"No!" Shawn insisted, sounding a bit anxious. "I just don't want you exhausting yourself. I'm doing great here. I have people to keep me company and look after me, so you don't need to worry. If you come, you might just interrupt my chess games with the other guys anyway."
Emily nodded. "Okay, got it."
"Don't come for a while, seriously. I won't have time to entertain you. My buddy and I are entering the nursing home's chess tournament, so we have to practice every day," he reiterated.
She smiled. "Understood. Practice hard, and if you win, we'll come celebrate with you."
His tone relaxed, and a smile returned to his voice. "Go back to work."
When she hung up, she couldn't shake the feeling that the call was strange. Every time she visited, he was always thrilled, grinning like a kid while holding Kya. Why the sudden change?
After thinking it over, she called the aide in charge of his room. The aide assured her that he was doing perfectly fine and behaving just like normal.
Relieved, she thanked the aide and hung up.
Since nothing was wrong, she figured she was just overthinking it. She put her phone away and went back to work, wrapping up her files before heading home.
Over the weekend, they went back to the main estate. Mr. James took Kya out to play in the garden, while Mrs. James pulled Emily aside for a chat.
"The date for the engagement party is set. I know you're busy with your company, so Charlie will handle the little details. But we need to discuss the guest list. Make a list of all the relatives, friends, and classmates you'd like to invite and give it to me. His father and I will prepare the invitations. Anyone you invite is a VIP, and his dad said he wants to handwrite the invitations himself."
Emily froze for a moment.
She didn't have any relatives or friends from the Sullivan family left. They had all cut ties long ago because of her father. In college, she had a few close friends, but after her dad borrowed money from them, she stopped making friends, terrified he would do it again.
She had even severed ties with her own immediate family.
Mrs. James squeezed her hand gently. "Don't feel pressured. Just invite whoever you want. We'll handle the rest."
A wave of warmth washed over her, and she smiled. "Okay, let me think about it."


VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABEL
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
This was soooooo sooooo good! I loved it! Thank you for the updates....
Then Melanie and Noreen will both understand that Emily is his wife, who he chooses and cares to be with. We’ve already had so much drama when Emily took off for three years hiding her pregnancy from Charlie. Emily has already confessed that the only man she loves is Kya father, which Charlie is. Now he needs to boldly claim the only woman he loves is Emily…I just had to add my two cents (he he he)....
Now Charlie needs to take Emily to the marriage office like Gabriel did with Sylvia . Reassure her that he will not take for granted. Thank you for the updates. I’m loving it....
May we please have updates. Thank you....
Wow.. finally they're married now. I thought there will be another separation....
Thank you for the updates of Emily and Charlie. It seem that Orval may knows of Amelia and may be helping Emily get around her,...
Waiting for updates..thank you...
More updates please. Thank you...
This was so exciting, from the demise of Evelyn and her departure; to Sylvia’s and Gabriel’ confession of their love, commitment and marriage to one another. Thank you for the updates…I’m loving it!...
Wow...Victory dance 💃💃 finally what we have all been waiting for. Just love the way it is progressing. Cant wait for more and more updates...