LOGINOne month laterI wake up slowly, feeling the gentle warmth of the morning sun on my skin. Emma lies peacefully beside me, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. A deep wave of happiness washes over me as I watch her sleep. After all the chaos, pain, and months of searching, I finally have her back in my arms where she belongs. The journey to this moment was long and difficult, but every struggle feels worth it now that I can wake up to her beautiful face every morning.I shift closer and press a soft kiss to her cheek. Then I lean in and kiss her lips tenderly, savoring the familiar feeling. Emma smiles against my mouth, and her eyes flutter open slowly.“Morning, my love,” she whispers, her voice still soft with sleep.My heart swells with affection. I stroke her cheek gently with my fingers and use my thumb to trace the curve of her lips. “I love you, Emma. You mean the world to me.”“I love you too, Knox,” she replies, her eyes shining with warmth.I prop myself up on
EmmaThat morning, happiness fills my heart as I stand with my grandmother in her beautiful garden. The sun shines softly over the flowers, making the colors look even brighter. Red roses, white lilies, and purple lavender sway gently in the light breeze. Butterflies flutter from one bloom to another while bees hum around the petals. The garden feels like a peaceful little paradise hidden behind the house, full of life and sweet fragrance.My grandmother waters the flowers with a green watering can while I walk beside her. She points at different plants and tells me their names with a warm smile on her face. I listen carefully, enjoying every moment we spend together. Being here with her makes me feel safe and loved in a way I have not felt in a very long time.Suddenly, I hear the loud screeching of tires coming from the front of the compound. Because we are at the back of the house, I cannot see the car. I turn to my grandmother and ask, “Are we expecting anyone today?”She sha
GinaI sit at the head of the long conference table as the board meeting begins. The room feels tense from the moment everyone settles in. Gina is present too, seated at the far end. The moment I see her, I shoot a sharp glare in her direction. She meets my eyes without flinching, a small smirk playing on her lips.The meeting starts normally but it does not stay that way for long. Gina suddenly stands up, drawing everyone’s attention. “It is about time this board considered new leadership,” she says clearly.One of the older board members frowns and asks, “What do you mean by new leadership? Knox has been functioning well in that capacity for years.”Gina chuckles softly, but there is no warmth in it. “A huge sum of money has gone missing from the company, and Knox lied about it. He tried to cover it up.”Another board member speaks up. “In the last meeting, Knox told us the missing funds were simply a miscalculation.”Gina laughs louder this time. She steps away from her chair and
EmmaI still have not recovered from the shock I felt the day the hospital mailed me the test results. Every time I think about it, my chest feels tight. I cannot believe that Knox is not the father of my baby. If it is not him, then who could it be? It certainly is not Ethan. The thought of that man makes my blood boil with anger right now.I yawn softly as I sit up in bed and rub my eyes. The early morning sun streams gently into my room through the thin curtains. It makes the space feel peaceful and calm. I now stay with my father and grandmother. I moved out of Iva’s house a week ago because I needed some distance. I do not want to be close to Ethan or Knox anymore, and my mother is the last person I want to see.The door opens quietly, and my grandmother walks in carrying a glass of water. A gentle smile rests on her face. She comes over and sits on the edge of the bed beside me. I lean back against the headboard and return her smile.“Here, you should take this,” she says war
KnoxIn a wave of pure rage, I crumple the DNA result paper tightly in my fist until it becomes a wrinkled ball. I should have known that trusting Emma was a mistake. I let love blind me completely, ignoring every doubt that tried to warn me. Now the painful truth rests in my hand, and it feels like a knife twisting in my gut.A sharp stab of pain shoots through my chest. So the baby is really not mine? The realization hits me harder than I expected. I swallow hard against the lump forming in my throat, fighting back the mix of anger and sadness that threatens to overwhelm me. Without thinking, I fling the crumpled paper out of the car window. When I glance toward the entrance of the gym, I see Ethan standing there watching me. Our eyes lock for a few seconds. I narrowed my gaze at him, filled with disgust and resentment. That bastard. He should keep whatever nonsense he wants to say shoved down his throat. My stare turns into a sharp, cold glare before I force myself to look aw
KnoxIt has been two long weeks already and I feel completely drained. Every single day Gina finds new ways to make the divorce process difficult. She argues over every small thing, sends endless messages through her lawyers, and seems determined to drag this out as long as possible. I barely sleep at night anymore. My mind keeps racing with thoughts I cannot quiet down.The DNA result arrived yesterday, but I still have not opened it. The envelope sits inside my gym bag like something dangerous. Part of me wants to know the truth, while another part feels terrified of what it might say. I keep putting it off, telling myself I will look at it later, but later never seems to come.I walk into the gym after many months away. The moment I step through the doors, the familiar smell of rubber mats and clean sweat greets me. It feels strange to be back here. The place looks lively this evening. On the right side, the cardio area has long rows of treadmills and machines where people run a
EmmaThank the heavens I had cleared up the mess in the living room after I left Knox's room.Every thing was going smoothly, well, I'm pretending it is. Until I heard his voice. The man I just had explosive sex with, Knox.I was so embarrassed, no, tgsts not the word to use. I was drenched in sham
KnoxAs soon as they all disperse, I make a beeline for Emma, she appears to be too comfortable with him.The moment she see me, Emma beam a smile. “Rick, meet my dad.” She moves close to me and I hook my arm around hers.Clenching my jaw so hard, I fix him a hard stare, nodding. Rick keeps smiling
KnoxMy breath catches in my throat. Her question renders me speechless. For a second, I freeze.“Daddy?”I clear my throat, her eyes on me. Its not too late, I can end this now before it blows out of proportion.“Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. What did you say?”“What happens if I get pregnant?
Emma I watch her squirm beneath the intense heat of my stare. I tuck my hands into my pocket.A chuckle rolls out of my lips. “How does it feel to be outplayed in your own game?” I tilt my head at the side, analyzing every step she makes.Panic flashes in her eyes and she swallows hard, her throat







