Chapter 167
Alexander closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair as he let out a heavy sigh. He leaned back into his chair, the weight of the situation weighing heavy upon him. His stomach churned with regret. He never should have handed her the keys to his car. He’d only done it to de–escalate the situation, to prevent her from causing more of a scene. But now, that decision may prove rather costly.
His mind was racing with the possible outcomes of this. Annie was putting her life in danger, and so was that of his unborn child.
As much as he had emotionally shut himself off from Annie, this was a serious issue he couldn’t ignore.
Of course, there was also the media to contend with: one word concerning Annie’s disappearance, and chaos would ensue. Speculation would be off, and those fingers would point directly at him and Emma..
Their names with their twins would be dragged in the mud. The world would portray them as villains.
The world he was building for his family could get ruined, the legacy of his forefathers destroyed.
Alexander leaned forward, his hands gripping the edges of the desk as if trying to control himself. “This doesn’t leave this room,” he said firmly, his voice low but charged with authority. “Make sure the press doesn’t get a whisper of this. Do whatever it takes to keep this quiet.”
Kevin nodded, his expression resolute. “Understood, sir. I’ll double the resources on the search team. We’ll find her
“Great,” Alexander said, but little conviction was in his voice.
As Kevin turned and hurried out of the office, Alexander fell back in his chair to stare at the roof.
His head was reeling with questions, doubts, and regrets: What if Annie wasn’t found? What if she was but too late for the baby? And what about the aftermath that would certainly come afterwards, the judgment, the scandal?
He would stop at nothing to find Annie, to know his unborn child was safe.
ΔΑΛΛΑ
Emma’s hand trembled slightly as she clicked the link several people had sent her. The video of Brianna defending her started to play, and Emma’s chest tightened with emotion. She hadn’t expected this, not from Brianna, who had been recovering from a health issue and had been so quiet since her return from the hospital. But here she was, standing tall, speaking with unwavering strength, and openly defying the tide of public hatred that had been directed at Emma.
Tears welled in Emma’s eyes as she watched Brianna passionately defend her, disregarding her own health to come to her aid. Brianna was like a mom to her–always so protective and ready for a fight on behalf of whatever she believed was right. The depth of Brianna’s love and loyalty finally broke through the barriers Emma had built around her heart, filling her both with gratitude and guilt.
She turned her head in the direction of the twins playing: Ethan building a tower, working with his blocks, and Emily giggling at every wobbly move her brother’s creation was making. They had no idea how surrounded with love they were, how privileged they were to have people like Brianna around them, not yet at least.
Poor Brianna; she would be so elated when she finally found out that the grandkids she had often asked Emma about were right here, growing and flourishing. Emma could almost picture Brianna’s face lighting up with joy, the tears that would spill when she held Ethan and Elena for the first time as her grandkids.
15:27/ Thu, Jan 30 t
Chapter 167
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It was a moment she had never dared imagine, yet now it replayed in her mind with detail. For the first time, she was able to allow herself to believe that such a moment could really be possible and that it was something worth fighting for.
Her mind turned to Alexander, her rock in the storm. And with his unshakeable support, she had the strength to carry on, to stand amidst a thousand hate comments and false accusations without crumbling. The insults and curses hurt, but with Alexander, they sounded like whispers in the wind. With him by her side, together they were strong against the verdict of the world. For the first time in years, Emma did not feel alone.
“Mommy?” Ethan’s inquisitive voice jerked her back into the present. He stood before her with big, inquiring eyes. “Why didn’t I go to daycare today?”
She smiled and bent down to rumple his hair. “Because Mommy’s been busy lately, sweetie,” she said softly. “You’ll when the time is right.”
go back
Ethan’s head cocked, weighing her words; then he burst into a grin, running back to his blocks. Emma watched him, her heart swollen with love at her twin’s laughter, their innocence. To sum it all up, her children meant the world to her.
Emma sat up on the couch, hands clasped together tightly as her gaze moved between her children. Her heart swirled uncontrollably in her chest with emotion, guilt, love, and fear. She still could not wrap her head around how Alexander hadn’t seen it right before him every time he looked at Ethan.
Ethan was nearly an exact clone of Alexander: unruly dark hair, a sharp jawline, and striking features. In fact, the resemblance was just as identical as two peas in a pod. Yet Alexander had not noticed him. Granted, there were subtle differences, like Ethan’s eyes were a shade lighter, his lips not as full. Still, the similarity was striking. She had been so sure Alexander would have pieced it together the minute he laid eyes on Ethan, but his anger and pain and stubborn refusal to really see her had blinded him to the truth.
But she is relieved it’s finally over. She has no more secrets tied to her name.
Her gaze shifted to her daughter, Emily, who lay on the small bed Emma had moved into the living room. Soft, pale light bathed the room, casting fragile light upon Emily’s frail face. Though Emily’s health had improved since starting treatment, she was now so weak, so vulnerable. The doctor had said it was weakness due to some sort of drug, but Emma just couldn’t shake off that knot of fear twisting her chest.
Every time Emily smiled, it was like the sun breaking through a storm. Her tiny lips arced, and her eyes bright with a strength that Emma clung to with all her might.
Emily was a fighter, but the clock was ticking. The treatment that Emily needed had a six–month window, and time was running out.
15:27 Thu, Jan su
