Lucas grinned, lifting his hands in jest. "Yes, ma'am," he replied, his gaze never leaving Emma. He stretched out his hand towards her, and she took it, her fingers warm.Emma shifted slightly, her smile wavering as she considered the expense of the pampering she had just received. "How much do I owe you?" she inquired, her tone hesitant. She shuffled her feet, aware that such luxury came with a price, but grateful that she could finally afford it. Mrs. Sinclair's expression softened as she pulled Emma into a hug. "Consider it a gift for being the new CEO," she said warmly, planting a gentle kiss on Emma's cheek. "I'm so proud of you." Emma's eyes welled up with tears, but she quickly blinked them away, determined not to let them spill. Mrs. Sinclair, with her arms crossed and a raised eyebrow, warned Emma not to ruin her makeup or face a punishment. Despite her emotions, Emma managed to laugh, and the others joined in, easing the tension.After exchanging goodbyes, Emma and Lucas h
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, his voice sharp. "You've fired the secretary that Mr. Ethan assigned? You've only been here for one day and already you're abusing your power?"Emma leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. "Last time I checked, you were merely Mr. Ethan's PA, not mine. Have I missed something?"Her words lingered in the air, causing the PA to pause for a moment, taken aback. His eyes widened and then narrowed as he processed her defiance. He attempted to retort, but Emma's unwavering gaze stopped him short. "I don't understand. What are you implying?" He scoffed, his face a mixture of confusion and irritation as he glared at Emma.Emma's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of amusement dancing within them. "I simply asked a question. Did I miss something? Weren't you employed as Mr. Ethan's PA?" She rose gracefully from her seat, and made her way around the table, leaning casually against it with her arms c
"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