Chapter 19

Chapter 19
Emily, who was so drenched in the scene, was snapped back to reality by his voice. She looked at Nathaniel, who was still standing at the front of his gate with his hands crossed and a warm smile still intact.

She hesitated only for a moment before swiftly unlocking the gate, “Yes of course” she said, in a little lower voice barely to hear from such a distance but he heard her.

He chuckled, lifting his back from the gate frames, “I'm glad to hear that”

Nathaniel offered a small smile and drew his head forward to take a peek inside her compound, his expression showing a flicker of curiosity as his gaze wandered around.

In LondonSky Estate, having a villa of thirty in numbers has been furnished with luxury items ready for immediate occupation. However, Emily's home had stood out among them all in terms of beauty. With a look forward, one could see path lines carefully tended, blooming roses in the little paths.

A soft breeze swept the sweet scent of the flowers into the air. Across the peddle pathway at the courtyard center stood a fountain adorned with a cherubic statue, water flowing from the vessel it held. Nearby, a wicked swing gently swaying back and forth, a stone pavilion housed several lounge chairs, inviting a place for relaxation.

The courtyard wasn't that large, but it exuded warmth and elegance, simply arranged to encourage peace and relaxation.
In contrast to his own courtyard, which was occupied with luxurious cars, the setting offered a peaceful and leisurely view.

“Have you had breakfast, Miss Charles?” Nathaniel asked, shifting his gaze back to her face, as the warmth in his eyes slowly died off.

Emily, noticing his admiring look at her courtyard, simply stepped aside, “ not yet. But would you care for some coffee, Mr Waylen?”

Before Nathaniel could answer, Evelyn chimed in with a warm smile, “ Mr Waylen, perhaps you haven't had breakfast. I was just about to prepare something. So, why don't you join us?”

Nathaniel smiled and replied, “Thank you, I'd love to”

“Not at all, Mr Waylen. Without your intervention, that troublemaker would have started tearing the gate down by now…” Evelyn said with her face twisted into disgust as she remembered what Victor almost did.

That man was so shameless that he had no shame at all. She was glad that her young mistress had finally seen who he truly is.

“Why don't you two chat, while I go and prepare breakfast?” With that being said, she bowed respectfully to Nathaniel and hurried into the villa to start her cooking, leaving the duo alone.

Emily didn't bother to lock back the gate again, seeing that with Nathaniel's presence, Victor would dare to come back to create a scene. Instead, she accompanied him through her courtyard.

“Miss Charles, his courtyard is really beautiful. Did your husband help you to arrange it?” Nathaniel said, walking alongside her. But she didn't say a word. Instead she sat on the swing soaking up the sunlight leisurely. He stood beside her, staring and waiting patiently as his curiosity got the best of him.

When he returned last night, he couldn't see the scenery inside the gate. The unique bit of the courtyard has stirred a bit of envies in him.

The courtyard was beautiful to take care of and it was hard to believe that the owners of such a place could be in a fight.

So were they just having a martial argument earlier? Or did they still have a foundation of love for each other….
“How could that be” Emily finally said, her vice was filled with surprise and a tinge of sarcastic suddenly cut Nathaniel from his thoughts.
He was momentarily startled and looked up at the woman in the swing.

Emily's gaze swept nostalgically over the courtyard as she explained, “ this was my parents doing. They knew I love roses, so they filled the courtyard with them and even hired a gardener to maintain them. See, this swing was their idea too” Emily patted the seat next to her, her face wearing a warm smile as she remembered her parents but her heart was deep in the hollow.

“It was only after marriage that I realized the ones who truly cared for me were my parents. But sadly, they're no longer with us” she said with a soft chuckled, but Nathaniel perceived that was just a facade. He knew the hurt she was feeling in her heart.

Emily had been married to Victor for six months when her parents died tragically in a car accident. At that time, she was employed as an employee in the Callum Group, tasked by Victor to oversee a tourism project on an island.

When heŕ parents died, Emily wasn't there yo be with them.

By the time she heard the news and rushed to the hospital where they were charged, their bodies have been buried and the Charles family had already Started the funeral arrangements. Victor was absent from the funeral.

Overwhelmed with grief, Emily hadn't thought to question the absence of victor that day. A few days after the funeral when she returned back to LondonSky Estate, Victor was already waiting for her in the living room. As soon she step in, he immediately informed her, she wasn't needed at the Callum group again without even asking about the funeral of her parents.

Emily was shocked by the decision and demanded to know why, but Victor only explained to her that she abandoned The island project Without informing anyone which disrupts the work and upset her colleagues. That her sudden departure had reached the board of directors.

Her colleagues were quite unhappy with her and had raised complaints about her to the higher-ups even alerting the board of directors, and her firing is a decision made by all the shareholders of the Callum group!

Feeling deeply hurt, tears welled up her eyes as she confronted Victor with a shaking voice, “ Victor, those were my own parents! They had a terrible accident and lost their lives, and you expect me to carry on the supervising project with a clear conscience? Don't you see how ridiculous the reason for my dismissal was? Put yourself in my shoe, if your parents had a terrible accident could you have remained calm and continued working”

Victor had planned to offer her some semblance of comfort but her last word ignites his anger, leading he to smash a nearby antique vase!

In his anger, he grabbed her by the throat, pressing her against the nearby wall, “Are you cursing my parents?” He growled, making her squinting her eyes. He didn't even give her the chance to explain before he carried on accusingly, “Stop giving excuses to your mistakes! Emily. You said you're restless at home and needed a job which I got you a position in my family company. You know how important the island project is for the Callum group yet you blow it up!”