“How big is it?” Iris typed.“Baby, want to see it?”“Not only do I want to see it—I’ll create a group so everyone can enjoy it. Make sure it’s HD and uncensored! I can’t wait!”Emerald nearly fainted from the shock.After sending the message, there was still no response from the other side.Emerald’s eyes widened in admiration as she looked at Iris. “Sis, you’re amazing.”Iris grinned. “To deal with perverts, you’ve got to out-pervert them by a hundred times. Make them feel as uncomfortable as they make you.”Emerald couldn’t help but shiver. “You’re so natural at this. It’s kind of scary.”The silence from the other side was deafening, as if they had completely vanished. But despite that, Emerald still felt unsettled. She knew she wouldn’t rest until she found out who was really behind the harassment.If it wasn’t Mr. Santos, maybe it was… Lance?She hadn’t seen him recently. When she subtly asked about it, Alaric mentioned that Lance was on a business trip.During lunch break, Emer
This man... he knew exactly what he was doing.Flushed under his tender gaze, Emerald averted her eyes and almost whispered, “Well... you still haven’t said anything yet.”Since they met, Alaric had never said "I love you" to Emerald. He hadn’t even said "I like you." He was always composed and reserved, leaving Emerald to rely on small details to understand his feelings.Alaric reached over, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “When Ethan chased after you, wasn’t he overly dramatic?”Emerald hadn’t really noticed that before, but now, hearing it from Alaric, she understood what he meant.At first, Ethan tried to win her over with money, but he realized that wasn’t effective. Eventually, he decided to spend time with her every day, hoping she’d feel his presence.Emerald agreed because of the incident with Mr. Santos. That day, every mall owned by Ethan was filled with roses—thousands of fresh ones—and screens displaying his love for her. Though he never named her, it was c
"In the future, I’ll set up a special relief fund, organize regular volunteer activities, and hire teachers for paid education, so you won’t have to worry about those kids’ well-being. The only downside is that the project is huge, and the relocation site is on the outskirts of the city."Emerald knew this wasn’t a government initiative—it was Alaric’s personal project. She hadn’t said anything about it until everything was arranged."Alaric, why are you so kind…?"She leaned against his arms, thinking about how Ethan had used 20 million to tarnish her reputation, while Alaric had used the same amount to protect the children."This is just what I should do. Even if it wasn’t for you, I couldn’t leave those kids on their own. There’s nothing special about it."Alaric placed a pencil in her hand, holding it from behind while hugging her tightly."This is our project together. How about calling it 'Moon Children’s House'?""That sounds… perfect."Together, they wrote the name on the plan
Since they were at the beach, Emerald opted for a casual look: a white tank top, a light shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, with a simple bun in her hair.A touch of lipstick added a natural pop of color to her face.As she examined herself in the mirror, Iris called and said they were downstairs.Emerald kept a calm expression as she walked out, a small sense of satisfaction swelling in her chest.Downstairs, a sleek, shiny Rolls-Royce awaited—probably Gio’s car.Iris waved from the front seat.Emerald carefully climbed in and glanced towards the back.There he was, as if just finishing a meeting. Dressed in a sharp suit and polished shoes, Alaric’s elite aura felt completely out of place in the casual atmosphere of the car.The face that occupied her thoughts day and night greeted her with a soft, almost seductive smile.“Hello, Miss Greene.” His tone was gentle and refined, but there was a hint of mischief in his gaze.“Hello, Mr. Corrigan.”She closed the door. Although the back of th
While dropping her luggage to the ground, Emerald grabbed Alaric's wrist and asked, "How's the wound on your waist?"Emerald's ears turned red as she asked, clearly embarrassed. It wasn't common for a woman to ask a man about his monthly visitor.She gently stroked the hem of Alaric's shirt, her voice faltering. "It's been a long time since..." If she hadn't intervened, if she hadn't experienced it, nothing would have changed in her life.Since ancient times, living simply was easy, and indulging was even easier, but it's hard to maintain the same condition. If you're used to eating delicious food at the foot of the mountain, who would want to go back up top and start with cabbage?Before Alaric could respond, a little head popped up. "It’s been a long time?"
Eula’s gaze grew cold, her voice cutting through the air sharply. "Tell me what your problem is. Don’t waste time on diagnoses."He followed Eula, his face calm, difficult for anyone to see the fragility he had only just experienced.The beginning of curiosity had turned into deeper emotions, something that made him savor the wait to see how she would change, how she would evolve.But life took unexpected turns, and he was forced to leave for several years.When he returned, Emerald had already started school. She had become even more beautiful, surrounded by admirers, and this made him hesitate. He feared that his dangerous job, the world he was involved in, might put her in danger, so he kept his distance.Then
Alaric knows better than anyone how stunning Emerald’s body is, as he's had plenty of opportunities to admire it with his own hands over the past days and nights. Even now, when he looks at her, his eyes are filled with fearless admiration. The tight swimsuit under the towel shapes Emerald's perfect body, every curve clearly visible. Even though only her arms and legs are exposed, and the swimsuit is plain white without any embellishments, it only heightens his desire more than if she were fully naked. Emerald can feel Alaric’s heated gaze on her, even without looking back, and a subtle smile graces her lips. She stretches her arms and moves with a gentle, careful modesty. Each movement is precise, setting a fire in the man's heart. With a splash, Emerald dives gracefully. Her entry into the water is flawless, and as she sank, she moved with the joy of a fish, quick and lively.When she surfaced, Emerald’s long hair unraveled, swirling around her, and some strands clung to her face. S
Emerald was losing her mind. Alaric had only mentioned that he had something to take care of later, but he never said there was someone he wanted to see!Now, Emerald regretted it deeply.From the start, she was only focused on what kind of sexy swimsuit she should buy. If she got a sexy swimsuit, she planned to sneak through the window. But if she had snuck in through that window, today would have turned out to be a huge mistake.What a shame!What should she do now? Oh God, she wished she could dig a hole with her toes and hide in it.She couldn't bear to face anyone, and she refused to come out, even if she was in Alaric's arms.Even though she knew it was incredibly rude, politeness seemed pointless when faced with this level of embarrassment!Alaric was a bit helpless as he saw the woman in his arms clinging tightly to his waist. "Are you trying to suffocate yourself?"Emerald's muffled voice responded, "It’s better to suffocate myself than to be laughed to death."The others wan
At night, after Emerald had fallen asleep, she would secretly call her mother—until Alaric caught her in the act.At the shareholders' meeting, Alaric eliminated four people and uncovered the one who had been secretly buying up scattered shares.It was Griffin.In a final twist, Mr. Corrigan betrayed him, and Griffin realized too late that he had been played.Alaric regarded him with an icy stare. “Did you really think I’d invite you here for anything else?”He took slow, deliberate steps toward Griffin. “You wanted Teacher Greene to forget me. But in the end, she forgot you instead. You schemed and plotted, but did you ever consider that this would be the outcome?”Griffin let out a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with resentment. “Alaric, you’re unbelievably lucky. Fate favors you—again.”His voice turned sharp with frustration. “Why does it always have to be you?”Alaric’s expression remained unreadable. “I know you blame me. You think your father abandoned you and your son.”Griffin
Now that Alaric had decided to marry Emerald, he naturally had to address the issue of inheritance.He had promised that he wouldn’t let Emerald suffer any injustice.James was thrilled but hesitant to believe it. He looked up at her cautiously and asked, “Can I really call you that?”Emerald knew that despite his tough exterior, he was actually very sensitive.She crouched down, gently running her fingers through James’s hair. “Of course, if you want to.”Without hesitation, James threw himself into her arms. “I do! Of course, I do—Mom.”His tears fell onto her neck, and Emerald’s lips curved into a soft smile.I just got a son this big out of nowhere.James was so attached to her that even when they walked, he would hook his little fingers around hers.It all felt like a dream.When Emerald looked up, she noticed Jamilah standing on the terrace, silently watching her. Their eyes met for a brief moment before Jamilah quickly turned away.James sighed and explained, “Mom, my sister ha
"Get ready, that’s where we’re landing," Alaric whispered in her ear.As they descended, Emerald noticed the intricate details within the rose fields—windmills, charming fairy-tale cottages, and delicate pathways weaving through the flowers.It was the kind of place that would go viral the moment people saw it—a dreamlike destination straight out of a storybook.Under Alaric’s steady control, they landed smoothly on the soft grass. The moment Emerald unbuckled her harness, she threw her arms around him, holding him close.The air was thick with the intoxicating scent of roses, and amidst it all, she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat."Emerald Greene, I will never let anything hurt you again. From now on, I will make sure you're happy—forever.""Mm. I believe you.""Wow! This is straight out of a movie!" Iris gasped, pinching Gio’s arm. "I must be dreaming—this kind of romance isn’t even this dramatic in films!"Gio winced. "Ow!""That hurt!""Of course, it hurts! You pinch
Iris, still stunned, turned to stare at him. "Wait… is he that rich? So rich that he could casually win the title of ‘Little Prince’ or something?""He is the one who is the one who is the one.""Brother, why didn’t you tell me he was this handsome?! He’s so young and fair-skinned—he looks like he stepped straight out of an anime! Not a trace of that tacky, nouveau riche vibe at all."Even Emerald was taken aback, though not nearly as much as Iris.Noticing that the young man wasn’t much older than herself, she stepped forward, bent down, and offered him a hand."Are you okay?" she asked.Yngrid grabbed her hand and stood up, flashing a bright, friendly smile. “Don’t worry! Second Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful! So gentle! No wonder Second Brother has been thinking about you for years—he finally got you.”Alaric frowned, glancing at the knife embedded in the table. “How many times have I told you? Stop running around with a knife in your hand.”Yngrid looked utterly clueless. “But
Emerald was sharp enough to catch the implication. This man was clearly from the Corrigan, but how could he be Alaric’s second brother?Nancy smiled. "It’s a long story. Sister-in-law, come inside quickly. Gabbi has been preparing all morning to welcome you."Gio, who was usually the most lively among them, suddenly looked uncharacteristically serious and polite. "Sorry to trouble you, then."Nancy turned his gaze to the other guest. "Welcome. You must be Ms. Benitez."Iris straightened up, her usual playfulness replaced by a bit of nervousness. "That’s me. Hello, hello."As the group walked inside, Gio trailed behind, but Iris discreetly poked his waist. "Who is he? You seem a little scared of him."She had met Gio’s friends many times, but she had never seen him act this cautious.Gio lowered his voice. "You may not recognize him, but you’ve definitely heard of the Medical Research Institute."Iris froze. "You mean the world’s number one pharmaceutical company?"Her mind was spinnin
The sun shone brightly, and magpies chirped from the branches—a perfect day.Iris, already waiting downstairs, let out a low whistle. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Interlocked fingers? Teacher Greene, Mr. Corrigan, could you two be any sweeter?”Caught off guard, Emerald instinctively tried to pull her hand away.But Alaric tightened his grip. “Don’t let go.”Her cheeks flushed, and she nodded. “Okay.”Iris was about to whistle again when Gio quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. “For the love of god, stop teasing them. My Alaric is the most patient guy—until he’s not.”Iris blinked. “Huh? But Mr. Corrigan seems so refined and gentlemanly.”Gio scoffed. “That’s just for women. When it comes to me, he’s got a double standard.”Clearly, Gio had endured Alaric’s ruthlessness one too many times. If Iris kept poking fun at him, Alaric would undoubtedly find a way to get back at them both.Completely oblivious, Iris had no idea what was happening. She tried to push Alaric into the front passenger seat,
"I won’t say things like that again," she murmured. "If I do, I’m not just belittling myself—I’m belittling your love, too.""That’s right." Alaric rubbed her head gently. "The past is heavy baggage. If you can, let it go. The future will be so much better."She smiled. "Your little Greene has finally grown up.""You have a daddy boyfriend, so you have to grow up."Emerald wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice soft. "Thank you… for teaching me how to love.""It’s my greatest honor to receive Teacher Greene’s love."Their eyes met, the space between them shrinking as they leaned in—Then Alaric’s phone rang.He exhaled sharply, turning it off without hesitation."Sorry. Let’s pick up where we left off."The caller was persistent. Emerald sighed, nudging Alaric playfully. "Go on, Mr. Busy."He had already spent so much time with her over the past two days, and she was more than content.But Alaric never returned after heading to his study. Emerald waited alone until eleven o’clock
At first, Emerald worried that Gio was just fooling around and that Iris would end up getting hurt. But later, through Alaric, she realized that Gio was genuinely working hard for their future.It was only then that Emerald recognized how extreme her past views had been—believing that marriage was a trap and love was nothing more than fleeting sweetness.Iris, in her simplicity, had understood something far earlier than she did: love is about two people growing together, striving toward a shared future.Even someone like Iris, who had spent years drifting through life, was now determined to change. And that alone was a good start.Gio had seen all kinds of people in his world, but it was Iris—pure and untainted, like a blank canvas—who truly captured his heart. She made him want to protect her.Now, Emerald could finally put her worries to rest.The so-called unreliable playboy hadn’t even touched Iris all this time. That fact alone proved he was someone she could trust."Ember, I'm n
Alaric stared coldly at the woman standing before him, utterly unfazed by her desperation."It doesn't matter who it is. I don’t owe you an explanation."Yngrid’s emotions spiraled out of control again, but before she could lash out, Winston’s expression darkened. The usual elegance in his demeanor vanished, replaced by an icy sharpness."Do you need me to remind you of your place?" he said, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.Emerald watched the scene unfold, quickly deducing that Winston held Yngrid’s fate in his hands. Yngrid’s reluctance was obvious, but in the end, she had no choice but to submit.She took slow, deliberate steps toward Emerald. "Emerald… I’m sorry for what happened," she forced out. "I apologize."Emerald didn’t miss the unwillingness in Yngrid’s eyes. And to be honest, she had no desire to accept it.But she also knew that she had finally convinced Alaric to reconcile, and the partnership with the Santos had been secured. Yngrid’s presence here w