James's POV
"James, how about we have lunch? I'm really hungry, do you want to find food here? Or at a restaurant?" Thea asked, trying to change the subject."How about we go to the mall first, is there anything you want to buy? I'll pay, how about it?" Thea, who heard it, immediately nodded enthusiastically.Currently, Thea and I are in a shopping center. Thea is, of course, very happy about this.How come? Walking with a handsome and established man, isn't that a sign of good luck for her?Thea certainly seems to have found a diamond when she is close to me. I am loyal to Thea. Just like this, I have become a noble, what if Thea can become my wife? Isn't it certain that Thea's life will be happy for seven generations? How can that be? Since I had offered Thea expensive goods, of course, Thea didn't want to waste the golden opportunity. "It's not a loss for me to ask me out," the woman muttered hapJames’ POV I looked at Thea with a forced smile. “Sure, I can do that,” I said, trying to hide the nervousness that suddenly crept in. But, deep down, I was hesitant. I felt like I wanted to keep this relationship the way it was, without having to get involved in anything more serious. I enjoyed spending time with her—dinner, movies, late-night talks—but meeting her parents? That felt like a big step I wasn’t ready to take. We continued to wait for our orders, but my mind wandered, trying to find an excuse to avoid Thea’s sudden invitation. But Thea’s expectant gaze kept haunting me. I knew she was serious about this, and I didn’t want to disappoint her. After what felt like hours, our food finally arrived. The food looked delicious, as expected. We started eating, and Thea looked so happy, telling me how delicious the food was and how happy she was to be spending time with me. I tried to enjoy the food and the supposedly pleasant atmosphere, but my mind kept returning to her ear
James’s POVI could see that they were impressed, even though there was a lingering doubt in their eyes. Thea sat beside me, looking a little anxious, as if afraid that this conversation would turn into an endless interrogation. But I knew I had to stay calm and maintain control.“And what are your plans for the future, James?” her father asked, his tone a little sharper this time. “We wanted to know how you see your future with Thea.”The question made me want to laugh, but I held it in. A future with Thea? I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to pursue a more serious life with someone yet. But I couldn’t show my doubts in front of them.“I see a bright future with Thea,” I replied, trying to sound sincere. “She’s an amazing woman, and I’m sure we can achieve a lot together. I plan to continue growing my business, and of course, Thea will always be an important part of every decision I make.”I could sense that her mother was still not entire
Emma's POVAs the door closed behind me, I leaned back for a moment, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself. Joseph's voice still rang in my ears, as if he was still here, bothering my mind with his unreasonable demands.I shook my head, trying hard to erase the image of that strange man from my mind. I had to focus on my children now. I could hear fussing from the living room, which meant that all four of my children were getting restless.As I walked into the living room, I saw them running around. My two boys, Adney and Adolf, seemed to be busy playing tag, while my two girls, Ainsley and Allonza, sat on the sofa with toys in their hands. However, even though they looked calmer, I could see signs of fatigue on their faces. They needed a rest."Adney, Adolf, enough playing, it's time for bed," I said in a firm tone, hoping to stop their commotion. Adney, who was always the most difficult to control, immediately put on a protestin
Emma's POV I heard the ticking of the clock in the kitchen, and somehow it made me feel even more depressed. I sat at the dining table, staring at the cold cup of tea in front of me. The night felt so long. I wished I could shake this uneasy feeling, but the more I tried, the harder it became.Joseph said he would be back. The thought made me feel uneasy. What would he do if I refused again? Would he keep pushing? Or maybe he had other plans? I didn’t know, and the uncertainty made me feel even more depressed.Maybe I should find a way to get him to stop coming here. But how? I couldn’t let him continue to interfere with my life like this, but I also didn’t want to get involved with him any further. Whatever he wanted, I didn’t want to get caught up in his game.But as I thought about it all, I realized there was one thing that bothered me even more: was it possible that, despite all his weirdness, Joseph wasn’t as bad as I thought? Was it possible th
Logan's POV I couldn't ignore the thought of Emma and her children, no, my children. I was so sure of it, and this belief kept me thinking of ways to get closer to them without making Emma feel forced. I knew she was uncomfortable with my presence in her house, but that wouldn't stop me. If she couldn't accept my presence well, then I had to find another way to be near them, even from a distance. The past few days, I started to keep an eye on Emma's movements. I wanted to know what her routine was like, how she took care of her four children, and maybe, find a way to get close to her. I spent most of my time in the car, hiding in an inconspicuous corner of the street, watching her every step. I felt like a stalker, but I didn't care. This was all for their good, and maybe for my own. Mornings were usually the busiest time for Emma. I saw her leaving the house with her four children Adney, Adolf, Ainsley, and Allonza, carrying a large bag filled with school supplies. Allonza, always
Logan's POV As I got closer, Emma suddenly turned her head and looked at me. Her face instantly changed, from calm to full of annoyance. I could see the hatred in her eyes, and it only made me more interested. "What are you doing here again?" Emma asked sharply, trying to keep her angry voice from being heard by the children. I smiled faintly behind my mask. "I just wanted to see you, Emma. See our children." Her face flushed with anger. "They're not your children, Joseph! And I told you, don't ever come near me again!" I could feel her anger and fear. She was trying to protect something, but she couldn't get away from me. I wasn't going to give up so easily. Ainsley, curious, approached, wanting to know who this strange man was talking to her mother. I lowered my body, eye level with Ainsley, and tried to smile warmer. "Hi, you must be Ainsley. Pretty name for a pretty girl." Ainsley looked at me with sharp eyes, just like her mother. "I don't want to talk to you," she said c
Logan's POVAfter leaving the park, my thoughts kept wandering to Emma and her children, our children. I drove aimlessly, just letting the wheels spin, while my mind was busy thinking about my next move. Meeting them today, even in a tense situation, was a reminder that I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.Emma was stubborn, but I could tell she wasn't completely closed to the idea of me wanting to be a part of the children's lives. She might not admit it, but there were small moments, maybe just glimpses, where I felt hope.But I also knew that I couldn't keep pushing like this. I had to be smarter and more careful in approaching them. Emma was clearly still carrying a lot of pain from the past, and I couldn't blame her. But the children shouldn't have to suffer because of the mistakes I made. They deserved a father, even if it was a man with a dark past like mine.The next day, I decided to take a different approach. I sent each of the
Emma's POV I just smiled, though there were so many things behind that smile that I wanted to say. "Yeah, they do brighten up my days," I replied quietly. Scarlett put her cup down and looked at me more seriously. "But I can see that something is bothering you, Emma. You don't seem like yourself. What's wrong? Is there something bigger going on?" I paused for a moment, feeling my doubts take over. I wanted to tell her, but there was so much I had to hide, especially about who Joseph really was. But Scarlett was my best friend, and I felt the need to share at least some of what was going on. "There's someone..." I began, my voice shaking slightly. "Someone from the past who came back and messed everything up." Scarlett looked at me intently. "Someone from the past? You mean, someone you used to be close to?" I nodded, feeling the weight lift off my chest little by little. "His name is Joseph. He's come back into my life, and... he's bothering not only me but the kids as well."
Emma's POV After making sure all the kids were asleep, I walked into the room and grabbed my phone that was lying on the table. Tiredness was starting to creep up on me, but I felt the need to talk to Scarlett. For the past few days, it seemed like we hadn't spent much time together, and I needed a little cheer. I dialed Scarlett's number and picked it up when she answered. "Hello, Scarlett!" My voice was cheerful, but a little tired. "Hey, Emma! How are you?" Scarlett's voice sounded warm on the other end. "I'm fine. Just finished dinner with the kids. They're very cheerful, as usual," I replied, sitting on the edge of the bed. "That's good to hear! They must make you feel better after all the drama at work." Scarlett sounded enthusiastic, and it warmed my heart to hear her voice. "Yeah, but I'm still tired. And the Logan thing's confusing me too," I said, my voice dropping slightly. "Logan? Still bothering
Emma's POV The journey home felt lighter with their cheerful voices along the way. They kept talking about the animals they wanted to see, the games they wanted to play, and the delicious food they imagined they could try at the tourist attractions. Although tired, I felt grateful to have four children who always made me smile in the midst of all the chaos of life. And I knew that no matter what happened in the future, as long as I had them, everything would be okay. When I arrived home, I was immediately greeted with laughter and screams of joy from my children. They ran around the room holding toys they brought home from daycare. Seeing them excited made my heart flutter. I immediately changed into more casual clothes, distracting myself from the tiring day. After changing, I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Even though I was tired, nothing was more satisfying to me than cooking for my children. They all loved pasta, so I decided to make
Emma's POV The question hit me hard. Yes, I was thinking about Joseph, the man who always made me feel safe, but I also knew that behind every lie I made to protect my feelings, there was a huge void that no one could fill. Not even Logan. But I couldn't just admit it. I swallowed, hardening my heart. "Yes, you're right, President Logan," I said firmly. "I like another man. And that's why I don't want you to keep bothering me. So, please, stop all this. Stop making me feel special because I don't want it." My words sounded firm, but inside, everything felt like a mess. Logan was silent, saying nothing. His gaze changed—disappointed, hurt, and maybe a little angry. But I knew that what I was doing was the only way to stop this madness. Logan shouldn't get too close to me. I wasn't the one for him. Logan finally nodded, though his eyes still flashed with disbelief. "If that's what you want, Emma," he said, his voice colder than before. "I'll stop."
Logan’s POVI was silent, feeling the weight of this burden on my shoulders. What if Scarlett was right? What if I was going to lose Emma, not because of my past, but because of the lie I’d been hiding?“But what if she can’t forgive me?” I asked, almost in despair.Scarlett smiled thinly. “If she loves you, she’ll understand. But you have to give her the chance to make that decision. You can’t live in fear all the time.”I knew Scarlett was right. I couldn’t live in the shadow of this lie. If I truly loved Emma, I had to give her the truth, no matter how hard it was.Scarlett stared at me for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Logan, you know what you have to do. Don’t waste this chance.”I nodded slowly, feeling my resolve begin to strengthen. Maybe it was time for me to stop hiding. Maybe it was time for me to face the truth, no matter the consequences.Scarlett stood up and straightened her clothes before walkin
Logan's POV "We will be restructuring the team soon, and starting today, Scarlett will be appointed general manager to replace Matthew." The room fell silent. Everyone looked shocked. Emma's eyes widened, and Scarlett looked like she couldn't believe what I had just said. "President Logan..." Scarlett finally said in a shaky voice, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "Is... this final?" I didn't budge. "Yes. It's final." "But why me?" Scarlett asked again, her eyes staring at me with a confused look as if she didn't want to believe what she had just heard. "And why now? There was no warning, no prior discussion." "Scarlett," I said in a colder tone. "You know this company needs a leader who can make quick decisions. You're the right person for that." She was still looking at me with doubt, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Emma looking confused and a little anxious t
Emma's POVI opened my office door with shaking hands, trying to calm myself after what happened earlier. My head was still full of all the commotion that happened, but I couldn't let it bother me any longer. As I stepped into the room, my gaze fell on my desk, which was usually my sanctuary, but this time it felt like a burden. I sat down on the chair, took a deep breath, and tried to think clearly, but my head was filled with voices colliding with each other.A moment later, my office door opened slowly, and Scarlett walked in. Her expression immediately changed when she saw my face which must have looked confused."Emma, what happened outside?" Scarlett asked, her eyes full of worry. "I heard the commotion, and everyone was talking about you."I took a deep breath, feeling the weight on my chest getting heavier as I had to tell this again. "Thea came… and she slapped me in front of everyone," I said, still not believing that it really happene
Emma's POVWhen Logan pulled my hand, I could only stare for a few seconds. The atmosphere around me felt so foreign, even though I had just arrived at the office a few minutes ago. And suddenly, Thea came attacking me like a storm. Then Logan appeared, like a hero protecting the victim, but I was not a victim, and I didn't want him to protect me like this. Especially with the way he handled the situation earlier, telling Thea to leave and then canceling the business cooperation. It was too much.I pulled my hand from his grip, and the feelings that were boiling in my chest immediately exploded."President Logan, what are you doing?" I asked in a firm tone, trying to calm myself even though my blood was still boiling. My eyes looked directly into his calm eyes. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the head office?"Logan was surprised to see my attitude. He frowned, then said calmly, "I was going to continue the problem here, but then I saw Thea
Thea’s POV"He... he slapped me, Logan," I said, my voice shaking. "I don't know what I did to make her mad." My lie slipped out of my mouth, and I saw Logan's gaze change. But before he could react, a doctor came in with water and wet towels, trying to tend to me. Meanwhile, Emma seemed rooted to the spot, not knowing what to say. Maybe she knew that no matter what happened next, everyone here already saw her as the bad guy. I had won, at least for now. I looked up at Logan's face, hoping he would show more sympathy. But Logan's expression was not what I expected. Instead, there was something different in his eyes, a coldness I had never seen before. When he finally spoke, his voice was firm, and surprisingly, it was not worry that came out of it, but cynicism. "Thea, you don't have to pretend anymore," he said flatly, releasing his grip on my arm roughly, causing my body to fall back slightly. I was shocked. What was this?
Thea's POVI swaggered into the lobby of the *City of Men* branch, my high heels clicking loudly on the marble floor, drawing the attention of several employees. Let them stare, I wanted everyone to know that I wasn't playing around. Straightening my back and lifting my chin, I searched for the person who had made me lose my mind."Emma!" I shouted loudly, my voice echoing throughout the room.Several people stopped talking and stared at me. I didn't care. My anger was already at its peak, and I wasn't going to let that woman get away this time. Where was she? Where was the woman who tried to ruin my life?Just then, the elevator doors opened, and there she stood. Emma. With her calm appearance, she seemed unfazed by my arrival, but that only made my anger worse. How could she be so calm after trying to take Logan away from me? Our eyes met, and I could see the shock on her face.Without thinking, I walked closer, each step strengthening