Emerys Impressed Rebecca
The grocery store was relatively quiet in the early evening, soft overhead lights illuminating the aisles.
Jesse pushed his cart slowly, picking up a few things to take home: fresh fruit, bread, a carton of milk, and some of the salty snacks he knew Emery had been craving lately.
His mind was elsewhere, still heavy from the day's events.
He turned into the cereal aisle and nearly collided with someone.
Francesca stood there, blocking his path, a smug smile on her face. She was dressed casually but stylishly, her hair perfectly styled, clearly not there by accident.
"Jesse," she purred, stepping closer so he was crowded against the shelf. "Fancy seeing you here. Shopping for the house? Or are you picking up something special for that little replacement?"
Jesse's jaw tightened. He tried to move past her, but she shifted to block him again, placing a hand on the cart to stop him.
"Move, Francesca," he said, voice low and warning.
She didn't. Instead, she leaned in, her perfume thick and cloying.
"You might have threatened your mother that you'd leave the house if she forced you to date me, but I'm not backing off.
Your family needs this alliance. And I need you.
So you're going to stop playing hard to get and start acting like the future husband I deserve. "
Jesse's eyes darkened. He straightened to his full height, his eyes locking onto hers with cold, unyielding fury.
"Listen to me very carefully," he said, voice dangerously calm but laced with steel.
"I don't want you. I will never want you.
You can threaten, you can manipulate, you can run to my mother all you want, it won't change a damn thing.
I'm not interested. I'm not available. And if you keep crowding me like this, if you keep pushing, I will make sure every board member, every business partner, and every person in this city knows exactly what kind of woman you are: a desperate, entitled opportunist who tries to force herself on men who don't want her. "
Francesca's smile faltered, her eyes flashing with anger.
Jesse leaned in just enough to make his point, voice dropping even lower. "Stay the hell away from me. And stay the hell away from my family. If I see you near anyone I care about, I won't be this polite."
He shoved the cart forward, forcing her to step aside.
Without another word, he walked past her, shoulders straight, leaving Francesca standing there stunned and furious in the middle of the aisle.
She watched him go, fists clenched at her sides.
But Jesse didn't look back.
He had finally had enough.
×××××××
Emery stood in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom, turning slowly to see how the dress looked from every angle.
The beautiful navy blue evening gown was made of soft, flowing silk that draped elegantly over her body.
The fabric hugged her curves gently before cascading down, the bump now entirely visible: a soft, rounded curve that made the dress look even more graceful.
Ivy stood behind her, carefully pinning the last few strands of Emery's long hair into an elegant updo, leaving a few soft waves to frame her face.
"You're going to be the most beautiful woman in the event, I swear to God," Ivy said, stepping back to admire her work.
Emery met her eyes in the mirror, a small, uncertain smile on her lips. "Yeah?"
"Yeah!" Ivy nodded enthusiastically. "And the most beautiful mom."
Emery chuckled softly at that, her hand instinctively resting on her bump. "Thank you."
"Seriously, you're very beautiful, Emery," Ivy continued, adjusting one last pin. "No wonder Jesse fell for you."
Emery's smile faded. She swallowed hard, looking down at her hands for a moment.
"What happened?" Ivy asked gently, noticing the change.
"Nothing." Emery shook her head, forcing a small smile back onto her face. "Just thinking how different the world would be if we had been together."
Ivy's smile softened with understanding.
She placed her hands on Emery's shoulders and squeezed lightly.
"Everything happens for a reason. You wanted him to stand up for you and tell the world about you, right?
He didn't understand back then... and then he did.
The hard way. Now look at him. He stands up for you every single time.
You know he loved Kitty so much he didn't let Harper leave so he could play with her all the time.
And for you? He told Harper to never come here again. "
Emery looked down at her hands, voice barely above a whisper. "He learned his lesson... We both did."
Ivy tilted her head, studying her. "Quick question, Emery? If Jesse hadn't blundered and asked for a break... would you have agreed to marry Alexander?"
Emery's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She blinked them away quickly. "Never. I called him so many times that day. Even though I agreed to my uncle, I still wanted him to come and stop it. He didn't pick up."
Ivy's expression turned sympathetic. "We forgot the rings. Jesse had gone to pick them up... and his phone died on the way."
Emery nodded slowly. "Then it's fate."
Silence settled between them for a moment.
Ivy moved closer and wrapped her arms around Emery from behind in a gentle hug. "Alright, alright. Don't ruin your makeup with tears. Save them for when your baby comes... you'll need them when you hold him for the first time."
Emery wiped her eyes carefully and let out a soft laugh. "I'm eagerly waiting."
Ivy grinned, stepping back to admire the final look. "There. Perfect. You're going to walk into that event and make everyone remember why you're Mrs. Alexander Prescott."
Emery looked at her reflection again: the elegant navy gown, the soft updo, the visible curve of her belly. She placed both hands on her bump and whispered to herself, almost too quietly for Ivy to hear:
"I hope you're proud of me, little one."
Ivy squeezed her shoulder one last time. "You've got this."
Emery nodded, taking a deep breath.
She was ready.
Or at least... she was trying to be.
×××××××
The grand ballroom of the luxury hotel was alive with the soft glow of chandeliers and the low hum of conversation.
Elegant guests in tailored suits and evening gowns moved between tables, champagne flutes in hand, discussing business, investments, and the latest society gossip.
The annual company networking dinner for Prescott Real Estate Enterprises was in full swing.
Emery stood beside Rebecca near one of the tall marble pillars, wearing the elegant navy blue evening gown that flowed gracefully over her bump. She carried herself with quiet confidence, shoulders straight, chin lifted, a polite but warm smile on her lips.
Rebecca introduced her to a group of board members and their spouses.
"This is Emery Prescott, Alexander's wife," Rebecca said, her tone measured. "She's representing him tonight."
Emery extended her hand with natural grace, meeting each person's eyes.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. Alexander sends his regrets.
He had an urgent matter to attend to, but he asked me to convey how much he values your partnership with Prescott Real Estate.
The new sustainable housing project in the waterfront district is already generating strong interest, and we're confident it will exceed expectations. "
One of the older board members, Mr. Langford, smiled appreciatively. "Mrs. Prescott, I must say, you speak with remarkable poise for someone so new to this world. Alexander is lucky to have you by his side."
Emery's smile remained warm and confident. "Thank you, Mr. Langford. I'm still learning every day, but I believe in this company and the vision my husband and his family have built. If there's anything I can do to support the upcoming initiatives, please don't hesitate to reach out."
The man's wife nodded approvingly. "You have a very calming presence, dear. It's refreshing."
Rebecca watched the exchange with a carefully neutral expression, but there was a flicker of reluctant admiration in her eyes. Despite herself, she was impressed. Emery wasn't shrinking or stammering. She was holding her own: confident, articulate, and gracious.
As they moved to another group, Rebecca introduced her again. "This is Emery Prescott. She's been a wonderful addition to the family."
Emery greeted them with the same steady confidence. "It's lovely to meet you. I've heard wonderful things about your work in commercial development. Alexander mentioned your firm's recent eco-friendly office complex. It sounds groundbreaking."
The conversation flowed easily. Emery listened attentively, asked thoughtful questions, and responded with quiet intelligence. Several guests commented on her poise and how refreshing it was to speak with someone who genuinely cared about the company's future.
Rebecca remained mostly silent during these interactions, but her sharp eyes missed nothing. By the time they moved to the next table, she had to admit that Emery was performing far better than she had expected.
Later that evening, as the event wound down, Jesse arrived to pick them up himself. He waited by the car in the valet area, dressed in a simple dark shirt and pants.
Rebecca and Emery approached. Rebecca slid into the front passenger seat while Emery climbed into the back.
As the car pulled away from the hotel, Rebecca glanced over her shoulder at Emery in the rearview mirror.
"You did a good job tonight, Emery," she said, her tone still cool but noticeably less sharp than usual. "Exactly what I expected from a Prescott daughter-in-law."
Emery offered a small, polite smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Prescott."
Rebecca nodded once and straightened in her seat, looking forward again.
Jesse adjusted the rearview mirror slightly so he could see Emery. Their eyes met for a brief second. He gave her a small, subtle nod: proud, supportive, and full of quiet affection.
Emery smiled back, soft and genuine, before looking out the window at the passing city lights.
The car continued its smooth journey home, the night air carrying a fragile sense of progress.
×××××××