LOGINThe front door slammed shut.The sound echoed throughout the house, sending a vibration that seemed to reach Emma’s chest.Alex walked in without sparing a single glance back. His strides were long and fast—as if he was trying to get away before his emotions completely exploded.“Mr. Alex…” Emma called softly.No response.He kept walking toward the living room, passing the sofa and table without truly seeing anything. His face was cold. His jaw tight.Emma swallowed hard. Her chest felt tight.She quickened her pace, following him.“Mr. Alex… wait.”Still no response.Until finally, gathering the last bit of courage she had, Emma reached out and grabbed his wrist.The touch made Alex stop.Emma was slightly out of breath. “Please… sit for a moment.”Alex looked down at her small hand gripping him, then slowly lifted his gaze to her face.Their eyes met.Deep.Tense.But without a word, Alex let himself be pulled. He sat down on the sofa with a slow movement, leaning back, still wrapp
Emma stood beside Alex.Her body was still weak. Her legs trembled slightly, but she forced herself to remain upright. Her hand was still in Alex’s grasp—warm, firm… steadying.But her gaze slowly shifted.Downward.Toward the figure still lying on the floor.Jonathan.He hadn’t moved much. His breathing was heavy, uneven. His chest rose and fell irregularly. His face was bruised, his lips bloodied, his shirt wrinkled beyond shape.The sight made Emma’s chest tighten.Something stirred inside her.A feeling she couldn’t simply ignore.Slowly, she pulled her hand free from Alex’s.Her steps were hesitant.But she still walked closer.“Emma…”Alex’s voice came softly, almost like a warning.But Emma didn’t stop.She knelt beside Jonathan.Her eyes studied his face, filled with complicated emotions.Hatred.Pain.Disappointment.And… a trace of pity.“Jonathan…” she whispered.Jonathan slowly opened his eyes.His vision was blurred, but he could still recognize the figure in front of him
Jonathan yanked Alex away from Emma mid-kiss, grabbing his collar roughly.The movement was fast. Violent. Fueled by emotions he could no longer contain.“You bastard!” he shouted. “How dare you kiss her in front of me?!”Without giving him any space, his fist swung forward.THUD!The sound of the punch echoed through the silent living room. In a matter of seconds, the tension that had been simmering exploded into chaos.Alex’s head snapped slightly to the side. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled his mouth, a thin line forming at the corner of his lips.But—he didn’t fight back.Jonathan struck him again.THUD! THUD!“I’ve been patient long enough!” he roared, his breath ragged, his eyes blazing red with fury. “But you—you’ve crossed the line, Uncle!”Emma, standing not far from them, froze.Her body was still weak. The wounds on her back throbbed with every movement.But what she saw in front of her hurt far more.“Jonathan, stop!” she cried out in panic.She stepped close
Alex appeared at the dining room doorway without a sound.His steps were calm, but his presence alone was enough to shift the air in the room. Emma, who had been eating, immediately froze mid-motion. Her body tensed instinctively.He took a seat directly across from her.His gaze was straight. Flat. Impossible to read.Emma swallowed.“Mr. Alex…” her voice came out hesitant. “Thank you… for helping me yesterday.”Silence.Alex didn’t answer right away.Instead, his gaze shifted—colder, sharper.Emma instantly felt guilty, even though she didn’t know what she had done wrong.“Thank you?” Alex repeated quietly.Emma grew nervous. “I just—”“Enough,” Alex cut in flatly. “I don’t want to hear that again.”The spoon in Emma’s hand slowly lowered.“What exactly am I to you?” Alex continued.Emma fell silent.“I don’t need your thanks, Emma,” he said. “What I need… is for you to stop acting like a stranger.”The words tightened something painfully in her chest.She lowered her gaze.“I’m sor
Pain greeted Emma the moment her consciousness returned.Her back burned. Her arms felt heavy. Even drawing a deep breath felt like her body was resisting.She slowly opened her eyes.The ceiling looked unfamiliar for a few seconds—until memories from last night came crashing back.The lashes.The shouting.And Alex.Emma closed her eyes briefly, holding back the tightness suddenly rising in her chest.With great effort, she pushed herself up from the bed. The blanket covering her body slipped down, revealing the marks that were still clearly visible.“Ah…” she hissed softly as her feet touched the floor.But she forced herself to stand.Slowly.Step by step.Emma opened the bedroom door and walked out. The house felt quiet. There was no sound except the faint ticking of a clock from the living room.“Mr. Alex?” she called softly.No answer.She carefully made her way down the stairs, gripping the wooden railing for support.Each step was agonizing.When she reached the bottom, she pa
The Clayton family’s living room was filled with an unusual tension that night.The crystal chandelier above still glowed warmly, but the atmosphere beneath it felt cold. There was no light conversation. No laughter. Only restrained anger… and the truth slowly rising to the surface.Lucas stood in the center of the room, his face tense. Jonathan stood beside him, his breathing still uneven.Across from them, Henry sat in the main chair.Calm.Too calm.Meanwhile, Alex leaned casually by the window, both hands tucked into his pockets. His face was expressionless, as if he were merely a spectator in a conflict he had actually set into motion.“Grandpa, this has gone too far!” Jonathan’s voice broke the silence. “What Uncle Alex did at the office today is completely unreasonable!”Henry didn’t respond right away.He simply looked at his grandson in silence.Lucas stepped in.“That’s right, Dad,” he said in a controlled tone, though emotion seeped through. “I’ve devoted years to this comp
Emma’s consciousness returned slowly.Her head felt heavy. Her vision blurred. The faint scent of the room gradually became familiar—aged wood and an overly strong air freshener.She blinked several times.The ceiling… wasn’t unfamiliar.Her body went rigid.This was her room.The bedroom in her fa
Henry fell silent for a long moment after the confession slipped from Emma’s lips. The old man’s face went pale. The hand resting on the armrest trembled slightly. His gaze stayed fixed on Emma—as if hoping she would suddenly laugh and say it was all just a misunderstanding.“You…” Henry’s voice wa
“Let go of me, Mr. Alex!”Emma struggled to pull her arm free from the man’s grip. Her heels nearly slipped against the marble floor of the Clayton residence courtyard. But Alex kept walking without looking back, dragging her toward his car.“Mr. Alex, I said let go!” Emma snapped, trying to hold b
“You don’t need to come down. Thank you for driving me home.”Emma said it without turning around. Her hand was already on the door handle, her voice flat—too flat for someone who had just gone through the worst day of her life.Alex didn’t answer.He only watched Emma’s back as she slowly walked aw







