7 I'll End You!
Meanwhile, Violet stood outside Daniel's door, lost deep in the swamp of her thoughts.
She felt utterly humiliated and was irked at Daniel's rejection of her advances.
'If only that stupid Jake didn't get in my way, I'd have been in Daniel's bed already.' She thought.
Just then, her phone beeped in her hand purse and she brought it out to take a look.
[I've done what you've asked me to. Send me my balance as promised.]
When Violet saw the text, all her anger vanished and a satisfied grin appeared on her face. She tapped the screen a few times and immediately sent a reply,
[12 million sent. Make sure no one finds out about this or I'll end you and your entire generation!]
Stashing her phone back into her purse, she smiled smugly as she walked away in her heels.
'Even if Daniel rejected me today, I still have many chances of getting him where I want him. But poor Emma…tsk..tsk..you don't even know how you fell from grace.'
Violet laughed loudly, a wicked look in her eyes.
***
The sun's gentle rays spilled into the hydrangea-colored bedroom, painting it with a soft, golden hue. Emma bathed by the warm light lay in her bed feeling too lazy to get up.
Just then, a soft knock sounded on the door behind her, forcing Emma to open her eyes, which caught a hint of the sun's rays in its blue chrome.
She pushed herself off her most comfortable position, her blond tresses scattering like a waterfall behind her, before calling out, "Come in."
Donning a cream-colored, button-down blouse that was tucked into charcoal-gray trousers that gracefully tapered down her legs and a slender leather belt cinched at her waist, Rosa entered the room, her expression a mix of concern and determination.
Her blond hair fell in gentle waves around her shoulders, framing a face that had aged like a fine Bordeaux.
Emma couldn't help but sigh secretly.
'Mom really didn't age at all.'
Rosa, unaware of her daughter's admiration approached Emma's bedside and gently sat down. "Good morning, sweetheart."
Emma broke out into a happy smile, however, her heart ached at the sight of her mother's worry-lined face. "Morning, Mom."
Rosa reached out and placed a comforting hand on Emma's. "Did you sleep well dear?"
Emma nodded, her smile growing wider despite the heaviness she sensed in her mother's heart. "I did, thanks to you," she replied, appreciating the comforting presence that had always been her mother's specialty.
The worry lines etched on Rosa's face seemed to ease just a fraction, and her eyes sparkled with maternal pride.
Rosa beamed, her features momentarily free from the weight of concern, "Then quickly come down for breakfast. Your dad is waiting downstairs. He even made your favorite avocado toast." She urged.
Emma's heart skipped a beat at the thought of her father's delicious avocado toast, a childhood favorite that held a special place in her heart.
"Alright, mom. I'll join you once I'm done freshening up." Emma replied before giving her mother a small hug.
"Okay, sweetheart." Rosa smiled as she patted Emma's hand affectionately.
Once Rosa walked out, Emma retrieved a vibrant yellow top and a pair of ripped jeans from her small suitcase and proceeded to the bathroom.
Minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom and approached the elegant white vanity table. She checked herself in the mirror and gently pulled open a drawer, her eyes briefly lingering on the meticulously arranged items.
Sighing at her mother's dedication to keeping everything in her room intact, Emma's fingers deftly picked a brush, letting its silken bristles whisper through her unruly tresses, coaxing them into submission.
As the mirror captured the moments of this quiet, personal ritual, she delicately applied a layer of light pink lip gloss
She matted her lips and locked eyes with her reflection revealing a youthful beauty, radiant and full of promise and a warm smile graced her lips.
Emma knew her parents were worried and would definitely ask her about Daniel today. So in order to assure them and not to make them worry, she had to look her best or at least better than she was yesterday.
She checked herself a few times in the mirror and when she was satisfied, she made her way down to the living room.
As she descended the staircase, the enticing aroma of breakfast filled the air, warming her heart and reminding her of what a loving home was like.
As Emma entered the dining room, her senses were enveloped in the inviting scent of toasted bread and creamy avocado.
Dressed in a sky-blue dress shirt and denim jeans, Gabriel's warm brown eyes lit up when he saw Emma walk in.
"Good morning, sweetheart," he said with a warm smile, his voice a melodic baritone that had always been a source of comfort to Emma.
With his sleeves rolled up, his strong hands deftly moved about the kitchen, adding the finishing touches to the avocado toast.
"Good morning Dad!" Emma chirped.
"I hope you're hungry," Gabriel added, a playful glint in his eyes as he extended a hand to her as she approached, pulling out a chair next to him..
As Emma took in his familiar features, she couldn't help but smile at her father's culinary prowess.
"Always hungry for your avocado toast, Dad," she replied, her voice filled with affection as she sat at the table already filled with dishes with her mother who shook her head at their interaction.
"Here, have your milk dear," Rosa said as she passed a glass of milk to Emma.
"Thanks, Mom!"
Rosa watched Emma quickly take a gulp from the milk handed to her and smiled affectionately before taking a sip of her coffee crème.
As Gabriel plated the toast adorned with perfectly sliced avocados and a sprinkle of herbs, he set it down before Emma with a sense of pride.
"There you go, my dear. Just the way you like it." He said, his smile widening as he watched her take a bite.
The first bite sent a burst of creamy, savory flavors across Emma's taste buds, and she closed her eyes in sheer delight.
The simple act of savoring her favorite breakfast, prepared by her loving father, filled her with a profound sense of belonging and contentment and tears immediately clouded her vision.
She hadn't felt this way for over a year since she got married to Daniel. Even a simple breakfast always felt so cold and unfamiliar.
She was either eating alone in the big house or eating with an unnatural smile plastered on her face when Daniel invited her to eat with his prospective client's wives.
Emma forced the tears back so her parents wouldn't notice. She had promised herself to become stronger and that's exactly what she'd do.
Savoring the tasteful toast, Emma hid her tears and beamed once again, "Dad, this is so delicious! You're really amazing!"
Gabriel sat at the table once he was done putting the cooking utensils away and smiled proudly at Rosa who was silently watching Emma, "Hear that Rosa? I'm amazing!"
Rosa silently rolled her eyes at her husband.
'This petty man!'
She picked up a slice of an apple on the table and fed Emma as she cast a side glance at the smug man happily munching away at his French toast and scrambled eggs.
"Whether you're amazing or not, you didn't carry her for nine months so stop bragging!"
Gabriel almost choked on his toast and quickly downed a gulp of orange juice. Emma laughed out loud while Rosa smiled as she smugly ate what was left of her French toast.
The lighthearted breakfast passed by eventfully but Emma knew that they both had something to tell her or 'ask' her on their minds.
Sure enough, she had just taken her last bite of toast when her mother spoke,
"We need to talk, Emma. Since you came back yesterday, your father and I have been deeply worried about you, and we want to understand what's happening."
'The time has finally come.'
Emma sighed deeply as she took a gulp of her milk.
Honestly, with the love she received this morning which was a stark contrast to her life in Daniel's house, she felt she was a complete disappointment.
She wanted to save her parents from heartache but delivered a truckload of heart-wrenching gifts right at their doorstep.
"Mom, Dad. I know you both are worried, and I'm sorry for causing you so much pain." Emma said, her eyes already stinging from the tears that were ready to spill out.
Gabriel who had just finished clearing out the dishes returned to the table quietly and sat beside Rosa, his presence a silent show of support.
"Emma, we're not here to blame you. We just want to know what transpired yesterday. Why did you return home crying?" Rosa asked tentatively, her fingers rubbing together.
She had been observing Emma since she came downstairs and although her daughter wanted to appear cheerful to assure them, she as a mother could still notice the sad aura that lingered around her.
Earlier, when she noticed the tears in Emma's eyes during breakfast, she was even more convinced that her daughter didn't return on her own but was chased out and her heart ached at the possibility of her assumptions being right.
Gabriel's hand carefully took Rosa's under the table as they both braced themselves waiting for Emma to speak.
"Actually…Mom, Dad, I thought I was doing the right thing. The scandal… I didn't want to bring shame to our family. But I was wrong. I was too hasty. I've been living in a loveless marriage, and it's been tearing me apart." Emma finally voiced, her head lowered as she tried to hold back her tears.
Rosa's heart ached as she listened to her daughter's painful confession. She was right!
"Oh, Emma dear, you didn't have to bear this burden alone. We're here for you, and we'll support you no matter what." She quickly said as she reached out to hold Emma's hand across the table.
Gabriel nodded, his voice filled with fatherly concern. "We love you, Emma, and we always want to see you happy. The most important thing is your happiness."
Hearing their comforting words, Emma couldn't take it anymore and looked down at her hands, tears sliding down her face.
"Daniel accused me of planning that…that night and also of infidelity. He told me to sign the divorce papers and leave his house."
Rosa turned pale while Gabriel's face hardened with anger as he stood up with a whoosh.
