EMMA
“No, Mum, I’m not working at the family company, especially with Ryan there.” I muttered the words under my breath as I walked down the stairs behind her. My shoulders were stiff and my jaw clenched.
“Sweetheart, it’s for your own good. Ryan is a sweet boy. He’s going to take care of you,” my mum explained gently.
I let out a short, bitter laugh and crossed my arms tightly over my chest. “No, he won’t take care of me. He’ll tease me and bully me in front of my coworkers,” I argued, shaking my head hard.
“He’s your cousin for goodness sake. He wouldn’t do that. I’ve been on this earth longer than you, Emma. I know what men can do,” Mum replied while grabbing her bag from the couch.
My stomach twisted and my fingers curled into fists. She didn’t know anything. She didn’t know what
