Alex caught sight of Jessica already seated. Her hair was messed up in a frenzy style. Her face glowed under the light as she spoke to the waiter about the menu.Alex took his time walking to her, obviously enjoying the sight in front of him.She was just... breathtaking. No two ways about that.He finally got to her."Oh, Alex, you're here." She beamed a smile at him, which he returned.He took her hand from the table and placed a soft kiss on it before he sat across from her.She was wearing blue, as if they'd agreed on colors. It complemented his outfit so well they could pass for the couple of the night at a prom."Have you ordered something?" He asked, sipping gently from the wine in front of him.Realization dawned on him as he took a gulp down. He'd never been on a date with a woman.Holy shit! What would he say now? How would he act to not make this awkward?His palms suddenly became sweaty, like the AC in the room had stopped working. The suit he was wearing added more to his

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE FREEDOM WITHOUT HOPE The next morning, Emma straightened her crumpled clothes as she headed out of the hospital. She was accompanied by two bodyguards with handcuffs on her wrists. She looked around as if watching for any reporters.Her eyes met a few hanging around the hospital. She gulped down emptiness as she was pushed toward a police van.Her eyes were puffy. Her mind still itching from the flowers she'd received.She couldn't rest. No, she'd forgotten how to do so.The flowers meant something she couldn't wrap her fingers around.But the heavier thought was who sent them? What message was the person trying to pass?"You're out. How are you feeling?" A reporter's question made her snap out of her thoughts."Get away from here, miss." The heavy voice of the policeman made the reporter back away a step.But she came back at them again. "Miss Emma, do you have anything to say to the press?"She wasn't listening. Of course she couldn't. She began to glance aroun

"Protect my child. I bet you can at least do that," Ryan said to Emma as they came out of the police station.Diane was being dragged out, and she was closely behind them.Emma didn't have the strength to battle words with him, so she just let him be and walked away, far from him.Where was she going? Nowhere. Diane's cries kept hurting her ears, but she refused to let any tears drop.That car she saw—she still had a glimmer of hope.Even if it was just a little, she'd make sure she used it.First, she needed to find a place to stay."Grandma will definitely give us a place to stay. We've lost our house. Even if it's small," Emma said to Diane, who was wailing behind her.Diane didn't stop, and Emma's anger rose. "Will you fucking stop the stupid tears? What good is that now? Will it bring food to our mouths? Will it give us a place to live? It took you too long to realize how much we've lost. I'm not ready to put up with someone who won't use their brain now."Diane hiccuped back her

"That's... wait, that's not the person we think it is, right?" Alex's voice came out tight, like someone was pulling a rope around his neck.Jessica sat frozen, her eyes locked on the phone. The color drained from her face. Her hands started shaking so bad the phone nearly slipped from her grip."It's... I..." She looked up at them. They were all staring at her, waiting for whatever she had to say."Pick the call!" Thomas hadn't meant for his voice to come out that cold, but he couldn't help it. His whole mind was stuck on one thought—Jessica was a traitor, and they'd just caught her red-handed.He pinched himself on the thigh, not wanting to believe it."It's not what you think. I... I can't pick the call." Her voice came out small and quiet.Xavier scoffed, his eyes blazing with anger. "Why? So we won't see through you? What's the deal with Logan? Why do you even have his number in the first place?"Alex couldn't speak. His throat had closed up completely. His mind was blank except

The next morning, Ryan stood in front of the driver's company he'd left days ago, clutching his CV against his chest. His hands trembled.He straightened his only blue suit and entered the building, legs dragging against the floor."Welcome back." The same woman from before grinned. "Oh, you're back. Thought you weren't interested.""Yes." His voice came out quiet as he walked closer.She wasn't alone this time. A man sat beside her. Ryan remembered her claim: *I'm the boss here.* That statement made him doubt her. What kind of boss sat idle at the receptionist desk all day?The man gave him an awkward smirk. "Why are you clutching that CV? You're not applying for the manager position, are you?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.Shame washed over Ryan. If only they would just look at his credentials. If only he could be the manager, then he wouldn't have to compare himself to what Alex once was.He hadn't shed a tear since leaving the police station, but now they came flooding. He wante