When 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. “
Emma woke with a start, the soft scent of flowers drifting into her consciousness before her eyes even opened. As she blinked, the first thing she noticed was the large bouquet of white roses sitting beside her bed. Immediately she saw them, a soft sigh escaped her lips. “White roses again,” she thought, her brow furrowing. “Why does he always get white roses?”She had always preferred red roses—deep, passionate, full of life. Red roses reminded her of love, of fire, of everything she had hoped for in her marriage. Yet, time and again, David would always choose to get her the white ones.But then her gaze fell to the card nestled among the blooms. ‘Pure flowers for pure angels, happy second anniversary.’Her heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t the flowers themselves that had touched her, but the words. The tenderness of the message, the love that shone through, made her chest tighten with warmth. The depression that had weighed on her since yesterday’s events vanished in an instant. H
After David left, Emma felt a sudden strange emptiness in the house. She tried to distract herself by doing something simple—anything to keep her mind from wandering. She began tidying up, folding David’s shirts and placing them neatly in the laundry basket. The simple task gave her something to focus on, but as she picked up a particularly crumpled shirt, something in the air caught her attention.A faint scent lingered in the room, one that wasn’t hers. It was floral, sweet, and unmistakably feminine. ‘Perfume,’ she thought, her pulse quickening. Her mind raced as she turned the shirt over in her hands, inhaling deeply. It wasn’t her perfume; in fact, it didn’t even resemble anything she wore. She froze. What was this? The smell felt foreign, out of place. Her heart hammered in her chest, and an uncomfortable tension settled in her stomach. The perfume was subtle, almost as if it had been transferred to the fabric by accident, but the thought that it was someone else's scent—some
"Hey, I know this feels crazy, but we’re doing the right thing. You deserve answers," Sophie said, trying to sound reassuring.Emma nodded, but the knot in her stomach only tightened. She took deep breaths, muttering and convincing herself that she indeed was doing the right thing and deserved answers.Sophie parked outside the hotel, her unease growing as she glanced at Emma, who was pale and silent. Inside the lobby, the buzz of activity only made Emma feel more overwhelmed. “Now what?” Emma murmured, her voice barely audible. “We don’t even know his room number.” Sophie shot her a reassuring look. “Leave it to me.” Marching up to the lobby manager, Sophie greeted him with her usual charm. “Hi! It’s Emma’s anniversary today, and she’s here to surprise her husband, David. Could you help us find his room?” “Ms. Evans! Mrs. Lawson! It’s an honor to see you both again," the manager greeted them with a warm smile. When he heard Sophie's request, he hesitated, his polite smile fa
The moment Emma saw the woman standing in the doorway, her world seemed to shatter. Her legs turned to jelly, and she nearly collapsed to the ground in shock. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the woman's face — a face she knew all too well. It was the face that haunted her dreams, the face of the woman who had once been the love of David’s life. A breathless, broken whisper escaped Emma’s lips as she called out, “Sister.”Sophie, sensing the growing tension in the room, gave Emma a subtle glance before quietly excusing herself. "Uh, I think I’ll just... give you two some space. Catch you later, Emma," she said, slipping out of the room without another word, leaving Emma standing frozen at the doorway.The air in the room grew thick with awkwardness as Emma and her sister, Allison, stood facing each other. For a moment, neither spoke, the silence hanging heavily between them. Then, finally, Allison took a small step forward, her smile gentle as she opened her arms."Emma," she sa
The car rolled through the quiet streets, the hum of the engine the only sound filling the space between them. Emma stared out of the window, her eyes distant, lost in thoughts she couldn't share. David, sitting beside her, felt the heavy silence pressing against him. He couldn’t ignore it any longer. The tension in the air was thick, suffocating, and he couldn’t stand it. But when he glanced at her, he froze. Her face was pale, and there was a flicker of hurt in her teary eyes. He couldn’t tell if it was from the argument earlier or something else entirely, but the sight of her tears made his chest tighten.David’s heart raced, a feeling he was not used to. As CEO, he was accustomed to facing high-pressure situations without the slightest hesitation. His composure never wavered, yet in this moment, all of his usual confidence crumbled. He could feel panic bubbling up, and before he could stop himself, he slammed his foot on the brake and pulled the car to the side of the road.“Emm
David and Emma arrived at the manor where Allison was holding her welcome party. The long hallway led them to the grand banquet hall, where the sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air. Guests were clustered in small groups, conversing animatedly as waiters in crisp uniforms walked silently by, offering drinks. The atmosphere was warm, lively, but for Emma, it felt stifling. She scanned the crowd, quickly realizing that the majority of the guests were Allison’s friends, the same people who had always made Emma feel like an outsider.A group of young women, standing at a table near the center, exchanged sharp glances as they noticed Emma entering. Their eyes flickered with disdain, and they made their way toward her. Emma recognized them immediately; Allison’s besties. She sighed inwardly, wondering, for the hundredth time, why her sister’s girlfriends had always been so hostile toward her. One of them, Michelle, raised an eyebrow and offered a faint smile that never quite rea
When Emma stepped through the door of their home, the weight of the evening’s events bore down on her, pushing her to the edge. The laughter, the whispers, and her sister’s perfect life all seemed to mock her. The necklace, her sister’s words, and the knowing smiles of the guests lingered in her mind like an unbearable weight. She couldn’t take it any longer. The anger and confusion surged inside her, and without a second thought, she turned to face David.“David, what else are you hiding from me?” she demanded, her voice trembling with frustration. “How many more lies have you told me? What else have you been keeping from me?” David, caught off guard by the intensity in her voice, stood frozen for a moment. His gentle wife, usually calm and composed, was sounding so bitter and angry, and it struck him harder than he’d expected. He knew the party had hurt her deeply, but he hadn’t anticipated her confronting him so directly. “Emma, please,” he began, stepping closer, his voice soft
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
(Flashback continues…)Early the next morning, Dr. Allen came to the ward to check up on David.“All signs show he’s on the road to recovery,” he said, glancing at the readings. “He should regain consciousness soon… probably in a few hours’ time.”Allison, seated by David’s bedside, clasped her hands together tightly. Her eyes glistened with relief. “Thank goodness… Thank you, Doctor Allen,” she said in a sincere tone.“You're welcome, Mrs. Lawson. Dr. Morgan should be given all the accolades for Mr. David's fast recovery. She'll soon be here to check up on him.”Allison's smile faltered when she heard Emma's name, but said nothing.Dr. Allen excused himself after making sure everything was in order, and the ward returned to a quiet stillness.About an hour later, the door creaked open gently. Emma stepped inside, a clipboard in one hand.She noticed that Allison was not in the room, and her eyes automatically sought David’s face. Seeing his resting form—the soft rise and fall of his
David’s low groans of pain pierced the hospital room like sharp needles, each sound tugging at Allison’s nerves. She stood at the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as she watched him writhe in discomfort. His body tensed, his fingers curling tightly around the hospital blanket. Sweat dotted his forehead, his breathing ragged.Doctor Allen had warned her earlier that such episodes were expected. Post-operative pain, especially after major abdominal surgery, often came in waves. David had undergone multiple incisions, internal stitching, and extensive suturing. Nerve endings disrupted by the trauma often sent confused pain signals as the body tried to heal. This was a normal part of the recovery phase—unpleasant, but manageable.Still, seeing him like this unsettled her."Nurse!" Allison shouted, pressing the emergency bell frantically as David let out another cry, clutching his side.Within seconds, Nurse Gina appeared at the door. She was calm and experienced, a woman in her late t
"Mom, I'm so tired!" Allison groaned, pacing back and forth around the hospital garden in angry strides as she spoke into her phone. "Can you imagine? I’ve been tending to him for days now, and it’s like nothing I do even matters. He just stares past me. He complains that I disturb him. He won’t talk to me. And when he does, it’s like I’m some stranger! Cold. Indifferent. Why can’t he just show me a bit of gratitude?"Isabel’s voice came through the line, gentle yet firm. "Allison, take it easy on him. The accident might have hit him harder than you think. You can’t expect him to just bounce back like nothing happened."Allison let out a loud, bitter hiss. She turned away from the flowerbed, wrapping one arm around herself as she paced. "Hit him hard? Oh please. How then does he still remember Emma's name? Explain how he can still manage to call out her name in his sleep every damn night. Every. Single. Night, Mom!"There was a short pause on the other end of the call."Emma?" Isabe
The hospital room, over time, became too boring for David's liking.Visitors had come and gone since his accident. Too many of them. With each face that walked through the door, he felt more irritated and exhausted.The visits were starting to feel like noise. Everyone had something to say, and yet none of it mattered to him.Everyone except Henry.His seven-year-old son and Grandfather were the only people David didn’t mind seeing. Henry had come by after getting better from his own little accident. When he walked into the room, David’s chest had softened for the first time in days.“Daddy,” Henry had said quietly, his big eyes looking unsure.David had managed a weak smile. “Hey, champ.”Henry tiptoed closer and gently placed a small toy car on the edge of the bed. “I brought this for you. It's my favorite, but... you can borrow it till you get better.”David reached for the toy, his fingers brushing the smooth plastic. “Thanks, buddy. That means a lot.”Henry didn’t ask a lot of qu