Master of his heart (Max and Brielle)

At her new home, Emma's first meal was a simple stir-fry of fresh green veggies, courtesy of the local villagers' farms. The freshness alone made her feel quite content. Once she was done eating, she grabbed a scythe and headed up the hill to gather herbs, settling into her role as the village's humble healer. After returning with a basket brimming with herbs, she decided to buy up all the nearby vegetable plots with her earnings, securing her future supply of food and drink. The villagers who missed out on selling their land at a high price were left regretting their decision. Emma then ventured into town and bought a few sheep, ten chicks, and two pigs. She transformed her compound into a beautiful haven, complete with blooming flowers, attracting the attention of local officials who visited multiple times, admiring her place and comparing it to a holiday resort.

Living self-sufficiently, Emma found her life fulfilling. However, since she resumed her herb-gathering, some folks who initially wanted her medical advice grew hesitant. Perhaps, they thought, herb collecting was just a hobby for her now that she had money, and it didn't mean she was still offering treatments. Plus, there was the gossip from the past when no one would have guessed she'd end up owning a house in Beaconsfield.

Yet Emma was gracious, tending to anyone who came by, accepting a basket of eggs as payment for her services. Two days later, Dustin sent her a message with no words, just a photo. It showed Jaime and Heather sleeping side by side, their hands touching, wrapped in a moment of serene beauty. Emma found herself looking at it twice, tempted to respond but eventually setting her phone down without typing a word.

Every couple of days, Dustin would send another picture. Even without visiting the kids, Emma could see them growing day by day. A year flew by-from the days the kids could only roll over to when they started crawling and speaking. But Emma stopped checking her phone, almost like she was avoiding it.

She took on a hill in the village, planting it full of herbs. The village head even approached her about leading the villagers in leasing more hills, given the fertile soil and water, potentially turning the area into a major herb supplier. So, a year ago, Emma began working with the industrious villagers. Every hill covered in woods became a canvas for her herbs.

During this time, she dealt with gossiping women and opportunistic men looking for money, all of whom were swiftly shown the door by the village head. While the village buzzed with curiosity about Emma's mysterious husband, wondering why she hadn't returned to Beaconsfield in a year, Emma would simply say she'd go back when she felt homesick.

"Did you have the baby you were expecting?"

"Yes, twins-a boy and a girl."

"Wow, twins! No one in our village has had twins before."

"Is their father that guy who visited our village, like a dream?"

Emma paused, then nodded. "Yes, him. I went to Beaconsfield to find him."

"With that demeanor, he must be loaded."

"He is. He could probably buy the whole town."

"Emma, you're so lucky to be married to such a man."

Emma seemed to play along with the gossip, but she was just humoring them. After finishing planting the remaining land, she was about to head down the hill with her basket when someone sprinted up, panting. , FindNovel

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"Emma, you've got to come back, someone's looking for you."

Assuming it was a medical emergency, Emma was about to ask for details when the person blurted out, "Your husband's here!!"

Emma froze, almost stumbling. The messenger, thinking she was in disbelief, quickly added, "It's that guy who once showed up in our village. He's here with two kids in a luxury car. The college kids say that car's worth over a million. The village head told me to get you right away."

Emma's heart skipped a beat, suddenly hesitant to return. She wanted to stay hidden in her own little world. Why would Dustin come here?

As the person urged her to hurry, Emma stood rooted, until they gave her a gentle push. "Come on, get moving, what are you waiting for?"

Emma opened her mouth to speak, but seeing the other women who were also herb-gathering now gathered around, eyes filled with curiosity, she hesitated. "Come on, let's go see this man!"

While Emma hesitated, the other

women were already descending the

hill. Emma was the last to leave.

Over the past six months, she had drifted away from using her phone, embracing her old way of life, never imagining Dustin would show up again.