“Emma!!!!!” I called my sister. But my voice hit me back. “Emma,” I called again.

But, silence.

Wheeling in the mansion searching for Emma, I checked in the old room of James. She's always there. That's her favourite place.

“She's not here, Norma,” Adele, one of the maids, informed. She's not aware of the situation. Should I consider it as a good sign? We did a good job hiding the reality from the world.

“Where is she?” I sprinted to her. My hustle surprised her. I have been wearing the mask of a calm, happy woman for the past 40 years. It's a tiring job, but I have to do this… For Emma.

“I don't know… Mrs Gibson must be aware. She replaced you as our head.” Adele mumbled with confusion.

I couldn't answer but nod. No words can describe the fear, I am feeling now. The anxiety in my veins, in my heart, is about to stop if Emma is not found. I can't stop her. Holding her is getting tough day by day, especially Anna, being pregnant is not helpful. I warned Anna about pregnancy, made sure to keep both of them away from each other, but they found their way back to each other. I wonder how many kids they would have if things were normal.

Before meeting Jodie Gibson, I checked the old room of our James. The room that held countless memories, various moments… Everything is failed when it comes to that room. It belonged to Rebecca and James.

“She's not here.” Jodie interrupted my loop of thoughts. “She was rushing.”

“Did she tell you?” I hoped that Emma follows the precautions and informs anyone before going anywhere.

“No, she's the owner of the house. She's not entitled to inform us.” Jodie stood next to me and looked at the frame of James and Emma. “She became a good mother.” Complementing, Jodie continued to look at the photo. “I can't believe, she loves Jay like her own. It's like Jay was hers.”

There is no denying that Emma has been the best mother James could ask for. Even, She accepted Jessica. Her heart is full of scars of damage, and it's not fading. I don't think it will ever fade away. She was only 14 when it happened, the death of James was her breaking point.

“She's not taking her medications,” I stated.

“No, she.....” Stopping, Jodie looked at me. Her look suggests that she's processing the meaning of my words. And, when she understood the meaning, her face turned pale. “She was behaving normally.”

“But she's trying to harm Anna and the kids.”

“Why? You made sure to keep them apart. I mean, you did brainwash her, right?” Jodie sounded frightened. Even I am. The thought of hurting James and my family is my dead end. I am not going to lose James.

“To survive, Anna and the kids have to be out of the picture. I talked to her mother and Theo, they are about to approach Anna. She's pregnant again. If she didn't leave, then I am sure Emma will kill her and the Twins.”

“Why Twins? There are two other kids as well.”

“Because Emma thinks Cherish and Jamie are dream children of James. Cherish is the name James always wanted, and Jamie is his copy. But Annie looks like Anna and Jace is their mixture. I think Emma wants to erase everything that reminds of Anna. James went against Emma and she went wild. I had to drug Anna every night and narrate, her, the story of James abusing her.” I could feel tears approaching my eyes. “Her half-consciously body cried for her. I am a monster. I knew if she left, she will learn what I have done, so I stopped her parents to meet her.”

“She could have died. You were drugging her. Thank God, Daniel found out.” Jodie said.

“In my office right now.” Barking orders at Daniel, I rushed to get my blazer. Norma, informing me, about Emma missing is not a good sign. This is not an ideal situation. Anna is pregnant. I knew this could be her last stroke.

“I was busy.” Daniel scowled.

“Emma is missing.” Interrupting Daniel, I snapped at him.

“Thank god!!” He was relieved. I know, he has the closest relationship with my daughter-in-law, but missing Emma is not good for my daughter-in-law.

“Anna is pregnant.” I reminded him, what we found in the office of James two weeks back. James didn't inform us, but I can feel his efforts. He is focusing on his family. He, even, hired 3 new CEOs for the companies to work in his absence. He is going to his family. He even snapped at Emma, when she tried to cheer him. James wants Anna and his children. And, it was just a matter of time. I was confident that Norma will fail. We can't save Emma and Anna together. One of them has to be sacrificed for the good life of the other. And, I am choosing Anna because she has my grandchildren, and she's fine. We can work on her but Emma… She's gone. We lost her the day she realized that we lied to her. That day, Willa and Malcolm died. From that day, Emma is patiently waiting, like a snake, to pounce on Anna.

“I know, Anna is pregnant, and I hope Emma dies today.” Daniel gave me an intense look and waited for me to react.

“She's my wife.” I walked out of the room and expected Daniel to follow me.

“She's your burden. Your wife died. And, I am convinced that Emma killed her.” Daniel followed me, but his focus was on his phone. “I am calling Rogers security to secure Anna and kids… Twins need more security. Should I call a mental asylum?”

“She always escapes from there.”

“Yeah, that's why Norma planned to keep James away from Anna. So that Emma thinks everything is under her control.” Daniel mocked me. He always protested the plan and when learned, he made sure Anna goes to a psychiatrist.

“I love her.” I acknowledged my feeling for my wife. The woman, I, fell in love with when she stepped in to take care of James.

“I know, you love her.” Hugging me, Daniel helped me to get into the elevator. “But, she's gone. She doesn't love you. She loves James. And she loved you, become your wife because she was delusional. She thought you are James… You look like your younger brother until Jay grew up and started to resemble his father.”

“James promised her to be with her,” I recalled what my brother promised to terrified Emma.

“Because he was helping her. She was Rebecca's sister and what happened was heinous. She was 14. He was helping his girlfriend's sister. And when Emma found peace with him, she misunderstood it as love. She killed her sister, Rebecca, and your wife… Even James…. leaving no one for our little Jay.”

“I am James's Father.”

“You are.”

“And, Emma is not bad. She loved Jess, despite knowing that Jess was from my one-night stand with the Personal Assistant.”

“Because she thought you to be James I.”

“What should we do?” I cried.

“Call the authority.”

“No, the family's name is at stake.” Is he insane? Carter is a brand. This scandal would affect our stock and shares.

“Fuck the family. The grandchildren of my best friend needs safety. James was not only my best friend, but my brother as well. And, trust me, I could kill for him.”

.