Allison sniffled, pretending to be hurt, but Emma ignored her entirely. She turned, took Claire’s hand, and pulled her toward the door.David watched Emma leaving with Claire and hesitated. He felt torn, caught in the middle of a whirlwind of emotions. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched her figure disappearing from the room. There were so many questions swirling in his mind—questions clawing at his chest, demanding answers. His need to know, to confirm what he feared, overpowered everything else in that moment."Emma! Wait!” he called out.Allison, sensing the shift in attention—seeing that David was about to go after Emma—immediately let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her cheek as though in pain.Her voice trembled as she cried out, "David... David, please... my cheek... it hurts so much..." She placed a hand dramatically over her face, letting tears well in her eyes, using every ounce of her performance to redirect David’s focus back to her."How could Emma do this to me
Weeks slipped by quickly for David. Each passing day blurred into the next, his thoughts haunted by the confrontation with Emma.The memory of her harsh words—of him not being worthy to father a child conceived by her—echoed in his mind over and over again. He tried to throw himself into work, convincing himself that focusing on it would help him forget.Tonight, however, demanded his full attention. The Whitmores had scheduled a dinner meeting with the other potential business partner they hoped David would collaborate with.This partnership had been in the works for weeks. The Whitmores believed it would be mutually beneficial to bring both companies together, and today, both CEOs would be discussing the proposal with the Whitmores.David adjusted the cuffs of his navy-blue suit and straightened his tie in front of the mirror. The tailored suit hugged his frame sharply, making him look good. Just as he reached for his cufflinks, a soft knock sounded on the door.Allison walked in, d
David couldn’t believe his ears. His mind went blank for a moment as he stared at the man seated across the table from him. Of all the people in the world, why did it have to be him? Why did it just have to be Christian Muller?!Alfred, sensing David’s shift in demeanor, leaned forward, sounding concerned. “Is something wrong, David?” he asked. His eyes flicked briefly to Christian and then back to David.David didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His eyes remained locked on Christian, unmoving, his fists clenched in anger.Alfred, however, misunderstood David’s reaction and gave a light-hearted chuckle. “Ah, I see. You’re wondering if Christian is capable. I assure you, David, Christian is very good at what he does.”He leaned back, his tone proud. “His father has been a close friend and business partner of mine for decades. When I found out Christian was in New York, I didn’t think twice. He’s quite sharp, innovative, and has a mind for business. I truly believe the synergy between you
David came back to the table and found everyone laughing and smiling. Christian was busy chatting with Alfred and Irene, and even Allison seemed to be in a good mood. David paused for a second, then cleared his throat and gave a small smile."Sorry for the delay," he said.Alfred turned to him right away. "David, are you okay with the contract now? Do you think we can move forward with it?"David glanced briefly at Emma. He had thought long and hard about it and had made up his mind."Yes," he answered. "I'm willing and ready to partner with Christian."Alfred smiled, clearly pleased. Irene nodded along, looking happy as well."That's wonderful news," she said."Then let's make a toast!" Alfred raised his glass. "To a successful partnership. We can discuss further details later."Everyone lifted their wine glasses and made a toast. There were smiles all around, and the mood at the table grew lighter and happier. Soon, the waiters came in with their meals, and the plates were filled wi
Emma gave a small smile to herself, sat up straighter, and gave Irene a gentle smile.“I’ll admit it—I’m not exactly a social butterfly,” she said with a light laugh. “These kinds of events aren’t really my comfort zone.”She paused, her expression turning thoughtful. “But as a medical doctor, I’ve always believed there are so many other meaningful ways to give back. Reaching out to people who truly need help—that’s where I feel I can make the biggest difference.”Allison scoffed and looked away, clearly uninterested in what Emma had to say. But Irene’s expression was different. She looked at Emma with interest, her eyebrows raised and her lips slightly parted, as if she was thinking carefully about Emma's words."How can I help?" Irene asked, her voice soft but curious. "How can I reach out to people who need help?"Emma nodded and began to speak with more confidence."There are so many people who can’t even afford basic medical care. It breaks my heart. In some underdeveloped countr
Emma was at the hospital, jotting down notes from a patient’s chart. She was focused on work, as usual, when her phone vibrated in the pocket of her coat.She pulled it out and saw the caller ID. It turned out to be her father.She blinked at the screen. Her fingers paused in mid-air. Why was her father calling her now?Her heart skipped slightly. It had been a while since they last spoke—and even then, their last conversation hadn't ended well.What could he possibly want now?She took a deep breath and answered, slowly pressing the phone to her ear."Hello?"Her father's voice came through—deep, stern, and cold. "Is it true?"Emma frowned. "Is what true? What are you talking about?"There was a short silence before his voice came again, this time quieter, but with disappointment clinging to every word."That you have a child."Emma froze.Her grip on the phone tightened. She shut her eyes briefly, letting out a slow breath. So he already knew.Of course, he would find out. News trav
Emma’s heart stopped for a split second, then her feet were already moving. She rushed into the living room, her breath caught in her throat, her eyes darting everywhere until they landed on Claire.Claire stood frozen, just a few meters away from Isabel, her tiny face filled with fear and confusion.A broken glass cup lay in pieces on the floor near Isabel's feet, and the older woman stood rigid, glaring accusingly at the child. The atmosphere in the room was thick.Emma rushed to Claire’s side, instantly kneeling to examine her. “Claire! Are you alright?” she asked urgently, her voice sharp with worry.She scanned her daughter for cuts or injuries, running her hands gently over the little girl's arms and checking her clothes.Claire nodded, eyes wide. “I’m okay, Mommy,” she whispered, her small fingers clutching at Emma’s sleeve.Emma stood up and turned sharply to Isabel, her brows furrowed. “What happened?”Isabel raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. Her tone was laced with irrit
The heavy silence in the room was abruptly interrupted by the soft click of the door.Mathew Smith stepped into the living room. His gaze swept across the room, landing on each person, one by one, noting the uncomfortable tension thick in the air.His eyes narrowed."What is going on here?" he asked.No one spoke. Not even the servants. Everyone seemed frozen, unsure of how to respond.Isabel's angry expression shifted in an instant. The moment she saw Mathew walk in, the sharp look on her face softened, replaced by one of hurt and grievance. She hurried over to his side as if she couldn’t wait to be the first to speak, to let him hear how unfairly she’d been supposedly treated by Emma."Darling, You're back," she said softly, with a sigh. "I tried to be accomodating. I truly did. But Emma... I just don't know. She disrespected me in front of the servants, all because I asked about her daughter. I really didn't mean any harm."Isabel already knew that none of the maids would dare spe
"Claire, don’t forget to put your lunch bag in the car," Emma called out from the kitchen as she zipped up her bag."Already did, Mom!" Claire shouted back from the living room, hopping around with her little pink backpack.Emma suddenly heard the front door open. She assumed it must be Claire, already heading to the car to wait for her.She smiled faintly and wiped her hands on a towel.Just as she turned to grab her keys from the counter, she felt a familiar pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind. She stiffened slightly, caught off guard."Good morning," Christian murmured softly into her hair, his breath warm against her neck as he planted a soft kiss on her neck.Emma closed her eyes for a moment. "Hey... you're early.""Wanted to see you before I headed out to work," he said, his arms holding her a little tighter. "How’s work been these past few days? I'm sorry I've been so occupied with work these days."Emma smiled. "It’s fine, I understand. Work has been okay. I mean,
After finishing their drink, Max leaned back in his chair and checked the time."Oh man. I have an early morning meeting," he said, pushing his chair back and reaching for his jacket. "Gotta head home now."David gave him a short nod and a half-smile. "No worries. Thanks for tonight.""You guys take care," Max said as he patted Felix on the shoulder and gave David a nod. A few seconds later, he exited the dimly lit lounge and headed for the parking lot.Felix turned to David, who had been relatively quiet for the past ten minutes, staring into the near-empty glass in front of him."I'm going to use the restroom quickly," Felix said, standing up. "Wait for me here. I'll drop you home."“I'd rather wait outside. I could use some fresh air anyway."“Alright. That sounds cool. I'll be with you shortly.”Felix walked off without thinking much of it. The night had just been…uneventful so far— especially when he had gotten the message an hour earlier, before they headed to the bar, about Gav
Dr. Allen adjusted his glasses as he removed the stethoscope from David’s chest. A small, satisfied smile curled his lips as he read the vitals on the monitor beside the bed.“Well, I must say,” he began, scribbling something on his clipboard, “you’ve responded remarkably well to treatment, David. Much better than expected.”David, still seated upright in his hospital bed, gave a faint smile. “That means I’m finally getting out of here?”Dr. Allen chuckled. “That’s exactly what it means. I’m officially discharging you today.”David sighed in relief. It had been weeks of pain, rehabilitation, and heavy silence. The idea of leaving those sterile hospital walls felt like finally breathing after being underwater.“However,” Dr. Allen added, his tone firm, “there are some things you must avoid for now if you want to make a full recovery. No carrying anything heavy, no sudden strenuous movement, no driving yet, and definitely no alcohol.”David raised both hands in surrender. “Got it. No he
"I'm just tired, Sophie," Emma admitted, leaning her head back against the wall. "I don't even know what I'm doing anymore. Everything feels like it's spinning, and I can't catch my breath."Emma sat on the edge of her bed, her phone pressed tightly to her ear. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, though she tried to keep it steady.Sophie, on the other end of the line, responded gently. "Emma, calm down, okay? Take a deep breath. Everything will be fine."Emma let out a hollow laugh. "You always say that. But things aren’t the same as before, Sophie. Ever since you moved overseas, everything changed. I feel like I lost one of the few people who actually understood me."Sophie sighed. "I know. I miss you too, Em. But you have to stay strong. For Claire, at least. She needs you more than anyone. You have to find a way to completely move on. Let go of him."Emma's voice grew quieter. "I have, Sophie, I have. I just….I honestly wasn’t thinking straight when I sent those messages to
David stood motionless in the middle of the hospital parking lot, watching the tail lights of Christian's car disappear into the distance, taking Emma with them. His heart felt like it had been ripped apart and left open in the cold. The wind picked up again, fluttering his shirt, but he didn’t feel it. Not really. Not when the weight of those messages he had once thought were filled with hope had now become a cruel reminder of what he had lost.Slowly, he turned away, each step heavier than the last. He didn’t know where he was going, didn’t even care. His body just moved, his feet dragging him forward, down streets he didn't recognize, past people he didn't see. All the while, his mind played the memory of Emma's voice again and again."I thought I was texting Christian."Those words. That mistake. That accidental plea for help that had revived the hope in his heart only to crush it completely.By the time David became aware of his surroundings, he had already left the hospital gro
David froze when he saw that several text notifications had suddenly appeared at the top of the screen.And they were all from Emma.One by one, he opened them.Emma: Where are you?Emma: Please...Emma: Can you come?Emma: I'm really scared right now.Emma: Please...Emma: I don’t know who else to call.Emma: Are you coming?Emma: Please answer me...Emma: Are you there?Emma: I need you.He stared. Stared like the wind had been knocked out of him. The silence of the hospital room suddenly felt deafening.Ten messages.All from Emma.His fingers trembled as he held the phone. His breathing became shallow. Every part of him froze, as though struck by lightning. He blinked, but the messages remained on the screen.What happened to Emma?!His mind was full of questions he couldn’t answer. But then something hit him…Emma had texted him.When she was afraid.When she didn't know who else to call.She had thought of him first.A wave of emotion surged through him—disbelief, hope, relief,
David walked slowly into his hospital room, his eyes dull, his steps heavy. His two closest friends, Max and Felix, stood up from the chairs near his bed the moment they saw him."There you are!" Max said, walking toward him. "We were just about to go look for you. Where the hell did you go? Why did you leave your room in your condition?""Yeah, man, we came in and didn’t find anyone here. Not even Allison," Felix added. "The guards outside said you left without telling them where you went. We’ve been really worried."David didn’t answer. He didn’t even acknowledge their presence. He just walked slowly toward his bed and sat down, staring blankly ahead.The two friends exchanged glances."David," Max said carefully, bending down a bit so he could meet David’s eyes. "What’s going on with you? You okay? Did something happen?"Still no reply.Felix pulled a chair closer and sat beside the bed. "Talk to us, man. We’re not just here to visit. We’re your friends. You can tell us anything."
"Are you going to pretend you didn’t see me?”Emma froze. Her fingers tightly clutched the clipboard as she closed her eyes.“Stay away from him, Emma,” She said to herself. “Stop caring. Draw the line.”Yet just as she opened her eyes, hardened her resolve not to meddle into David's affairs anymore, and turned to leave again, she heard it—a low, painful groan.Emma turned around sharply.David had slumped down to the floor, holding his side, his face twisted in pain."David!" she called, rushing toward him without thinking. Her heart thudded in her chest as she knelt beside him. Her hands trembled as she touched his arm.He shouldn’t have been out of his room. His body was still weak, still healing. He had no business walking around the hospital like this."You shouldn’t be here," she whispered, trying to steady her voice.David groaned again.Emma glanced around. It was obvious he wouldn’t be able to return to his ward in that condition. Emma didn’t have a choice. She had to take hi
Dr. Allen had seen enough patients to know when someone was pushing themselves too far. And David, seated upright on the bed with a restless expression and an IV line still in his arm, was doing just that."I just need a walk, Dr. Allen," David muttered. "I’ve been in this room for too long. I feel fine now."Dr. Allen arched a brow, folding his arms. “You feel fine? David, you were brought in barely breathing a week ago. Your body’s still recovering. Walking around unsupervised is not just reckless—it’s dangerous."David exhaled, his eyes fixed on the window. His once sharp features were now pale and hollow, his frame thinner than usual. The last seven days had taken a toll, though he would never admit it aloud.“I hear you,” David said after a pause. “I do.”Dr. Allen studied him for a long moment. There was something else behind that tired gaze—impatience, yes, but also pain. Emotional, not physical. But he had done his duty.“Good,” Dr. Allen finally said. “Get some rest. I’ll che