“Liam, I’m glad you’re back,” Emerald said after seeing her friend entering her house. She was on her way to the kitchen but was stopped by his presence.“Yeah, finally.”“How did it go? Did you find anything?” I asked hopefully.“I don’t know, M, we failed.”“You didn’t get anything?”“We did, but just another lead.”“Then it’s good. I mean, it’s better than nothing, right?”“I think so, too, but I don’t know
Emerald’s heart raced as she frantically scanned the playground, her eyes wide with panic. The cheerful laughter of other children felt like a cruel mockery of her fear. Ace had disappeared from her sight. Just moments ago, he was playing on the slide with his nanny, watching over him.“Liam, we need to find him. We need to find Ace!” Her voice trembled, tears welling as she grabbed her friend’s arm. Liam nodded and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.“We will, M. We’ll find him,” Liam replied, calm but firm. Once again, he scanned the area, his mind racing through possible scenarios.Young Morgan's mind was a whirl of dark possibilities. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself. Her baby boy, her sweet little Ace—where could he be? She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt and helplessness, her chest tight with fear. Each second that ticked by felt like an eternity.They've searched everywhere, starting at the slide where Ace’s shoes were found. Emerald's hands were tremblin
Creep sat hunched over his monitor inside the sleek, high-tech office of ACEGame, fingers flying over the keyboard. The office was a controlled chaos of flickering screens and urgent activity. Jace was beside him, pacing back and forth like a caged lion. His face was a mask of fury and concern, his clenched fists and tense posture revealing the storm of emotions roiling inside him. He went to see and talk to Creep about Emerald’s nanny, Lucy. Still, while talking, young Morgan called about their son’s disappearance.“What do you mean you lost them? How could Keng just disappear with Ace?” Jace demanded, his voice sharp and accusing. Creep glanced up briefly, his eyes filling with both sympathy and frustration.“Jace, I’m doing everything I can. I’ve got access to every available camera feed a
Emerald sat on the edge of the bed, her heart aching, as she watched Ace sleep. His small chest's soft rise and fall brought a fleeting sense of peace, but her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew she had to talk to him to understand what he wanted. It felt almost unbearable, but she had to face the possibility that he might want to live with his father.With a deep breath, she gently stroked his hair. “Ace, baby, it's morning. Mommy needs to talk to you.”Ace stirred, his eyes flicking open. He looked up at her with sleepy confusion, then sat up, rubbing his eyes. “Mommy? What is it?”Emerald smiled, trying to keep her voice calm. “I need to ask you something very important. Do you think you can talk to me for a bit?”
“It’s not that I am forcing her, Kyle!” Jace exclaimed.“But that’s how it looks to me, and, I’m sure, to her as well,” his friend replied.“I love her and our son. And she admitted that she loves me too. Why can’t she just let me in so I can show her who I really am? Living separately is not helping us; it only pushes her away from me. And because of Liam, she had another option,” Jace said as he brushed his hair with his fingers. He was in a bar with his friend, who listened to him tirelessly.“So, Emerald is the reason why you invited me out?” Kyle asked, raising a brow.“And what else do you think?”“How about the fact that I helped our legal council in trapping that company extorting ACEGame?” Jace's eyes widened. Lately, he has been thinking about his wife and has forgotten everything. He sighed when he thought he had good news to share with Emerald when he remembered what she told him about having problems.“Thanks, man. You’re really a good and very reliable friend.” Kyle shook
Liam left Emerald’s mansion after their discussion. Although he was happy for young Morgan, he also felt hurt when he saw her kiss Jace. He knew he would never have a chance to get the woman he loved, but he hoped that young Higginson would be able to take care of her. He stepped into the bustling bar, the heart of nightlife, where the energy is intense and the atmosphere is lively. It was an old brick building that housed the bar; its exterior was modest and unassuming, but inside, it was a different world.Most people are dressed to impress. Women in stylish dresses or chic tops and skirts, accessorized with statement jewelry and high heels, move gracefully through the crowd. Men sport a range of attire, from casual button-downs to trendy t-shirts paired with jeans or chinos, some donning fashionable sneakers and others opting for smart leather shoes.
“Emerald,” Mr. Landers said as he looked at young Morgan with teary eyes. “Looking at you is like looking at my mother’s photo in her younger days,” he added. They were in a hotel where Mr. Landers stayed as soon as he arrived in L.A. He wanted to go to her house, but Cedrick said to wait since she had personal matters to settle.“Mr. Landers, I–”“Dad, call me dad.” Mr. Landers corrected her, making her eyes water. “And he’s my grandson?” he added, looking at Ace, smiling back at him.“Yes, D-dad,” young Morgan replied.“I have another grandpa?” the boy asked,“Yes, young man, and it’s me,” Mr. Landers answered. His happiness was beyond his imagination, seeing his daughter and grandson. He never thought that in his search for the love of his life, he would be able to find another part of himself. “Can you come to me? I want to hug you.”Ace hesitantly got up from his seat while Emerald encouraged him, making him walk closer to Mr. Landers until he was in front of him. “Oh dear boy...
“What are you going to do about us, Emerson?” Merly asked her husband angrily. They were having breakfast in the dining area of their rented apartment. Because Mr. Morgan is not doing anything to get their company back, Mrs. Morgan is so angry that she thinks he intentionally did nothing and lets her and Emerose do all the work for their living expenses.“What’s wrong? Didn’t I ask you to watch your expenses because we’re facing a financial crisis? Why are you blaming everything on me?” Emerson asked angrily, glaring at his wife.“But Dad, you know how friends are..” Emerose chimed in, making her earn a glare from her father.“If you are only half of the kind of woman Emerald is, you could have gotten a wealthy husb