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CHAPTER TWELVE
Author: Ellie D
last update2025-11-10 14:31:58

When Emma returned to the Harper mansion that evening, she could sense the tension the moment she stepped into the living room. Margaret Harper sat on the sofa, her cane resting against her knee, her expression cold as stone. Tara, Mark, and Victoria were gathered as if waiting for a verdict.

The moment Emma stepped inside, the air changed. Her face was pale, her expression unreadable, and she had a strange calmness that no one could understand.

Margaret’s sharp eyes narrowed. “Well?” she deman
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  • CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND ONE

    The house was quiet when Emma finally sat down. Maggie had been asleep for two hours. Liam was in the study, reading something, giving her space. Emma sat on the terrace with a glass of wine she barely touched. below her, millions of lights flickering in the darkness. She thought about how different her life was now compared to a year Liam appeared behind her with his own glass. "Mind if I join you?""I was hoping you would."He sat beside her on the bench, close enough that their shoulders touched. They looked out at the city together, not speaking, just enjoying the moment. After a while, Liam said, "What are you thinking about?"Emma considered the question. "Everything, nothing. How we got here.""That's a long story." Liam smiled softly, remembering their struggles together."It is." She leaned against him. "Remember when we first met?""I remember every detail." He said, and truthfully he did."I was so nervous. You were so... you."Liam laughed softly. "What's that supposed

  • CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED

    Sunday arrived warm and bright, the kind of day that made you want to be outside. Emma packed a bag for Maggie, Liam loaded the car, and they drove across town to George and Victoria's house.Emma's childhood home sat on a quiet street with tall trees and neighbors who'd known her since she was Maggie's age. The porch swing still creaked the same way and the front door still stuck if you didn't pull hard enough.George opened the door before Emma could knock. He swept Maggie into his arms and kissed her cheek. “There's my girl."Maggie giggled and grabbed his nose. Victoria appeared behind him, wiping her hands on a towel. "Let them in, George. Don't stand there blocking the door."George stepped aside. Emma hugged her mother, then her father, then walked into the living room where Margaret was already settled in her favorite chair. "About time," Margaret said. "I've been here an hour.""It is traffic," Emma said."Excuse." Margaret held out her arms for Maggie. The baby went to her h

  • CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY NINE

    Six months had passed since the announcement. Emma sat in her office at Titan Global, morning light streaming through the windows. Her desk was covered with reports, contracts, and a half-empty coffee cup. On the wall behind her hung a new frame, the original Harper Construction logo, saved from the old building, restored and mounted where she could see it every day.Mia walked in without knocking, carrying a tablet and a pastry. "You've been here since six again.""I like the peace and silence. It helps me focus." Emma confessed."You like working yourself into the ground." Mia set the pastry down. "Eat and that's an order from your friend who also happens to be your assistant."Emma smiled and took a bite. "Happy?""Ecstatic." Mia sat across from her. "Okay, here comes your schedule. Ten o'clock, you have a meeting with the Harper board. They want to discuss the new equipment leases. Noon, lunch with your mother, she called three times to confirm, by two o'clock, site visit to the n

  • CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT

    The conference hall at Titan Global headquarters was packed, reporters filled every seat, cameras lined the back wall, and the sound of conversation filled the room. Emma stood in a side room, looking through the window at the crowd, her heart pounding in a way it hadn't since the day she faced the board alone. Mia appeared beside her with a cup of water. "You look like you're about to face a firing squad." "Honestly it feels like it." She said truthfully. "You've got this." Mia squeezed her arm. "I'll be right there at the side. If you forget a name or a number, just look at me. I'll mouth it." Emma laughed. "You'll mouth it? That's your plan?" "It's a good plan and it’s very subtle." Mia said and they both laughed, and the tension eased slightly. George walked in, dressed in his best suit, the one he only wore for weddings and funerals. Margaret followed, elegant as always, with Victoria beside her looking proud and nervous at the same time. "You ready?" George asked. "No but

  • CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SEVEN

    The Harper Construction board met in a small conference room on the second floor of their headquarters. The building was old, like everything else about the company, but it had character. Emma arrived early with Mia, her friend and assistant, who carried a second copy of every document and a tablet for notes."You okay?" Mia asked as they walked up the stairs."I am but I have to say, I’m feeling a little bit nervous," Emma admitted."You? Nervous?" Mia grinned. "You just took down your cousin in front of the whole world. This is just a board meeting.""This is different, this is a family business." She argued.Mia squeezed her arm. "And you're family too. Don't forget that."They walked into the conference room, four board members sat around the table. George was there, representing the family and three others Emma knew by name but not well, Mr. Dawson, the oldest, who'd worked with her grandfather; Mrs. Chen, who handled legal matters; and Mr. Peterson, a local businessman who'd jo

  • CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX

    Emma arrived at Margaret's house on Sunday afternoon with a folder under her arm and her stomach in knots. Liam had offered to come for support, but she'd said no. This was family business, sheneeded to handle it alone.Margaret met her at the door with a hug and a quiet, "Everyone's in the living room."Emma stepped inside, George sat in his usual chair, newspaper folded in his lap, expression guarded. Victoria was on the couch and two other relatives Emma barely saw anymore, Aunt Patricia and Uncle Mark, occupied the remaining seats. They all looked at her when she walked in.Emma sat in the chair Margaret pointed to, front and center, like a witness about to testify."Thank you for coming," she said. "I know this is short notice."George grunted. "Margaret said it was important. What's going on?"Emma opened the folder. "I've spent the last week going through Harper Construction's finances."Patricia shifted in her seat. "Why?""Because Margaret asked me to." Emma pulled out the fi

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