Chapter 13
The line clicked and the call ended with a brusque beep.
Emery stated at his phone, his face darkening with anger at Arlene’s unwavering tone. The fury in his eyes was almost palpable, storm clouds threatening rain
He tapped open the video message. The moment the rowdy bar scene filled his screen, a hazy memory began to stir in the back of his mind.
The next second, Arlene’s voice came through, crystal clear. “Let’s get a divorce.
Emery felt as if ice water had been poured through his veins, He watched himself on screen, slouched on a sofa, phone pressed to his ear his expression vague and distracted.
He watched himself nod, heard his own absentminded “Yeah,” and then, without hesitation, watched as he scrawled his signature acmes the document.
A barely ten–second video–he only needed to watch it once. Instantly, memories he’d buried deep came rushing back!
So that day, Arlene hadn’t asked him to sign the property agreement. It was the divorce papers?
He’d been so preoccupied with Rosalie’s tantrum, he hadn’t heard a word Arlene said, hadn’t even glanced at what he was signing
It turned out Arlene hadn’t ed. He had signed those papers–sober willingly, in his own handwriting
The darkness in Emery’s eyes was suddenly replaced by panic and confusion
He shot to his feet, clutching the agreement, and tore downstairs. Without a second thought, he jumped in his car and sped toward the Sinclair estate
All the way there, the image of his signature kept replaying in his mind. Arlene’s last words before she hung up echoed relentlessly in his ears
No one knew Arlene better than he did.
That’s when it hit him–he’d truly screwed up this time
After years of flings and fleeting romances, Emery, for the first time, felt the raw fear of losing something that actually mattered
That fear sent him spiraling out of control
The Sinclairs staff told him Arlene hadn’t come home!!
Just one sentence, and the last sliver of hope in Emery’s heart plummeted into despair
He called Arlene again. Texted her. Demanded to know where she was. Nothing. No response
He couldn’t accepti
Like a man possessed, Emery drove from place to place, searching everywhere he could think of–the spots where they’d dated over the years, the house she’d bought after a fight, her childhood home, the apartments of her closest friends!!
He spent the entire day chasing shadows, but came up empty
By now, he hadn’t slept in over thirty hours. He was running on fumes, utterly exhausted.
But his nerves were strung so tight, he couldn’t relax for even a second
He kept pouring coffee down his throat, desperate to stay alert!!
Just as he was on the verge of snapping, his phone ring. It was Rosale.
“Emery, why aren’t you answering my messages? If you keep-
“Get lost!” he snapped.
Her voice, high–pitched and wounded, grated on his last nerve. Emery had no more patience for games, he hung up without a second thought
His secretary, just walking in, jumped at his outburst, her report faltering to a whisper!!
“M–Mr. Tucker, we found her through traffic cams. Mrs. Tucker–she’s at Emerald Vistas.” Emerald Vistas
Emery suddenly remembered: Adene had bought a villa there before they got married. He dropped his phone and rushed out the door not wasting a second!
His secretary, scooping up his phone, hurried after him–only to have Rosalie call again.
She watched Emery’s car spoed off, recalling his earlier instruction: always make Rosalie’s matters a priority. Suppressing a sigh, she answered the call
“Hello, Ms. Stone? Mr. Tucker’s busy at the moment. Yes, I believe he’s headed to Emerald Vistas. When will he be back? I’m not sure.“%
Chapter 13
The line clicked and the call ended with a brusque beep.
Emery stared at his phone, his face darkening with anger at Arlene’s unwavering tone. The fury in his eyes was almost palpable, storm clouds threatening rain
He tapped open the video message. The moment the rowdy bar scene filled his screen, a hazy memory began to stir in the back of his mind
The next second, Arlene’s voice came through, crystal clear “Let’s get a divorce.”
Emery felt as if ice water had been poured through his veins. He watched himself on screen, slouched on a sofa, phone pressed to his ear his expression vaque and distracted
He watched himself nod, heard his own absentminded “Yeah,” and then, without hesitation, watched as he scrawled his signature across the document
A barely ten second video–he only needed to watch it once Instantly, memories he’d buried deep came rushing back.
So that day, Arlene hadn’t asked him to sign the property agreement. It was the divorce papers?
He’d been so preoccupied with Rosalie’s tantrum, he hadn’t heard a word Arlene said, hadn’t even glanced at what he was signing
It turned out Arlene hadn’t lied. He had signed those papers–sober, willingly, in his own handwriting.
The darkness in Emery’s eyes was suddenly replaced by panic and confusion.!!
He shot to his feet, clutching the agreement, and tore downstairs. Without a second thought, he jumped in his car and sped toward the Sinclair estate
All the way there, the image of his signature kept replaying in his mind. Arlene’s last words before she hung up echoed relentlessly in his ears.
No one know Arlene better than he did.
That’s when it hit him–he’d truly screwed up this time
After years of flings and fleeting romances, Emery, for the first time, felt the raw fear of losing something that actually mattered.
That fear sent him spiraling out of control
The Sinclairs‘ staff told him Arlene hadn’t come home
Just one sentence, and the last sliver of hope in Emery’s heart plummeted into despair
He called Arlene again. Texted her. Demanded to know where she was. Nothing. No response.!!
He couldn’t accept it…
Like a man possessed, Emery drove from place to place, searching everywhere he could think of–the spots where they’d dated over the years, the house she’d bought after a fight, her childhood home, the apartments of her closest friends…
He spent the entire day chasing shadows, but came up empty!
By now, he hadn’t slept in over thirty hours. He was running on fumes, utterly exhausted.
But his nerves were strung so tight, he couldn’t relax for even a second.
He kept pouring coffee down his throat, desperate to stay alert!
Just as he was on the verge of snapping, his phone rang. It was Rosalie
“Emery, why aren’t you answering my messages? If you keep-
“Get lost!” he snapped.
Her voice, high–pitched and wounded, grated on his last nerve. Emery had no more patience for games, he hung up without a second thought!
His secretary, just walking in, jumped at his outburst, her report faltering to a whisper
‘M–Mr. Tucker, we found her through traffic cams. Mrs. Tucker–she’s at Emerald Vistas” Emerald Vistas?!
Emery suddenly remembered: Arlene had bought a villa there before they got married! He dropped his phone and rushed out the door, not wasting a second.
His secretary, scooping up his phone, hurried after him–only to have Rosalie call again X
She watched Emery’s car speed off, recalling his earlier instruction; always make Rosalie’s matters a prionty. Suppressing a sigh, she answered the call!!
“Hello, Ms. Stone? Mr. Tucker’s busy at the moment. Yes, I believe he’s headed to Emerald Vistas. When will he be back? I’m not sure.”
