"Never mind that, I'll talk when I get back. It's not convenient now!" Emily was wary of her phone being monitored and dared not be explicit.
"Right. Gotta go." Blake ignored the hint of anticipation in her tone and hung up.
Emily tightened her grip on the phone, standing under the sun for a long while.
The biting cold wind that had just brushed her face now seemed less harsh.
She hugged herself, a self-mocking smile tugging at her lips.
Blake hung up, his expression darkening as he wondered what Emily was up to.
But no matter her schemes, Blake felt no fear.
To him, she was nothing but a cunning, ambitious woman with a penchant for petty tricks.
Blake went downstairs and found Catherine on the phone, her voice indicating she was talking to her friend Melinda.
Not wanting to disturb her, he turned to spend time with his son.
Noah was growing into a well-behaved young man.
Unlike his younger days, he now focused on pursuits that piqued his interest, his playtime filled with purposeful exploration.
"Dad!" Noah looked up, a smile curving his lips.
Blake sat beside him, his deep eyes brimming with affection.
"Noah, your mom and I are finally tying the knot. Are you happy about it?" He'd never properly asked for his son's feelings before, but now, in this moment, he was earnest.
"Super happy! I can't wait for tomorrow." The little guy paused his activity, his bright eyes smiling back.
Blake reached out and tousled Noah's neatly combed short hair.
The little guy pushed his hand away with a displeased expression. "Dad, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, I just think you've grown a bit taller lately." Blake said with a grin.
"No duh. All that food I eat has to go somewhere," the kid grumbled good-naturedly.
Blake leaned over and pressed a kiss to Noah's cheek.
Noah immediately wiped his face, feigning disgust. "Dad, I'm not a baby anymore!"
Blake was left speechless.
Late at night, a thoroughly drunk Nick staggered into the building.
His mood was in the pits. He'd just attended Catherine and Blake's engagement party, and now their wedding was around the corner. The consecutive blows left him drowning in alcohol for solace.
As if his luck couldn't get any worse, he caught the attention of a large dog upon entering the building.
His unsteady gait signaled danger to the animal, which broke free from its owner's leash and charged at him with lightning speed.
A sharp bark and searing pain in his leg jolted Nick awake.
He kicked the dog off, but it returned, undeterred.
Panic-stricken, Nick bolted, the alcohol's haze clearing instantly.
But his injured leg slowed him down.
As the dog lunged again, the owner yanked the leash just in time, halting the attack.
Nick collapsed onto the grass, blood gushing from his wound, screaming in agony.
The owner, terrified, quickly called an ambulance.
Within ten minutes, Nick was en route to the hospital.
After receiving a vaccine, he lay pale and drained on the stretcher.
The dog's owner repeatedly apologized and offered compensation.
"Do you know who I am? If you can't control your dog, I'll ruin you," Nick threatened, his already foul mood ignited by the incident.
"Sir, I'm truly sorry. My dog's usually well-behaved. I don't know what came over it... Maybe something about you unsettled it..."
"Are you calling me dirty?" Nick's face flushed with rage. "You're insane! This isn't over!"
The young man shrunk back, silenced by the tirade.
Richard burst into the hospital room, his face darkening at the sight of his son, leg bandaged and pale.
Just as he was about to lash out, the dog's owner recognized him and spoke up.
Richard was about to launch into a tirade when he recognized the dog owner. His expression shifted slightly.
"Mr. Chavez, it's you! Is this your son? I'm so sorry!" the young man apologized hastily.
Though furious, Richard forced a smile, mindful of the owner's background. "Yes, this is my son. What exactly happened? Why did your dog attack him?"
"I'm not sure. My dog's always been gentle. This was my fault, and I'll cover all medical expenses," the young man said, tension easing slightly upon recognizing Richard.
"An apology won't suffice. That dog's a menace and shouldn't be kept," Nick ground out through clenched teeth.
"Are you threatening to kill my dog? Please, it's my only friend," the young man pleaded, his face drained of color.
"We'll deal with this later. You can leave now," Richard said, maintaining his forced smile.