Sharon_Adetan

At fifty, Emily Wilson never imagined starting over.
She gave her life to her husband and raised two grown sons—only to be cast aside like she never mattered. Betrayed by the man she trusted for decades, humiliated by his young mistress, and abandoned by her own children, Emily is left with nothing but a suitcase and heartbreak.

With nowhere to go, she leans on her bold, divorced best friend, who drags her to the big city to start fresh. There, Emily learns how to laugh again, find a job, dress for herself—not for anyone else—and slowly rebuild the woman she once was.

But just when she thinks life has given her all it can, he walks in.
Zayn Callahan — 25, rich, powerful, and emotionally shut down. A man with money but no warmth. Women want him for his name. He wants nothing—until he meets her.
Emily, with silver in her hair and sorrow in her eyes, is everything Zayn never expected to crave. And for Emily, Zayn is a dangerous temptation… young enough to be her son, yet looking at her like she’s the only woman left in the world.

Can two broken hearts heal each other, or will the world around them tear it apart before it begins?

This is not just a love story.
It’s a second chance. A defiance of age. A reminder that it’s never too late to be seen, desired, and truly loved.

From Housewife to Heiress

It had been three weeks since Emily arrived in the city. Neno had left for a brief business trip two days after they settled in, promising she'd return soon. In the meantime, Emily tried her best not to feel like a burden in Lara's small but cozy apartment. She spent her days cleaning up, organizing cupboards, and watching quiet sunsets through the window. But she couldn't sit still forever.

Lying in bed, thoughts haunted her. Her husband's betrayal. Her sons' cold voices. The way her life had so suddenly shifted, like the rug pulled from beneath her feet. She missed her old routines—morning walks, family dinners, the comforting smell of her garden. Now, she only had the silence and her aching heart.

One morning, after wiping down the kitchen counter for the third time, Emily looked up at Lara and asked gently, "Do you think… there might be any jobs around? Something small. I just don't want to feel useless."

Lara looked at her, eyes softening. "Aunt Emily, you're not useless. Don't ever say that."Emily smiled faintly. "Still, I want to do something. Keep busy. Feel needed."

So she began looking. She applied online, went into stores, even stopped at cafés, but the results were always the same.

"You don't have the right experience."

"Sorry, we're looking for someone younger."

She'd return home each time a little more deflated. One afternoon, as they sat down to a quiet dinner of creamy pasta and garlic bread, Lara suddenly paused mid-bite.

"Wait," she said. "Aunt Emily… I just remembered."

"My friend at work mentioned there's an opening in my company. Her boss is looking for a personal office caretaker. Someone to manage his food, drinks, suit preparations—kind of like an office assistant, but more personal."Emily blinked. "You think I could…?"

Lara nodded slowly, though she looked a little hesitant. "Yes, I do. The interview is in two days. I can submit your name."

"Really?" A smile began to form on Emily's face.

"Yes, but…" Lara put her fork down. "I should be honest. My boss—he's… not easy. Cold, blunt, and very particular. A lot of people don't last long working under him. But he's fair. If you do your job right, he respects that."

Emily's smile didn't falter. "That doesn't bother me. I've dealt with worse."

"Alright then," Lara said. "I'll start the process tomorrow."

That night, Emily sat by the window, fingers tracing the rim of a tea mug. When Neno called to check in, Emily told her about the job opportunity. Neno's voice lit up with joy.

"Oh Emily, that's wonderful! You'd be perfect for it."

"I hope so," Emily said with a tired smile. "I just want a fresh start."

They talked a bit longer, until Neno mentioned a favor.

"I have a floral delivery scheduled tomorrow afternoon at my small shop. It's just one vase. Someone's picking it up. Can you handle it for me?"

"Of course," Emily said. "Send me the details. I'll be careful."

They said goodnight, but Emily didn't sleep right away. She called her sons, hoping… hoping maybe they'd say something kind. Something supportive.

"A job? As someone's office maid? Why would you do that?"

"Why can't you just go back to Dad and fix things?"

Emily trembled, tears welling in her eyes. She whispered, "I just wanted to tell you…"

She ended the call before they could say more. Sobs escaped her lips, and she pressed a hand over her mouth, trying to stay quiet.

But Lara had heard. She came to the doorway, furious.

"Aunt Emily," she said softly but firmly. "They don't deserve you."

Emily looked up, broken. "They're my sons…"

"No," Lara shook her head. "They lost the right to call you their mother the moment they stopped seeing your worth."

Lara sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her. They stayed like that, in silence, until the night took them to sleep.

CHAPTER 13