Emelia's POVI observed the man before me who claimed to be one of Victor's old friends. His suit was impeccable and he wore a confident, bright smile. It made me wonder why I hadn't heard of him before."So, to what pleasure does Victor owe you a visit?" I asked."Oh, the pleasure's all mine, actually! You see, I'm here for a business appointment." He glanced around my office, noting the state of disarray it was left in. For a moment, hesitation flashed in his eyes. "If now isn't a good time…"I stood up and shook my head. "I'm sorry you're having to see my office like this. I'm doing a bit of renovation and reorganizing. You know how that can be sometimes."Simon chuckled. "Of course! The process just ends up making an even bigger mess than you had intended.""Exactly!" I smiled. "Come, I can take you to Victor's office. I do have to warn you however, he may not be back for quite some time. He had to take an injured colleague to the hospital."Simon's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Is that
Emelia's POV"Oh, I'd be more than delighted to!" Simon beamed.While I wasn't the one for gossip, I was happy that Simon seemed to be more than eager to share what he knew. Even though I didn't want to hear about Lily's and Victor's past in full detail, I knew asking my husband anything was pointless.This was the closest to the truth I was going to get. No excuses, no beating around the bush.I needed to listen closely and find out to what extent Lily truly meant to Victor."Where do I even begin...?" Simon hummed."You said earlier that Victor's kindness and considerateness were abnormal for him growing up in high school. Maybe you can start there?""Oh, he was quite the troublemaker! He didn't listen to our teachers much, was late to classes, and even went so far as to skip out on school."I raised my eyebrows. "Wow, he's the total opposite now. He takes everyone's words here seriously, and listens to suggestions and feedback. Not to mention, he's also punctual when it comes to mee
Emelia's POVI ignored Victor's initial greeting and continued to lay in the darkness underneath my covers. I didn't want to face him, let alone talk to him. There was nothing he could say to me that would make things better."Go away…" I muttered."What was that? I couldn't hear you."I groaned, but didn't repeat myself.Suddenly, cold hands snaked their way inside of my warm space and rubbed on my hips, and I immediately hissed and kicked off the sheets. My eyes narrowed on Victor in frustration.But he didn't seem to pick up on my irritated mood as he smiled at me and chuckled. "Good afternoon, sleepyhead. Did you have a long day at work? I hope you don't mind, but I really want to talk to you about something."I said nothing in response, but laid back on the bed as I pulled the sheets over my body again. The empty spot next to me shifted with the weight of Victor's body as he draped his arm over me. Still, I chose to ignore him."Well… I hope you don't mind that I do all the talkin
Emelia's POVTomorrow evening came a lot sooner than I imagined, but I was happy it had. The thought of being mere hours away from being able to spend time with grandpa Antonio filled me with a sense of joy I didn't think I would feel again.He was the only one in the family who treated me kindly and with respect. Unlike Victor's mother, he knew that I wasn't with his grandson because of the money. He knew how I cared for him so deeply.He supported my marriage to Victor and defended me without hesitation.I picked out the jade green dress grandpa Antonio bought me as a wedding gift, and did my makeup to match. My excitement caused me to wiggle around in the seat of my vanity."Who are you getting all dolled up for?" Victor teased with a chuckle. "I hope that old man of mine isn't going to steal you from me."I let out a light laugh, but chose not to entertain his jokes. If I was honest with myself, Victor no longer teased a lightheartedness from me he once had before. Now I had to won
Emelia's POV"Wait, wait! I'm not ready yet!" Lily cried out. "Don't be so pushy to get me out of the house, Vic!"Victor stopped, but I went ahead. My frustrations were building up again and I wanted nothing more than for it to just have been me and grandpa Antonio enjoying a dinner together instead. At least then, I'd have someone who would care for me and talk to me like I'm a human being and not a doormat."Emelia, wait!" Lily called out.That stopped me in my tracks immediately. What the hell did she want? I turned around and stared at her with an indifferent expression. "What?""You wouldn't mind if I borrowed a piece of jewelry, would you? Maybe like a bracelet or something?" Lily asked as she fiddled with her dress.It was like watching a toddler ask for a slice of cake before dinner."Why?""I don't have anything fancy to wear since I had to move all my things back into my apartment... I'm sure Victor's bought you enough things that you wouldn't miss just one piece, right?""D
Emelia's POVAs grandpa's mansion got bigger the closer we got, I couldn't help but think about how I first came to meet him. That day held a lot of memories for me since my work had been selected for the international jewelry auction at Christie's that was being held in Italy.It was my first real breakthrough in the jewelry design industry, and while I was very nervous, I was excited by the opportunity.I had just gotten done setting up my booth when an elderly man approached me. There was a sparkle of interest in his eyes, and his smile was so kind and warm."Your work is very beautiful, miss." He complimented my matching jewelry set. "What is your name? What do I call you aside from "talented jewelry designer"?"Four years ago during the international jewelry auction at Christie's was where I came to meet grandpa Antonio. He took a very particular liking to my work and asked many questions.However, just as the auction was beginning, he suddenly collapsed to the floor.I had just r
Emelia's POV"It's all your fault! Grandpa wouldn't be so mad at us if it wasn't for you provoking him like a spoiled brat!" Lily screamed in my face.The tumultuous feelings in my heart definitely weren't helping the thoughts I was having now about throwing Lily across the table. I had to remind myself about being in grandpa's home, and how I definitely didn't want to add more fuel to the fire.Clearly, Lily had zero respect for grandpa's home, but I did. So, I decided to keep my mouth shut despite her hostility. Instead, I took a sip of my wine and ignored her.Lily continued to provoke me, dissatisfied with the fact that I knew how to regulate my own emotions. "Are you proud of yourself for ruining my relationship with both Victor and grandpa?! Are you not ashamed of yourself?!"My gaze drifted towards my mother-in-law to see her glaring at me with piercing eyes. It seemed as if she was letting Lily do the talking for her since they shared the same brain."Are you done?" I looked ba
Victor's POV"How could you break your promises to me? To Emelia?!" Grandpa Antonio snapped his eyes to me that flickered with anger. "After all this time, you're still choosing Lily? Do you not realize how grave of a mistake you're making?!""I haven't broken any promises to you or Emelia! You know nothing about what I've had to endure for your approval and for hers. I've sacrificed too much for you to think I don't know what the hell I'm doing!" I fired back. "But what you're not going to do is speak ill of Lily as if she did anything to deserve your hatred!"My grandfather wasn't always like this towards Lily growing up. At one point, he actually loved her like a granddaughter. But something changed when we got older.I always thought that maybe it was losing grandma that made him become that way. Ever since she died, a piece of him went with her. His heart, his soul, his mental health…Coincidentally, though, Lily had gotten into her accident trying to save my life. And I thought t
Victor's POVI couldn't stand to look at this place any longer. It only made me miss Emelia so much more, and holding on to the foolish hope that she'd somehow come back and forgive me was making me go mad.I needed to get out of here.So, I set the car in reverse and made the slow drive down the dirt path. Anguish coated my tongue in its thickness, and it hurt to swallow the reality of what my life would now be like without her.I didn't want to accept it; I couldn't. While she still lived and breathed, I would have a chance. I'd fight for it, too.But for now, I couldn't help but give Emelia the space she needed… Especially so I could keep her safe from whatever my mother seemed to have up her sleeve.As I was halfway down the dirt path, I spotted another car heading past me towards the cottage. I slowed my pace even more, feeling the rise of suspicion crawl up my spine.No one else was supposed to know about this place. I sure as hell didn't tell anyone, and there were only two peop
Victor's POVIt had been… what? Two years since I'd seen this place? Despite that, this little cottage hadn't lost its charm. I still thought it to be just as magical as if I were laying eyes on it for the first time all over again.However, the sight of it was bittersweet as a pang of pain pinched my heart. I was in a daze at how I got here, but maybe it was because this place was trying to tell me something.Something that I'd been lying to myself about this entire time.Lily meant nothing to me now.From when we were kids up until everything went to shit, I harbored a lot of sympathy for Lily. While her parents were indeed wealthy and provided her with many materialistic things, she never had a real relationship with them.If her mother wasn't away on business trips, then her father was away due to classified military training or missions.For the most part… She was alone.So, when she moved to my city of Blasdell and started attending the private academy I was at, for some reason,
Victor's POVA dark cloud hung over my head as I left my mother's mockery of a home. I was in a worse mood than when I showed up. Even the warmth of the midday sun couldn't penetrate my body enough to reach my cold heart.What kind of connections did my mother really have? How did she come to know about Emelia's move to Italy?And did she truly have a means to harm her?After everything that I'd put her through, I couldn't stomach the thought of anything else happening to Emelia. Back then, I wasn't able to save her from the damage that I'd directly caused.But now… I was given a second chance. Even if that meant bending and breaking myself to my mother's will.I just couldn't wrap my head around any of it. Could this not just be another manipulation tactic? Was I being deceived so she could tighten the leash she had around me?I gripped my hands tight around the steering wheel.I was no one's dog. Not a puppet to be controlled, or some pawn that was to be sacrificed in favor of the Ki
Victor's POVThe drive was silent as I dreaded the familiar street names that spelled me getting closer to my mother's home. She was the last person on this damn planet I wanted to see. Even if she may have not been the sole reason for what was wrong in my marriage, she sure as hell played a big fucking part in it.There was no forgiving her for the way she treated Emelia; especially since she'd tried so hard to win her affections. The disrespect, the insults, the snarky remarks.I was too damn blind to see the damage it was causing. Emelia didn't deserve that treatment. And she sure as hell didn't deserve a spineless husband who did nothing to prevent it.I gripped the steering wheel harder once I turned onto the driveway of my mother's multi-storied home. The blood in my veins ran cold. I didn't want to be here.A few minutes passed while I continued to sit in the car. Its engine hummed since I still had the key in the ignition.I could just leave.It's what I wanted to do.I should
Victor's POVThe walls that surrounded this meeting room were nothing short of a fucking prison. Despite the people that were around me, it felt like I was in solitary confinement. And I wanted nothing more than to break out.For the last hour, I've sat here and endured the mindless drabbling of my subordinates. The atmosphere was so thick and heavy from the storm that raged in my mind, that none of them dared to even address me.It allowed me to brood at the head of the table in peace. Or relatively so. It would've been better if it was silent.In truth, I had no idea what this meeting was supposed to even be about. Not like I cared; and haven't done so in the last few days. Luckily for me, Rosalie was attentive and never spared the details she wrote in her notepad or clicked on on her keyboard. She'd send me the details later anyway.My mind was in shambles and ruin; left in disarray due to the betrayal of someone I least expected.My grandfather.I just couldn't believe it. A part o
Emelia's POVI shook my head, trying to ground myself back to this reality as I took the phone from Mason. It was Lady Ruby."H-hello?" I croaked, not realizing that my throat had gone dry."Is everything alright, sweetie?" Lady Ruby asked. "You don't sound too well."I cleared my throat and composed myself. "Y-yes, everything's fine. I just still need to adjust to the heat of this place."Mason snickered, but I pinched him."You'll grow to love it for sure. That Italian sun will do wonders for your skin!' Lady Ruby laughed. "But the reason I called was to check up on you and relay some information about the new project.""I love it here already, don't worry." I smiled. "But I'm ready for whatever it is you need from me! I'm excited to finally be able to start working on this project with you!""That's the spirit!" Lady Ruby enthused. "Well, more of the finer details are in the works, but an old friend and colleague of mine has plans to hold a wedding in the gardens of Isola Bella for
Emelia's POV"Last time I checked, yeah." Mason laughed. "I've got my driver's license and passport if you need to check. No birth certificate, though. That'll cost extra to get sent here."I scrunched my face in disbelief. "I-I don't understand. W-what are you doing here? Why are you here? When did you get here?""Oh, I'm sorry, officer." Mason teased. "I didn't realize I was being brought in for questioning!""Mason!""Just kidding! I'll tell you everything you want to know, I promise. But can I come in?" He smiled sheepishly as he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "I don't know how you've adjusted to all this heat! I feel like a vampire in need of shade!"I ushered Mason into my home, climbing the stairs to the top floor where the kitchen was. Sitting two glasses onto the marbled island, I pulled out a pitcher of fresh lemonade and some ice trays.I then walked back to the fridge, staring idly at the ingredients. In truth, I knew I wasn't looking to make a meal. If anything, I wa
Emelia's POVThree days have passed since I arrived in Italy. Accommodations for me were already made, but I wasn't expecting something as luxurious as this! Even though Lady Ruby tried to pass this off as modest, I didn't believe her in the slightest.Glass stairs separated each of the three stories that divided the living area, bedroom and master bath, and the kitchen. Smaller balconies accompanied each floor that could sit a small garden for plants and herbs or a sunbathing area.The real treat, however, was the expansive open terrace where I was greeted by the scent of fresh sea salt and the sound of gentle waves. The bright overhead sun bathed my skin in its warmth, and for the first time in so long, I felt happy.Grandpa Antonio was right—I LOVE Italy!I sat my laptop down on the outdoor table, raising the accompanying umbrella since I'd intended to do a video call. Luckily, work hadn't started for me just yet, so I wanted to take this opportunity to call home and update everyone
Victor's POVMy grandfather didn't know it, but a storm was fast approaching his estate. Lightning, thunder, heavy rains, and damaging winds were ready to tear apart the legacy he'd built. Because I knew that he had to have known about Emelia leaving. There was no way he couldn't have. She was the only one on this planet he probably loved more than me.Which was enough to convince me that he knew about this all along.I sped down the highway with reckless abandon, hardly heeding to the horns that honked at me or the few sheriff's cars I'd whizzed by. I was on a mission to get answers.And I would get them—one way or another.Once we arrived, I shot Rosalie an icy glare. "You're coming inside. Either way, I'll find out you're lying to me."Rosalie nodded her head. "Y-yes sir…"I didn't even dignify my grandfather with a knock on the door as I stormed through his front doors and marched straight for his office. His butlers that would've normally greeted me, or in this case, apprehended