Emma believed she had it all—a dream marriage to the charismatic and wealthy David Lawson. Life seemed perfect, and their love story felt like something out of a fairytale. But on their second wedding anniversary, Emma’s perfect world crumbled. A shocking discovery unraveled the web of lies her husband had spun, leaving her questioning everything she thought she knew about him. As if betrayal wasn’t enough, the person threatening to destroy her marriage turned out to be her husband’s old flame—a woman from his past who was none other than Emma’s own sister. Torn between love, loyalty, and betrayal, Emma must make a choice: fight to save her marriage and confront the devastating truths or walk away to rebuild her life on her own terms. Dive into Emma’s captivating journey of heartbreak, resilience, and self-discovery in a story where love and betrayal collide.
Lihat lebih banyakWhen the call came a second time, Emma knew something was wrong.
It wasn’t work—she’d taken leave, and it wasn’t family because she’d distanced herself from them. That left only one person: Sophie, her best friend, despite today being Emma’s “no disturbance” day. “Sophie?” Emma answered, confused. “Emma, the airport? Seriously?” Sophie teased, laughing. “What are you talking about?” “I’m behind you... wait, you’re not here?” Sophie’s tone immediately shifted. “No, I’m at home.” “Then who’s with David?” Emma’s heart skipped. “What?” “Never mind, it’s your anniversary—” “No, Sophie. Tell me now. Is David there? Who’s he with?” After a pause, Sophie sighed. “Let me send you a picture.” Emma opened the photo. Her breath hitched. It was David, her husband, standing with another woman, her back to the camera, hugging him intimately. The phone rang again. Sophie’s voice was panicked. “Emma, are you okay? I’m so sorry—” “You’ve done nothing,” Emma replied coldly. “I’ll call you back.” She cut the call before she could say another word and stared long. Her eyes moved from the decorated dining room to the well-adorned sitting room and the gifts on the table. Today was meant to be about the both of them and them alone and out there was David, hugging another woman. Emma grabbed a bottle from the fridge and poured herself a glass. “Cheers to our second year together.” She chuckled sarcastically and gulped down the glass. Then another followed, and another, and another… The moments flew past quickly and she was grateful she could notice none of it. At least, until David came in. Emma was in the sitting room, her eyes still heavy from the drinking when she set her eyes on David—his hazy eyes and chiseled, masculine face. His tie was a little loose, and his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, but it couldn't still hide his handsomeness. She laughed weakly as she saw the surprise on his face. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the dining room—candles flickering, the table beautifully set, a bottle of wine waiting to be poured. “Emma…” he started, guilt creeping into his voice. “You forgot,” she said quietly, her voice steady but laced with pain. David looked at the table, at the effort she had put into this night, and then at Emma. He seemed to falter for a moment, his lips pressing together in a tight line. “I didn’t… I didn’t realize what day it was,” he admitted reluctantly. “I’ve been busy with work…” He knew it sounded like a weak excuse, and she probably thought he was lying. Even he was sure it sounded hollow, but it was the truth. Emma’s heart sank even further. She hadn’t thought he would forget their anniversary. After everything they had been through, it hurt more than she had imagined. She took another sip of wine, this time quicker, more desperate. The alcohol didn’t dull the sting—it only made the dizziness in her head worse. She stumbled slightly, her hands shaking as she placed the glass back on the table. David stepped forward, his eyes filled with concern. “Emma, I… I’m sorry. I really am. But it’s not what you think.” “What’s not?” Emma asked, her words slurring slightly. She was beyond caring now, the anger bubbling up uncontrollably. “Who was that woman at the airport?” David's eyes widened in surprise, clearly not expecting the question. “What are you talking about?” “Don’t lie. I saw the picture. You were hugging someone. Don’t try to tell me it wasn’t what it looked like.” His face hardened, and he sighed, clearly trying to figure out how to explain without escalating things further. “It was an important client. She just got back from abroad, and I was helping her with some paperwork. That’s all.” Her eyes were narrowed, her face flushed. She could hardly keep her emotions in check. “An important client, huh?” she muttered bitterly, leaning against the table. “You didn’t even bring me a gift, David. But you managed to help her?” David’s jaw clenched. “I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. I promise. I have a surprise for you.” Emma scoffed. “A surprise? After everything, now you want to give me a surprise?” She was too far gone, the alcohol fueling her emotions in ways she couldn’t control. He stepped closer, his face softening. “Let’s get you cleaned up, alright? We can talk tomorrow when you’re sober. I promise things will get better.” He gently took her arm, guiding her toward the bathroom. But she wasn’t in the mood for his gentle gestures. As he started the shower, she stepped away from him, shaking her head. “I don’t want your pity, David.” The words slipped from her lips before she could stop them. She wasn’t sure where this anger was coming from, but she was too far gone to care. He stood still for a moment, his expression torn between annoyance and something else—regret, maybe. Then, without warning, he reached for her. “You’re drunk, Emma. You don’t know what you’re saying.” She scoffed again, her eyes filled with defiance as she began to splash water at him. “I’m not drunk enough to know you’ve been lying to me all night.” His patience wore thin. He gritted his teeth, then in one swift motion, pulled her into the shower with him. “Let’s get you cleaned up,” he muttered, though it was clear that this wasn’t about making things right anymore. As the warm water washed over them both, Emma tried to pull away, but David held her firmly. Her body, still unsteady from the alcohol, couldn’t help but respond to his touch. The tension between them shifted, and before she could think, their lips collided in a fierce kiss. It was urgent, messy, and full of all the frustrations they both couldn’t express in words. Emma could feel his grasp on her breasts and thighs. She moaned desperately, everything happening so fast, fulfilling her desires, though she was too drunk to comprehend it all. For a moment, she forgot about the airport, about the woman, about everything. It was just them, tangled in the mess of their emotions and the passionate release of everything that had built up over the evening. If only it would remain that way…..if only.Six months later… The hall was packed. Rows of chairs were filled with men and women from different walks of life—doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, dignitaries, and men of wealth and influence who had flown in from across countries. Suddenly, the MC, a tall man in a black suit with a broad smile, walked to the podium. The murmurs in the room quieted as he tapped the microphone once. “Ladies and gentlemen,” his voice rang clearly across the hall, “It is my honor to announce the award for the Best Surgeon of the Year —an award that recognizes excellence, dedication, and a heart that never gives up in the service of humanity. And this year’s award goes to…” He paused dramatically, smiling at the crowd. “Dr. Emma Morgan!” The room erupted with applause, cheers, and whistles. Many stood from their seats in excitement as cameras flashed in Emma’s direction. Emma, dressed in an elegant deep blue gown, froze
The room fell silent.Claire’s wide eyes darted between her mother and David. She looked utterly stunned, her little lips parting in disbelief. Slowly, she shook her head.“Mommy,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Is this like when you told me to call Uncle Chris ‘daddy’? Is it just pretend again?”Emma’s heart ached. She reached for her daughter’s hand, tears pooling in her eyes. “No, sweetheart. This isn’t make-believe. I’m so sorry for not telling you earlier. David is your real father.”David took a hesitant step forward. He knelt down so he could look Claire straight in the eyes. His hands trembled as he gently held hers.“I know I’ve missed so much,” he said softly, his voice breaking with emotion. “Your first steps, your first words… six years of your life I’ll never get back. That’s my biggest regret. I should have been here from the very beginning. But if you’ll let me, I promise from today, I’ll never leave your side again.
The long-awaited day had finally come—Claire’s sixth birthday.Emma and Sophie had been awake since dawn, making sure everything was perfect, while David had insisted on taking part in the preparations too.The birthday hall looked like a dream. It was transformed into the world of Moana, Claire’s favorite cartoon character.Bright turquoise drapes hung like ocean waves across the ceiling, and seashell decorations sparkled under the lights. A giant backdrop of Moana standing bravely by the sea was set against the wall behind the cake table. Balloons in blue, white, and coral pink floated everywhere, and paper palm trees stood in the corners, giving the hall the feeling of an island paradise.Claire entered the hall dressed in a stunning gown that instantly stole everyone’s attention. It was a soft sky-blue dress with sparkly patterns that shimmered like the sea. A sash tied at her waist with a little seashell brooch made her look like a real princ
David sat at his desk, his pen scratching across a pile of documents.For once, there wasn’t an urgent call to answer or a problem waiting at his door. He sighed, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. His thoughts kept drifting—not to the reports in front of him—but to Claire. Her birthday was fast approaching, and he still hadn’t decided on the perfect gift for his baby girl.He suddenly heard a knock.“Come in,” David called.The door opened and Felix stepped in. David’s eyes widened a little in surprise. He hadn’t expected him.“Felix,” David said, pushing the papers aside. “What a surprise, man.”“David,” Felix replied with a cheerful nod as they shook hands.“It’s been a while,” David said, studying him with a small smile. “How’s work?”Felix leaned back in his seat. “Work is great, actually. Things finally turned around after Gavin’s imprisonment. All the mess with my father’s compan
David, Emma, and Claire stepped out of the car and walked slowly toward the airport entrance. Today, the always cheerful Claire was unusually silent. Her small hand held tightly to Emma’s, her eyes downcast, and her lips pressed into a pout. As they walked through the automatic glass doors of the airport, they soon spotted two familiar figures waiting inside. Standing side by side, Christian and Henry had bags resting by their feet. The day had finally come. The day of Henry’s departure. When Claire saw Henry, her steps slowed. She walked slowly toward Henry, her lips trembling. Henry watched her approach, and though he kept his face calm, his heart felt heavy. When Claire finally reached him, her brave little mask broke apart. She threw her arms around Henry and began sobbing loudly. “Henry!” she cried. “I don’t want you to go!” Henry
Mathew’s sobs deepened. “She… Isabel called me. From prison. Just an hour ago. She told me the truth—she killed Selena! She poisoned her! And I… I married her… I lived with her all these years, not knowing I had married a monster.” His voice broke into loud, painful sobs. “How could I? How could I have done that? How could I have married a woman who killed my wife! I even made her your stepmother! Oh Lord!” Emma’s body went cold. She felt her heart lurch, the room spinning slightly. Isabel had called him too? David clenched his jaw. He made a mental note to speak with the warden—never to allow Isabel to contact anyone ever again. Emma swallowed hard, her voice small. “Dad… you… you didn’t know? You really didn’t know about the poison?” Mathew’s eyes widened, horrified. He shook his head firmly, clutching Emma’s hand tighter. “No! I swear, I did not! How could I have? Selena was my wife! I loved her, Emma. I would never… I c
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