James' POV
Thea and I walked out of the restaurant in a bad mood. Well, it wasn't my mood that was bad. I was pissed off, really pissed off, and nothing was going to change that. Even Logan, the "City of Men's President," was buying me dinner, it didn't make me feel any better. Instead, my own eroding self-esteem made it worse.I gritted my teeth as I opened the car door, slamming it a little too hard as Thea got in. I could feel her confused stare from the passenger seat, but I didn't care. The entire time in the restaurant, my anger had been building, especially when I saw the way she was staring at Logan, as if he was better than any other man she had ever known."James, why do you have to act like this?" Thea finally spoke up once we were in the car. Her voice was soft, but there was a clear tone of dissatisfaction behind it.I snorted, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "What kind of attitude? Don't I have the right to be pissed off after wJames’ POVThea huffed in frustration, her hand raised as if to stop the conversation. "I'm tired, James. I don't want to fight about this anymore. You always make everything bigger than it is.""And you always belittle my feelings," I interrupted, my voice low but full of deep hurt. "You never understand how this affects me.""I understand, but you're the one who keeps letting them destroy us, James." Thea stared back at me, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "Every time we meet someone better, more successful, you immediately feel threatened. How long are you going to be like this?"I paused, not knowing what to say. Part of me knew that Thea was probably right, but my ego and anger wouldn't let me admit it. I kept feeling like the world was always trying to challenge me, and Logan was the epitome of that.Thea looked away, wiping away the tears that had begun to fall down her cheeks. "I'm tired, James. I'm tired of always having to con
James’ POV Everything that had happened tonight seemed to force a harsh reality to slap me in the face. Emma. Why was she able to live so comfortably now? Why can she look so happy with another man? I can't understand how she, the woman I left without mercy, is now standing tall as if I never scratched her life. I should be a shadow that haunts her forever. My life is better without her, that's what I always tell myself. But in reality? Emma, with all her strength and happiness, continues to haunt my mind. How can she live a life like this after everything I've been through? Everything I did to her? I clenched my fists on the steering wheel, my blood boiling with disbelief. It shouldn't be like this. Emma should be broken, trapped in her past. But in reality, I'm the one who is still trapped in her shadow. And tonight, I witnessed for myself how she could stand next to a man like Logan, the president of City of Men, a man who has everything I nev
Emma's POVI clenched my fists, trying to hold back my anger. The kids were still playing, and I didn't want them involved in this confrontation. James always knew how to stab me right in the weakest spot, and today was no different."I may be alone, but I'm a lot stronger than you think, James," I replied, trying to stay calm. "And I don't need a husband to be a good mother. So, you should just mind your own business and let me live mine."James smirked, looking at the kids running around us. "Oh, strong, huh? Interesting. But I can't deny, Emma, that you've probably fooled yourself. Do they know who I am? Or have you not yet had the courage to tell your kids about your past?"His words hit me hard, but I glared at him with hatred. "My kids don't need to know about you, because you mean nothing to them. Don't ever mention yourself in front of them."James crossed his arms over his chest, still smiling cruelly. "You seem to really hate
Emma’s POVI took a deep breath, holding back the anger and frustration that had been burning. "That uncle was just someone I knew from a long time ago," I answered, trying to sound calm. "We didn't fight, honey. It was just a misunderstanding."Allonza paused for a moment, seeming to ponder my answer. I could see from the rearview mirror that she was still curious, but I hoped she wouldn't press me further."If it was just a misunderstanding, why did uncle look angry?" she asked again, her innocent eyes looking at me doubtfully.I smiled a little, even though it felt heavy. "Sometimes adults can misunderstand, and it makes them upset. But it's not a big deal. You don't have to think about it."Adolf, who was sitting next to me, glanced at me, but he didn't say anything. As usual, he was quieter than his brothers, but I could feel his desire to know more. I knew they were all probably curious, but I didn't want them to get involved in my prob
Emma’s POVAfter entering the office, Scarlett and I immediately put our bags on our respective desks. The room was still quiet, we arrived earlier than the others. Scarlett immediately approached and urged me eagerly."Emma! Come on, tell me. What happened?" Scarlett fixed her sharp gaze on me as if she wouldn't let me get away without an explanation.I held my breath for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain all the chaos that had happened in my life in the past few days. "Okay, I'll tell you. But you have to promise not to overreact, okay?"Scarlett crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled. "Depends on what you tell me."I took a deep breath. "President Logan... he confessed his feelings to me."Scarlett's eyes immediately widened, and she covered her mouth with both hands, clearly trying to hold back a scream of joy. "What? Seriously? I knew there was something between you two, but I didn't expect it to be t
Emma’s POVHowever, as I got to know him better, I realized that Joseph had a lot of wounds. Wounds that would never heal. There was a heavy burden that he carried, and he always tried to hide it behind his calm demeanor.A while ago, Joseph came to see me again. He looked weaker than I had ever seen him before. His face, which had always hidden his emotions, now showed a deep weariness. He didn’t say much, but his presence was enough to shake me. I could see the pain in his eyes—a pain that made me wonder if he’d ever truly healed from his past. Joseph was a complex man, and maybe that was why it had been so hard for me to let him go. There was a part of me that wanted to help him, to be by his side even though I knew it wasn’t good for me. But when I was with him, I felt like I was walking on thin glass, every step I took feeling fragile and uncertain. And now, with Logan around, it was all the more complicated. I felt genuine care and affection f
Logan’s POVHer question made me pause for a moment. This wasn’t a business conversation anymore. She was clearly trying to get something more personal out of me, and I didn’t like where this was going.“I’m sorry, Thea, but I don’t feel that’s relevant to our discussion today,” I said firmly. “My professional relationship with Emma or anyone else at this company has nothing to do with what we’re talking about.”Thea’s face hardened slightly, but she kept her smile, albeit stiffer than before. “Of course, President Logan. I was just curious. You’re such an attractive man, and it’s not uncommon for a woman like Emma to want to get closer to you.”There was something about her words that felt manipulative like she was trying to provoke a reaction from me. But I held back, keeping my cool and professional.“Thank you for your comment, but I’d rather we stay focused on this business partnership,” I said, ending the conversation on a clear not
Cordelia’s POVI watched from a distance, watching Thea’s every move quietly as she exited Logan’s office. Her aura of frustration was palpable, and it caught my attention. In fact, I had been observing Logan and his surroundings for some time now, waiting for the right moment. Thea was the perfect tool for my plan. When she walked out of Logan’s office with a quick stride, I knew the time had come. With swift steps, I approached her before she could reach the elevator. My steps were quick, and without hesitation, I blocked her path. Her eyes narrowed at me, unaware of who I was or what I was about to do. I smiled, tilted my head slightly, and stared deeply into her eyes. “Who are you…?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief and confusion. I didn’t need to answer her question. Instead, I let my eyes change. In an instant, my normal irises turned bright red, a radiance of power radiating with an intensity that made Thea freeze. As she star
Logan’s POVThat night, the atmosphere in the restaurant Scarlett had chosen was warm and festive. Soft lights hung from the ceiling, creating an intimate atmosphere that made everyone feel comfortable. The tables were beautifully set, decorated with crisp white napkins and small candles lit, creating the perfect atmosphere to celebrate Scarlett’s promotion.When I arrived, Scarlett was already sitting in the middle of the room, surrounded by several cheerful coworkers. A wide smile lit her face when she saw me enter. I waved and felt a tinge of warmth as she waved back, signaling that I was in the right place.“Finally, Logan!” Scarlett called out as I approached, the atmosphere growing even more festive as everyone stared at me. “I was worried you wouldn’t come!”“I wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity,” I replied with a smile. Although awkward, I tried to hide the nervousness that was hanging inside me.The rest of my coworkers beg
Logan’s POVI sat in my office chair, my eyes blankly staring at the computer screen. Although I tried to focus on the pile of documents in front of me, my mind was distracted by Emma. Twice I had been rejected by the woman I wanted most in my life. Twice I had felt like I had fallen into the same abyss.The incident in front of Emma’s office was still fresh in my mind. I couldn’t understand why she was acting the way she was. When I pulled her hand away, hoping to explain my feelings, Emma instead slapped my hand away angrily. The frustration grew when I realized that her rejection was not only because of me as Logan but also because of my past as Joseph.Confusion and annoyance swept through my mind. I wanted to scream, wanting to express all the mixed emotions in my heart. Why couldn’t she open her heart to me? Why did she have to compare me to other men, especially Joseph? I felt like I was not only competing with that man but also fighting against the
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