Jackson had a look of resolve in his eyes. “No. I’m going back to take over my family’s business.”
“Why?” Jackson never liked business, so why did he change his mind?
Jackson’s face fell, and his veins popped. “My brother’s the one who acquired my data and leaked it to the media. Seems like he’s getting too comfy as the heir apparent. It’s time for him to pay the price.”
Somehow Jackson looked different. I could see something dark within his eyes—a dark ambition.
Even so, I couldn’t give him any advice. An eye for an eye seemed about right, and most people would do that. Jackson used to be a gentle soul who’d take all the beatings from his family, but he had had enough. It was time for him to take back what was rightfully his.
A near brush with death wasn’t bad news, apparently. Jackson wanted me to support him, so I gave it to him. He was an old friend, after all. I was going to lend him some money as a seed fund, but all Jackson wanted was my promise, so I glossed it over.
I felt like a heavyweight had been unloaded from my shoulders. Even my soul felt light, so I stretched my arms in John’s car.
The sun’s warmth graced me, but I blocked out its light, though I squinted at it. “It’s a good day.”
“It is,” John answered. We came to a crossroads, but John made a right turn. It was in the opposite direction of our home.
“I thought we’re going home.” I started to panic. All I wanted to do then was to find out what happened in the basement.
“No, no, no.” John didn’t even look at me. “It’s a good day, and the good news won’t stop coming. Next stop, here we come.” He blabbed about his plan, but I didn’t get a word of it.
I frowned, but there was nothing I could do. All I could do was go with the flow.
Trips were fun, but not when I was in a hurry. What a waste of time. I called Anthony.
It beeped, but then the call was hung up. Maybe it wasn’t a good time. I stared at the call record for a few moments before texting him: Call me when you’re done. It’s urgent.
Anthony didn’t reply, much to my worry. Then John came to the airport. Alright, that was odd, so I didn’t budge.
John only noticed my absence when he was about to enter the airport. Then he shrugged. “What are you doing? The plane’s landing soon.” He gave me a weird look.
I crossed my arms, annoyed and refusing to cooperate. “You’re getting in the way of a crucial matter, John. This person better be important, or you’re going to get it.”
John chuckled and came back to push me into the airport. “I’ve always delivered, haven’t I?”
My patience ran out after fifteen minutes of waiting. I pointed at the time on my phone, shoving it in his face. “It’s almost one. Who are we waiting for, exactly?”
And then someone patted my shoulder. “I’m back, Sienna.”
I turned around, and what greeted my eyes was a woman in sunglasses. She spun around, her fishtail skirt sticking to all her sexy curves tightly. The woman was also wearing stilettos, and she radiated nothing but sexual allure. I’d probably flirt with her if I were a man.
But none of that was comparable to the surprise I felt when she took off her sunglasses. “Oh, Emery! It really is you! Oh my god, you slimmed down so much.” I hugged her tightly.
I knew Emery well, but I couldn’t believe that she managed to recover in a mere month or so. Her back was fair and smooth, totally unlike what I saw in the clinic.
Emery had her usual triumphant grin again. “I couldn’t stand it, so I spent tons of money to fix it up.”
She paused to look around before lowering her voice to a whisper. “And that’s the only part that’s healed. I got my scars under cover. Pun not intended. Right, let’s leave this until we get home. Chop chop, don’t want the paparazzi to take my picture.”
As amusing as usual. Emery had always been a straightforward one. I didn’t expect her to come back so soon though. I thought she’d stay in M Country for a while longer to get back to her old self.
The way back was filled with laughter, because Emery and John would always crack dumb jokes. Emery regaled us about the stories and plastic surgery in M Country, and they were refreshing.
Then we stopped laughing the moment we came back.
“You’re back.” Hunter was tending to the plants, but he looked awkward.
Instead of a neat look of an academician, he let his hair hang awkwardly, and he was wearing nothing but a grey tracksuit. Well, he did look like a gardener.
Emery’s laughter earlier was replaced by disgust. “Why are you still here?”
John and I went away. It wasn’t our place to tell someone else how to deal with their personal matters.
Then Xavier ran up to Hunter. “Play with me, daddy!”
Hunter put the gardening equipment down and picked Xavier up. “You promised me you’d finish your homework, Xavier,” he whispered. “If you’re a man, you’re going to see it through no matter what.”
Xavier pouted unhappily, but he didn’t throw a tantrum. Oh, he was taught well. Since Xavier had calmed down, Hunter went back to the house. “Let’s talk inside.”
Emery didn’t blow up in front of the kid, but she still looked irked. And no, she wasn’t following because she relented. I knew her too well.
Emery yanked Xavier away from Hunter the moment we entered the living room. Xavier didn’t recognize her at first because she was gone for more than a month, and she had heavy makeup on. The boy kept struggling, but he quieted down the moment she spoke.
“Mrs. Eriksen,” Emery called the servant. “Take Xavier upstairs. It’s study time.”
“Yes.”
Emery called the shots in the house. Xavier knew that, so he let Mrs. Eriksen take him away.
Once her son was gone, Emery turned back to Hunter. “I thought I said I don’t want to see you or anything related to you in here. Did you lose your class along with your job? Can’t you understand simple English now?”
After Hunter’s extramarital affair and assault were made public, his institution voided the contract the very same day. They also made a notice that slammed his actions. Because of that, his career was ruined, and he lost his source of income.
I only found out about it after John told me. Emery didn’t do it though. Hunter was too famous for his own good after marrying Emery. He had a lot of enemies who were just waiting for the chance to beat him while he was done, and Hunter gave them that chance.
The higher they were, the harder they fell.
Hunter was deep in his thoughts, then he looked at John and me with a frown. The heck? What’s that supposed to mean? Are we an eyesore now? This is Emery’s place. You’re the unwanted guest here.
John realized that faster than I did, so he raised his chin and squinted at Hunter. It was as if he was saying “We’re staying here. Bite us.”
Emery didn’t notice the silent tussle between them, though she was still impatient with him. “Cat got your tongue?”
Hunter sat on the sofa beside Emery, ignoring us. “I’ve been taking care of Xavier and tended to everything in the house in your absence. I realized I’ve been too harsh on you. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think we should give it one more shot.”
John and I looked at each other, then we gasped. The heck? How could he even say that after what he did?
Emery laughed mirthlessly. “Alright. Tell me this: what about Delilah and the baby?” She threw him a mocking look.
Hunter had a serious look on his face. He stared down, resolving himself, then he answered, “Xavier’s still young. He should grow up with both his parents there for him. My parents persuaded Delilah to withdraw the lawsuit after the marriage. She’ll deliver the baby, and we’ll give her a house and a million. Then that’s the end of it between us. My parents’ relatives are going to raise that kid.”
Getting a decent house in K City and paying a million in compensation was going to take a lot out of Hunter, especially after losing his job.
Still, he was a piece of trash. All he cared about was himself. Even if he was better looking than Emery, that didn’t mean he could tell anyone how to live their life.
Emery spoke our minds though. “You cheated on me, but you’re asking me to date you again for a stupid excuse like that? And you want me to forgive my would-be killer, and you want that woman to deliver your baby? So I don’t even have a say in that? Sometimes I wonder if we’ve not dated long enough, Hunter. You don’t seem to understand me at all. What makes you think you can tell me what to do?”
At that point, even Emery thought it was pointless talking to him. She shook her head in disdain. “Get out. Before I change my mind about sparing you.”
Hunter’s face fell as she glared at Emery intently. But then he remembered how terrifying an angry Emery was, so he shot up. “I’m Xavier’s father. Nothing can change that. I’m bowing my head here so everyone can live in peace, but you burned that bridge, Emery. You’re gonna get what’s coming for you.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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