Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 71 - Chapitre 80

Emma’s Point Of ViewI could feel my heart pounding against my ribs, my blood boiling as the detective’s words echoed in my head. Evelyn Steele. The name alone made my stomach churn. I had expected deception, but not from her, I could have sworn that she would never. Never from the woman who was Lily’s grandmother.I shot up from my seat, my chair scraping harshly against the tiled floor. “What?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. My hands trembled at my sides, not with fear, but with unbridled rage. “What do you mean not to arrest her?” I turned to Adrian, who had gone deathly still beside me.The detective remained composed, but Adrian wasn’t even looking at me. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched at his sides. That only pissed me off more.“She kidnapped Lily,” I hissed, my voice rising. “One of those men just admitted to taking orders from her. And you’re telling me not to have her arrested?”Adrian finally turned to me, his face drawn and conflicted.

Emma’s Point Of ViewThe pen felt heavier in my hand than it should have. Each stroke against the paper felt like carving wounds into my soul. I had signed documents before, contracts, agreements, even hospital release forms but this? This was different. These papers held the weight of justice, the finality of punishment, and the severing of whatever little ties remained between Evelyn Steele and my daughter.Lily shifted in my lap, her small fingers curling into my blouse as she rested her head against my chest. The warmth of her tiny body grounded me, a reminder of why I was here. Why I was doing this.Detective Roy gave me a firm nod as I finished signing the last document. His expression, though professional, carried a hint of relief. "Thank you for trusting us, Ms. Carter," he said, his voice steady. "We'll keep you updated with each passing day."I met his gaze, my own hardened with resolve. "I expect nothing less, Detective."He extended a hand, and I shook it briefly before ri

Emma’s Point Of View I was in my office, surrounded by my event planning team, discussing final details for an upcoming wedding of my client. The air buzzed with last-minute decisions.. floral arrangements, catering menus, seating charts. My assistant, Edith, was taking notes at lightning speed, trying to keep up with the whirlwind of ideas being thrown around.I was mid-sentence, discussing lighting options, when the door slammed open.The sound cracked through the room like a gunshot, making everyone jump. My eyes snapped to the entrance just in time to see Adrian storming in, his face thunderous with barely contained rage.Behind him, Edith scrambled to catch up, her expression flustered. “Mr. Steele, you can’t just barge in....”“I need a fucking word with Emma,” he growled, his eyes locked on me like a predator who had finally cornered its prey.A sick feeling twisted in my stomach. What the hell is going on?I lifted a hand, signaling Edith to let it go. “It’s fine. Everyone, c

Emma’s Point of ViewI crouched in front of Lily, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. Her big brown eyes stared up at me with innocent curiosity, unaware of the storm raging inside me.“Baby, you know Mommy loves you, right?” My voice was gentle, but my grip on her tiny shoulders was firm, as if holding on to her would keep her safe from the chaos threatening to tear our world apart.Lily nodded, her small hands gripping her lunchbox tightly. “I know, Mommy.”I pulled her into a tight embrace, inhaling her sweet scent, committing this moment to memory. Every time I let her go, I felt like I was losing a piece of myself.The school bell rang, loud and sharp, breaking through my fear-laced thoughts.“Mommy, I’ll be late,” Lily said, pulling back just enough to look at me.I forced a smile, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before reluctantly letting her go. “Go on, baby. Have a great day, okay?”I watched her small figure disappear through the school gates, my heart pounding un

Emma’s Point of ViewHospitals had a way of making time feel like it wasn’t moving. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed softly, casting an eerie glow on the sterile white walls. The scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, mingling with the faint aroma of coffee from a vending machine down the hall. I sat stiffly in one of the hard plastic chairs, my legs bouncing anxiously as I tried to get my breathing under control.It had taken everything in me to fight off the panic attack earlier. I had used the same breathing techniques I had learned in therapy back in England... the four deep inhales, holding for a beat, and then the long exhale through my mouth. Thanks to Ryan too It worked. Kind of. My breath had steadied, but the fear? That still clung to me, gnawing at the edges of my sanity.Ryan sat beside me, his knee nearly touching mine, his presence the only thing keeping me from spiraling. He had barely let go of my hand since we arrived, his thumb rubbing small, soothing circles