MasukJane Sullivan POV-----“She threw me under the bus!” Nate yelled, slamming his fist on the table.Jane sighed and leaned back in her chair.Here we go.They were at Kevin’s Cuisine again. The private back room that was starting to feel less like a restaurant and more like a villain’s lair.How fitting.Susan barely looked up from her phone.“You were already caught coming out of Emily’s room. What did you expect me to do?”“You could’ve defended me!”“Defended you?” Susan’s voice was sharp. “You froze at the dinner table like a guilty child. I saved you.”Nate’s face reddened.Jane raised an eyebrow. “Is it true? You got caught?”Nate hesitated, then muttered, “Yeah.”“What were you doing in there?” Jane asked, though she already had a sinking feeling she knew.“Looking for more stuff,” Nate said quickly.Susan snorted. “Or you were collecting underwear again, you little freak.”Nate’s lips curved into a sinister smile.“Oh my God, ew.” Susan dropped her phone on the table. “That’s h
Emily woke to warmth.Scott’s arm was draped across her waist, his chest pressed against her back, his breath soft against her neck.For a moment, she just lay there, eyes closed, letting herself feel it.This.Whatever this was.She shifted slightly, and Scott stirred behind her.His hand moved, sliding up her stomach, slow and deliberate.Emily’s breath caught.“You awake?” His voice was rough with sleep, low and close to her ear.“Mm-hmm.”His lips brushed her shoulder. Then her neck.Emily turned in his arms, facing him.Their eyes met.Neither of them spoke.Scott’s hand moved to her face, his thumb tracing her jawline.Then he kissed her.Slow. Deep. Like he had all the time in the world.Emily’s fingers slid into his hair, pulling him closer.Scott rolled her onto her back, his body settling between her thighs.“I missed you,” he whispered against her mouth.Emily’s chest tightened.“I missed you too.”Scott’s hand moved down her body, exploring every curve.Emily arched into h
Scott’s head felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to it. He dragged himself to the dining area, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through his skull. Dora appeared at his side with a steaming cup of coffee. “Breakfast will be served soon, Mr. Hunter,” she said gently, like she knew exactly how much noise his brain could tolerate. “Thanks, Dora.” Scott dropped into his chair and took a long sip. The coffee burned going down, but at least it was something real to focus on besides the throbbing behind his eyes. Mia and Nate walked in and sat across from him. Mia took one look at Scott and smirked. “Wow. You look like shit warmed over and left out in the sun.” Scott didn’t have the energy to respond. “Rough night?” she pressed, clearly enjoying herself. “Something like that.” “Strip club or casino?” “Both.” Mia laughed. “At least you’re honest.” The door opened again. Emily walked in. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second before both looked a
Amy Anderson POV ----- “Ian is an asshole, but he won’t kill his own grandmother for the inheritance, right?” Amy picked up a fresh apple from the kitchen basket and took a big bite. She leaned on the counter. “And then there’s the half-brother—the billionaire who has little to gain from this but is fighting tooth and nail for it.” Amy took another bite. “It just doesn’t make sense. He’s sketchy—but not in a murderous way.” “All billionaires are sketchy,” Gracie replied, then continued chopping carrots. “I know, right?” Amy giggled. “I think he’s kinda cute.” “Eww, Grandma. He might be a killer.” “If Hilda wanted you to do something, don’t you think she would’ve told me? Are you sure it wasn’t just pleasantries?” “Grandma, she said she needed professional investigative help. Then she died.” “Bless her soul.” Gracie dropped the knife and made the sign of the cross. “In my line of work, that’s what we call super suspicious.” “Read the letter again.” “Grandma—” “Read it,
Emily opened the box. She reached into it and brought out 3 pieces of paper. That’s all the box contained. Emily analyzed the papers. The first one looked like a birth certificate. The one half had the last name “Hunter” written on it. It also had the mother’s name section. “Andrea Hunter” was written on it. If this was Scott’s certificate, that must be his mother’s name.The father section must be on the other half. Emily took the other paper. A marriage certificate. Also ripped in half. One name on it; Francis Hunter. Scott’s father. Emily’s mind raced. According to what she knew Scott is an Illegitimate child because Francis and his mother where never married. If that was true how come she had the surname Hunter. And how did Scott’s birth certificate get into Hunter Autos. Something wasn’t right. Emily’s pulse quickened. She picked up the third paper, also ripped in half. It was a letter, a pretty lengthy one.Emily tried to read the first few lines. “My dear bo
“He wouldn’t even let me explain.” Emily’s voice cracked.Rosa placed a hand on her back and patted it gently.“It’s okay, dear.”“That—Susan. I don’t know how she’s doing this, but—”“Em, are you sure it’s her?”“Of course I’m—wait, what are you saying?”“I’m not saying anything—it’s just—”“Just what? Say it, Rosa.”“Do you think maybe you weren’t careful—”“Are you saying this is my fault?”Silence.“Wow. Unbelievable, Rosa. You too?”“Em—”“No!”“Em, I’m not saying it’s your fault.”“But you’re not saying it’s not—even when I told you it’s that—witch Susan!”“Emily, calm down. You’re getting worked up.”“No. Sorry, but fuck you, Rosa.”Rosa gasped.“And fuck Susan.”“Emily.”“And fuck Scott too—and Ian, and Jane—and fucking Kevin Holland.”“Em.”“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck it all. Fuck everyone. Fuck.”Emily collapsed into the chair, breathing heavily.Then she brought her hands up and covered her face.“I’m sorry, Rosa,” she said through her palms.Rosa moved closer and pulled her in
Emily woke to her phone ringing. She picked up, half-yawning.“Good morning, Nadine.”“Top of the morning, ma’am! Just wanted to inform you that Everdale will be delivering eighty-five pieces today.”“What’s the deadline for Priya Printing?” Emily stood, stretching.“They said two days.”“Perfect.
“This isn’t your moment. Keep walking. I got her out.” Ian finally let go of Emily.“Emily?” Scott stretched his hand toward her.Emily walked to Scott and stood at his side.Ian closed the distance. He glared at Scott.“You think she cares about you? You’re wasting your time.”Scott pulled Emily c
“You kissed him four times!” Rosa said, shocked. “Three!” Rosa shot Emily a quick glance before returning her eyes to the road. “Like that matters!” Emily knew it didn’t. Every time she got in a room with Scott— She shook the thought away. “It’s never happening again,” Emily said. “Mm-hmm.
Emily rushed into her office building.Nadine stood nervously at her office entrance.“She’s inside.”“How is she?”Nadine’s expression said everything.Emily had kept Sophia Delgado—CEO of Everdale Pottery—waiting over thirty minutes.She adjusted Rosa’s dress and entered. Nadine followed.Sophia







