All Chapters of RECLAIMING EMMA: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Emma’s POVThe morning sun peeked through my curtains, bathing the room in a soft, golden glow, it felt ironic, really, how peaceful the day seemed, given the storm brewing inside me.I hadn’t slept much after yesterday’s confrontation with my parents. Every time I closed my eyes, their faces haunted me, dragging old wounds to the surface.Jeff had texted me late last night, letting me know he’d arranged a meeting at the hotel where my parents were staying. A “neutral ground,” he called it, but the thought of sitting across from them again made my stomach churn.I was already nursing my second cup of coffee when Jeff walked into the kitchen. His hair was slightly mussed, as if he’d run his hand through it one too many times, he looked at me carefully, as though gauging my mood.“They’re staying at The Grand Regency.” He said, leaning against the counter.I froze mid-sip, staring at him in disbelief, “You put them in The Grand Regency? Are you serious?”He sighed, crossing his arms, “Ye

Emma’s POVThe next morning dawned earlier than I wanted it to. The pale rays of sunlight streamed through the curtains, lighting up Jeff’s house with an unnatural stillness.It felt odd knowing that today was the day my parents, Marianne and Greg, would meet my twins for the first time, the thought alone made my chest tighten.I sighed, rolling out of bed and tiptoeing to the twins’ room. Jason and Anna were still fast asleep, their little faces peaceful as they clung to their stuffed animals.I lingered at the doorway, my heart aching at the thought of them having to face a situation they wouldn’t fully understand.By the time they woke up, I was already halfway through breakfast prep. The smell of scrambled eggs and toast wafted through the air when I heard the sound of tiny feet padding against the floor.“Mommy.” Anna's sleepy voice called out, followed by Jason's, “Morning, Mommy!”“Good morning, my loves,” I greeted them with a warm smile, kneeling to scoop both of them into a

Emma's POVThe house felt emptier than usual.Mornings were always like this after Jeff and the twins left, eerily quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the clock in the kitchen.I finished brushing my hair, then reached for my blazer, slipping it on and smoothing the fabric as I glanced at my reflection in the full-length mirror.My eyes lingered on my face, tracing the faint lines that stress had started to etch there. A few days had passed since the confrontation with my parents, but their words and Jeff’s disapproval still weighed heavily on me.I know Jeff and I had a conversation about what had gone down that night, but it still bothered me that he wasn't on my side, to begin with. He had chosen to defend my parents first and that didn't sit well with me at the slightest bit. With a sigh, I reached for my phone on the bedside table. As I unlocked it to check the time, the screen lit up with an incoming call from an unknown number.I hesitated, my

Emma's POVReturning to work felt like stepping onto shaky ground. After everything that had happened, I was still on edge.My thoughts were muddled, and my body felt like it was running on autopilot. The events of the past few days had left me tense, scared, and more uncertain than ever.The break-in at the house, the threats, and the way Jeff had acted, it all felt too much, he’d promised to protect us, but something in his eyes told me there was more he wasn’t saying.And that unsettled me more than anything, I didn’t know who to turn to or what to believe.Jeff’s reassurances, once my source of comfort, now felt like empty words, weighed down by the secrets I knew he was hiding.Sitting at my desk, I tried to focus on the emails piling up in my inbox, the familiar click of my keyboard should have been grounding, but my hands shook as I typed.Every noise in the office made me flinch, a creak of a chair, the ringing of a phone, everything felt amplified, like a warning I couldn’t d

Emma’s POVThe day began like any other, filled with the hum of keyboards and the soft murmur of coworkers exchanging pleasantries and my desk was its usual mess, a sea of sticky notes, contracts, and a half-empty coffee mug that I kept forgetting to refill.The normalcy of it all was a comfort, a break from the storm that had reentered my life just days ago.I was in the middle of reviewing a financial report when the intercom on my desk buzzed, I jumped slightly, startled out of my focus.“Emma, this is Mr. Carter, please come to my office.” His tone was clipped, and professional but laced with something else.Urgency, perhaps?I pressed the button to respond, “Of course sir. I’ll be there in a moment.”Hanging up, I quickly saved my work and grabbed a notepad, just in case he needed updates on the Newman deal. The possibility of something being wrong pressed at me as I walked briskly down the corridor, heels clicking against the polished floor.When I reached his office, I knocked