“Mom! Dad?”Ryan called out as he hurried towards his parents, Christopher and Emma.He let out an unconscious breath when he was sure his parents were yet to properly notice Emma, how was still a question yet to be answered.As for why Christopher and Emma were involved in a situation in the first place, he knew where to look for the answers.“Ryan? Did the sun rise from the west today? You came down to receive us?”Hyacinth teased her son, as she immediately forgot about the lady and approached to hug her son.“Finally remembered your son?”Ryan joked as he embraced her briefly glancing at Emma to make sure she was alright, but her open palm with bloody traces on them, along with the fact that Christopher held her palm in a seemingly firm grip was enough for him to stiffen up.This was enough for Hyacinth to look behind along with her husba
Rudolf was a very intimidating man when he wanted to be, just like back at the vineyard, his aura was suppressive, so Emma did not dare approach him directly.Looking at his little sister pleading for another man, Ryan was not pleased in the slightest but he did not want to be upset any further than she already was, so he looked at his Dad.He could’ve called off the bodyguards on his own, but he did not want to surpass the authority of his Dad while he was present there.Not that Rudolf would’ve minded but Ryan held immense respect for his Dad that it was an unconscious move he always made, always looking for his Dad’s permission no matter how big or small, if he was present there.Looking at Ryan and then, the young lady clinging to Ryan’s sleeve in a pleading gesture, Rudolf gestured for the bodyguards to stand back.“Aaron, I’m sorry for making you come all the way here. I’m not yet done with my work here, so please carry on without me.
With nothing else to do, Emma closed her eyes but that irritated her eyes instead because of the lens.“Those lenses will damage your eyes. The restroom is over there, remove those contacts first.”“No…”“It wasn’t a choice, Eve. Now.”Ryan ordered her sternly as Emma stood up with no other choice but to comply.Whereas Rudolf and Hyacinth became the silent spectators of the budding sibling bond, thankfully not lost within the whirlpools of time.As Emma entered the lounge where an en-suite was present, Ryan stood up to fetch the first aid kit from one of the cabinets behind the sofa-set, Rudolf and Hyacinth were seated on.“I will cut to the chase. I met Emma when I was out with the rest, at first, she did not strike me anything different but as soon as she removed her contacts... See for yourself.”
Meanwhile, Rudolf was watching Emma like a hawk.Daughter or not if she hurts his wife, she would be dealt with the consequences, and he would make sure of it.“Please don’t cry…”“I’m sorry my baby… Mumma didn’t protect you well.”“It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Please don’t blame yourself.”“No… I wasn’t a good Mumma to you…”“Please stop crying… I saw all the things you did in my memory, and it is more than I could ask for. I felt your love for me and if I were dead, I would’ve…”“Don’t talk about your death!”“Don’t shout at her!”“Mom? Dad? Don’t scare her off.”Ryan sighed in hel
“Your parents?”“Foster parents.”Emma answered Rudolf calmly, not the slightest change in her emotions could be detected as her face was a blank canvas sucked out of any feelings, just like a robot.“Then why did you get married to him?”“I was tricked.”“What?!”“What?!”“Oh, my little girl!”Hyacinth exclaimed in distress as Ryan and Rudolf were furious at the revelation.“Did… Did he…”“Oh no! I willingly became a scapegoat. As I said I was a fool.”“What do you mean?”“It is in the past. I’ve moved on. I paid the price of my foolishness, that’s it.”
Pain seared throughout Emma’s right side, due to the harsh impact, knocking the air out of her lungs.With the support of the counter, Emma squatted down, bending in a fetal position still in a squat.She registered her doorbell going off but couldn’t muster up the strength to get up or even move a single muscle, the pain numbed all her senses.Another moment later she heard Fiona’s voice calling out to her and then her front door clicked open, maybe she heard Emma’s whimpers and gasps.Emma’s eyes shot open when she felt a pair of strong arms lifting her gently with utmost care, her tense body relaxed at the slightest and her eyes welled up even more.Looking at her foster father, asking her foster mother to fetch the icepack, and asking Fiona to find the first-aid kit, she remembered her university days, when she was still her daddy’s little princess.“Why are you so careless,
The sudden shift in the mood made Emma shift in her place, causing her to wince in pain.“Eve… Let’s go to the hospital, it is better to let the doctor take a look.”“No… It will be fine if I sleep it off, if not I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow morning, okay?”“Okay. Then let me carry you to bed.”“I want to sit for a while, I’m not sleepy yet.”“Then…”“Dadda, Mr. Monroe, whatever chat it is have it here. I want to be a part of it.”“Mon…”“Please?”“Okay.”Stanley agreed with a soft sigh, as Rudolf took a seat on the sofa adjacent to Stanley and Hyacinth sat down beside Catherine with an awkward smile.Ryan and Fiona settled down on the loveseat across from Emma, though not willingly it was the only remaining space left.“With my understanding from what Emma said, you just found out about her?”“Yes. And I’m speculating you already suspected it?”“Emma’s eyes… Not many people share the same eyes, and your Monroe bloodline is well known for it. I had my suspicions.”“Then why did you
“Why?”“Huh?”“There is no need for that and you’re well aware of that, so why?”“I’m done with being someone’s wife or someone’s daughter. I want to be me. I want to forge my own identity.”“You can do it after a formal introduction as well.”“I will remain as the ‘Monroe Heiress’ or ‘The Monroe’s Lost Daughter’ even worse ‘Dead Daughter’.”“Sweetheart…”“Iris… Rudolf shook his head negatively before facing Emma once again, his gaze softened at her stubbornness, he knew it was all a façade, yet he was ready to entertain her.“Eve, I’m ready to support you on this but I have some conditions.”“What is it?”“You accept our help. I and Ryan will teach you business, your mom will invest in your business, of course she’ll hold some shares, and you will accept and spend the money I give you.”“I can accept everything but the last condition.”“Even if I say that is the dealbreaker?”“Yes.”Without batting an eye Emma firmly stated her answer, making Rudolf chuckle, whereas Stanley had a pr
It was yet another workday for the Monroe father-son duo, as they were wrapping up on their ends.Rudolf had one last meeting with Alexander, which was a last-minute appointment since the latter wanted to speak with him about what happened at the Christmas Eve Ball, which had been a week ago and they still couldn’t have a proper talk on it.Without a doubt, when Rudolf heard what happened at the ball, calling him furious would be an understatement.If not for his daughter’s request to let it go this time, he would’ve made those Watsons pay for every degrading remark and every minute of her those 5 years she wasted on them.And he was equally furious at Howards for letting something like this happen in the first place.She was under their roof when it happened and on top of that she was there as Christopher’s date, so naturally she was under their protection and security, yet they failed at just that.At first, he would’ve rejected Alexander’s request, but Hyacinth threatened him to ac
After a long day at work, completely drained out, Emma walked into the Monroe mansion.Flopping down right at the first seat of the beige leather sofa, she completely disregarded any ladylike behavior she was to obey as an heiress since anyone could walk in on her at that moment.She dropped her bag at her feet, discarding her suit jacket to one side and removing her stilettos beside her handbag, she stepped flat on the soft Persian carpet.Sighing at the soothing feeling of softness after a complete day of standing on her feet on a torture device, she breathed out deeply.For some reason, her muscles ached, and her mind seemed to be a lot foggier, as she dismissed it and curled up into a ball right onto the sofa and closed her eyes for a nap.Janette, the head butler of Monroe mansion, walked inside the living room and almost had a heart attack when she saw Emma curled up on the sofa.“M-Miss. Evelyn?!”Janette softly called out to not startle her little heiress, but receiving no res
“Miss… Whatever. Calling a Vintage Rolex, manufactured as a tribute on its 3rd Anniversary, estimated in some tens of billions… How classic of a country bumpkin like you.”Emma looked at Ryan in surprise, as the Watsons opened and closed their mouths in disbelief.“Mr. Monroe, you cannot speak with my fiancé in such a manner.”“Be thankful I’m speaking at all, instead of throwing you all out the venue. I have enough respect for the host to not create an unnecessary disturbance in their event.”“It was Emma, who…”“Sir, Madam, Miss. I request you to please follow me out.”A stern man dressed in black stepped towards them with three other equally serious-looking men behind him.Emma raised her brow at her brother.He just threatened and the security was already here. What kind of overlord was he?“Unfortunately, they faked the invite and entered. So, the security is here.”Cecil casually commented as he leisurely walked in from behind the security with Royce, who had a frown etched on h
“I’ll show you what a fire is! I’ll ruin you!”“Try me.”“Hah! What can a bastard like you even do?”“5 years a lot of time you know, Mrs. Watson. Corporate secrets would be a child’s play let alone… How do you think my lovely Ex-husband would react if he knows…”Emma cooed softly in Mrs. Watson’s ear.To a third person, it would look like they were hugging each other and having a reunion.But only they knew it was anything but that.A sick satisfaction bloomed in Emma as she saw Mrs. Watson as white as a ghost or someone who saw one.She had been suppressed by this woman for more than 5 years but not anymore.“W-What do you mean?”“If he knows the family name, he is so proud about… It doesn’t even belong to him in the first place… while at family, I miss Uncle Watson dearly! I’m considering inviting him to a meal at his favorite restaurant. What do you think, Mrs. Watson?”“You wouldn’t dare!”“Why would I not? Did you just not call me a bastard? Bastards have nothing to lose but you
“You don’t like them?”Christopher looked at Emma in confusion.He expected many scenarios but not this one.What does a ‘Why’ in this situation even mean?“You did not have get me anything.”“You hate flowers?”“No but… I’m sorry they’re beautiful. Thank you.”Emma smiled as she looked at Christopher who nodded awkwardly, he wasn’t sure how to react.This wasn’t the first time he gave her flowers but then she was his girlfriend, now she wasn’t and her first reaction scared him a little.What if she thought he still had feelings for her?He would hate for her to get the wrong idea.“Uhm… Cee got flowers and chocolates for Roy and ordered for me as well…”“Miss. Grayson also loves Purple Orchids and Purple Lilies in her bouquet.”“That…”“And Miss. Grayson just happens to like Dutch chocolate with hazelnuts from Emerry?”Emma chuckled softly, as Christopher shook his head negatively accepting defeat, as she unwrapped one chocolate and carefully without smudging her lipstick, put the co
“We’ll take our leave now, Aunt Cynthia.”“Go ahead! Enjoy the night or at least try to, right sweetheart?”“Right.”“Please rest assured Aunt Cynthia, I’ll try my best to keep her away from the crowd and make her as comfortable as possible.”“Oh, I don’t doubt that you’ll try your best. It is getting late you two should be on your own now.”“Bye, Mum.”“Bye, Aunt Cynthia.”“Bye, kids. Enjoy!”Christoper’s car was already waiting for them at the entrance and Emma was surprised to find he did not bring his chauffeur today.“You are driving?”“Not very confident in my driving skills?”“You hate driving.”“When I’m alone, yes. But since I have company today, I thought I’ll brush up my skills a little.”“We can still take my driver, or I could drive us there?”“You?”Christopher gave her an ‘are-you-for-real’ look as he opened the car door of the passenger seat.“Get in. I’m sure you can manage being the passenger princess for one day, yes?”“If there is even one scratch on me, I’m suing
Emma's relaxed and confident answer made Alex and Christopher raise their eyebrows in question.“Isn’t Monroe Interiors a subsidiary of Evening Enterprise?”“No, it is not. I don’t it is still big enough to be part of a Trillion-dollar empire like Evening Enterprise.”Her answer surprised the Howard family, as they expected her to do business under the protection of Evening Enterprise, but she did not take their support.This made them respect her, and the Howard couple liked her even more.It wasn’t easy to establish a business in the current economy, especially for a woman it is even more difficult because business is still a male-dominated industry.With the growing capitalism a business in Interiors is indeed a great option but the competition for it is already so cutthroat you won’t even notice when you are left behind by fellow business houses.“Doing your business under Evening Enterprise would’ve been an easy way out.”“Sitting at home, while I spend my family’s money seems li
The dinner was a peaceful event, at least, as peaceful as it can get when, you have to sit beside your Ex-boyfriend from university days, just because his brother was offended by some offhand remark your Ex said.‘So Mature!’Emma had screamed in her head when her peaceful plans to sit beside her brother went down the drain as Cecil stubbornly sat beside Ryan and refused to share his breathing space with Christopher.Which meant she had to be the bigger person despite being the youngest and sitting beside Christopher.Of course, Ryan had offered to exchange seats with her but her mother wanted her beside her as well, making the sit between Christopher and her mother the only ideal place as the elder couples were both already seated.“This is not your style?”“And you know that because you’re Charles Frederick Worth?”“Is he your stylist?”“Never mind, I overestimated you.”“It's either a sharp tongue or a sharp knife, isn’t it, Orchid?”“Oh! You don’t deserve anything less.”“Sweethea
Looking at the hesitant Hyacinth at her doorstep, Emma was confused.What happened suddenly?Weren’t they laughing around just a moment back?“I have a request.”“You don’t have to request me, Mum.”Emma softly reassured as she walked back to the entrance grabbed Hyacinth’s hand pulled her inside and closed the door behind her.“Now tell me.”“I know this might sound odd but...”“Mum… you can freely share your thoughts with me. Aren’t I, your daughter?”“Can I dress you up for dinner tonight?”“Huh?”“I knew it was a bad idea!”“Oh no! I was just surprised. Of course, you can, I will be glad to let you style me!”“Really?”“Yes.”“Then, you quickly take a shower while I select a few outfits for you!”“Alright! But don’t strain yourself, okay?”“Okay! I’m not made of glass that all of you are treating me like I’ll break any second.”“Better safe than sorry!”“Now, off you go before I make!”“Okay!”Emma and Hyacinth chuckled as the former mock saluted the latter who glared at her in re