Emma experienced a gradual awakening of consciousness, the surroundings appearing slightly hazy as she gradually opened her eyes. A throbbing sensation in her head caused her to winced. Attempting to reach for her head, her hands proved unresponsive. Panic surged through her as she made another attempt, only to find her hands securely restrained. Her chest constricted with fear. She tugged against her restraints, but sharp, excruciating pain shot through her wrist, forcing her to stop. The pain was intense, unbridled, and brought tears to her eyes. Where was she? And what had happened? "You'll hurt yourself," a calm male voice interjected with so much calmness. Emma struggled to open her eyes, squinting in the brightness of the lights. It was Trevor, his expression frustratingly composed. Memories of the events slowly reappeared in her mind; she recalled picking up the ring and Mr. Ethan hitting her. Trevor turned to call out, "She's awake and attempting to break free." His vo
"Are you backing out from our plan?" Mr. Ethan's voice lowered, a menacing growl that echoed like a predator's. "No, Father. But if she dies here, you think Lucas will let it go? The police will be on us, they will inquire upon us. It's too risky" Trevor's tone faltered, torn between submission and terror. Ethan looked at his son, and then nodded in agreement before looking at Emma "Once again the bitch is unconscious," Mr. Ethan muttered, dismissing Trevor's concerns as his gaze fell upon her limp frame. Footsteps drew near, and Emma felt strong arms lift her. Her eyes fluttered open, her vision swimming. She managed to whisper, "Where am I being taken?" "To dispose of you," Mr. Ethan's voice was cold from behind as he replied her. Emma's heart pounded wildly. She weakly struggled against Trevor's hold, her mind reeling with panic, but she was too weak to keep struggling. The walls of the office blurred past her as she was carried out, each step a sharp pang of agony in her
His tone was menacing, his words dripping with a dangerous undertone. "My lady is loyal. Speak ill of her again, and I'll forcefully slam your head into that unyielding brick wall. Trust me, I'll get away with it." The officer's eyes widened in alarm and dread as Lucas's grip tightened, already chocking him. After a tense moment, Lucas loosen his hold, pushing the officer away from him. The officer stumbled backwards, quickly retreating. At that moment, another police officer entered, quickly assessing the scene with a swift glance. He turned to Lucas, his expression stern. "You cannot file a missing person report until at least 24 hours have passed." Lucas's shoulders drooped and he sank into a nearby chair, the weight of his desperation weighing him down. He had received a message from Emma, but something felt off about it. She didn't mention meeting anyone before leaving the house, and she doesn't type her messages that way, he knew something was wrong and ever since Emma c
The nurse moved over to help Emma lay back on the bed, "Please refrain from speaking at this time," the attending nurse spoke tenderly, her hand still resting softly on Emma's arm. "You've been through a lot and you need a lot of rest"Emma's eyes darted around the room, taking in the sterile environment, the faint beeping of monitors, and the IV drip attached to her arm. Panic surged through her as fragmented memories began to resurface - The ring, Mr Ethan's blow to her face and stomach, Trevor abandoning her on the streets, the fear. She struggled to piece together what had happened. "You're in the hospital," the nurse clarified, sensing Emma's confusion. "You were discovered and brought here. You're now in a safe place."The door to the room swung open, and Lucas burst in, his expression a mix of hope and fear. "Emma?" he called out, his voice faltering. His gaze locked onto hers, and a wave of relief washed over him. "It's me, Lucas."Tears welled up in Emma's eyes as she recogn
Emma's eyelids fluttered open, the sterile scent of the hospital and the soft beeping of the heart monitor bringing her back to reality. Her gaze roamed over the plain white ceiling, tracing the fissures in the plaster, trying to recall how she had ended up in this sterile hospital room. The subdued lighting cast ethereal shadows on the walls, lending an eerie quality to the space. Suddenly, it hit her like a relentless tempest, memories crashing over her with full force. Her unborn child. A pang of anguish clenched her chest as the memories flooded her mind. She fought back tears, her throat straining against the knot that threatened to choke her. The door creaked open, and Emma turned her head to see Tina entering the room. Tina's face was a portrait of concern, her eyes wide and her lips pressed into a thin line, yet she managed to summon a small, reassuring smile as she walked over to Emma's bed. "I heard about what happened," Tina said, her voice barely above a whisper, reac
A tremor coursed through Emma's body as her gaze settled on Tina, bracing herself for a jest or quip to break the tension. However, her companion remained silent."How did you come upon this information?" Emma's voice was barely a whisper, her expression a mixture of fear and disbelief.Tina hesitated, her gaze flickering downwards towards her fidgeting hands. With a deep breath, she raised her eyes to meet Emma's. "The officer who was keeping watch over me at the hospital...we got to talking more than we probably should have," she confessed, a blush creeping across her cheeks. Normally, Emma would have teased her about it, injecting a playful remark to lighten the mood. But now, she felt as though the ground had given way beneath her.Emma's mind raced, her mouth opening but no words coming out. She was too stunned to formulate a response.Emma's hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the hospital bed attempting to stand up. "I can't resign," she declared, shaking her head in disa
Flashes of his sneering countenance, the pain from hitting her head in his office, the yelling and curses from him, the flurry of blows he gave her on her stomach as she yelled in pain, the frigid and sterile hospital chamber where she received news of her loss, these images flooded Emma's mind as she stood before Ethan, her anger steaming. She exhaled slowly and turned to face him fully, her gaze piercing and fearless. "I was anticipating your presence, Mr. Ethan," she uttered, her voice steady yet laced with a fiery rage underneath. "In fact, I was quite eager to meet the man responsible for battering me so mercilessly, causing me to lose my unborn child." The words hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension emanating among the gathered guests. Ethan's smirk faltered, an unreadable shadow passing over his features. Emma saw Lucas shift away momentarily from the corner of her eye, his jaw clenched tightly and his fists balled up. She berated herself for letting it slip. The plan
Mr. Mario's eyes softened. "Do not worry, no harm will befall you anymore. My men are exhaustively pursuing every lead to uncover the culprit," he stated, his voice steady and reassuring. Mr. Mario's attention shifted to Lucas, and he raised an eyebrow. "And who is this handsome man with you?" Emma opened her mouth to respond, but Mr. Mario's eyes widened in recognition before she could speak. His recognition did not go unnoticed by Lucas, who firmly gripped his hand and calmly stated, "I am Lucas, Emma's boyfriend." Mr. Mario's satisfaction was evident as he exclaimed, "Ah, the heir to the Sinclair empire! It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sinclair." He extended his hand with a broad smile. Lucas and Emma exchanged a knowing look before Mr. Mario continued, "We definitely made the right choice. It's good to see you, Mr. Sinclair. We hope that Emma might one day convince you to collaborate with us on a business deal." "Indeed, that is in my plan," Emma added confidently, givi
Emma clenched her hands in her lap, her knuckles white. She glanced at Lucas, who gave her a reassuring nod. "You can do this," he mouthed.After what felt like an eternity, it was time for the verdict. The judge's voice was firm, unyielding. "Mario Rodriguez, you are sentenced to a total of fifty years in prison for the rape of Kathy Callum, for human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, and aiding murders. You will be eligible for parole after twenty five years."The courtroom buzzed with murmurs, but Emma barely heard them. She was focused on the look of shock and fury on Mr. Mario's face as he was led away in handcuffs. It was over. Truly over.Tears welled in her eyes, but this time they were tears of relief. Lucas squeezed her hand, and she turned to him, a tentative smile breaking through. "It's finally over," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.He nodded, pulling her into a hug. "You were amazing," he said softly. "So strong."Emma leaned into him, feeling
Emma felt the warm trickle of blood running down the side of her face where the gun had struck her. The metallic scent filled her nostrils as she looked up at Mr. Mario. His grip on her face was ironclad, his face mere inches from hers. His breath was hot and reeked of cigarettes as he hissed, “Don’t make me kill you, Emma. Don’t tempt me.”His voice was low and menacing, and Emma could feel the vibration of his words against her skin. She knew she was probably making the worst decision of her life, but it was the only thing she could think of. With a sudden, desperate resolve, she lunged forward and sank her teeth into his nose. She bit down hard, the taste of blood flooding her mouth, and pulled with all her might until she felt the flesh tear awayMr. Mario’s scream pierced the air, raw and filled with agony. Emma could see the shock and pain in his eyes as he clutched his nose, blood streaming through his fingers. Seizing the moment, Emma summoned every ounce of strength and let o
Emma slowly sat back down in a chair. She took a deep breath and opened the file. Inside, she found a set of documents. As she scanned the pages, her eyes landed on the title: "Dissolution of Betrothal Contract." Her heart pounded as she saw Morgan’s signature at the bottom.Her mind reeled. Why had Morgan changed her mind? What had prompted this sudden shift? Emma leaned back, staring at the papers, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity. But her relief was unmistakable."What had changed her mind?" Emma whispered to herself, the question lingering as she stepped out of the courtroom.**One month later**Emma stepped out of the hospital with Tina, who had just finished her antenatal check-up. The setting evening sun glinted off the hospital’s glass facade, casting long shadows on the pavement.Emma got into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “Feeling okay?” she asked as she navigated the car through the parking lot.Tina chuckled, resting a hand on her baby bump.
His lips curled into a sneer. "I'm going to win my case tomorrow. And when I get out, Emma, I'll make sure you pay. I'll kill you, and before that, I'll have my way with you. Brutally. You'll regret everything. You should have stopped when you had the chance."Emma's smile didn't waver, but inside, a shiver ran down her spine. She steadied herself, refusing to let him see any weakness. She knew the case was too good for him to win it. "We'll see about that, Ethan Maddox. How pitiful it is, the once powerful Maddox, stuck in a jail cell." She stood up, adjusting her coat with deliberate grace.As the guards moved to take him away, Ethan's expression shifted, a malicious glint in his eye. "Watch your back, Emma. Mario is still out there, and he's planning something big."Emma paused, her heart skipping a beat, but she didn't turn around. She walked out of the room, the echo of Ethan's words trailing after her.With Mario still roaming out there, she knew everything was truly far from ov
"Cookies or a sandwich?" Emma asked.Tina picked cookies without hesitation. Emma retrieved a pack from the pantry and placed a few on a plate, setting it on the counter next to where they would soon sit with their hot drinks.The kettle began to whistle, steam escaping from its spout as Emma poured the hot water into two waiting mugs filled with cocoa mix. The rich aroma of chocolate filled the air.They sat down at the kitchen table, the silence heavy between them as they sipped their drinks. The warmth of the hot chocolate seeped through Emma's fingers, temporarily soothing her senses.After they finished their drinks and Tina left, Emma returned to the living room. The fatigue of the day washed over her, and she settled onto the couch, her thoughts wandering to Lucas.Hours later, the sound of the front door opening roused Emma from her doze. She blinked sleepily, glancing at the clock—it was a little past seven. Lucas entered the room.He settled beside her on the couch, leaning o
The lady sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping as she collapsed onto the edge of the bed. "Maybe you weren't convincing enough," she suggested. "You should have worn the other more revealing red dress. And maybe you sounded pushy..."Her words faded into the background as Morgan's anger reached a boiling point. With a sudden, ferocious movement, she stood up and crossed the room in two quick strides. Grabbing the lady by the front of her shirt, she lifted her off the bed and slammed her against the nearby wall. The impact sent a dull thud through the room."If you want to pass blame on me for your stupid plans not working," Morgan hissed through gritted teeth, her face inches from the lady's, "you're not going to like how it ends for you."The lady's eyes widened in shock and fear. Her breath came in shallow, rapid bursts. As Morgan's grip tightened momentarily before letting go, the lady slid down the wall, her legs weak beneath her. She straightened herself slowly, smoothing out her
Upstairs, Lucas leaned back in his leather chair, the phone pressed to his ear. Morgan's voice echoed through the line, breaking the silence."We need to see Lucas. It's urgent," Morgan's tone was urgent.Lucas frowned, his brow furrowing. "See me for what?" he asked, his voice guarded.There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Morgan replied, "About Ethan Maddox. There's been a breakthrough, and I thought you should know."Lucas's grip tightened on the phone. Ethan Maddox. He inhaled sharply."Why are you trying to help me?" Lucas's voice was low, contemplative. "It feels like there's more to this than just the case."A soft chuckle came through the line, warm and unexpectedly genuine. "Yes, Lucas," Morgan admitted, her tone unguarded. "I have my reasons. I want you to warm up to me, and if helping with this case will achieve that, then I'm willing to take the risk. I'm really sorry about yesterday, I shouldn't have done that. It's been years, and I should have allo
"This is one of the disk file you gave to us, we would like to watch it with you," the police officer stated and Mrs Veronica nodded.The screen showed a dimly lit kitchen. Mrs. Maria was gagged and tied on the floor, her eyes wide with fear. Ethan Maddox was pacing around, his face twisted in anger, his mouth moving rapidly as he shouted. Although there was no sound, the rage in his body language was unmistakable. Mrs. Maria seemed to be pleading, shaking her head in desperation.The scene escalated quickly. Ethan Maddox grabbed a knife from the counter and, with a swift, brutal motion, slashed at Mrs. Maria's neck. Blood spurted out in gruesome bursts, staining the floor and walls. Mrs. Veronica's breath caught in her throat, her eyes glued to the screen.The officer quickly shut the laptop, her hands shaking slightly. She took a deep breath, her face pale. "This... this is more than enough evidence," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Emma and Lucas sat in the car, parked
Emma inhaled sharply, not expecting what she had just heard. "Does the phone contain information that could help?" She asked and the woman nodded.Emma glanced at Lucas, whose eyes were distant and unfocused, lost in thought.Lucas suddenly stood up from the worn-out couch, his expression resolute. "This is what we're going to do," he said, his voice steady. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, a sign of the stress they were under.Emma watched as he began to pace. "I'm going to call the police, and you're going to speak to them," he continued, "They'll come here and find everything exactly as it is. But this time, we'll take pictures and leak them to the public. That way, they can't cover anything up, especially with the FBI involved." He glanced at the woman, whose eyes widened slightly, a mix of fear in her gaze."We need to make sure they can't hide this," Lucas explained. "You're going to tell them you've been attacked and that you have information they need. When they're clos