THE NEXT MORNING....
Emma woke up embraced by the same hands that she always slept in peacefully. In an instant, she knew Draken was home.
"Good morning beautiful" Draken greeted her... kissing her forehead.
He came home safe and fine, she was worried for nothing.
"I'm glad you're here"Emma replied... tightening her arms around him.
This still felt like a dream to her, she never imagined that after her mom, there was someone else who could still treasure her and love her so much like Draken did.
"I'll always be here" Draken reassured her.
"Can we go somewhere together... today's my mom's anniversary and I don't want to be alone" Emma's voice was low.
She was sad.... throughout the years, she'd be alone on this day, no one else but her cared about her mother.
"Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you..I won't leave you alone,Emma" Draken replied.
"Thank you, thank you so much Draken"Emma said before he pulled her closer.... comforting her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE DAVE'S MANSION
"Mom, I've already decided...I'll get married to David" Sam admitted to her mom.
They were in her room,seated together on her bed.
"What made you make such a decision?" Her mom asked.
Why had she changed all of a sudden, especially after calling off the wedding before....in public.
"David loves me,but Draken...he won't even look at me properly,he hates me" Sam replied..with so much sadness in her voice.
"I don't know what your dad will say about this...Sam, all I care about is your happiness"her mom said.
"If you remember this day correctly, it's the day Emma's mom died and we came into this house" she continued to say.
"It happens every year, this year is no different mom" Sam replied.
"What do we care about her death anyway, we had nothing to do with it" Sam added...but her mom was hesitant, like she was hiding something.
"You're right, her death has nothing to do with us" her mom said.
"I feel bad for that poor girl, she lost her mom and everything....what a shame!" Her mom exclaimed.
"When did you start feeling bad for her mom, even dad kicked her out.... she's worthless now and we can't do anything about it" Sam only felt nothing but pure hatred for her.
What would she do if she found out that the woman she called worthless....was the same woman deeply treasured by Draken Hunt, and she was the reason he hated her.
Alex who'd arrived at the entrance of Sam's room had their conversation.
He heard that it was Emma's mom's death anniversary...he had to go to her.
He felt like she needed him. He didn't waste any time....he skipped breakfast and went out looking for Emma.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE HOSPITAL
CHAIRMAN HUNT'S ROOM
"Chairman Hunt is showing good recovery signs, his heart is now stable" the doctor said to Draken's parents.
Draken's mom spent most of her time at the hospital, taking care of her husband.
"Thank you doctor" she replied before the doctor left.
"Dear, take it easy, you don't have to worry....our sons will take care of Ouracle" Draken's mom said.
"I trust that Draken can handle the business while I'm away. But David, he causes nothing but trouble" Draken's dad replied.
"Why don't you give our son a chance to correct his mistakes.....I believe he can change" Draken's mom was concerned about David.
"You should get your son married, maybe after marriage...and having a wife by his side.... he'll get some sense"
Like Draken
"What about Draken? Doesn't he need to get married to?" Draken's mom asked.
"You saw the boy, he rejected a marriage proposal the moment he heard about it...we should let him choose his own woman he wants to marry" Draken's dad replied.
He still kept the promise he made, to keep his marital life a secret until Draken himself decided to announce it.
"Do you seriously believe that Draken will find a woman he loves and is willing to spend the rest of his life with?"Draken's mom was puzzled.
She knew her son well, Draken was not the type to have a girlfriend, much less get married. She even thought he liked men, because he spent most of his time around Erick and Shaun.
She never saw a single woman by his side.
"Just wait for your daughters in law...let the boys do what they want to do" Draken's dad replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LATER
THE CEMETERY
"You know Draken, it's been so long since I last came here to visit my mom's grave...."
Emma and Draken stood together before her mom's grave...side by side, holding each other's hand.
"I was so afraid that she'd see me miserable and wouldn't rest peacefully.....but now that you're here, I'm no longer afraid, my mom will be happy to meet you" Emma continued to say.
They knelt down and paid their respect.... putting beautiful flowers alongside her gravestone.
"Mom, how have you been? I've missed you a lot and came to see you, I'm not alone...I brought someone else with me" Emma spoke softly.
"Mom, this is your son in law... I'm so glad to meet you. Today, I make a promise to you, I'll never leave your daughter alone and I'll always keep her happy, you can rest assured" Draken spoke gently as well.
His words made Emma's sadness vanish....his presence meant a lot to her.
"Next time we visit, I'll make sure that we bring along a little Emma" Draken teased.
"Hey, what are you saying to my mom?" Emma shyly asked.
"Mrs Hunt, don't you think it's about time that we make our family grow...and have children"Draken replied.
"You... want to have kids...with me?" Emma asked surprised.
She remembered how her dad and step mother would mock her, that she'd never be able to start her own family after losing everything.
"Who else but my wife would I have them with, Emma am serious...I want to build my life with you" Draken's words were sincere.
He pulled her close and kissed her softly.
Emma's eyes filled with tears, she wanted to cry...tears of joy. She still couldn't believe it...she was overwhelmed.
"Don't cry..." Draken wiped her tears, like he always did.
"No, they're tears of joy...I'm so happy right now Draken, thank you"Emma hugged him.
"Emma you deserve to be happy, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise" Draken whispered in her ear... running his fingers in her hair.
"I'll be happy and won't let anyone ruin it" she whispered back.
After their visit, the two walked out of the cemetery happier than ever, to the parking lot but who they saw next.. completely ruined it.
"Alex, what are you doing here?" Emma asked...it was unexpected to see him there.
"Emma, I heard about your mom's death anniversary, I came to see you...." Alex tried to get close but Draken stood in between.
He was possessive about his wife.
"Don't you think you've crossed the limit?" Draken coldly asked.
He'd had enough of this cousin....might as well be the next to be buried in that very cemetery.
"I have every right, she's my family" Alex was jealous.
He wasn't going to back down either.
"Pathetic! You're not related by blood...in case you're forgetting, I'm her husband" Draken reminded him of his place.
Emma clearly saw what was going on, a possessive husband and a jealous cousin,if she didn't stop this, a fight would break out soon.
"Alex, you shouldn't have come here...I'm fine, you should leave" Emma said.
She still had respect for him and still saw him as her cousin....after everything.
"Emma, come with me, you don't have to stay in this marriage!" Alex replied.
Now he'd completely crossed the line, saying that in front of Draken.
He didn't waste the opportunity and used it to punch Alex's pretty face and he immediately fell to the ground.
"Say that again and I swear, I'll bury you alive right here!" Draken said angrily.
"Draken please.....calm down, calm down..please" Emma tried to calm him down, hugging him.
She knew things would come down to this, any husband would react the same way.
"He's not worth it, just focus on me" she continued to whisper comforting words.
"He should leave.... he's nothing but trouble" Draken spoke calmly to Emma.
She turned to Alex.
"Alex, please...I beg you, just leave.....leave us alone" she pleaded.
"Emma, I'm the one who got hurt, but you still choose him, he's a horrible person"Alex said painfully.
"You provoked him Alex, he wouldn't have done this.....if you were in his place, you'd do the same thing" Emma replied.
"Please try to respect my decision, Alex and move on. It'll be the best for you, for all of us" Emma added before she and Draken entered their car and drove off.
Alex was left hanging..with a bleeding lip, Draken had hit him so hard in a swift move...like his hands were made of steel....
If he wasn't holding back, he'd have killed him right there and then.
OURACLE
"Sorry Mr David,but all my boss' appointments and meetings are scheduled in the afternoon...he had important matters to tend to this morning" Erick explained to David.
He kept on insisting to meet Draken, as if he had something important to discuss with him...but clearly, Draken was avoiding him...and these two were always covering for him.
"What's keeping your boss so busy these days? He's never here when I need to talk to him" David replied.
"I suggest you give him a call yourself, there's nothing more I can do to help you" Erick said, before he walked away.
"Just as arrogant as that brat!" He exclaimed.
They all gave him the same attitude, little did he know....his days were numbered.
He kept on calling the number of the man he'd hired,but it still wasn't reachable.
He kept on wondering what could have happened to him...he couldn't even suspect that he was already dead.
MEANWHILE
DRAKEN'S CAR
"Does your hand still hurt?" Emma worriedly asked Draken, holding the hand he'd used to punch Alex.
He'd stopped driving and parked the car by the road side.
"Should we go to the hospital?" She asked.
"It doesn't hurt, don't worry too much" He replied.
"Do you believe him, do you believe I'm a horrible person and capable of killing someone?"he asked... anxious to find out from her.
How would she react if she found out the truth about him?
"Draken, we've been through so much...life has treated both of us in the worst ways possible. I don't believe you're a horrible person....never" Emma replied.
"Emma, you don't know me so well, what if I've done horrible things....things that you can never imagine" Draken said.
"You must have your own reasons Draken, nobody is perfect and we all do mistakes, just like you're always there for me, I'll be here when you're ready to talk about it...I'll listen to whatever you have to say" Emma replied.
She was ready to listen to the whole truth and know what kind of person Draken Hunt truly was.... without judging him.
No one else would understand him the way she did.
"Emma, that day we met, I had an accident.. someone wanted to kill me, but you happened to come at the right time and saved my life." Draken begun his story.
"Fate brought you to me, and I didn't miss that opportunity to get married to you..I had to lie to stay with you to get my strength back and make that person pay for trying to kill me...."he added.
"Who was it? Who was trying to kill you?" Emma worriedly asked.
"I don't want to hide this from you anymore, my own brother tried to kill me...and now I think he's after you, he must have found out about my interest in you and wants to use you to get to me" Draken replied and that left Emma speechless.
"Emma, it won't be long before he finds out about us and this marriage, your cousin knows, he can tell anyone.... maybe it's about time to let everyone know about our marriage, he won't be able to touch you...and I can protect you better" Draken continued to say.
"If it's what you believe is the best for us, then I don't want to hide this anymore...I'm ready"
The couple agreed to make their relationship public.