Emily woke up to see Harold wasn’t next to him. She put her hand on the bed where he slept before, only to feel the sheet was cold. So he possibly awoke much earlier.
Recalling their conversation last night, she wasn’t sure she could come to love him in a year. Yes, he was handsome, rich, powerful, but also kind, trustworthy, and caring. She was foolish not to love him, but she was afraid to love again.
Having Jason and Mia in her life was enough for her. Love wasn’t a priority anymore because her consideration was more to see her children grow well and happily. But then, would loving Harold make their lives better?
She let out a long sigh because it was another question she couldn’t answer right away. Harold had already done so many things for her and the twins, but she couldn’t
His tenderness and sweetness were something that made her feel so much guilt. She wanted so much to fall in love with him, to return his love, regardless of what he said earlier.Harold had never forced her to do something against her will. For that, she was grateful. Even when he seduced her, and she said no, he would stop.Emily sighed and closed her eyes. Why should she know Jacob first? She even didn’t know her feelings toward her ex-fiance anymore, yet she hated it to create a wall between her and Harold.He squeezed her hand. “What’s wrong, my dear?”She opened her eyes and shook her head. “I … I just thought if we knew each other first, it would make things easier.”
Saved by the arrival, Harold grinned at Emily.“We arrived, baby. Let’s talk later, okay?”Tom opened the door for them while the nurses removed the buckles to lift Jason and Mia. Then Tom took a stroller from the baggage and prepared it, so the nurses could put Jason and Mia inside. The stroller was designed for two babies, so it was more practical for everyone.Harold put his hand on the small back of Emily, then they entered the garden. The nurses pushed the stroller slowly behind them.They headed to a secluded area under an oak tree. The tree was a large one as it was planted a century ago.There was a table and four seats nearby. The nurses sat at one side while Harold and Emily were seated on another side.
The woman, Gwen, widened her eyes, then she dramatically exhaled. Later, she pouted and turned her body, walking away from there.Emily glanced at Harold. “Who’s that? What schedule did she mean? Are you supposed to work today with her?”He chuckled as his relationship with Gwen wasn’t working, but he couldn’t reveal it to Emily. “No, not at all.”“Oh …”“What?”“Nothing.”He grinned and asked again, “Are you sure?” He enjoyed teasing her. If she was jealous of Gwen, it meant she had feelings for him.“Yes.”
She blushed as it was the first time he opened her dress buttons when she wanted to breastfeed the twins. Yet, she said nothing.Meanwhile, she fed Mia, Harold took Jason from the stroller and talked with the baby as if his son understood, “Do you think your mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world? I think she is.”The two nurses exchanged smiles because they knew how much their boss loved his wife. So, it wasn’t a new thing.Jason burped and kicked his feet. He smiled and blew his saliva joyfully to hear what his father said.The father chuckled and kissed the baby’s belly. “You are so excited today, huh? Why? Because you enjoy the garden or is it because you can go outside?”
After Jason and Mia’s first birthday, Emily gathered her courage to visit her parents. She instructed the nurses to put on a pink dress for Mia and a blue shirt and trousers for Jason. She was nervous because she didn’t know if her parents would accept her well.With all the mistakes she did: leaving home without telling her parents, not telling them her current location, even putting a secret about her pregnancy, the delivery of the twins, and the father of her children, there were too many mistakes. However, she missed them, and she truly wished they would forgive her.She already discussed with Harold that he would come later. She needed time to talk with her parents first. If her parents accepted her and the twins, then most likely, they would accept him, too. She prayed everything would work well as planned.
“So, what happened?” Daniel asked. “Where have you been and why didn’t you tell us where you were?”“She just came home.” Elsa shook her head. “It can wait.”Emily glanced at her mother, then at her father. Gulping because it was the most difficult time as she had to confess everything, she inhaled deeply. “I’ll tell you everything, but please if you want to be mad at me, wait until I finish.”Daniel and Elsa nodded. “Go ahead, sweetheart,” Elsa said. “Tell us what has happened.”So Emily told her parents about her fear of being Amy’s replacement after hearing Jacob and Tanya’s conversation on the phone, then many of her doubts about Jacob. She didn’t r
Emily told her mother everything. From the moment she met Harold, how he confessed he had fallen in love at first sight with her though she reminded him of his passed away partner in life while she was pregnant. Then, when she knew she was pregnant and how Harold supported her, even wanted to be the father of her baby.She also expressed her happiness and surprise at knowing she was pregnant with twins, not only a baby. Until finally, Emily revealed about Harold’s request for a fake marriage and his plea to change the marriage into a real one.Elsa listened to everything Emily said without interrupting. She could feel how hard the nine months away from home were for her daughter. So, she only squeezed her daughter’s hand while listening to the story, nodded, sighed, and shook her head to support her daughter.
Daniel and Elsa rushed to return to the living room. When Daniel saw Mia cry, he sat next to Emily and offered his hand to her granddaughter.“Why are you crying, little girl? Come to Grandpa?”Mia still bawled, but she didn’t refuse when Daniel took her from Emily’s lap. Then he glanced at Emily. “What’s wrong? Why is Mia crying?”“It’s because I told her she had to wait as I needed to take turns to breastfeed Jason and Mia. Yet, as she always wants to be the first, she couldn’t accept it.” Emily shook her head. “I usually always let Mia have her way, but I don’t think it’s good to let her be like that. She should learn to wait and take turns.”Daniel smiled to hear that. &ld
They didn’t explore Santorini further because they were too busy with each other. A week passed swiftly, and they only spent most of their time in the hotel room.She giggled and shook her head. “What should we tell Mom and Dad if they asked what we did on our honeymoon?”“They won’t ask because they once were young too.” He chuckled.“But we must bring some souvenirs for them and also for the children. I also want to buy something for Pauline. You, too, should buy something for Al.”He closed his eyes, pretending to let out a sigh, but then he opened his eyes again and grinned. “Fine! Let’s hunt for the gifts!”Later, Nikos drove them to Fira, the capital of S
They finished the ceremonies, and some guests already left because they would have a wedding reception at Hoffner’s Hotel. Jacob booked the hotel for the reception, and Samuel gave him a special price.They met with Samuel and Amy’s children: Shane, Melanie, Sammy, and Vivi. Later, the children played with Jason and Mia.Amy hugged her distant cousin. “Congratulations on your wedding.”“Thanks, Amy.” Then she whispered, “At first I was insecure with you since I knew Jacob still loved you. But now, I know he already got over it.”Amy shook her head and smiled. “He didn’t have any feelings left for me.” Then she whispered, “Look how he stares at you? It’s the sign of a man who loves h
The musician played the hymn “Amazing Grace”. It was the sign for the wedding ceremony to begin.Elsa nodded at Mia. “It’s your time, sweetheart.”The little one smiled and nodded. “Yes, Grandma.” She walked to the back of the aisle then started stepping forward through it by spreading the flower petals, following the song.The guests smiled to see the adorable little girl. Jason, who glanced at his sister, also raised his thumb and smiled to support her. Mia kept smiling and looked to the right and left as she walked and spread the flower petals.After the song finished, it changed to another song “Second Chance” by Trisha Yearwood. It was a song that Pauline chose because she knew what the wedding meant
When seeing the ladies, Jimmy, Jacob’s driver, smiled and opened the limousine door for them. Meanwhile, Jacob, Al, Jason, and Daniel were already waiting at church.All the Cleaner Gold leaders were there. Some of Jacob’s staff from JJ’s Properties were there too.Jacob and Al stood outside of the church on a terrace. They could see the parking lot and the church door clearly from their place.He glanced at his wrist many times to see the time. Then he gazed at the parking lot to see no limousine had already arrived. Later, he took a deep breath to calm himself.Al chuckled and shook his head to see his friend’s obvious nervousness. “She’ll be here soon. Don’t worry, Bro!”&ldq
A week swiftly went by like flying as they were busy with the wedding preparation. Finally, it was four a.m. on the wedding day.Two makeup artists and a hairdresser already arrived at Emily’s house. They prepared the living room for working.Now, they were busy putting makeup on Emily, Pauline, Elsa, and also Mia. For Mia, the makeup artist only applied powder and lip gloss because Emily didn’t want her daughter to put on makeup while the little girl was still too young for that.Two hours later, the hairdresser and makeup artists finished their work. They left the house and went to the church because they prepared if anyone needed a makeup or hairstyle redo. It was because Jacob wanted everything to be perfect today.Then Elsa and Pauline helped
Emily stared at Jacob and the ring. She bit her lower lip because she didn’t know what to say.Jacob took a deep breath because he wasn’t ready to accept a refusal. Then he forced a smile. “It’s okay if you don’t want to marry me now. Maybe you want to enjoy your time alone first.”But then Emily shook her head. “No.” She held both of his hands. “I want to make you the happiest man, Jacob. So, it’s a yes.”Jacob immediately stood and put the ring on her finger. Then he kissed her lips and hugged her tightly.He laughed and shook his head. “I thought you would say no. I don’t know what I would do if you refused me.”She giggled and cupped his f
Jacob, Jason, and Mia went to a Chinese food bistro. Jacob already ordered by phone various dumplings for them all, wonton soup for Jason, then salt and pepper chicken, stir-fried beef with ginger, Peking duck, and seafood fried noodles.The service was fast. After they arrived, in five minutes, all the food was served. Mia frowned because she didn’t have the wonton soup either.“Dad?”“Yes, sweetheart?”“Why I don’t get the soup?”“It’s because your brother has a cold. Do you want the soup?”The little girl glanced at Jason’s bowl and nodded. So Jacob raised his hand.
Soon after the meeting ended, Jacob entered a room next to the meeting room and pressed the button from Harold three times.Then, after a minute, Harold called him. “Well?”“We have agreed. The offer is fifty trillion with fifty years of credit and a trillion of payment each year and a trillion for the down payment,” Jacob said.Harold whistled to hear the number, but he knew with various businesses the Gold Cleaner had, fifty trillion was a reasonable price. “Anyone in your team want to enter our boat?”“Nope, they are happy with us.” He was smiling when saying it. “So, it will be purely a facility, land, building, systems, and the networks we will sell and transfer to you.”
Warning: violent scene. Please proceed with precautions for readers sensitive to violent scenes.“You called him too, Al?” Jacob asked. “I also called him back then, but he didn’t pick up the call nor called me back either.” He let out a sigh. “Now we know why.”Al said nothing, but his eyes glared at Stanley. It was an unforgivable act because Stanley’s betrayal cost Art’s life.Jacob’s eyes were chilly when he gazed at Stanley. “You told us earlier that Gold Cleaner is your family and will stay like that. You even said you didn’t want to work under Montgomery and the Silent Syndicate.” Then Jacob added slowly to emphasize his words, “Now we all know it’s all just bullshit!”