EMMA POV“What's the problem?” Daniel asked, his gaze drifting between me and Ava I smirked back at him so he wouldnt know what we were talking about “We were just discussing something important” I said my voice firm.ROBERT POV“What a long day” I said as I dropped my car keys in front of the table, my hands in between my chest as I zipped off.The phone's screen glared back at me, messages lined up, missed calls pinging in one after another. But I couldn't bring myself to respond. I slouched back in the armchair, sinking into its worn leather. My fingers absentmindedly tapped the armrest, my mind drifting. Everything felt hollow.The door swung open without a knock. Carolyn stood in the doorway, her familiar smirk tugging at her lips as she walked in, balancing two glasses and a bottle of wine.“Welcome, Robert,” she purred, eyes glinting as they trailed over me.I sat up, frowning. “A little privacy would be nice, Carolyn. Knock next time,” I muttered, my voice low, weary. But Ca
ROBERT POV Hours passed as I tried to piece together fragments of the night, but it was all a haze. Carolyn had locked herself in the guest room, refusing to speak to me, her sobs echoing faintly through the walls.The kids noticed, their wide-eyed gazes flicking between me and the closed door, sensing the tension. They didn’t ask questions, but the silence was damning, like a silent judgment hanging over me.That evening, I confronted Carolyn.She looked at me with a scornful smile, her lips curving slightly as she crossed her arms. “What do you want, Robert? I already told you everything that happened, do I Have the energy to force you on me? I don't, you did it yourself and you were satisfied,so what more do you want?”“I want answers, real answers, tell me the truth” I replied, my voice a mixture of frustration and desperation. “What happened last night?”“You don’t remember?” she asked, feigning innocence. “Or are you just pretending, so you can escape the blame?”“I don’t trust
EMMA POVI sat outside Mom's hospital room, lost in the serene landscape beyond the window. The gentle rustle of leaves and chirping birds offered a fleeting escape from the weight of her illness. Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the tranquility."Emma."I turned to see Natalie standing behind me, her eyes tinged with a mix of guilt and hesitation."Hey, still here?" I replied softly, my curiosity piqued.Natalie's gaze darted around the hospital corridor before settling on me. "I'm heading home, but I wanted to just stop buy before leaving and apologise for...everything." Her voice trembled.I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's going on, Natalie? You're being really cryptic, you did nothing wrong."Natalie took a step closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "I know I shouldn't have said such a thing that day. I was stressed, and I took it out on you. I'm so sorry."My expression softened. "It's nothing, Natalie. Friends fight, and we settle." I offered a reassuring smile.Natalie's f
EMMA'S POVI nodded understandingly, I knew the nurses wouldn't want to tell me anything, its their work and it's their right to keep everyone's matters private but how on earth would I know what she came to do.“Emma” A voice called out to me, I looked back only to see a tall, rich man behind me.Robert.I gasped and stepped back, I never knew we could meet one on one in a place like this, I touched my big belly.“Robert?” I said my voice barely above a whisper, he could see the shock in my eyes.Robert stood there, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and suspicion. His question hung in the air like an invisible weight, pressing on me. “Are you pregnant?” His voice was sharp but not loud, filled with urgency that made my chest tighten.I froze. My mind raced, caught between truths and lies. I could feel my heartbeat drumming in my ears, drowning out the sterile hum of the hospital.Slowly, I dropped my hand from my stomach, the subconscious gesture that must have betrayed me. With
ROBERT POVI froze there, shocked with what I saw, why would Emma be pregnant? And why was she in the hospital? These thoughts lingered in my heads for a while then I saw Daniel. “Daniel” I called out to him and he stopped in his tracks Daniel stood in the hallway, his arms casually crossed over his chest, a friendly smile on his face.“Uncle,” he said, his voice calm, almost too polite, as if he was holding something back.I forced a smirk, though unease prickled under my skin. “Thought you’d left already, I was about to leave since you wouldnt meet your uncle” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended.He nodded, his gaze briefly flickering toward the hospital room down the corridor. “I should have. But I wanted to make sure everything’s running smoothly. She is my mother-in-law, after all. I have to make sure she’s comfortable.”The words landed with a weight I wasn’t expecting. Mother-in-law? I blinked, barely managing a neutral nod.“Take me to see her,it wouldn't be nice if I
The penthouse was silent, save for the faint hum of the city outside. Robert stared at the city skyline, his whiskey glass empty on the counter beside him. His head was spinning, but not from the alcohol, Emma’s sudden betrayal to him was a knife that kept twisting deeper. His nephew. His own blood. And Emma, the woman he had been chasing all his life around, had chosen him.His phone buzzed again. He ignored it, pushing the glass away. He needed air. The penthouse, though vast, felt suffocating tonight. Grabbing his coat, he headed to the one place he knew could distract him: The Velvet Room.---The nightclub was pulsing with life. The bass thumped through the floor, the room dimly lit with streaks of neon. Robert slipped past the crowd, heading for a private booth. He wasn’t in the mood for company, but the anonymity of the club gave him a reprieve from the weight crushing his chest.A waitress approached him, her tray balanced perfectly as she smiled. "Your usual, Mr. Robert?"He
Chapter 43: The Games We PlayRobert pulled into the driveway, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. The weight of the previous night lingered heavily on his shoulders—Rebecca’s sudden reappearance, Emma’s betrayal, Natalie’s cryptic warnings. It was all too much.Stepping out of the car, the cool morning air did little to calm him. He pushed open the door to his house, half-hoping for silence, but instead, he was greeted by a voice that made his stomach twist.“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” Carolyn said, lounging on the couch as if she owned the place.Robert froze in the doorway, his jaw tightening. “You’re still here?” he asked, his tone clipped.Carolyn stood, smoothing down the silk robe she wore—a robe that wasn’t hers, he noted bitterly. She had a way of making herself at home in places she didn’t belong.“I was thinking of leaving when you got back,” she said, feigning sweetness. “No need to be so harsh, Robert.”His eyes narrowed. He’d heard this tone bef
Maya adjusted her dress as she stepped out of her sleek car, her pulse quickening. The towering gates of Robert’s estate stood before her, a symbol of everything opulent yet unattainable in her life. She hesitated for a moment, clutching her purse tightly. She knew this wasn’t just about fun anymore. It hadn’t been for a while. But as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, the flutter in her chest every time she saw Robert was undeniable.The driveway stretched endlessly, lined with pristine hedges and marble statues that whispered wealth and power. Maya had been here before—many times—but tonight, something felt different. She wasn’t sure if it was the way Robert had sounded on the phone earlier, his voice rich with amusement, or the way her heart seemed to race without reason.When the butler opened the door, she stepped inside with a practiced smile, smoothing her hair. “Evening, Charles.”The older man gave a polite nod. “Good evening, Ms. Hayes. Mr. Robert is expecting
The boardroom was nothing short of spectacular. Polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of recessed lighting, and the walls were lined with sleek black panels that radiated authority. The centerpiece of the room was an imposing oval table, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs that seemed to demand respect from anyone who sat in them.Maya adjusted her blazer as she entered, the sharp heels of her nude Louboutins clicking against the floor. Her tailored navy suit fit her perfectly, accentuating her poised yet confident demeanor. Her dark hair was swept back into a low chignon, and her makeup was subtle but flawless,a touch of blush, nude lips, and eyes lined with precision. She looked every bit the part of someone who belonged here.As she stepped into the room, all eyes turned to her. She felt their gazes, some curious, others skeptical, but she held her head high, her back straight. This wasn't the Maya who had cried in her car outside Robert’s mansion years ago. This
Maya adjusted her dress as she stepped out of her sleek car, her pulse quickening. The towering gates of Robert’s estate stood before her, a symbol of everything opulent yet unattainable in her life. She hesitated for a moment, clutching her purse tightly. She knew this wasn’t just about fun anymore. It hadn’t been for a while. But as much as she tried to convince herself otherwise, the flutter in her chest every time she saw Robert was undeniable.The driveway stretched endlessly, lined with pristine hedges and marble statues that whispered wealth and power. Maya had been here before—many times—but tonight, something felt different. She wasn’t sure if it was the way Robert had sounded on the phone earlier, his voice rich with amusement, or the way her heart seemed to race without reason.When the butler opened the door, she stepped inside with a practiced smile, smoothing her hair. “Evening, Charles.”The older man gave a polite nod. “Good evening, Ms. Hayes. Mr. Robert is expecting
Chapter 43: The Games We PlayRobert pulled into the driveway, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. The weight of the previous night lingered heavily on his shoulders—Rebecca’s sudden reappearance, Emma’s betrayal, Natalie’s cryptic warnings. It was all too much.Stepping out of the car, the cool morning air did little to calm him. He pushed open the door to his house, half-hoping for silence, but instead, he was greeted by a voice that made his stomach twist.“Well, look who finally decided to come home,” Carolyn said, lounging on the couch as if she owned the place.Robert froze in the doorway, his jaw tightening. “You’re still here?” he asked, his tone clipped.Carolyn stood, smoothing down the silk robe she wore—a robe that wasn’t hers, he noted bitterly. She had a way of making herself at home in places she didn’t belong.“I was thinking of leaving when you got back,” she said, feigning sweetness. “No need to be so harsh, Robert.”His eyes narrowed. He’d heard this tone bef
The penthouse was silent, save for the faint hum of the city outside. Robert stared at the city skyline, his whiskey glass empty on the counter beside him. His head was spinning, but not from the alcohol, Emma’s sudden betrayal to him was a knife that kept twisting deeper. His nephew. His own blood. And Emma, the woman he had been chasing all his life around, had chosen him.His phone buzzed again. He ignored it, pushing the glass away. He needed air. The penthouse, though vast, felt suffocating tonight. Grabbing his coat, he headed to the one place he knew could distract him: The Velvet Room.---The nightclub was pulsing with life. The bass thumped through the floor, the room dimly lit with streaks of neon. Robert slipped past the crowd, heading for a private booth. He wasn’t in the mood for company, but the anonymity of the club gave him a reprieve from the weight crushing his chest.A waitress approached him, her tray balanced perfectly as she smiled. "Your usual, Mr. Robert?"He
ROBERT POVI froze there, shocked with what I saw, why would Emma be pregnant? And why was she in the hospital? These thoughts lingered in my heads for a while then I saw Daniel. “Daniel” I called out to him and he stopped in his tracks Daniel stood in the hallway, his arms casually crossed over his chest, a friendly smile on his face.“Uncle,” he said, his voice calm, almost too polite, as if he was holding something back.I forced a smirk, though unease prickled under my skin. “Thought you’d left already, I was about to leave since you wouldnt meet your uncle” I replied, my tone sharper than I intended.He nodded, his gaze briefly flickering toward the hospital room down the corridor. “I should have. But I wanted to make sure everything’s running smoothly. She is my mother-in-law, after all. I have to make sure she’s comfortable.”The words landed with a weight I wasn’t expecting. Mother-in-law? I blinked, barely managing a neutral nod.“Take me to see her,it wouldn't be nice if I
EMMA'S POVI nodded understandingly, I knew the nurses wouldn't want to tell me anything, its their work and it's their right to keep everyone's matters private but how on earth would I know what she came to do.“Emma” A voice called out to me, I looked back only to see a tall, rich man behind me.Robert.I gasped and stepped back, I never knew we could meet one on one in a place like this, I touched my big belly.“Robert?” I said my voice barely above a whisper, he could see the shock in my eyes.Robert stood there, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and suspicion. His question hung in the air like an invisible weight, pressing on me. “Are you pregnant?” His voice was sharp but not loud, filled with urgency that made my chest tighten.I froze. My mind raced, caught between truths and lies. I could feel my heartbeat drumming in my ears, drowning out the sterile hum of the hospital.Slowly, I dropped my hand from my stomach, the subconscious gesture that must have betrayed me. With
EMMA POVI sat outside Mom's hospital room, lost in the serene landscape beyond the window. The gentle rustle of leaves and chirping birds offered a fleeting escape from the weight of her illness. Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the tranquility."Emma."I turned to see Natalie standing behind me, her eyes tinged with a mix of guilt and hesitation."Hey, still here?" I replied softly, my curiosity piqued.Natalie's gaze darted around the hospital corridor before settling on me. "I'm heading home, but I wanted to just stop buy before leaving and apologise for...everything." Her voice trembled.I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's going on, Natalie? You're being really cryptic, you did nothing wrong."Natalie took a step closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "I know I shouldn't have said such a thing that day. I was stressed, and I took it out on you. I'm so sorry."My expression softened. "It's nothing, Natalie. Friends fight, and we settle." I offered a reassuring smile.Natalie's f
ROBERT POV Hours passed as I tried to piece together fragments of the night, but it was all a haze. Carolyn had locked herself in the guest room, refusing to speak to me, her sobs echoing faintly through the walls.The kids noticed, their wide-eyed gazes flicking between me and the closed door, sensing the tension. They didn’t ask questions, but the silence was damning, like a silent judgment hanging over me.That evening, I confronted Carolyn.She looked at me with a scornful smile, her lips curving slightly as she crossed her arms. “What do you want, Robert? I already told you everything that happened, do I Have the energy to force you on me? I don't, you did it yourself and you were satisfied,so what more do you want?”“I want answers, real answers, tell me the truth” I replied, my voice a mixture of frustration and desperation. “What happened last night?”“You don’t remember?” she asked, feigning innocence. “Or are you just pretending, so you can escape the blame?”“I don’t trust
EMMA POV“What's the problem?” Daniel asked, his gaze drifting between me and Ava I smirked back at him so he wouldnt know what we were talking about “We were just discussing something important” I said my voice firm.ROBERT POV“What a long day” I said as I dropped my car keys in front of the table, my hands in between my chest as I zipped off.The phone's screen glared back at me, messages lined up, missed calls pinging in one after another. But I couldn't bring myself to respond. I slouched back in the armchair, sinking into its worn leather. My fingers absentmindedly tapped the armrest, my mind drifting. Everything felt hollow.The door swung open without a knock. Carolyn stood in the doorway, her familiar smirk tugging at her lips as she walked in, balancing two glasses and a bottle of wine.“Welcome, Robert,” she purred, eyes glinting as they trailed over me.I sat up, frowning. “A little privacy would be nice, Carolyn. Knock next time,” I muttered, my voice low, weary. But Ca