Emma's POV

Returning to work felt like stepping onto shaky ground. After everything that had happened, I was still on edge.

My thoughts were muddled, and my body felt like it was running on autopilot. The events of the past few days had left me tense, scared, and more uncertain than ever.

The break-in at the house, the threats, and the way Jeff had acted, it all felt too much, he’d promised to protect us, but something in his eyes told me there was more he wasn’t saying.

And that unsettled me more than anything, I didn’t know who to turn to or what to believe.

Jeff’s reassurances, once my source of comfort, now felt like empty words, weighed down by the secrets I knew he was hiding.

Sitting at my desk, I tried to focus on the emails piling up in my inbox, the familiar click of my keyboard should have been grounding, but my hands shook as I typed.

Every noise in the office made me flinch, a creak of a chair, the ringing of a phone, everything felt amplified, like a warning I couldn’t decipher.

“Emma?” My coworker and closest friend, Rachel, peered around the edge of my cubicle, her brow furrowed when she saw me, “Are you okay? You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

I forced a smile, though I knew it didn’t reach my eyes, “I’m fine, just a lot going on.”

Rachel stepped inside and perched on the edge of my desk, her arms crossed, “That’s the same line you gave me last week, now you're going to spill. What’s really going on?”

I hesitated, my fingers curling around the edge of my desk. How could I even begin to explain? That someone was threatening my family? That my memories felt like a jigsaw puzzle missing half its pieces? That Jeff might be hiding something monumental, and I was too afraid to confront him?

“It’s complicated.” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Complicated doesn’t mean you have to deal with it alone,” Danielle said gently, “Whatever it is, I’m here.”

Her kindness made my throat tighten, but I shook my head, “Thanks but I’m okay. Really.”

Rachel didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push. She squeezed my shoulder before heading back to her desk, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The rest of the morning passed in a haze, I struggled to stay focused, my mind drifting back to the accident.

The one that had stolen my memories and left me with a void I couldn’t fill. If I could just remember what happened that day, maybe everything else would start to make sense.

Maybe I could figure out why Jeff was so cagey and why this shadow of danger seemed to follow us everywhere.

During my lunch break, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through old photos, trying to piece together fragments of the life I’d lost.

There were pictures of the kids, of Jeff and me smiling at some event I couldn’t recall but nothing sparked a memory. Nothing brought me closer to the truth.

“Why can’t I remember?” I whispered to myself, frustration bubbling up. My chest felt tight, and I had to take a few deep breaths to calm down. I couldn’t let this overwhelm me, not here, not now.

The afternoon brought a welcome distraction, or so I thought.

The office buzzed with activity as news spread of an important client visiting later in the week.

The senior managers were on edge, snapping at staff to ensure everything was perfect. My boss, Mr. Carter, called me into his office just before the end of the day.

“Emma,” he began, folding his hands on his desk, “I’ve assigned you to oversee our upcoming meeting with a very important client.”

I blinked, surprised. “Me? Are you sure?”

“Yes,” he said firmly. “You’re one of our best, and this client specifically requested someone with your expertise. It’s a big deal for the company, and I trust you’ll handle it with professionalism.”

“Of course,” I replied, though I couldn’t help but wonder who this client was and why they’d requested me, “Who is it, if I may ask?”

Mr. Carter gave me a tight smile, “All in due time, just be ready. This meeting could open up significant opportunities for us.”

I nodded and left his office, my mind buzzing with questions. The secrecy surrounding this client felt odd, but I pushed the thought aside. I had enough to worry about without overanalyzing this.

The rest of the week passed in a blur of preparation. On the day of the meeting, I arrived early, double-checking every detail.

The conference room was immaculate, and I’d reviewed the client’s file until I could recite it from memory. Still, my nerves were on edge, something about this whole situation felt off.

When the client finally arrived, I froze the moment he stepped into the room. My heart dropped, and my stomach churned.

It was Sam Newman.

I stared at him, my mind reeling.

How was this possible? After all these years, after everything that had happened, he was here? My hands trembled as I clutched the folder in front of me, struggling to maintain my composure.

“Emma,” Sam said, his voice smooth and calm, as if we were old friends catching up, “It’s been a while.”

I forced a polite smile, though my chest felt like it was caving in, “Mr. Newman welcome. Please have a seat.”

The meeting began, but I could barely concentrate. Sam was charming and professional, but every word out of his mouth felt like a dagger.

Memories of our past flooded back, memories I wished I could forget, the affair, the betrayal, the way he’d disappeared without a word and now he was here, sitting across from me like nothing had happened.

When the meeting ended, Sam lingered, waiting until everyone else had left the room. I stayed frozen in my seat, unsure whether to run or face him.

“Emma,” he said softly, his voice losing its polished tone, “Can we talk?”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry, “What is there to talk about?”

“Everything,” he said, stepping closer, “I know I owe you an explanation.”

I shook my head, my hands gripping the edge of the table, “You disappeared Sam, you left me, you left us. You promised you'd always fight for us but you just left, you gave up.”

His expression twisted with guilt, “I didn’t want to Emma. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Don’t lie to me,” I snapped, my voice trembling, “You could have stayed, you could have fought for us. Instead, you vanished and left me to pick up the pieces.”

Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. I wouldn’t break in front of him, not again.

Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair, “You’re right, I should have stayed but things were complicated, more complicated than you know.”

I scoffed, crossing my arms, “Complicated? That’s your excuse?”

“Emma please,” he said, his voice pleading, “I know I messed up, I know I hurt you but I’m here now, and I want to make things right.”

“Make things right?” I repeated, laughing bitterly, “How Sam? How can you possibly fix what you broke?”

He took a step closer, his eyes earnest, “By being honest with you. About everything. About why I left, about what I know.”

I stared at him, my heart pounding, “What are you talking about?”

“Jeff,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper, “He’s not who you think he is.”

I froze, my mind racing, “What do you mean?”

Sam hesitated, glancing around as if someone might overhear, “There are things about Jeff, about his past, about the accident, that you don’t know, things he’s been keeping from you.”

My chest tightened, anger and confusion swirling inside me, “Why should I believe anything you say?”

“Because I’ve got nothing to lose,” he said simply, “And because you deserve the truth.”

I didn’t know what to say. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and I felt like the ground was shifting beneath me. Sam’s words planted seeds of doubt, and I hated that part of me wanted to believe him.

“I need time,” I said finally, my voice shaky, “I can’t do this right now.”

Sam nodded, his expression softening, “Take all the time you need but I’m not going anywhere Emma. Not this time.”

I left the office feeling more lost than ever. The walls I’d built around myself were crumbling, and I didn’t know how to stop it. Jeff, Sam, the accident, it was all connected, but I didn’t have the pieces to put it together.

For the first time in years, I felt completely and utterly alone. And I hated it.