Chapter 4 Tangled Paths

• Emma’s POV
• The next morning, Grace led me into her home office, an elegant space with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a large mahogany desk. A file sat in the center, thick and daunting.
• “This,” Grace said, tapping the file, “is everything your grandfather left behind. Bank accounts, properties, trust funds—it’s all yours if you choose to claim it.”
• I stared at the file, the weight of her words pressing down on me. “And if I don’t?”
• Her expression softened. “Then it goes to distant relatives who’ll squander it, or to charities your grandfather didn’t care about. But Emma, this isn’t just about money. It’s about legacy. Your mother would’ve wanted you to have this.”
• I flinched. My mother had walked away from this life, and I wasn’t sure if stepping into it would betray her memory—or honor it.
• “What’s the catch?” I asked.
• Grace hesitated, her lips pressing into a thin line. “The family will expect you to step into the role your mother refused. That means attending events, representing the Sinclair name, and… possibly making connections they deem beneficial.”
• I narrowed my eyes. “Connections? You mean arranged marriages and business deals?”
• “Something like that,” she admitted.
• I pushed the file away, the thought making my stomach turn. “I’m not a pawn in someone else’s game.”
• Grace sighed. “I know this is overwhelming, but think about what this could mean for your future. For your babies’ future.”
• Her words struck a nerve. I’d spent the past week wondering how I’d provide for two children on my own. Could I really turn down this kind of opportunity?
• “I’ll think about it,” I said finally.
• Grace nodded, though I could see the disappointment in her eyes. “Take your time. But don’t take too long. The family’s patience isn’t endless.”
• ---
• Later that afternoon, I decided to clear my head with a walk. London’s streets were alive with energy, the cold air biting at my cheeks as I wandered aimlessly. My thoughts kept circling back to Lucas.
• I’d tried not to dwell on him, but now that I knew about my family’s wealth, I couldn’t ignore the coincidence. What if he’d known all along? What if I was just another notch in his belt, another conquest in the world of the elite?
• Or what if he had no idea, just like me?
• My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out to see a message from Jake.
• Jake: How’s London? Audrey’s been unbearable without you here to distract her.
• I smiled, despite myself. Jake always knew how to lighten the mood.
• Me: London’s… complicated. I’ll explain when I get back.
• Jake: Complicated how? Wait, are you about to become a duchess or something?
• I laughed, shaking my head. If only he knew.
• ---
• Lucas’s POV
• Lucas paced the length of his office, the investigator’s words still echoing in his head. Inheritance. Family looking for her. Emma Sinclair wasn’t just a fleeting memory anymore—she was becoming a mystery he couldn’t ignore.
• He sat down and opened his laptop, pulling up the Crescent Bay Hotel’s records. It didn’t take long to find her name in the guest list from that night. Emma Sinclair. One name, but no other information.
• His fingers hovered over the keys before he typed “Emma Sinclair” into the search bar. Hundreds of results popped up—social media profiles, articles, random people who shared her name. But nothing that matched the fiery woman who’d walked into his life and left just as quickly.
• Frustrated, he leaned back in his chair. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she was more than just a fleeting connection. And now that her name was tied to money, to family, to something bigger—it only deepened his determination to find her.
• ---
• Emma’s POV
• That evening, Grace invited me to a charity gala. “It’ll give you a taste of the world your family lives in,” she said, her tone non-negotiable.
• I wanted to protest, but part of me was curious. If this was the life I was stepping into, I needed to know what it looked like.
• Grace hired a stylist to help me get ready, and as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. The sleek black gown clung to me in all the right places, and the diamond earrings Grace insisted I wear sparkled under the lights.
• “You look stunning,” she said, smiling. “Your mother would be so proud.”
• Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I blinked back the sudden sting of tears.
• ---
• The gala was everything I imagined—opulent and overwhelming. The room was filled with people dressed in designer outfits, sipping champagne, and talking in low, cultured voices. I felt completely out of place.
• Grace introduced me to several people, but their polite smiles and empty compliments only made me more uncomfortable.
• Then I saw him.
• At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. But as he turned, his piercing blue eyes met mine, and my breath caught in my throat. Lucas.
• He froze, his expression a mixture of shock and something else—relief? Recognition?
• Before I could process what was happening, Grace appeared at my side. “Emma, I’d like you to meet—”
• But I didn’t hear the rest of her sentence. Lucas was walking toward me, his gaze locked on mine.
• “Emma,” he said, his voice low and filled with disbelief.
• I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—anger, confusion, and the tiniest flicker of hope.
• “What are you doing here?” I finally managed to ask, my voice shaking.
• “I could ask you the same thing,” he said, his eyes searching mine. “I’ve been trying to find you.”
• My heart pounded in my chest. “Why?”
• “Because…” He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
• Before he could say more, a woman appeared at his side, looping her arm through his. “Lucas, darling, everyone’s waiting for you.”
• I felt the blood drain from my face as I took in her perfect features, her designer dress, the way she looked at him with familiarity.
• “Who is this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
• Lucas looked torn, his jaw tightening. “Emma, this isn’t what it looks like—”
• But the woman interrupted him with a laugh. “Oh, I’m sure it’s exactly what it looks like. I’m Charlotte, his fiancée.”
• The room spun, and for a moment, I thought I might faint. Fiancée?
• Lucas reached for me, but I stepped back, shaking my head. “I can’t believe I ever thought…” My voice broke, and I turned on my heel, pushing through the crowd.
• “Emma, wait!” Lucas called after me, but I didn’t stop.
• As I stepped out into the
• cold night air, tears streaming down my face, one thought echoed in my mind.
• I’d been a fool to think he was different.