Chapter 39
The morning light streamed gently through the window, spilling soft golden beams onto the floor of her hospital room. Planning to expose the Diaz family’s financial schemes and bring them to light has prevented her from visiting her doctor regularly lately, which was extremely important during her high-risk pregnancy. So a visit to The Hamilton Hospital became the first destination after winning the battle with Luka and Eliana.
Emma sat at the small table beside her bed, her breakfast tray untouched. The coffee, once steaming, now sat cold in its cup as her fingers traced absent patterns on the rim. Her phone lay on the table, its screen dark, untouched since she had set it down. She couldn’t bring herself to scroll any longer—not when her thoughts kept returning to Thomas.
The memory of his confession lingered, echoing in her mind. His voice had been steady but vulnerable, his words weighted with a sincerity that left her breathless.
This isn’t about expecting something from you. I just needed to be honest.
Emma sighed, leaning back in her chair. Her heart felt as if it was being pulled in two directions, the threads of her life fraying under the weight of too many emotions. Thomas’s unwavering support, his strength, his kindness—he had been her rock through everything, yet his honesty had stirred something she wasn’t ready to face.
And then there was Alex.
Her fingers brushed against her growing belly, the faintest smile flickering on her lips before fading. The twins tied her to Alex in a way that could never be undone. Memories of him filled her mind—their laughter in better times, the depth of his love before fear and guilt had driven him away. Even now, after all the pain and distance, a part of her still longed for the man she had fallen in love with.
But Alex had left her. Not physically, not completely, but emotionally, in the ways that mattered most. And in his absence, Thomas had stepped in, his presence constant and unwavering, filling a void she hadn’t realized existed.
Is it wrong to find comfort in someone else’s arms when your heart still aches for the one who left?
Luka’s ominous words clawed at the edges of her thoughts, another layer of complication she couldn’t shake.
The Barretts and Diazes have a past you don’t understand.
His cryptic warning felt like a shadow hanging over her, threatening to unravel everything she thought she knew.
She picked up the cup of coffee, its coolness jolting her back to the present. Taking a sip, she tried to gather her thoughts.
On one side was Alex, the father of her children, the man who had hurt her in ways she couldn’t articulate but who still owned a piece of her heart.
On the other was Thomas, whose steadfast care made her believe she could stand tall again, even after everything she had endured.
Emma closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek. For the first time, she wasn’t just torn between two men—she was torn between the woman she had been and the woman she was becoming. And she had no idea which version of herself to follow.
Emma leaned back in her chair, letting her thoughts drift.
She remembered the first time Alex had taken her to the Barrett estate. The sprawling grounds, the towering mansion—it had all been so intimidating. But Alex had made her feel at ease, showing her the quieter corners of the property, the places where he felt most at home.
“It’s not the size of the place that matters,” he had said with a rare smile. “It’s the people you share it with.”
Those moments had been rare but precious, glimpses of the man beneath the cool, businesslike exterior.
And then there was Buenos Aires. The memory of him standing bloodied and haunted in that photograph still sent a chill down her spine. She now understood what he had sacrificed that night—how deeply he had been pulled into Luka’s web to protect his family.
A contract disguised as a marriage. You wanted stability. I needed an ally. That’s all this ever was.
His words from their last conversation echoed painfully in her mind. How could someone who had once made her feel so safe now seem so unreachable?
Emma stared at the faint lines of sunlight filtering through the hospital blinds, her hands resting protectively over her growing belly. The room was quiet except for the distant hum of monitors and the occasional murmur of voices in the hallway. A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts.
“Come in,” she called, shifting to sit up straighter.
The door opened, and Jack entered, a paper bag from her favorite café in hand. His grin was easy, familiar, as he set the bag on the small table beside her bed.
“Figured you could use something better than hospital food,” he said, pulling out a warm croissant and a cup of coffee.
Emma managed a small smile. “You’re officially my favorite person today.”
Jack sat across from her, his usual playful demeanor softening as he studied her. “You okay? You’ve been… quiet.”
Emma hesitated, her fingers toying with the edge of the blanket. “Just… everything feels like too much right now. It’s hard to think straight.”
Jack leaned back, his brow furrowing. “Is this about Thomas? Or Alex? Or both?”
Her head snapped up. “How did you—?”
Jack chuckled. “Come on, Em. You’ve been wearing your heart on your sleeve lately. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out something’s weighing on you.”
She sighed, wrapping her hands around the warm coffee cup he handed her. “Thomas told me last night that he has feelings for me.”
Jack’s eyebrows shot up, though he quickly masked his surprise. “Well, that’s… unexpected. How do you feel about it?”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know.” She shook her head, her voice tinged with frustration. “He’s been amazing, Jack. He’s always there when I need him, and I don’t even know how to thank him for everything he’s done. But…”
“But then there’s Alex,” Jack finished for her.
Emma nodded, her eyes drifting toward the window. “I hate how he’s handled things. The distance, the lies, the way he shut me out—but he’s still the father of my children. And deep down, I know I still care about him. I don’t even know what to do with that.”
Jack leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now, Em. Take it one step at a time. But whatever you do, make sure it’s what you want—not what you think you’re supposed to want. Not what you think you owe Alex, or what you think Thomas expects. You.”
Emma exhaled shakily, grateful for his steady presence. “I just wish it were simpler.”
Jack offered her a small smile. “If life were simple, we wouldn’t be sitting here eating overpriced pastries in a hospital room. But you’re tougher than you give yourself credit for. You’ll figure it out.”
Her lips curved upward despite the ache in her chest. “Thanks, Jack. I needed that.”
“You’ve got this, Em,” he said, patting her hand before leaning back. “And hey, if it gets too messy, I’m always happy to punch Alex or Thomas. Just say the word.”
Emma laughed softly, the sound breaking through her tension. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
* * *
Alex Barrett stood alone in the sleek conference room of Barrett Industries, the dim lighting reflecting off the polished table as he stared at the stack of documents before him. They had arrived earlier that evening in an unmarked envelope, delivered by a courier who disappeared without so much as a name. The contents had left Alex reeling.
The reports outlined Luka Diaz’s calculated attempts to dismantle Barrett Industries. Every move was meticulously documented—insider trading, bribery of board members, and the manipulation of key contracts. But the margins of these reports were what caught Alex’s attention. They were filled with notes, written in sharp, precise handwriting that hinted at a deep understanding of Luka’s operations.
Alex’s frown deepened as he came across a familiar name: Emma Barrett.
Her name appeared again and again, linked to key moments in the counter-effort. The notes suggested that she had been deeply involved in uncovering Luka’s schemes, though they lacked specifics. Alex’s jaw clenched as he flipped through the pages, his heart pounding with an unsettling mixture of admiration and unease.
He had always known Emma was resilient, but seeing evidence of her tenacity laid out like this was humbling. She wasn’t just protecting herself—she was protecting him, his company, and their future. Yet, whoever had sent this package had gone to great lengths to conceal their identity, leaving Alex with more questions than answers.
And then there was Thomas.
The more Alex read, the more Thomas’s name appeared in the margins, tied to every critical decision and breakthrough in the fight against Luka Diaz. He had provided resources, connections, and unwavering support. The documents painted him as the backbone of their effort, a man who had stepped in when no one else could—or would.
Alex’s grip on the report tightened. He didn’t blame Thomas for stepping in; after all, Alex had effectively driven Emma away with his coldness and lies. But the idea of someone else stepping into the role he had once held—being her confidant, her protector—cut him deeper than he cared to admit.
His mind betrayed him, conjuring images of Emma smiling at Thomas, leaning on him in moments of vulnerability, finding solace in his steady presence. It wasn’t just professional collaboration between them; the closeness was undeniable.
Alex could feel it, even in the dry facts of the report. Each line seemed to taunt him: You abandoned her, and now someone else has taken your place.
His phone buzzed on the table, dragging him back to reality. A new message.
We need to talk. Call me.
Sophia. Yet another disaster of his own making. But compared to the storm brewing in his chest over Emma and Thomas, dealing with Sophia felt like a secondary concern.
Alex exhaled sharply, tossing the phone aside. His jealousy festered, a bitter cocktail of regret and anger. He had no right to feel this way—he knew that. He had been the one to create the distance, telling himself it was for Emma’s safety, that it was the only way to protect her and their child. But now, seeing how she had fought for him, for the company, and for their future without his support, he felt the cracks in his conviction widening.
The thought of Emma laughing with Thomas, sharing quiet moments he no longer had access to, was unbearable. He pictured Thomas sitting at her bedside, holding her hand as she struggled to stay strong, offering her the kind of comfort Alex had once been able to provide. His jaw clenched at the thought.
The worst part was that Thomas deserved her trust. Alex had given him every opportunity to step into the void he’d created, and Thomas had risen to the occasion.
Maybe even better than I ever could, Alex thought bitterly.
But the jealousy wouldn’t leave. It clawed at him, sharp and unrelenting. He couldn’t stop replaying the rumors he had overheard from his staff: Thomas has been spending so much time with her. They seem… close.
At the time, Alex had dismissed them, chalking it up to speculation. Now, he wasn’t so sure.
His hand ran through his hair as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
Maybe I was wrong.
The thought hit him like a punch to the gut. What if he had made the wrong choice, pushing her away? What if, in trying to protect her, he had only succeeded in losing her?
The idea of Emma moving on, finding happiness with Thomas, should have brought him some comfort. She deserved peace, after everything she had endured. But the thought of her being happy with someone else—not just anyone, but Thomas—made Alex feel like he was unraveling.
The documents lay in front of him, incriminating Luka and revealing the extent of Emma and Thomas’s efforts. Alex stared at them, but his focus blurred. All he could think about was Emma—and the growing realization that he had pushed her straight into another man’s arms.
As the day wore on, Alex found himself unable to focus on anything else. He replayed his last conversation with Emma in his mind, the coldness of his words cutting deeper now than they had in the moment.
He had thought he was protecting her, but in reality, he had only hurt her. And in doing so, he had pushed her toward someone who was willing to fight for her in ways he hadn’t been.
By the time evening fell, Alex had made up his mind. He wasn’t ready to confront Emma yet—not while he was still sorting through his own emotions—but he couldn’t let things continue the way they were.
If there was any chance of salvaging what they had, he needed to step up.
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