Chapter Four — The Secret Between Us
1144 Words
Chapter Four — The Secret Between Us
Three weeks passed.
Three weeks of stolen moments, whispered conversations, late-night phone calls, and promises neither Emma nor Sandra had planned to make.
Their relationship had become something neither of them could deny anymore.
Emma visited the café almost every day.
Sometimes he stayed for hours just to watch Sandra work. Other times, he would wait outside until her shift ended so they could walk together.
Sandra had never experienced a love like this.
For the first time in her life, someone made her feel important.
Not because of what she owned.
Not because of what she could offer.
Simply because she was Sandra.
But there was one thing she refused to talk about.
Emma’s family.
Every time he mentioned his father, she noticed the change in his voice.
Every time she saw the expensive car waiting for him outside the café, she remembered that their lives were not the same.
One evening, while they sat together on a quiet bench beside the river, Sandra finally broke the silence.
“Emma.”
He looked at her.
“Yes?”
“How serious is this?”
Emma frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Us.”
He smiled.
“Very serious.”
Sandra looked down at her hands.
“I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I.”
“Your father hates me.”
Emma’s smile disappeared.
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true.”
“He doesn’t know you.”
“He doesn’t need to. He already decided I’m not good enough for you.”
Emma reached for her hand.
“You are more than good enough.”
Sandra looked into his eyes.
“But what happens when you have to choose?”
Emma was silent.
“Between me and your family,” she continued.
He took a deep breath.
“I already know my choice.”
Sandra’s eyes filled with tears.
“Don’t say that so easily.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to be the reason you lose your family.”
Emma moved closer.
“Sandra, you’re not taking anything away from me.”
“But—”
“I love you.”
The words stopped her.
She stared at him.
Emma’s voice trembled slightly.
“I’ve been trying to find the right time to say it.”
Sandra could barely breathe.
“Emma…”
“I love you.”
A tear rolled down her cheek.
She quickly wiped it away.
“I love you too.”
Emma pulled her into his arms.
For a moment, the world disappeared.
But across the city, Richard Hayes was sitting in his office with a file open in front of him.
Sandra Williams.
Twenty-two years old.
No mother.
Father: Daniel Williams.
Occupation: temporary laborer.
Residence: small rented apartment.
Employment: café waitress.
Education: incomplete university studies.
Richard read the information without emotion.
“Nothing,” he muttered.
His assistant looked confused.
“Sir?”
“There’s nothing here that connects her to us.”
Richard closed the file.
“That’s exactly the problem.”
He stood and walked toward the window.
“She has no money. No influence. No family name. Yet my son is willing to challenge me for her.”
His assistant remained silent.
Richard turned.
“How much does her father owe?”
“Several outstanding debts.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“How much?”
The assistant gave him the figure.
Richard nodded slowly.
“Pay them.”
The assistant hesitated.
“Sir?”
“Pay every debt.”
“Why?”
Richard looked at him coldly.
“Because I want Sandra Williams to understand that people like us can reach places people like her cannot even imagine.”
Meanwhile, Sandra arrived home that night and found her father sitting quietly at the kitchen table.
“Dad?”
Daniel looked up.
“You came late.”
“I’m sorry.”
He noticed the smile on her face.
“You seem happy.”
Sandra sat beside him.
“I am.”
“Why?”
She hesitated.
“There is someone.”
Her father’s expression changed.
“A man?”
Sandra nodded.
“His name is Emma.”
“Emma what?”
“Emma Hayes.”
The spoon slipped from Daniel’s hand.
Sandra immediately noticed.
“Dad?”
Daniel stared at her.
“Did you say Hayes?”
“Yes.”
He stood abruptly.
“No.”
Sandra was confused.
“What?”
“No, Sandra.”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand enough.”
“He’s kind. He loves me.”
“Stay away from him.”
“Dad—”
“I said stay away from him!”
Sandra had never heard her father raise his voice like that.
She stood slowly.
“Why?”
Daniel looked away.
“I don’t want you involved with that family.”
“Why?”
He said nothing.
“Dad, please.”
Daniel’s face became pale.
“Some families carry more than money, Sandra.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked at her with fear in his eyes.
“It means you don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
Sandra shook her head.
“Emma isn’t his father.”
“That’s what you think.”
She stepped closer.
“Did something happen between you and his family?”
Daniel remained silent.
“Dad?”
He finally looked at her.
“Promise me you will leave him.”
Sandra’s eyes filled with tears.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I love him.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
He knew immediately that he had already lost the argument.
Sandra walked to her room.
But before she closed the door, she heard her father whisper something.
“God help us.”
She stopped.
“What did you say?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Nothing.”
Sandra entered her room and closed the door.
She sat on the edge of her bed and stared at her phone.
A message from Emma appeared.
Emma: I miss you.
She smiled through her tears.
Then she typed:
Sandra: I miss you too.
Another message arrived almost immediately.
Emma: I love you.
Sandra pressed the phone against her chest.
She had no idea that the love making her happiest was slowly becoming the greatest threat to her family’s safety.
And somewhere else in the city, Richard Hayes made his first move.
He picked up his phone and called someone he had not spoken to in years.
“There’s a girl,” he said.
The voice on the other end was quiet.
Richard continued.
“I need her separated from my son.”
A pause.
“How far do you want me to go?”
Richard looked through the window at the city lights.
His answer was cold.
“Far enough that she never comes back.
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