A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

What kind of negotiation was this? It was crystal clear that he was taking advantage of her.

Emily was dizzy from the euphoric kiss when Jacob stopped for just a moment to let her speak. She conceded, "Okay, you can stop kissing me now…"

Jacob didn't heed this and went back in his words, he proceeded to kiss her violently. He only stopped when someone knocked on the door, his face full of unsatisfied regret.

"Rat-a-tat." The knock went on at a steady pace, accompanied with Ina's voice, "Miss Lu?"

Upon hearing this, Emily snapped back to reality and glared at Jacob then pushed him away. With her temper leashed, she proclaimed, "I'm alright!"

Ina continued, "Miss Lu, I brought the food I got from the market, but I'm not sure if the okra I bought was the one you wanted. Would you come out and take a look?"

Clearly, Ina didn't want Emily to be alone in a room with Jacob.

With a gleam of displeasure in his eyes, Jacob wordlessly stood up and fixed Emily's hair then smiled, "Now it's settled. We, a family of three, will go to the seaside."

A family of three…

Emily had to admit when she heard the word 'family', a warm feeling spread throughout her body, like a small hole was opened on the walls of her heart.

"Miss Lu?" Ina urged again, this time with a tinge of nervousness in her voice.

Emily couldn't stay in the room with Jacob anymore, so she went out with Jacob in tow.

As soon as Beryl saw Jacob come out of the room, she ran and wrapped her arms around his legs and eagerly asked, "How was it Daddy? Did Mommy agree?"

Jacob patted her little round head, winked and gestured an OK sign to her. Beryl's smile almost reached the heavens as she raised her hand for a high-five.

"You're the best, Daddy! Even Mommy listens to you!"

Seeing the evident adoration on his daughter's expression, Jacob's weary heart couldn't help but feel revitalized. "Why, of course. Mommy's always obedient to me..."

"Am I?" Emily's cold voice came from behind him, "You're saying that I'll obey your every command be it right or wrong?"

with a solemn expression, he lied through his teeth, "What I meant to say to Beryl was that Mommy liked me

eyes widened in amused surprise. Daddy was

around and walked towards the kitchen. She heard the faint voice

is afraid

instantly.

long sounding "Oh", Beryl

her innermost emotions. She thought that with age comes emotional maturity, but she was

after observing her distracted face,

reality. Looking at Ina's suspicious eyes, she explained, "He's really

continued, "Do Sean

towards the kitchen counter and pondered for a moment, she then

flicker of something that

had already arranged the seaside trip and went

with excitement, Beryl opened the door. As soon as she saw

bent down to pick her up and kissed her little

bed." Beryl raised her chin proudly. "Beryl didn't stay

back praise for his daughter. In his eyes, Beryl was the best as well as his

to stop Jacob from going up,

held Beryl in his arms and slowly ascended the stairs into Emily's bedroom.

who was still lying in bed, had her eyes closed. Her long lashes cast elegant shadows that resembled painting brushes over her eyelids. Her breath shallow yet at a rhythmic pace, her sleep was peaceful and she looked

wouldn't have destroyed such a beautiful sight if

tugged at his collar and spoke, almost whispering, "Don't forget we're

her up, Beryl?" Jacob asked

get

you want me to do it?" Jacob didn't know whether to

perfect assurance and a

was watertight. No getting out of this one, Jacob thought.

caress Emily's face

twinge of doubt in her voice, Beryl