Morning light poured through the windows but it brought no warmth
Emma sat by the kitchen table her eyes locked on the photo from college
The image burned into her memory
Mia standing beside Marcus
Long before either of them had shown their true faces
Damon walked in his shirt half-buttoned eyes tired
Did you sleep at all
Emma shook her head slowly
No
I kept thinking
What if everything was planned from the start
He walked over sat beside her and took the photo in his hand
Maybe it was
Maybe it wasn't
But now we cannot ignore the truth
Emma looked at him
We need to confront her
Not yet Damon said
If we push now we get nothing
We need proof
We need leverage
Emma exhaled slowly
Then where do we start
Damon stood walked over to the window pulled out his phone
I already started
He made a call spoke in low tones
Track her
Everything
Her contacts her movements her accounts
Emma watched him
The calm mask was back
But she saw it
The tension under his skin
When he ended the call he looked at her
By tonight we will know
Later that day Damon left for the company
Emma stayed home
Restless
Thinking
She opened her laptop and searched old emails
Messages from Mia
Some harmless
Some odd
One in particular stood out
It was from two years ago
Right after she and Damon had married
Mia had written
Are you sure he is who he says he is
At the time Emma laughed it off
Now it chilled her
Hours passed slowly
Evening came
Damon returned with a folder in his hand
He tossed it on the table
Everything on Mia
Emma opened it with shaking hands
Photos
Bank transfers
Call logs
Meetings with unknown names
And then
One name stood out
Marcus
Emma's voice was cold
So she was helping him all along
Damon nodded
It gets worse
She was the one who told him where we were staying in Paris
That ambush
It was her
Emma's chest tightened
Memories of that night
Gunshots
Broken glass
Running barefoot through rain
She betrayed me
She used our friendship
And now she's playing nice again
She wants something Damon said
Maybe revenge
Maybe money
But it is not friendship
Emma stood up
Face pale
Eyes hard
Then I want to face her myself
Damon looked at her for a long moment
Then nodded
Tomorrow night
You will invite her to dinner
But this time
We control the story
The next night came faster than expected
Emma dressed carefully
Not for beauty
But for strength
A black dress
Simple
Powerful
Damon waited by the door
You are sure about this
Yes
No more hiding
No more fear
Mia arrived right on time
Wearing red
Smiling like nothing had changed
She hugged Emma
Commented on the decor
Laughed like the past was innocent
But Emma was calm
Cold
They sat at the table
Wine poured
Food untouched
And then Emma spoke
Do you remember Paris Mia
Mia blinked
Of course
Why
Because you sent him
Mia froze
Just for a second
Then smiled
What are you talking about
Emma leaned forward
No lies
We know everything
Damon's voice was like steel
We know about the transfers
The messages
The coordinates you gave Marcus
Mia's smile faded
Her hand trembled slightly
So what if I did
He promised me things
He promised me justice
After what Damon did to my brother
Emma's heart stopped
Your brother
Mia's voice cracked
Marcus was my brother
He changed his name after Damon destroyed his life
He came to me broken
Begging for help
Damon stood slowly
Your brother ran a trafficking ring
He used his company as a front
I exposed him
And I would do it again
Mia stood now too
Tears in her eyes
Or maybe rage
He was still my brother
And you took him away
Emma spoke
Then why use me
Why pretend to be my friend
Because I needed to be close to him
And I knew he loved you
You were my way in
Emma stepped back
Disgusted
Then Mia said something that turned the air cold
And now
You are pregnant
Aren't you
Emma froze
How do you know that
Mia smiled
You left the test in the bathroom
I saw it
Congrats
Damon moved instantly
He grabbed Mia by the arm and pulled her toward the door
Get out
Mia's voice turned cold
This is not over
You took my brother
Now I will take everything from you
She walked away
Slamming the door behind her
Emma stood silent
Her hands trembling
You are
Damon asked softly
She nodded
Eyes full of fear and wonder
I just found out yesterday
Damon wrapped his arms around her
Then we protect this child
No matter what
They held each other in silence
The war was not over
But now they had something worth fighting for
Something they would protect with fire and blood