Emily's breath quickened as the man's gloved hand covered her mouth, his cold fingers pressing into her skin with an urgency that made her skin crawl. Her heart hammered in her chest as the blade gleamed in the dim light, a silent threat hovering in the air. She tried to break free, but his grip was too strong.
"Don't scream," the man whispered in a gravelly voice, his words barely audible but laced with menace.
Emily's eyes widened in panic as she struggled against his hold. She fought to take a breath, to gather her wits. Her mind raced—she needed to think fast, to act before it was too late.
"Let go of her!" a voice commanded suddenly, breaking through the tense silence.
Before Emily could react, the man was yanked away from her, his body crashing against the wall with a thud. Roberto stood there, fury and determination flashing in his eyes. He had appeared just in time, and he wasn't going to let anyone harm her—not now, not ever.
Emily gasped for air, her pulse still thundering in her ears as she stumbled back against the bed, her hands shaking. Roberto approached, his expression hard as he motioned for her to stay back.
"You don't get to hurt her," Roberto growled, his voice laced with an intensity that made Emily's breath catch.
The stranger pushed himself to his feet, but Roberto was faster. He was already on him, pinning the man against the wall, his grip tight and unforgiving. The struggle was over almost before it started, and within moments, the intruder was subdued, his hands bound securely.
Emily stood frozen, trying to process what had just happened. She had been so close, so helpless. And yet, Roberto had been there to save her—again.
The man remained silent, his eyes dark with hatred as Roberto's men arrived and took him away.
"Who is he?" Emily managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Roberto turned to her, his jaw clenched tight. "It's over," he said, though his eyes spoke volumes. "But it's only just begun."
---
Hours later, the night was still heavy with the weight of what had transpired. Roberto and Emily sat in his private office, the room now eerily quiet. The man who had attacked Emily was locked away in a secure room, and Roberto had ordered a full investigation. It was time to uncover the truth.
Roberto glanced at Emily, his face unreadable. "The person behind this, the one who's been pulling the strings, is Claudia".
Emily blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes studying her carefully. "It's Claudia. She's the one who orchestrated all of this."
"Claudia?" Emily gasped, her mind struggling to process the revelation. "But she's—she's" she stammered and became speechless.
Emily felt the ground beneath her feet shift. "But why? What's her motive?"
Roberto's voice was cold. "Power. Revenge. She wanted to control everything. She saw us as threats to her future in the company."
The weight of the truth settled heavily in Emily's chest. She had been a pawn in someone else's twisted game all along. The realization hit harder than she expected.
---
The next morning Emily felt sick, and Roberto drove her to their family doctor, who attendes to her.
As the tension began to dissipate, Emily felt a strange flutter in her stomach, an unease that had nothing to do with the recent events. She glanced at Roberto, who was still deep in thought, but something inside her stirred.
It wasn't until later, when she was called in by the doctor, staring at the test in her hand, that everything changed. Her pulse raced as she saw the unmistakable result. She was pregnant.
Her hand trembled as she sat on the chair, the reality of the situation sinking in. Her mind spun, unable to process it all. She was pregnant—with Roberto's child. How had this happened?
When she finally gathered the courage to face him, Roberto was sitting in the hall way, staring out the window. His back was to her, but Emily could feel his presence—felt it deep in her chest.
She walked slowly toward him, her breath shallow as she clutched the test in her hand.
"Roberto," she said softly, her voice faltering.
He turned to face her, his eyes scanning her face. "What is it, Emily?"
Emily's throat tightened, and she held out the test. "I'm pregnant," she whispered.
For a moment, Roberto was silent. His gaze flickered down to the test, then back to her face. His expression was unreadable, and Emily could see the shock in his eyes.
"Emily…" he began, his voice filled with confusion and concern.
"I didn't plan this," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "I didn't want this. But now I have to figure out what to do."
Roberto's face softened, and he stood slowly, walking toward her. "You're not alone in this," he said quietly, his hand resting gently on her arm. "I'll take care of you. I'll take care of everything."
His words were comforting, but Emily could feel the weight of them. She hadn't asked for this—hadn't asked for him to save her, hadn't asked for the pregnancy, and certainly hadn't asked for the forced marriage that now seemed inevitable. But as she looked into his eyes, something inside her flickered.
Roberto may have been a stranger to her at the beginning, but in that moment, she realized she didn't want to face the world without him.
---
The days that followed were a blur of meetings, arrangements, and whispered conversations. Claudia's treachery was exposed, and she was swiftly removed from the company. The revelation had shocked everyone, especially Emily, who never thought the woman could harm her so completely.
But the biggest shock came when Roberto insisted on a quick solution. A marriage.
"I'll marry you, Emily," Roberto said one evening, his tone firm. "It's the only way to protect you—and the baby. I won't let anyone harm you."
Emily stared at him, her heart racing. "But… are we doing this because it's the right thing to do, or because we have no choice?"
His gaze softened, but his decision was already made. "Both. I'll make it right. I'm not letting you go through this alone, Emily."
---
The wedding was arranged quickly, a private ceremony attended by only close family and friends. The weight of it all pressed on Emily's chest as she stood beside Roberto, her hands trembling. This wasn't how she had imagined her life, but as she exchanged vows with him, she realized she was no longer a passive player in her own story.
Margaret on the other hand, wasn't happy with everything that has happened but rest assured that Claudia wonn't come for her grandson again. When the news of Emily's background hit her, she was shocked.
The pregnancy and marriage devasted her. She wished Emily was feom a noble background.
On the day, of the marriage, she sat down and was gazing at both couplea. "Did i make any mistake by introducing yhem both or what"?. She kept asking herself, not finding the answer.