What News?

As they drove back home from the registry, Alex's phone buzzed beside him. Glancing at the screen, he saw his sister Claire's name flash up.

Sighing, he signaled Emma before pulling over at a safe spot on the side of the road. He knew Claire well enough to know that when she called, it wasn't just for a quick chat.

"Hey Claire, how are you?" Alex asked as soon as he picked up, trying to keep his tone neutral.

"Hi, Alex. I'm fine, thank you. I was wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner tonight?" Claire's voice was calm, but Alex could sense there was more behind the invitation.

"Dinner?" He glanced over at Emma, who was watching him quietly. "Yeah, sure. I can be there in about an hour or two," he said and Claire smiled.

"Perfect. I'll be expecting you then," Claire replied before hanging up abruptly.

Alex slid his phone into his pocket and turned to Emma, who seemed even more uneasy now. He studied her expression, her face pale and her eyes clouded with worry. He gently placed a hand on hers.

"That was my sister, Claire," he said and chuckled softly, realizing Emma knew Claire already. He looked at her, his expression turning to that of worry when he saw her face. He could sense that she was frightened.

"What's the problem? You seem scared. I assure you that it's nothing and you are completely safe I promise. I won't abandon you if that's what you're scared of," Alex said with reassuringly and Emma nodded, but the fear in her eyes didn't subside.

She managed a soft, "Okay," but her voice lacked any real conviction.

Alex sighed inwardly. He wished he could take away her fear completely, but he knew it wasn't that simple. Her experiences had made her wary, and even though she had married him, trust was something that would take time.

Without further words, they continued the drive back to the house, the silence between them thick with unspoken thoughts.

When they pulled into the driveway, Emma immediately stepped out of the car, walking quickly towards the house without waiting for Alex. He watched her retreating figure, wishing she would trust him enough to share what was truly on her mind even though he knew part of it already.

"I'll be back in a few hours," he called out to her. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask the maid. She can make you whatever you want for dinner," he said but Emma didn't respond, disappearing into the house as if the weight of her thoughts was too heavy for her to acknowledge anything else.

Why did his sister want to have dinner with him? Was Alex going to tell her that they got married today? How sure was she that he would be able to protect her from his family's clutches especially noe that she was one of them again?

Emma's mind kept rotating round different thoughts as she walked into the house and went directly to her room.

Alex rubbed his temples as he watched her disappear. He hoped that with time, she would finally open up to him so he could help her heal.

He thought before getting back into the car and starting the drive to Claire's house, his mind on the dinner and what Claire could possibly want to discuss.

On his way to his Claire's house, Alex kept wondering the kind of thoughts that were running through Emma's head. He had promised her that she was safe with him, so, why was she still feeling scared?

He would still keep to his words regardless. He told himself as he focused on the road.

The drive was quick, but it gave him enough time to think. He couldn't help but wonder what Claire might say about Jake, and whether the topic of Emma would come up.

He had promised Emma that she was safe, but how much could he truly shield her from the ugly rumors and accusations that had been spread about her?

When he pulled into Claire's driveway, the delicious smell of something cooking greeted him as soon as he stepped out of the car. He knocked on the door, and within moments, Claire opened it, her usual bright smile in place.

"Alex! Come on in," she greeted, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. "I've already set the table, so let's head to the dining room."

The dining room was cozy, and the table was neatly arranged with dishes that looked as good as they smelled. As they sat down, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a casual dinner.

"So, how are you settling back into Sweliss?" Claire asked, breaking the silence while helping herself to a salad.

"Sweliss has been eventful, to say the least," Alex replied, trying to keep his tone light.

"And have you spoken to Jake since you returned?" Claire asked, her eyes watching him closely.

Alex paused, placing his fork down for a moment. "No, I haven't."

Claire frowned slightly, disappointment flickering in her gaze. "Why not? Haven't you seen the news?"

"What news?" Alex asked, feigning ignorance even though he had a sinking feeling that he knew exactly what Claire was referring to.

"Emma," Claire said, her voice laced with disdain. "Jake's ex-wife. It was all over the media a while back. She cheated on him, got pregnant with some other man's child, and then tried to get rid of the baby. Can you believe it? I knew she wasn't good enough for Jake. She was only ever after his money," Claire said and sighed. "I feel really sorry that Jake had to go through that kind of betrayal."

Alex clenched his fists under the table, biting down hard on his inner cheek to keep his temper in check. He knew that wasn't the full truth, but Emma's name had already been dragged through enough mud. Still, the lies stung, and he couldn't help but feel protective over her.

He opened his mouth to say something but then shut it when someone else joined them at the dining room. He frowned wondering who it was but he didn't have to wonder for too long as he immediately deduced who it was from how Claire was smiling.