Chapter 65
A week has passed since Mr. Landers told Emerald about her grandfather’s arrival. Young Morgan is in the Ace Family Grocer’s main office after Jace sends her there before he goes to his company. She is busy talking to Elise about the grocery’s current condition.
“I can’t believe we are growing this fast,” Emerald said, looking at Elise, who looked really happy.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.
“I can’t believe it either. Before, I was happy with the ACEGame; I just looked around and provided you and Creep with what you needed legally. But after managing the grocery store, I realized that I like to do this.”
Emerald looked happy after hearing from her friend. She knew she wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without her and Creep. Although young Morgan is very smart, she knows she needs people to guide and support her. That’s where Elise and Creep came into the picture.
“We will be able to expand to another city. I will ask Daryl for a possible location,” Emerald said in excitement, and Elise agreed immediately.
Ace Family Grocers has nine branches in total. Previously, when everything was okay with the Morgan family, it was up to 30 plus. But after all the bankruptcy the family faced, Emerald was lucky enough to acquire it with the remaining number of branches.
“Slowly, we will bring the grocery store to its former glory, M,” Elise said sincerely.
“I admit, after knowing I’m not a Morgan, I was tempted to let this grocery store go. But I realize this is not about showing the Morgans my worth but about giving my son a secure future. And now that Jace and I are back together, I was more eager to show people that I am capable and don’t need to rely on his money.”
“You don’t need to prove anything to anyone, M.”
“I know that, but they don’t. I just want to prevent some untoward incident where they would talk to my son and tell him how reliant I was on his father. No, I won’t let that happen.” Young Morgan said with conviction. With all the hardship she’s been through, one thing she can’t tolerate is when she hears people accusing her of being dependent on Jace.
Jace Higginson, being one of the wealthiest in the country, began at such a young age that many wanted him for themselves. Even those who belong to the upper class wanted him to become their daughter’s husband.
As Emerald and Elise were busy planning the grocery store’s expansion, the office door burst open, and Emerose came rushing in. “How dare you, you bastard!” she shouted. She left the door open so everyone outside the office could hear her.
“And what are you doing here, legitimate daughter?” Emerald asked calmly. She had no plan to be affected by Emerose since she already knew who she was.
“You don’t seem shocked. Did you already know that you’re my father’s bastard to your nanny?” Emerose asked. She’s angrier because she thought she could catch young Morgan off guard. But after hearing her reaction and seeing her face, she trembled in anger, thinking she was the last one to know about the truth.
“Why would I get shocked? Don’t you think I would never think about who I am after everything you and your family did to me?” Emerald asks. “No parents would treat their children the way your parents did to me. It’s not my fault you are such an idiot; it never crossed your mind. Do you think you are so special because of how they treated me?” Emerald continued with mockery.
Emerose balled her fist and tightened her jaw. She looked around and realized that the company she thought would become hers was no longer in her family’s possession. She thought that a lot had changed in his father’s office. “I am going to get this back, bastard. Mark my word; I will do everything to take back what you took away from me and my family.”
“Do whatever you want to do; I am ready. And don’t think that, just like before, you could do stupid things without being punished. I’ll put you in your place wherever our paths cross.” Emerald replied confidently.
After experiencing all the hardship in the Morgan family and while she left Jace to live in another country, Emerald started not to fear anything. Unless it was about her son, nothing and no one would be able to threaten her.
She thought she had been through a lot. Yes, she has everything she could ask for now, but she’s not afraid to lose all the wealth she has right now because she knows she can get up and start anew. In addition to her confidence, she knew that she had her father and grandfather, whom she would meet soon, and her biological mother, whom she would never stop looking for; they would be by her side no matter what. Most of all, she has Jace and their son to think of, so she won’t have time to be sullen.
Emerose left the office angrily. Not thinking that the Emerald she knew back then was gone. Before, she thought young Morgan was just trying to appear strong and independent. But after talking to her now, she realizes that she needs to exert more effort if she wants to completely take her little sister down.
***
“Oh dear, are you Ember and Harry’s daughter?” Old Ferguson was staring at Emerald sitting in front of him. He just arrived from Italy and was excited to meet her granddaughter. After Mr. Landers told him about her, he couldn’t sleep and started thinking about his daughter. He settled everything he needed in his company after he asked his assistant to book a flight for him.
“She’s Ember’s daughter, Uncle Dean. No doubt about it.” Mr. Landers said, smiling. He was also looking at his daughter, and he understood how the old man felt. He felt the same way at first and was in disbelief. The old man’s eyes began to water, and so did Emerald.
Looking at the old man, she realized he looked like her nanny. Their resemblance-they have the same eye color and nose-made it easy for her to tell they were related.
“Could you do this old man a favor?” Mr. Ferguson asked. Emerald smiled and nodded. “Can you come here and give your grandpa a hug?”
Without a second thought, Emerald got up and sat beside her grandpa before she engulfed him in her embrace. Young Morgan felt unexplainable feelings, like when she and Mr. Landers hugged for the first time. She felt safe and secure, something she had never felt with the Morgan family. She realized that she was never a Morgan, and instead of harboring anger, she decided to accept all the truth in her life. Not because she knew she would have a better life with Mr. Landers and Mr. Ferguson but because she felt loved, safe, and secure. The feeling she yearned to feel and received from the family she grew up with but failed.
“You are my granddaughter,” Mr. Ferguson said, crying while gently caressing Emerald’s back. She was crying, too, because of the different emotions she began to feel. She felt overwhelmed, and everyone around her could see that. “I’ve longed to see your mother for a very long time. Until now, I’m still searching for her. If I had known that she uses her mother’s maiden name, it would have been so easy; I failed her as her father,” the old man said.
“It’s not your fault, grandfather, and it doesn’t matter anymore. My mom loves you so much; I know because she always tells me that when we’re together. She also said she misses you and wants to see you again.” Young Morgan said.
Mr. Ferguson gently pushed her away, and with a creased forehead, he asked, “Really? Are you telling the truth?”
“Yes, Grandpa. I remember we were in my bedroom, and I asked her if she missed her family. She said yes and told me that she wanted to see her Dad,” Emerald answered. “I feel sad that night because I know she doesn’t have any family or relatives, so I thought she wanted to die; that’s why I cried so hard because I didn’t want her to leave me either.”
Mr. Ferguson’s tears uncontrollably streamed down his face. He didn’t know that his beloved daughter also missed him so much. “I thought she hated me,” he said hoarsely.
“No, she never hated you but loves you so much,” Emerald assures him. Cedrick, Mr. Landers, and Jace, who were watching them, couldn’t help but feel happy. They thought that only Ember was missing and everything would be okay.