Emelia’s Pov The roads leading to the institute had fully changed. It seems they've reconstructed it during the time that I was gone. I turned the corner, the familiar glass-front building already in sight when a figure stumbled into my path. I froze.“Ethan?”I blinked, he looked nothing like the untouchable, self-assured boy I remembered. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes rimmed red as if sleep had long abandoned him. His skin was pale, his clothes wrinkled. Even his hair, once effortlessly neat, hung messy across his forehead.For a second, I thought I was imagining him.“Emelia.” He rasped, his voice hoarse, like it hadn’t been used in days.I took a step back instinctively, tightening my grip on my bag, “Ethan.” My tone was flat, defensive. I didn’t know why he was here, but whatever reason it was, I was certain I wouldn’t like it.His gaze darted over me, desperate, “Wait, please. Don’t walk away. I need to talk to you.”I almost laughed, “You need to talk to me? After every
Kaidon's Pov The iron gates of the BlackWood mansion creaked open, the familiar sound cutting through the silence of the estate. My car rolled slowly down the path, and as soon as I stepped out, the staff waiting along the steps bent low, murmuring greetings. I didn’t so much as spare them a glance. My strides were long, purposeful, and heavy with the irritation simmering beneath my skin.The grand double doors opened, and the chill of the mansion’s air conditioning hit me as I entered. The marbled floors gleamed beneath the chandelier light, polished so perfectly I could see my own reflection in them. A place I’d grown up in, a place that should’ve felt like home, yet every time I walked inside, all I felt was suffocation.The first person I saw was Gideon, Marcus’s most loyal dog, standing stiffly outside the office door like some kind of silent sentry. His broad shoulders were squared, his expression carefully blank, but I caught the flicker of tension in his jaw when our eyes met
Emelia’s Pov Marcus set the pen down with more ceremony than it deserved. He slid the check toward me like it was poison wrapped in silk.“Sign here.” He said, his voice was smooth and happy that his plan worked. I leaned forward, hand hovering over the paper as I signed it. I smiled and I snatched the check from the table. The door burst open almost immediately. Kaidon stormed, his face was dark and tight with worry; his eyes landed on me in a pulse. He walked towards me, reaching me in two long strides.“Emelia, are you okay?” His voice was ragged. He grabbed my shoulders, not roughly, but with a force that said he would not let anything happen to me.Marcus couldn’t help himself. He smiled, the kind of smile that wanted to prove a point, “Ah, Kaidon. Perfect timing. The person you’re so concerned about just took a blank check from me. She’ll take what she wants and leave you right now.”My eyes found Kaidon and I felt the absurd urge to laugh and to climb into his arms at the s
Emelia’s Pov “Leave Kaidon and I'll give you whatever you want. You can just name it.” Marcus BlackWood said, his expression not giving any room for takebacks. I blinked, looking around. Somehow, he had forced me to follow him to this place which he rented out. It was like a cafe of some sort, but more high end. And it smelled good everywhere, I couldn't even focus on what he was saying. I glanced back at Marcus who hadn't stopped staring at me. I had heard stories about how cruel this man was. When he brought me here, I was shocked at first that a man like him would know a place like this, but on second thought, he must have planned on seeing me today and brought me here so as not to scare me. “I'm waiting for your answer, girl.” He snapped, his voice booming around me. I stared calmly at him, then placed my hands on the table, “What if I ask for a blank check? Will you give it to me?” I questioned, tilting my head. A flash of surprise went across his face and I almost snickere
Kaidon's Pov I stared at the paper in front of me, frowning. There have been a lot of discrepancies in the office ledger. It seems there's a mole in my office which I have to take care of. But just as I was about to call for my newest assistant, there was a knock on my door. The knock at my door was sharp and hurried. Not the kind of knock that belonged in an ordinary workday. My assistant, Elias, stepped in, his face tight, his posture uneasy.“Sir.” He began, voice controlled but not calm, “I have bad news. Your father has gone to see Miss Emelia. He’s with her right now.”My pen slipped from my fingers and clattered to the desk. The sound reverberated like gunfire in my chest.“What did you just say?” My voice was lower than I intended. Elias swallowed, “Marcus is with Miss Emelia right now. She was seen earlier in public and there was some… altercation. But before I could even confirm details, your father dispatched men. They intercepted her. He’s with her now.”I shot to my fe
Emelia’s Pov “That's true. I watched the live and now I know why this girl looks familiar. She's Emelia, the girlfriend of Kaidon BlackWood. Amaya had confronted her and hit her while she was in a restaurant with Kaidon. I thought Amaya would have learnt her lesson by now but it seems she became even more stupid!” “Unbelievable. All this time we thought she was perfect.”“Why would she attack someone like this?”“Someone record her face, get her reaction!”“Cancel her. She’s done. She’s so done.”She tried to explain , that I’d started it, that I’d humiliated her on purpose, that the whole world would believe her side if she just told it loud enough, but no one was listening anymore. The crowd had already decided, and cameras were already chewing through every excuse.“No! No, you don’t understand…” Amaya begged, voice cracking. Her hand twisted at her designer bag. She looked like she wanted to collapse into a heap, but pride pushed her to keep going. The more she talked, the small