude, Maria nodded and quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. Left alone with my shattered dreams, I took a deep breath, exhaling the weight of disappointment that clung to me.As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, tears glistened in my eyes once more. But amidst the pain and confusion, a flicker of determination was still ignited within me. I refused to let this be the end of my love story. I would confront Alexander, seek the truth behind his sudden change, and fight for the love we once shared.For now, in this lonely guest room, I would gather the shattered fragments of my
CHAPTER 36The love I had imagined, the connection I had longed for, seemed to have vanished in a few hours. The reality was far from the dream I had held onto so tightly.With a heavy heart, I mustered the strength to respond, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I thought... I thought we could talk, Alexander," I managed to say, my voice betraying both vulnerability and determination.He let out a sigh, his gaze shifting away from me. "There's nothing to talk about," he replied curtly, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "We both know what this marriage is, Emma. Let's not pretend otherwise."His dismissal stung, and I felt a lump form in my throat. The realization that he no longer desired me, that our union had become a mere facade, tore at my heart. But even in the face of his coldness, I refused to let go of the hope that flickered within me.Summoning every ounce of courage, I met his gaze, my eyes filled with a mix of determination
CHAPTER 37With a resigned sigh, I finally relented. I opened myself up to the possibility of sharing this simple meal with him. My eyes met his, and for a fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of the vulnerability that lay hidden beneath his hardened exterior.Silently, he began feeding me, bite by bite, his movements gentle yet mechanical. The tension between us hung heavy in the air, but as the minutes passed, a subtle shift occurred. With each morsel that passed my lips, a fragile connection began to mend.Memories of our shared past flickered through my mind: the stolen glances, the laughter, and the tenderness we once shared. It was as if those tender moments were locked away, waiting for the right key to unlock them once more.As the last bite was consumed, I felt a flicker of gratitude towards Alexander for his unexpected act of kindness. Despite the coldness that still enveloped him, he had extended a small gesture of care, a glimmer of acknowledgment
CHAPTER 38Last night, the times I had locked eyes with him had been almost too intense for me. Those blue orbs of his warmed me in a way that his embrace almost never could- and his embrace was one of the most comforting things I had ever been in. There was just something about his eyes that made heart flutter and made a delicious shudder lick up my spine; they were so full of life and emotions, sparkling intensely bright, yet warm and calm.I slowly snuggled closer to him once more and rested my head on he's broad chest while he spooned me lovingly. I felt a slight weight on the crown of my head and got out of my trail of thoughts, I glanced up to see that Alexander was now fully awake and had placed a kiss on the crown of my head. A nice gesture that always made me feel loved by him. I looked up to find Alexander's face mere inches from mine. His lips curved into a mischievous smile, and he leaned in to steal a morning kiss. Instinctively, I palmed m
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 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