Emma tirelessly fell in Alec's arms, with a satisfied grin. Alec cuddled her up in his arms, kissing her forehead.
The room fell silent for what felt like a while, their hearts pounding inside their chest. Alec gave Emma a gentle squeeze by the arm as he stared at the ceiling.
" It's quite late, get some rest."
He told her. Emma shook her head with hesitation.
" I-i don't think I can sleep right now."
Afraid she'll have those nightmares again made her skin crawl, seeing her parents die over and over again without a chance of them escaping tore her apart. It's a worse sight any child wouldn't want to see, Alec patt her head gently, staring down at her little face and said.
" I'm here, Darling, I promise not to leave your side till you wake up the next morning."
" You promise?."
Emma's eyes sparkled with admiration. Alec nodded, with that. Emma closed her beautiful eyes... lying in Alec's secured arms, that was filled with warmth. This was the safest place she could be.
NEXT DAY,
Ava helped, Emma, get ready for her wedding. She wore a simple beautiful summer-white dress reaching her knees, a pair of white heels... and her hair tied up into a bun with beautiful flower pins.
With the final touches, Emma went downstairs where he met up with Alec, he took her hand with a smile... complimenting her beauty with a kiss on the back of her hand. Aron drove them to the courthouse, within a couple of minutes they were remarried as husband and wife.
ANDERSON MAIN ESTATE.
" I understand my little gem, you can spend your birthday with your mother and family. Although I have a request of you."
" Which is?."
Sonya sat in front of her dressing mirror, stroking her silver -white hair. She always spends her every birthday with her Dad...his wives and half siblings, he makes sure her birthdays are a blast and extravagant. But this time around, after meeting her Aunt Emma and grandparents. She wants to spend time with them, she wants to spend both her birthday and holiday seasons with them.
" Are you still there my precious gem?."
Her father's voice rang in her ears.
" Yes Dad, still here."
" I was saying I want you here on Tuesday after your birthday tomorrow, grant your old man this request."
" Of course Dad, anything for you."
" That's my little princess, see you soon...I love you."
" Love you."
The call disconnected. Sonya stared at her phone for a while before dialing a number, it rang a couple of time before connecting.
" Hey."
" Hi, something wrong?."
Sonya pressed her lips in a thin line, going quiet for a while.
" Sonya, are you there?."
" Uh, yes....."
After finished talking to the other person on the other end, she stood and went to lay down on her bed, staring at the ceiling before slowly closing her eyes. ' why do I feel so exhausted all of a sudden? The room around me is spinning, am I that tired?." Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
***
Ava felt slight cold fingers brush over her face as, Zain tucked some hair behind her ear, with a jolt, she looked up to meet those pair of dark eyes of his. She was lost in thought that she didn't hear him walk up to her.
" Is everything okay?."
He leaned against the balcony rails crossing his long slender legs, staring right back at her slightly pale face.
" Hm, I'm alright." Ava responded. Zain tilted his head not convinced with her response, something was definitely bothering her.
" Does it have to do with us not spending Christmas together?."
" What! No, it's not that." Ava shook her head clenching onto her skirt. " It's, Sonya." She added.
" Did something happen?." Zain stared at Ava's face with a straight formidable face. Ava bit her lip not knowing where to begin from, ' how do I spit it out to him? Is it okay to tell him this?.' Ava questioned herself in silence.
" I'm all ears, cupcake." Zain added, Ava studied Zain's face for what seemed a while, before telling him what she was meaning to tell him before he walked in on her.
" W-well, Sonya, will be leaving for Portland on Tuesday." She paused for a second before adding. " And I will be traveling with her."
" Is that so."
Zain stared at the clear sky. Ava lowered her head, she didn't know what he was thinking at that moment. Any man would be displeased to know their spouse will be meeting up with their ex, not that she and Charles actually had a relationship. The only relation they have with one another is of that of parents, only because they have a daughter together and his wish was to know Sonya. and be part of her life as her father, otherwise she hates seeing his annoying ass. But, Sonya begged her over the phone to go with her, she said it was something of importance and that she wants her to be there with her. Ava couldn't simply say no after hearing her daughter beg her so desperately, even though she promised herself never to return to that place after she left. She simply has noway out of this situation.
Zain lifted her chin, staring into her eyes with those dark themed eyes of his, sometimes it was like staring into a deep black hole. Where she saw nothing but an endless pit, that's why no matter how much she stares into them she couldn't seem to know what he's thinking. They... almost...seem... empty, and motionless.
" What are you thinking about?." He spoke so calmly.
Ava's face flushed a bright red, his face was so close to hers. ' how can he have such a perfect face and figure? He is a true definition of perfect art, if there's such a thing to describe someone, he's truly perfection.'
" Talk to me, cupcake. What are you thinking about?."
" Uh- uhm, nothing."
' shit, why do I always react so naive and stupid in front of this man? He brings out the little kid in me '
" I will travel with you to Portland."
" Huh?."
Ava was taken aback with his next words, ' did I just hear him say he'll come with me to Portland? That's not right is it? I must have misheard him '
" I wouldn't want him to make any sort of moves towards my woman, that would piss me off."
Zain simply said with a poker face, Ava saw how serious he was about this. She felt very relieved knowing he would be there with her, standing by her side all the way. She was, happy.
" T-thank you, Zain."
She tilted her head with a blissful smile, Zain pat her head gently as if petting a little kitten. He found her little actions cute to ignore.
***
' are you absolutely sure that she's Zain's girlfriend?'
' Yes, Rachel, they were being all affectionate with one another in front of me. And I'm definitely sure they f*cked in the restroom.'
' oh wow, I actually never thought, Zain would date again after you guys split up.'
' thought the same, I actually thought we would work things out between us this time around.'
" Darcy, the Director is waiting for you in the lounge." Ned walked into her suite.
' I will call you back, Rachel.'
' take care.'
The call ended and Darcy left the hotel room with Ned.
" Darcy! looking beautiful as always."
Darcy's Director, Harry Park, gave her a warm hug.
" Well thank you, Harry." Darcy gave a slight smile.
" Well I have good news for you, we're just remaining with five scenes to shoot and it's a rap. The movie is done."
" Great, I actually can't wait... I'm exhausted."
" Nobody said it will be easy," Harry chuckled. " Another thing, Ms Ji-hyun, is in New York for her next photoshoot of a beauty product that just launched. Our people thought it will be a great idea if you two do a Collab with the advertisement." He added.
" Ji-hyun, she's a famous Korean model right, if I'm not mistaken."
" Indeed, doing this with her will be very beneficial in many ways... for both sides, picture this." Harry raises both hands in the air as though picturing a perfect ideal image. " Two famous beautiful women collaborate together. It's something worth looking at through out the world in every country."
" Indeed, when does this photoshoot take place?."
" Tomorrow afternoon, but we'll need to leave early in the morning cause it's on the other side of town."
" Tomorrow?." Darcy bit her lip.
" Is there a problem?." Harry asked with a frown.
" Well, I'm supposed to attend a kid's birthday party tomorrow."
" Are you seriously willing to throw away this opportunity for a kid's birthday party, Darcy? That shouldn't be your concern right now."
" I know, Harry. I-its just that I promised to be there."
Harry rubbed his forehead in a frustrating manner while holding his waist.
" I can't tell you what to do, Darcy. But you have to choose between this successful project, or the little girl.... gat damnit, Darcy."
Harry stormed out of the hotel. Ned rubbed his hands together nervously staring at Darcy.
" What are you going to do now?." He spoke. Darcy pressed her lips together in a thin line.