EMMA.I was still in pure shock. I couldn't believe the person I had just run into, or rather, who had found me. My whole body stiffened and stood still the moment I heard his voice and our eyes met. I knew instantly that it was over. The three years of hide-and-seek were over. And now Rowan has found me. I could see the anger in Rowan’s gaze as he stared at me, with many questions heavy at the tip of his tongue. It all felt so fast as I tried to defuse the hostility between Rowan and Eric.A fight might have started, but now as I walked away from the café, I could still feel Rowan’s stare on my head like a laser as Eric led me upstairs.“Emma….. Emma!” I heard my name called clearly as Eric’s voice shattered my train of thought and brought my attention to him.“Yeah?” I called to him as he pointed to Ryan in my hands. Ryan had already fallen asleep in my arms, and I didn’t realize I had been cradling him for so long. “Oh,” I muttered as I walked to my room and laid him on the bed.I
ROWAN..Tick tock.The sound of the grandfather clock grew louder with each second. It felt like an itch in my brain as it ticked loudly.I was surrounded by our branch managers from the Los Angeles branch. Since Emma wanted to meet up after a few days, I kept myself busy, immersed myself back into my work, found and solved problems quickly, and went to all the meetings I had set up, all just to get her out of my head.Fuck.And now, as my fingers tapped against the glass table in the conference room of the Los Angeles branch, I couldn’t wait for it to be over.It was already Tuesday, and I couldn’t help my eyes moving to my watch once in a while to check. My fingers tapped on the table as I got impatient with one of the interns’ incessant speech and repeated the same things I had gotten reports on.“Stop,” I called to the intern, who looked like she was about to pee herself. I couldn’t blame her; I wanted an impromptu meeting with no early announcement. I stood up, and the directors
After Rowan's confrontation with Emma, he rushed back to his car in anger, settling into the driver's seat to gather his thoughts. "This is fucking awful," he muttered as he leaned his head on the steering wheel, closing his eyes tightly with his hands on the wheel.He let out a harsh breath to calm himself, as his mind was still filled with the scene he had just witnessed. "Don’t let this affect you, you are stronger than this.." he told himself as he turned on the ignition of his car and drove away from the café.And God, he was livid. The thought of Emma trying to cut off their relationship forever bugged Rowan so much that he drove his car to an empty parking lot before turning off the engine. He was so pissed that he got out of the car for some fresh air."Shit! Shit! Shit!" Rowan muttered as he paced about the empty parking space until he calmed down and sat back in his car. He watched the orange red sky as it was setting, needing something to calm him down and set his focus on.
A few days had passed since Rowan spoke with his sister about Emma; he had apologized many times on the phone afterward because he hated fighting with Raya and always ended up giving in to his little sister.Now that she was getting married, they might not have completely forgiven him yet, but it was a start, and he knew they were still on good terms when he saw his invitation and airplane tickets for his trip to the Bahamas for Raya’s wedding.He knew that even though his sister Raya had a soft shell and heart, her fiancé Amy was clearly the opposite, especially since her best friend was Emma, who despised him and would rather pull her hair than be left in the same room with him.While she had never said that out loud, Rowan could read it clearly in her gaze and the way she behaved around him. He tried not to let it get to him and hoped that through this wedding, he might have a better relationship with her.He never once hated the idea of Ray being with Amy; love was love, and in a
One moment I was walking down the street, lost in my own thoughts, when suddenly I was running to get Ryan back, but I stumbled and started to fall. Just as I braced myself for the impact, strong arms wrapped around me, catching me before I hit the ground.When I opened my eyes, I expected to see Eric, who had been walking with me earlier. But to my surprise, it was Rowan who had caught me. We stared at each other for a moment, our eyes locked, before I quickly pushed myself away from him. Even though I knew I shouldn't, I felt something stirring inside me at the sight of him.Just then, I heard my son Ryan's voice calling out to me. I turned to see him running towards me, tears in his eyes. He had wandered off without me and was now apologizing for his mistake. But as much as I wanted to focus on him, I couldn't shake the feeling that Rowan knew something about Ryan that I didn't want him to know.I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I couldn't afford to let my guard down a
Emma wakes up in the morning, feeling a sense of warmth and joy as she notices her baby peacefully sleeping beside her. A smile naturally spreads across her face, and she takes a moment to appreciate the precious sight before her.She marvels at the innocence and beauty of her child, feeling a deep sense of love and connection. Emma's heart fills with gratitude for this special bond and the blessing of having her baby in her life. She gently leans over and plants a tender kiss on her baby's forehead, cherishing the serene and peaceful moment they share together.Emma stands up from her bed and makes her way to the deck, where she is met with a stunning view of the sunrise. The sky is painted in shades of pink, orange, and yellow, and the sun's rays are just starting to peek over the horizon. Emma feels mesmerized by the beauty before her, and she takes a moment to savor the tranquility of the morning.However, Emma's thoughts are soon interrupted by a memory from the day before. She r
EMMAAs we arrived at the private beach, excitement filled the air. The sun was shining brightly, and the sound of crashing waves provided a soothing backdrop. Amy and Raya, the organizers of our outing, took charge and divided us into two teams for a mini treasure hunt.I found myself on Amy's team, alongside a few familiar faces and some new acquaintances. We gathered around as Amy explained the rules of the treasure hunt. She handed each of us a map and a list of clues to solve. The thrill of the adventure ignited within me, and I eagerly scanned the map, trying to decipher the first clue.On the other team, Raya took charge, assigning roles and distributing their set of clues. I couldn't help but notice Rowan's name among them. A sense of apprehension washed over me as memories of our past encounters resurfaced. I had hoped to avoid partnering with him, but it seemed fate had other plans.As we set off in our separate teams, I stole a glance at Rowan. He was engrossed in studying t
One could say that it was destiny. Just as she lost her footing, a strong hand shot out, catching her just in time. It was Rowan, his eyes filled with concern, and an undeniable connection was sparking between them.Their gazes locked, and time seemed to stand still as the world around them faded away. Emma's breath caught in her throat as she felt an inexplicable pull towards Rowan, his touch igniting a flurry of emotions she couldn't comprehend. But before the moment could fully unravel, Rowan abruptly pushed her away, causing her to collide with a nearby tree trunk.Confusion and hurt clouded Emma's eyes as she glared at Rowan, her voice quivering with a mix of anger and vulnerability. "Why did you catch me only to push me away? What is it about me being on this island for a wedding that makes you so determined to keep your distance?"Rowan's eyes darkened with a mix of regret and frustration. He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You