Novels by PRECIOUS

Emma sat across from Rebecca the next morning, a stack of papers spread between them, the weight of the decision settling heavier with every page she turned."I want to move forward," Emma said quietly, her voice steady despite the weight of what she was about to set in motion. "With the divorce. Officially. No more waiting, no more second-guessing myself."Rebecca looked up, studying her carefully. "Are you certain? This isn't a decision to rush into emotionally.""I'm not rushing," Emma said, though her voice wavered slightly. "I've been giving him chances for three years, Rebecca. Even after everything that happened with Sophia, even after everything I proved, he still let her back into his head the moment she cried on the phone. I can't keep doing this. I can't keep waiting to see if today's the day he finally chooses me completely.""Alright." Rebecca pulled out a fresh folder, her tone shifting into something more businesslike. "We already have strong grounds given the physical

Emma found Lucas in the kitchen the next morning, staring into a cup of coffee he hadn't touched, the same posture she'd walked in on countless mornings before, the same tired shadows beneath his eyes that had become familiar over the past weeks."You're up early," she said carefully, still adjusting to being back in this house, in this fragile new peace that felt like it could shatter at the slightest wrong word spoken between them."I couldn't sleep." Lucas looked up at her, exhaustion carved deep beneath his eyes. "Emma, I need to ask you something."Something in his tone made her stomach tighten with dread. "What is it?""Daniel Hayes." Lucas set his cup down slowly, his hands not quite steady. "I got a message last night. From an unknown number. It said he's been at your hotel every night this week."Emma stared at him, disbelief and hurt colliding all at once, the accusation landing harder than she expected. "You're bringing this up now? After everything that happened last night

Emma's phone buzzed twice in quick succession while she sat across from Rebecca, still processing everything Henry had told her only minutes earlier, the shock of it all still settling uneasily in her chest.The first message was from Lily, short but heavy with everything her daughter must have been carrying tonight.*Mommy, I'm sorry. Sophia was lying to me. I miss you so much. Please come home soon.*Emma's breath caught, tears springing instantly to her eyes as she read the words over and over.The second message followed seconds later, this time from Lucas himself.*Emma, please call me. Everything's happened. Sophia's gone. Lily needs you.*Emma's hands trembled as she stared at both messages, relief and disbelief tangled together in her chest, her mind struggling to catch up with everything unfolding at once. She looked up at Rebecca, who was watching her carefully, sensing the shift in Emma's expression before a word was spoken."What is it?" Rebecca asked, setting her pen down

Sophia paused at the door, the two staff members hovering awkwardly beside her, waiting for her to move, uncertain whether to physically guide her further or wait for her to walk on her own."One more thing, Lucas." Her voice had changed entirely now, cold and steady, all traces of tears vanishing as quickly as they'd appeared, replaced by something calculated and precise. "Before I go, you should know something.""I don't want to hear anything else from you," Lucas said, exhausted, though he didn't move to physically stop her from speaking."You will want to hear this." Sophia turned back slowly, a small, knowing smile curling at her lips despite everything, despite the humiliation of being escorted from a house she'd spent months trying to claim as her own. "Emma and I aren't so different, you know. We both wanted things you weren't giving us. The only difference is she was smarter about hiding it."Lucas's jaw tightened, his hands curling slowly into fists at his sides. "That's not

Henry didn't bother knocking. He pushed through the front door with purpose, his jaw set, adrenaline still coursing through him from everything he'd just learned. The drive over had felt endless, every red light another minute Lily might be in danger, another minute Sophia might slip further away from consequence."Sophia!" His voice echoed through the entryway, sharp enough that a passing maid flinched and hurried out of sight.Sophia appeared at the top of the stairs a moment later, composed as always, though something flickered behind her eyes at the sight of Henry's expression."Henry, is something wrong?""Where's Lily's phone?" Henry climbed the stairs two at a time, closing the distance between them. "Emma said Lily texted her, then went silent. I want to know why."Sophia's face shifted into practiced concern. "I have no idea what you're talking about.""Don't." Henry's voice hardened, his patience already worn thin. "I just spoke to the mechanic who serviced Emma's car the ni

Emma stared at the unknown number for a long moment, unease crawling up her spine. But Lily's message still glowed at the top of her screen, small and urgent, more important than anything else right now.She typed back quickly, her fingers trembling slightly against the glass.*Hi baby. I miss you too, so much. Mommy loves you more than anything in this whole world. I'll see you very soon, I promise.*She pressed send, watching the message deliver, waiting anxiously for the three little dots that meant Lily was typing back.Nothing came.Emma frowned deeply, staring at the screen. "Something's wrong," she said quietly.Rebecca looked up from the papers spread across her desk. "What is it?""My daughter texted me. Just now. Asking when I'm coming home." Emma's stomach twisted with worry. "I replied right away, but she's not responding anymore.""Maybe she just put the phone down," Rebecca offered gently, setting her pen aside for a moment. "She's a child, Emma. Children get distracted