Chapter 1000 Catching up With Emily

I chuckled, remembering how my mom could not reach me when I was out on assignment. She must have spun the same line to comfort them, and it had stuck. "That's not the case anymore. My job's a breeze these days. If you miss me, just call me anytime." "Okay." "Ms. Scott, breakfast is served." The nanny emerged from the kitchen, catching me in the act of a clumsy hairdo. She laughed and took over. "I've got this." Admitting defeat with a grin, I handed over the hairbrush and stood up to grab some breakfast. I had planned to kick back at home after getting back from Tully City, especially since it was the weekend. A little downtime and a stroll with the kids sounded perfect. However, Emily's call came out of the blue. She had heard I was back in town and wanted to catch up. "You're back. Let's get together later. I've got something to discuss." "What's up?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by her cryptic tone. "We'll talk face-to-face," she replied, keeping it short and sweet. I agreed, wondering what it was about. Charlotte watched me hang up, her big eyes blinking up at me. "Aunt, you got plans this afternoon?" Her hopeful look tugged at my heart. I smiled and asked gently, "What's on your mind, Charlotte? Got something you want to share with me?" Charlotte shook her head gently. "Well, I just really miss spending time with you. My sister and I haven't seen you in ages." She was just a kid, craving attention and care. I had hired a nanny for them, but between my business trips and non-stop work, as well as their school schedule, I barely had a moment with them. It seemed I had been neglecting them. I looked at Charlotte and offered, "Hey, how about this? Once I wrap up a few things, I'll take a day off to whisk you and your sister off to the amusement park for some fun and yummy treats. Sounds good?" At the mention of the amusement park, Charlotte's eyes sparkled with excitement. She nodded vigorously, her smile shining. "Yes! We'll wait for you to be done with your work and then we'll all go together." "Deal!" With Charlotte cheering, I prepared myself and headed out. Emily had asked to meet at a café. She was already there when I arrived, gracefully enjoying her coffee. The waiter showed me to her table, and she greeted me with a warm smile. "It's been a while! You look sun-kissed. Tully City must be pretty warm." "Must be the strong UV rays," I replied, playing along. "Coffee at this time? Are you planning to skip lunch?" She just chuckled. "Might as well call it a diet. Are you joining me for a cup?" I passed on the coffee, opting for a fruit juice instead. As we chatted, I could not help but notice a red mark on her neck. Raising an eyebrow, I teased, "So, what's the good news?" She caught my look and laughed. "Not exactly news. I got back together with Liam. We remarried." "Remarried?" I could not hide my surprise, my voice pitching up a notch. She nodded, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Didn't see that coming, huh?" The shock lasted only a heartbeat before I regained my composure. I shook my head, a wry smile on my lips. "Not exactly. It's just a bit… unexpected." "Unexpected?" she echoed, her lips barely grazing the rim of her coffee cup. I gave a silent nod. It truly was. After everything with Sweety, I would have bet anything that she would not give Liam the time of day again. Once someone had built walls around their heart, especially someone who had fallen in love when they were young and remained in a long-term relationship, they would find it hard to find peace again. Youthful love, once so pure then trampled upon, would surely leave its scars. Emily's quiet laugh cut through my thoughts, her eyes tinged with sadness. "I never thought I'd push past the unease in my heart to stay by his side. However, isn't that life, Yvette? We all push on, don't we?"