Emma was still seething after giving the staff their final warning when she heard the sound of heels clicking aggressively behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The room had gone too quiet, and a thick tension hung in the air as Maria stormed toward her.Maria’s voice, dripping with venom, cut through the silence. “How *dare* you?”Emma slowly turned around, her eyes narrowing as she faced the woman. Maria’s face was twisted in fury, her eyes blazing with anger. “Is there something you’d like to say, Maria?” Emma asked calmly, though her voice was tight with restrained emotion.Maria laughed bitterly, crossing her arms. “Oh, there’s plenty I want to say. But let’s start with this: are you not *ashamed* of yourself? Standing here defending *him*?” She jabbed a finger in Victor’s direction, her voice full of disdain. “A *nobody* over your own family?”Emma felt her stomach twist, but she refused to back down. “Victor is far from a nobody, Maria. He’s done more
Victor took a deep breath, his face hardening with resolve. His hand still rested on Emma's arm, but his gaze shifted to the door Maria had just stormed through. “You know what? I’m done playing nice,” he muttered, his voice cold with determination.Emma turned to him, noticing the fire in his eyes. “Victor, what are you thinking?”He pulled away from her slightly, his jaw clenched. “I’ve had enough of Maria’s games. Enough of her lies and manipulation. She thinks she can treat us like pawns? Not anymore.”Just then, the door burst open again, and Maria stormed back in, her face twisted in fury. “I’m not done with you!” she spat, her eyes blazing. “You think you can humiliate me and walk away? Victor, you “owe” me!”Victor didn’t flinch. Instead, he slowly turned to face her, his expression unreadable but his tone sharp as a blade. “Owe you?” he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. “You really believe that, don’t you? That I “owe” you something?”Maria stepped closer, pointing a fin
Victor’s gaze lingered on Emma for a moment longer, the weight of everything that had just happened slowly washing over him. He’d finally broken free from Maria’s grasp, from Grandpa Ben’s manipulation. It felt like he’d shed the chains that had bound him for years.But the storm wasn’t over. They both knew it.Emma’s voice broke the silence, gentle but firm. “Victor, Maria’s not going to let this go. Neither will Grandpa Ben. You need to be ready.”Victor’s eyes darkened, his resolve hardening even more. “I know,” he said, his voice low. “But I’m not afraid of them anymore. Let them come. I’m done running.”Emma nodded, her eyes full of admiration. “Good. Because they’re going to push back, and they’re going to push hard. We have to be ready to hit back even harder.”Victor’s grip on her hand tightened, his jaw clenching. “I’m not backing down this time. They’ve underestimated me for too long.”Emma smiled, her gaze steady. “That’s what I love about you. You never give up, even when
“You deserve a break,” Victor said, his voice soft but firm, his eyes locked onto Emma’s.Emma gave him a puzzled look, the tension still simmering in the air between them. “A break? Victor, we don’t have time to"Victor cut her off, shaking his head. “We’ve been fighting nonstop, Emma. I see it in your eyes, you’re exhausted. You need to rest. *We* need to rest, even if just for a moment.”Before Emma could protest, Victor scooped her up into his arms. She let out a soft gasp, clutching his shoulders instinctively. “Victor, what are you doing?” she asked, her voice breathless from the sudden movement.Victor smirked down at her, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “Taking you somewhere you can relax. You’ve earned it.”Emma’s protests melted away as she settled against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She was tired, that much was true. Her body ached, and her mind was running on fumes, but she had been too focused on the fight ahead to admit it.Victor carried her
Maria's Deadly PlanMaria stormed out of the room, her heels clicking violently against the marble floors as her mind raced. Her heart pounded with rage, her breaths coming in sharp bursts. Emma. It was *always* Emma. The woman had taken everything from her, her power, her influence over Victor, and now, she was about to lose her standing with the board. She couldn’t let that happen. She *wouldn’t* let that happen.As she reached the private office she used on occasion, Maria slammed the door behind her, the force rattling the frame. She leaned against the door for a moment, her chest heaving with fury. How had it all come to this? Everything had been so perfect. Victor had been under her control, Grandpa Ben was the most feared man in the industry, and the company was thriving. But now, it was all slipping away. And there was only one person to blame: *Emma*.“She took everything from me,” Maria muttered under her breath, her fists clenched. “She’s the reason this is all falling apar
Maria’s voice echoed through the room as she stepped inside without warning, her tone sugary sweet yet sharp enough to cut through the tension. “Well, look at you, Emma, busy as always.”Emma didn’t look up immediately, flipping through documents, her instincts on high alert. Victor, standing near the desk, tensed beside her. “Maria,” he acknowledged coolly, his eyes narrowing, “what do you want?”Maria’s smile widened as she sauntered into the room, her heels clicking against the marble floor with each deliberate step. “Oh, Victor, don’t be so cold. I’m just here to talk,” she purred, eyes fixed on Emma like a predator sizing up prey. “Emma and I need to clear the air, don’t we, cousin?”Emma raised her head slowly, locking eyes with Maria. Her stomach churned with unease. She could feel Victor’s gaze on her, protective but cautious. “What do you mean, Maria?” Emma asked, her voice calm but firm.Maria leaned against the edge of the desk, her smile dripping with fake warmth. “I’ve be
Emma’s pulse quickened as she watched the driver step out of the car. A chill ran down her spine, her instincts screaming danger, but her body refused to respond. She felt glued to her seat, her breath hitching in her throat. The air in the car, once warm and comforting, now seemed oppressive. Her voice wavered as she tried to keep calm, but the growing dread was impossible to hide."What’s going on, Maria?" Emma’s words were barely above a whisper. Maria, sitting beside her, turned slowly with a cruel smile. There was something unsettling in her expression, her lips curling as if she’d been waiting for this moment all along. Her eyes glinted with a malice Emma had never seen before. "Oh, Emma," Maria began, her tone dripping with condescension, "always so naive." She leaned in closer, her voice now a venomous whisper. "This was never about Grandpa Ben."Emma’s stomach churned. She suddenly felt dizzy, her heart hammering against her chest. “Not about Grandpa Ben?” What did that mea
“Call him!” the man’s voice boomed, shoving the phone into Emma’s trembling hands. Her body ached from the beating, blood staining her shirt and face. She could barely move without wincing, each breath painful as she tried to sit up.Emma’s vision blurred with tears, her swollen lip quivering as she weakly dialed Victor’s number. Her hand shook, and her heart felt like it was breaking with every ring. “Please, Victor, pick up…” she begged silently, her voice stuck in her throat. The phone rang once... twice... three times, nothing. No answer. The line went dead.The man standing over her growled in frustration. "Again. Call him again!"Emma sobbed, her fingers numb as she redialed. Her entire body throbbed from the assault, and she could barely keep her head up, let alone speak. She glanced at Maria, who stood by the van, arms crossed, watching with cold satisfaction.“What did I ever do to you?” Emma’s voice cracked, her throat raw from crying. She could barely get the words out, he