INICIAR SESIÓNEmma burst into the hospital that evening, her heart pounding as she searched for where her friend had been taken. The nurse guided her to the room where Phoebe lay. She stopped in front of the door, took a shaky breath, and pushed it open. The soft click as it closed behind her seemed to echo through the quiet room.Her back pressed against the door, hands covering her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. Phoebe lay still on the bed—eyes closed, face pale, skin drained.The beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence as Emma walked closer, her chest tightening. She sat beside the bed and took her friend’s hand, the one that wasn’t wrapped in bandages.“Oh, Phoebe…” Her voice trembled. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn’t stolen from him back then, we wouldn’t be here.”She tried to hold it in, but her tears fell anyway. Her shoulders shook as guilt tore through her. Then the door opened. Emma quickly wiped her face and stood, turning to see the doctor step in.“She’s
On his way home, he called Winter. If he wanted to take care of Zoe through the night and do a good job, he needed his sister around. She was the only one in the family who knew about his daughter.“This one that you called, I’m honestly shocked,” Winter said, half laughing. “What do you want? Is it about Emma?”Ezra was quiet for a moment, then cleared his throat. “No, not Emma. It’s about Zoe.”Winter gasped softly. “Oh, how I’ve missed her. How is she? Is something wrong? I do want to see her again.”“Then this is your chance,” he said.“What do you mean?”“I’m on my way to pick Zoe up for a sleepover.”“Huh? Isn’t it a school night?”“It is, but Emma won’t be home early, so I’ll have to stay with her. I just need a little help.”Winter sighed but smiled through her tone. “You really should think about getting a nanny. But fine, I’ll help my big brother out.”“Thank you, Winter. And she does have a nanny. I just… want to spend time with her. I barely see her, and she’s growing fast
“When you said you knew a place, I didn’t expect it to be here.” Susan glanced around. Her sunglasses were still intact. Gia, Bea, and Floria stood beside her, laughing.Nothing had changed. It still looked the same. Thirty minutes ago, they had met outside the company, and Emma had wanted to hail a taxi, but Susan insisted they use her car instead. She drove as Emma directed. When they left the Upper East Side, everyone grew curious, and Susan kept asking where they were going—until the car stopped in a small town Susan knew well: Larkhill in Hidden Tower, where Emma lived and the kids schooled.Susan had glanced at her with curiosity.“I promise, you’ll love it,” Emma assured again. “My best friend and I used to come here a lot when I was in college. It’s big. They also have delicious food.”Susan glanced around the supposedly big diner. It was overcrowded, noisy, and hot inside. Nothing like what Emma had described.“Are you sure this is the place?” Gia asked, looking around the d
“You sure know how to have your way.” Heather looked up at Scott as she buttoned her shirt. She adjusted her hair and gazed at him again. “Now spill it…And put some clothes on!”Scott walked toward the table, completely naked, as he reached for his bottle of liquor and poured it into a cup. He took a sip, then grabbed the towel draped over the chair and tied it around his waist. Leaning against the wall with his legs crossed, he circled the rim of the glass with his finger.“Hmm. You won’t like this one.”“Just say it already.” She was attentive, wondering what information he had. If Scott called her over for information, it was always worth it.“Your darling love bought an apartment.”“And?”“It’s not for him but for the corny woman. Emmaline Facer.”Heather laughed, loudly. Scott gave her a look, seeing she didn’t believe him.“Right.”“I’m serious. He bought an apartment in this area. It’s not even far from his place, and she moved in a few hours ago.”She laughed again. “Ezra isn’
“I’m glad you love the place,” Ezra said over the phone.Emma had called him after Natie left. She was already on the bed with the blanket wrapped around her body. The bed was so soft that her muscles relaxed the moment she lay on it.“I will visit Zoe soon. Tell her I love her.”“I will… but something bothers me.”“What is it?”Apart from the fact that she’d been thinking about how he ate her that evening—and also the message she got that made her restless—this was more about the nanny.“It’s about Natie.”“Ah. Do you like her? I heard from the agency that she’s the best in the game. I had to get a hold of her before anyone else did. I did a good job, didn’t I?”“You did. I’m just… worried.”“Well, talk to me. What’s on your mind that bothers you?”Emma sighed and sat up, drawing the blanket closer. “I just feel like the time range is a little short. Natie leaves by ten and comes back by six. It’s not convenient. I even tried to make her sleep in the other room today, but she said so
Emma sat in her office, staring at the message over and over again. I know your secret. She finally gathered the courage to call the number.“The number you have dialed does not exist.”She ended the call and dialed again, but it was the same female voice, the same words. What exactly did they know?Time went by with Emma deep in thought. A knock on the door startled her.“What are you still doing here? Do you know what time it is?” Susan peered her head through the doorway.Emma checked the clock on the wall. “Woah.” She stood up immediately and slipped on her shoes. “I must have been tired because of the work we did today. I got lost in time.” She looked up at Susan. “I should check on the clothes we made today before I leave.”“Don’t worry about that. I’ve done it, and we can continue tomorrow. Just rest and tell Zoella I said hi.”Emma nodded. “Thank you. Please drive home safely.”“You too.”She grabbed her bag, turned off the lights, and ran out of the office. The fresh breeze e







