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Dedicating this chapter to Kate5533

Enjoy...

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With a blank look, Emma sat in front of the TV with the kids chattering beside her - laughing and sometimes arguing over silly topics that only had importance to kids. If it was any other time Emma would have joined Sarah and Sammy, smile at them when they giggled and squealed in joy - or put a break to their cute arguments.

But she was nearly breaking into pieces inside, the pain could be felt almost deep into her bones. The quarrel they had in the morning - or afternoon, had been replaying in her mind over and over again. It wasn't the first time they had fought, she had insulted him before too... more than once.

But this time, it was different. She could feel the bitterness of it in her blood. It had been now two days and she was still waiting for him to come, to see her - to talk to her.

But he didn't.

She waited for his phone call, at least a text message like a little kid waits for their birthday present.

Nothing...

Not a single word from him.

And it was now ten in the morning, still no sight of him. She had tried to have a single glimpse of him through the window and the balcony. But it was as if he had vanished literally. Emma was stepping towards falling into fits of hysterics.

At that moment she wanted nothing else but for him to stand in front of her with that sexy smile lighting up his whole face and say that - everything was alright.

The news in the TV all of sudden made her jerk out of her reverie.

"Oh my Goodness!" She murmured in disbelief.

Emma listened awestruck as the news reporter spoke in details about her ex-boyfriend slash ex-boss slash jerk of the millennium - Jonathon's bankruptcy, his inevitable fall in the world of business and finance. He was secretly involved in drugs transport and had relevant connection in the mafia world, it was very much obvious that all the capitals of his business came from illegal sources.

Emma watched wide eyed as a blurry but comprehensible picture of Jonathon shaking hands with a very rugged looking middle aged man. The man was recognized as one of the most wanted criminals in Italy, Luciano.

Immediately Emma recalled the names from Jonathon's very confidential file. Marcio, Luciano and what was that other guys name - she remembered - Hespienza. No wonder, they were all from the mafia.

The news reporter further explained that all the information were sent to the media and FBI from an unknown source.

"Didn't they do a fantastic job... wrapping up that shit in his own doings?"

Emma turned around hearing Oliver as he came inside the house with a solemn look. She was so engrossed in listening to the news about Jonathon that she didn't notice Oliver enter.

"They?" She asked confused. Emma guessed that 'the shit' was apparently Jonathon but who were this - 'they'?

Oliver rolled his eyes walking towards Emma and sat beside her on the sofa after the kids ran away to play.

"Brandan and Evan... who else?" He exclaimed as if she should have known it was their doing.

Emma straightened further in shock. "Why would they do that! Brandan, I can understand - he was furious at Jonathon. But Evan..."

"I see nothing surprising there. Both the idiots love you Emma, even a blind person can tell that."

Oliver added seeing Emma looking down in silence, "They can't help it that they were assholes in the past."

Keeping an arm on the backrest of the sofa Oliver gazed at Emma with a wise glint in his eyes, "And that's where all the bitterness among you should be kept in, locked up and forgotten - in the past. You shouldn't burden youself with such unbearable weight of hatred, so much that you can't even see the love and happiness that have been offered to you now."

Pausing for a moment Oliver continued with a less serious voice now, "By the way, it was me who had been spying on your ex-boyfriend like a true hero for a long time and informed Brandan about his scumbaggery and true intentions at the right moment. So if you want to thank me or anything..."

Emma didn't know how much time had passed but she didn't dare move. Oliver was ful of childish antics, but he also had this wise - matured side of him that never failed to immobilize people when they were faced to it.

How right he was, Emma thought in silence. How long would she keep living in the past? How long it would take for her to forgive these people? They wronged her, hurt her before - true. But on the basis of that, how long she would keep ignoring the way they were protecting her now!

She was pushing away the changed and matured individuals they were now... for the immature fools they had been in the past.

With a determination so strong gripping her whole being she stood up, turning around abruptly she was about to sprint towards the direction where she could close the door of her past for good and embrace her present, with no more walls around her heart anymore.

"Where are you going?" Oliver asked.

She turned her head to look at the surprised frown on Oliver's forehead. "To Brandan... to Evan. I..."

Restless, she didn't want to waste anymore time here. A little smile of relief playing on her lips with her eyes moist, she turned around leaving her sentence incomplete and in a matter of few minutes she half ran- half walked to the door.

"You're too late Emma."

Her hand froze on the doorknob, heart hammering in her chest. Somehow she knew she was going to hear something bad - very bad.

"Brandan is in the airport right now, his flight is in fifteen minutes. They're leaving Emma - going home."

And just like that, the heart filled with determination and acceptance - fell crumbling down... broken.

At last, he had given up on her.

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So, looks like Brandan had finally gotten fed up, packed his bags and going home with Evan - the insane elephant. Or do you think there's something more to the story? In this chapter, have you guys enjoyed Oliver's wise side and his lecture to Emma? I swear, I've a feeling that Oliver and Elli are the most intelligent people (of course with a streak of madness) in this story. How many of you agree with me? Raise your hands... let me see...

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- Lara.