The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 97

meeting felt long, and they talked about money from the divorce, taking care of the kids, and what would happen in court. Emma felt like Richard really wanted to help her. When they finished talking, Richard packed up the papers and looked at Emma with caring eyes. "We'll keep going, Emma. You can leave now. I'll make sure all our work pays off." Emma nodded thankfully. The room had heard all their secrets and plans for change.

When they left the restaurant, Emma felt stronger. The cool evening air felt nice after all the serious talk. She and Richard walked together, with the city noises in the background. But something unexpected happened.

Near the restaurant's door, someone stepped out of the shadows. It was a fancy-dressed woman who looked at Emma with both wonder and doubt.

It was Charles's girlfriend, someone from his cheating past.

The girlfriend had tried to follow Emma into the restaurant earlier but couldn't get in. She waited outside until Emma and Richard left.

"Emma!" the girlfriend called out loudly. Emma's heart jumped as her past suddenly crashed into her present.

nice restaurant was full of happy people eating when Emma and Richard walked between the tables. Emma looked confident walking next to Richard in the soft light. Everyone around them was eating fancy food

upsetting the other people eating

girlfriend - someone she'd tried to ignore. The girlfriend fell to her

between Emma and the upset girlfriend to protect

quietly. "I'm having Charles's baby, and I'm begging

9 Ceshanted by a

show any feeling. "Talk to Charles about

knows that. He said you won't let him have a baby outside marriage. Please let me keep

almost crying now, kept talking. "Please, I have nowhere else to go. I don't have any family, and the doctors say if I lose this baby, I might never have another one. You must

louder. "But he uses your name to control everything! He said you'd make me get rid of the baby, like you did with the others. Please let me keep my child!" Emma felt cold as she understood what the girlfriend was saying. She looked at the woman kneeling there, changing from

said you wouldn't accept such shameful

stayed calm outside. "Get up.