"Is there something wrong?" queried Tina, her voice gentle yet firm. Emma hesitated, her thoughts racing. Should she divulge this information to Tina?Tina inched closer, closing the door behind her as she crouched in front of Emma. "I can tell something's troubling you, Emma. There's no need to deceive me. We've moved beyond that now. So tell me, what's going on?"Emma let out a hollow chuckle, devoid of any mirth; it was filled with sadness, exhaustion, and frustration. "Where do I even begin?" "Start wherever you feel comfortable, Emma. What happened?" Emma sat up, wiping her face with trembling hands. "I was ambushed this morning. I could have died, Tina. I could have been dead if the unknown couple and police had not come to my aid." Her voice trembled and she broke into sobs, her shoulders heaving.Tina enveloped her in a tight embrace, her eyes brimming with tears. "You're safe now. Don't worry. Your sister is safe too. Stop crying, Emma. We'll get through this."But Emma le
With a deep inhalation, Tina's gaze brimmed with a mix of revulsion and sympathy. "There are photographs and videos of Mr. Ethan with another woman. They were quite... intimate." She paused, as if pondering the weight of her next statements. "The woman happened to be Mrs.Maddox friend. It seems this was not his first act of infidelity, but what truly crushed her was that it was with her own best friend."Emma's shoulders slumped as she absorbed the revelation. She could almost envision the heartbreak etched on Mrs. Maddox face, feel the sting of uncovering such a deep betrayal. It seemed that father and son shared one similarity - their deceitful ways."Mr. Ethan cheats with his wife's best friend," Emma mused in a slow, contemplative tone. "In retaliation, his wife engages in an affair with his coworker and threatens to divorce him. In a desperate attempt to protect himself and his reputation, he manipulates their son into helping him murder his wife."Tina nodded, the gravity of the
As the elevator bell chimed, Emma snapped back into the present. She stepped inside, the metallic odor mingling with a faint hint of perfume of whoever had just left.Exiting the building, Emma was greeted by the bustle of the city streets. The honking of cars, distant chatter, and sporadic sirens filled her ears. She walked with haste, her gaze scanning for a passing taxi.After a brief stroll, Emma spotted a cab and lifted her hand to hail it. The driver pulled over and she swiftly climbed in, providing her mother's address. The driver, a friendly-faced elderly man, nodded and set the car in motion.As the taxi maneuvered through the congested streets, Emma's mind raced. She observed the city blurring by her window, her thoughts oscillating between the bygone and the uncertain future. The driver occasionally stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror, sensing her inner turmoil but maintaining a contemplative silence.Knowing her mother lived in another state, and it would tak
Emma's stomach churned, her hand instinctively moving to cover her mouth in shock. "She did what?""Her husband, Ethan, informed me," Mrs. Kathy revealed, her voice barely above a whisper, "I was completely devastated. I was going to seek a divorce. But then Maria confronted me, confessed everything. She showed me the video. Your father was just... lying there, completely unaware. He was a victim."Emma's hands clenched into fists on her lap, her mind racing with disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me?" she demanded, her voice breaking.Mrs. Kathy's eyes filled with tears, reflecting her profound regret. "I wanted to protect you, and I believed I could handle it on my own. Seeing him so vulnerable, knowing what she had done... I couldn't bring myself to forgive her. But I couldn't bear to abandon him while he was suffering too."Emma felt tears welling up in her own eyes, overwhelmed by the weight of her mother's words. She reached across the table, taking her mother's hand in hers, offer
The taxi arrived at her corporate building, and Emma handed the fare to the driver before alighting gracefully. Striding into the lobby, her heels resounded on the polished marble floor as she made her way to the elevator. With a deep inhale, she closed her eyes as the doors shut, attempting to collect herself.Upon reaching her designated floor, she strode purposefully to her office. Tina sat at her desk, consumed by a pile of files. When she noticed Emma's arrival, concern etched onto her features. "How did it go?" she inquired gently.Emma let out a heavy sigh, sinking into the plush sofa. "He wasn't being unfaithful. Technically, Mrs. Maria forced herself upon him," she stated, her tone devoid of emotion. "I don't want to go into the specifics, but these are letters she sent to my mother few weeks before her passing." Retrieving the worn letters from her bag, she handed them to Tina.Taking the letters, Tina furrowed her brow as she read through them. Emma observed Tina's eyes wid
Mr. Ethan's lips curled into a smirk, the expression a fusion of amusement and mockery. "Threats come naturally to you, but execution is not your personality," he taunted, slowly dragging his tongue over his teeth. Emma stepped forward, her gaze locked onto his with unwavering intensity. "If I were you, I wouldn't say that," she warned, her voice low and ominous. Mr. Ethan leaned in, his breath hot on her face. "I had big plans for you, Emma. You were exceptional, talented. I wanted you in my bed and I could have given you everything you wanted. But you messed up by coming after me. Now, you'll pay with your life, and your loved ones will suffer too." With a final sneer, he turned and sauntered away. Emma's hands balled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "We'll just have to see about that," she called after him, but couldn't ignore what he had just said about coming after the people she loved. Ethan had always be open about his attack on her, but clearly letting her kn
The kitchen resembled a destructive whirlwind's aftermath, its disorganized state causing Tina to recoil in fear and shock. Pots and pans littered the ground, cupboards flung open, their contents strewn about in a chaotic display of shattered dinnerware and scattered sustenance. Upon hearing the sound of breaking glass and Tina's gasps, Emma hurried over to investigate. Her breath caught in her throat as she entered the kitchen. The dining table lay on its side, chairs haphazardly overturned. The room was littered with shards of broken glass from shattered plates. Emma's voice came out barely above a whisper, "Why did they not ravage the living room?" Tina merely shrugged, her shoulders tense and her movements jolty as she backed away from the kitchen. Emma watched as Tina's eyes rapidly scanned the damage, before striding towards the bedroom. Emma followed, her heart hammering in her chest. Tina flung open the bedroom door, revealing a scene of complete chaos. Clothes were f
"The founder and former CEO of the Maddox empire, Mr. Ethan, has become a topic of speculation in the town's gossip circles. Shocking revelations have surfaced from an undisclosed source, implicating his role in his wife's death six years ago; what was previously deemed a murder has now been declared a suicide by the authorities," the reporter declared, her delivery calm yet laced with intrigue. Emma leaned in, transfixed by the news unfolding on the television screen. The reporter's words echoed in her mind, leaving her in a state of disbelief. "Furthermore, new details have emerged about a recent fire that engulfed a building. According to another anonymous source, Mr. Ethan's personal assistant and son were spotted near the premises just hours before the incident," the reporter continued. The camera panned to the charred remains of the building, the sight causing Emma's heart to race. She recognized the structure as the place where Tina had been staying, now reduced to a smold
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