Emma’s POV

The moment I stepped out of the private lounge, my head felt like it was spinning, the weight of Sam’s words pressed against my chest, making it hard to breathe.

He wanted another chance.

A chance to be the father he had never been, the partner he should have been. His voice had trembled with regret, his eyes had pleaded for understanding, for forgiveness.

And for the first time since he’d returned, I saw something in him that had been missing before, desperation.

I swallowed hard, stepping back into the main ballroom. The dazzling chandeliers, the laughter, the clinking of champagne glasses, it all felt distant, muffled, as if I was watching everything through a thick fog.

My eyes darted across the room, scanning the sea of unfamiliar faces, until they landed on one that was far too familiar.

Jeff.

He stood near the bar, his broad shoulders tense, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his suit trousers and his gaze was fixed on me, dark and unreadable.

I knew he had seen me leave with Sam. I knew he had been watching.

A part of me had expected him to storm over, demand answers, assert his claim over the life we had built together in the last few months, but he hadn’t. He had just stood there, waiting.

I took a deep breath and walked toward him. As I approached, his expression didn’t change, but I could feel the energy radiating off him, restraint, quiet intensity, and something else.

Something that made my stomach twist in knots.

“Jeff.” My voice came out softer than I intended, almost uncertain.

He didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he studied me for a long moment before exhaling sharply and tilting his head slightly, “Are you okay?”

That question, so simple, yet it nearly unraveled me.

I had spent the entire evening drowning in doubt, but Jeff’s concern had nothing to do with himself. He wasn’t demanding an explanation or throwing accusations, he just wanted to know if I was okay.

I forced a nod, even though I wasn’t sure it was true, “I… I don’t know.”

Jeff’s jaw tightened. He reached for his drink and took a slow sip, as if buying himself time to find the right words, “He told you everything, didn’t he?”

I nodded.

He scoffed under his breath, shaking his head slightly, “Right and now he wants to come back. Just like that.”

The bitterness in his voice wasn’t lost on me.

“Jeff… ”

“I get it, Emma.” He turned fully toward me now, his voice quieter, his tone gentler than before, “You don’t have to explain it to me. He was your first choice before, I was just the one who picked up the pieces when he left.”

“That’s not fair.” My voice wavered, but I held my ground, “You know that’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?” He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head, “Come on Emma. I know how this works. He’s back, and now you have to decide. Him or me right?” 

I looked down at my hands, my fingers twisting together, “It’s not that simple.”

“Isn’t it?” He repeated, softer this time.

I hated this.

Hated the way my heart felt split in two because he was right. No matter how much I wanted to deny it, I was standing on the edge of a decision that could change everything. And the truth was, I had no idea which way to go.

I inhaled shakily, my mind racing.

Jeff.

Jeff had been my anchor, my safe place. After everything fell apart, he had been there,not just for me, but for my kids.

He had stepped in without hesitation, without question, and had taken on the role of a father even when he had no obligation to.

He had spent sleepless nights helping me when Jason had been sick, had taken Anna to her first ballet recital, had shown up for every school event like it was the most natural thing in the world.

And yet, Jeff wasn’t perfect. He had his flaws, his past, his reputation. I had always known about his playboy tendencies before we got married, but with me, he had changed.

Or at least, I had thought he had, but lately, cracks had begun to show. He could be closed off, distant at times, like he was holding a part of himself back. I knew he loved me, but was that enough?

I swallowed hard, forcing my gaze back to him, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Jeff exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face, “Emma, that’s not the question. The question is, who do you want?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, a new voice interrupted.

“Emma?”

I turned, and there stood Sam.

Jeff’s entire body went rigid beside me, his fists clenching at his sides.

Sam’s gaze flickered between us, something unreadable passing over his face, “I see I’m interrupting.”

“No,” I said quickly, taking a step back, creating space between them, “I was just… ”

“Just talking,” Jeff finished, his voice cool, “Right, Emma?”

Sam ignored him, his focus solely on me, “Can we talk?”

Jeff let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head, “Of course. Because that’s what you do, right, Newman? You talk and then you leave.”

Sam’s jaw tightened, “I didn’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice,” Jeff countered, “You just didn’t make the right one.”

“Stop.” I raised a hand between them, my pulse pounding in my ears, “Just stop.”

The tension was suffocating, I could feel the weight of their stares, their expectations pressing down on me. They were both waiting for me to choose.

And that was the problem.

How was I supposed to choose?

I turned to Sam, my voice unsteady, “You left me.”

His face paled slightly, but he nodded, “I know.”

“You left me,” I repeated, my voice stronger this time, “and I had to figure out how to move on. I had to build a life without you Sam and then Jeff… Jeff was there. He was there for me, for my kids.”

Sam swallowed hard, “I know I hurt you but Emma, I never stopped loving you. I never stopped thinking about you. I thought I was doing the right thing….”

“The right thing?” Jeff cut in, his voice sharp, “You mean running away? Leaving her alone to deal with everything?”

Sam’s expression darkened,“I’m not saying it was right but I’m here now and I want to fix it.”

“Fix it?” Jeff laughed bitterly, “You think you can just waltz back in and undo years of pain?”

“I think I can be the father my children deserve.” Sam shot back.

Silence.

The words hung heavy between us, and I felt my breath hitch.

My children.

For so long, they had only known Jeff as their father. They adored him but Sam was their real father. He had a right to be in their lives. Didn’t he?

I squeezed my eyes shut, my thoughts spinning wildly.

Jeff was stability. He was safety. He was the man who had never once let me down.

Sam was my past. He was the man I had once loved so deeply, the father of my children, the ghost of the life I had dreamed of before everything fell apart.

And I, I was stuck in between.

I opened my eyes, my gaze moving between them.

“I need time.” I whispered.

Neither of them spoke.

“I can’t just decide tonight, this is too much,” I exhaled shakily, “I need time to figure this out.”

Jeff’s expression was unreadable, but he nodded once, “Okay.”

Sam hesitated before nodding as well, “Take all the time you need.”

I took a step back, my heart pounding. Then another.

And then, without another word, I turned and walked away.

The night air was crisp as I stepped outside, and I inhaled deeply, trying to steady the storm raging inside me.

Who did I want?

Who was the right choice?

And more importantly, would I ever be able to decide?