Emerald walked into the living room, carrying the flowers, and replaced the old ones in the vase. Griffin handed her a pair of scissors, encouraging her to trim the branches.His hands were beautifully delicate, flawless like works of art. His pale skin contrasted with the prominent wrist bones, and each slender knuckle, though delicate, held an underlying strength that made them seem far from fragile.Emerald couldn't help but glance at his hands again.She had seen short videos featuring close-up shots of hands before, but none of them compared to the ones in front of her now.Her gaze lingered a little too long, drawn to the beauty of his hands, just as she often admired her own body. She felt a wave of attraction she couldn’t quite shake—especially noticing the elegance of his hands and imagining the strength beneath them."What are you looking at?" the man asked playfully, picking up a lily of the valley. The white petals and green stems cradled in his palm seemed like a perfect
When Emerald was a child, she spent a lot of time at her teacher’s house. She had always been very well-behaved, so Griffin often took her with him when he went out into the wild.He used to take Emerald up to the hillside behind the house. He’d climb trees to collect bird eggs, while Emerald would stand beneath, keeping watch.When Emerald found out he was planning to roast the eggs, she began to cry, "I love the little birds so much—how can I eat them?"Despite her protests, Griffin bit into one of the eggs, and as she sobbed, she reluctantly admitted, "The eggs are so delicious... I want to eat two."After a long day of play, when it was time to head home, he would either hold her hand or carry her down the mountain.Teacher Susie would look at the two little clay monkeys and, instead of getting angry, would speak gently, "Your sister is a girl. You need to protect her from now on.""I will, I’ll always protect my sister."The childhood promise still echoed in Emerald’s mind, but s
Emerald, however, immediately defended him, her voice firm as she explained, "It’s not Aric’s fault. I was just accidently hurt. Brother Griffin, don’t say that. He feels guilty enough already."But Griffin wasn’t deterred. His words were sharp, almost disappointed: "Little fox, look at you. Have you forgotten what I taught you? Don’t always think you’re the one at fault. Think about whether it’s someone else’s fault instead."His words seemed to further highlight the deep history between them, reminding everyone of their closeness in the past.Emerald, a little flustered, mumbled, "Aric is not someone else."Alaric, with a clear sense of triumph, gently took the cotton swab from Griffin’s hands. "See? I’m not someone else."There was a brief, awkward silence as Griffin had no words to counter that claim.Seeing that Griffin was still upset, Emerald tried to ease the tension with a soft smile, "Brother Griffin, let Aric do it. He’s used to doing these kinds of things.""Alright," Grif
Griffin smirked, popping the grape into his own mouth before remarking lightly, “Did you wash your hands after applying the medicine?”Alaric’s expression darkened. “…You’re ruthless.”With a polite smile, Griffin stood up. “Mr. Corrigan, let me show you to the sink.”The two stepped outside into the cool evening air, the scent of rain still lingering.The sunflower field stretched out before them, golden blooms heavy with droplets from the earlier downpour. When the breeze swept through, petals quivered, sending tiny beads of water cascading to the ground.The air in the mountains was fresh, crisp. The view—wide, unspoiled.By the faucet in the yard, a bar of yellow soap rested in its dish. Alaric lathered it between his hands, the water splashing softly against the basin.As he rinsed, he spoke evenly. “I appreciate the care you’ve given my little moon in the past, Mr. Crawford. Truly.”Griffin let out a short laugh—sharp, unbothered. Now that Emerald wasn’t around, he didn’t even b
Alaric took her small hand in his, gripping it firmly as he asked, word for word, "Have you ever slept with Griffin?"Emerald blinked her big eyes, then nodded earnestly. "Slept."She started counting on her fingers before looking up and adding, "Not even once."At that moment, she finally understood what had been weighing on Alaric’s mind. Griffin and Alaric were complete opposites.On the surface, Alaric was the heir to an elite chaebol family—elegant and refined. But in reality, he had a distinct sense of style, always carrying himself with a quiet intensity.Griffin, on the other hand, came across as a gentleman, but deep down, he was still the mischievous little devil from their childhood—willing to use any trick to get his way. He was the one who taught Emerald how to climb onto rooftops and remove tiles, and how to wade into the river to catch shrimp.And now, she was sure he must have whispered something in Alaric’s ear just to stir trouble.Ever since Alaric entered her life,
He had seen how she had broken up with Ethan all those years ago, walking away without hesitation. But back then, she hadn’t known the man’s true nature.Even after all those years together, she had left without a second thought.Would she do the same to him?His only advantage—the one thing keeping her tethered to him—was her desire for him. So he would use it.Like dangling a piece of meat in front of a greedy little cat, he would keep her wanting, keep her reaching, until she was caught in the trap he had so carefully laid.Step by step.By the time they pulled up to the garden, Emerald was no longer as composed as before.She sat in the passenger seat, waiting expectantly for him to open the door. Alaric was already reaching for her, ready to carry her out, when she stretched out her arms, eyes full of mischief.“I want a piggyback ride.”Alaric chuckled, amused by her sudden whim. He liked it when she acted spoiled."Alright, I'll carry you on my back."He turned around, and Emer
The salesgirl who had brought her upstairs rushed to smooth things over. “Mrs. Corrigan, please don’t be upset. You’re still pregnant, and stress isn’t good for you. I’ve already checked on the bracelet you ordered—it should arrive within two days.”Caroline waved a hand impatiently. “The issue isn’t the bracelet—it’s her.” She scoffed and turned to the gathered onlookers. “Do you even know who she is? Her mother was a mistress—”The room went silent as every eye turned toward Emerald. Before she could react, Iris, who had been quietly munching on macarons, suddenly leaped to her feet.“You’re pregnant, so maybe try being a decent human for your baby’s sake?” she snapped. “You might want to be careful—karma has a funny way of dealing with people like you.”"Who the hell are you? Dressed like a scavenger—are you made of wood? Why don’t you sweep these two pieces of trash out of here?""Aunt, who upset you?" A deep voice suddenly broke in—Ethan.When he spotted Emerald standing not far
He pressed the accelerator just in time, sending the car speeding forward.Emerald couldn’t help but stare at him—suited up and in leather shoes. Her heart raced. This man was undeniably charming."Aric, the rain has stopped, and the flowers in the lotus pond are blooming. Would you like to go see them with me?"Alaric, not quite catching her drift, answered in a low voice, "...Okay."As her mind wandered, imagining what the evening might bring, she noticed they had arrived at a villa.Meanwhile, Apollo's family was in a rush. Although Apollo was over ten years older than Alaric, he always felt wary of his quiet, cold cousin.Apollo was the center of attention—he had grown up overcoming challenges and was now well-positioned to take the lead in the Corrigan. With his sharp mind, impressive background, and carefully calculated moves, he was poised to replace the old man.Today’s dinner had been moved up, and the family was scrambling to prepare. They’d urgently called Cornelia Florida,
Not like me, Emerald mused. She never felt secure enough to sleep without holding onto something—whether it was a pillow, a blanket, or, more recently, him.And somehow, even in sleep, he had adjusted for her.One of his arms was tucked behind her head, holding her close, while his other hand covered hers. Their fingers overlapped perfectly, their wedding rings touching, as if even unconscious, he was anchoring her to him.A warmth spread through her chest.At this moment, with the rippling water around them and the morning sun casting a golden hue over the lotus pond, Emerald felt something profound settle in her heart.So this… this is what it feels like to be loved.Maybe it was because Alaric had been too busy lately, or perhaps it was the novelty of spending the night on a boat with Emerald in his arms, but his sleep was deeper and more restful than usual.The sun had already begun its slow ascent, casting thousands of golden rays across the morning sky. As the light filtered thr
Although Apollo already had two daughters, the Corrigan patriarch favored Alaric. Still, if a son was born first, the old master would undoubtedly take notice.Apollo exhaled sharply. "Then focus on raising your child properly and stay out of these matters. And as for you, Ethan, stop causing trouble for your uncle. Whether or not Emerald marries into the Corrigan—it’s up to the two of them to figure out.""I understand, Uncle," Ethan murmured, his eyes lowering.A flicker of regret crossed his face. The humiliation he suffered tonight—he would make sure to repay it tenfold.Meanwhile, Emerald was in an unusually good mood. She had always been indifferent to such things, but tonight, for the first time, she understood just how satisfying it was to put someone in their place."Aric, I never realized how useful your girlfriend's identity could be," she teased.Alaric caught the playful smile on her lips and smirked. "Baby, trust me—being Mrs. Corrigan is even more powerful than being my
Emerald’s lips curved into the faintest smirk. "Because you never saw me as your girlfriend. No matter how sweet you acted on the surface, deep down, you always treated me like a plaything. But he never did. He knows how to respect a woman.""That’s impossible." Ethan's expression darkened. "There’s no such man in the world. He’s just better at pretending than I am. Don’t be naive, Emerald."Emerald crossed her arms, her voice steady and deliberate. “You’re the naive one. You have no idea how good Alaric is. Even if it were only for three days, I would still choose to like him. Didn’t you say I could never step foot into the Corrigan? Mark my words—one day, I’ll marry into the Corrigan, and you’ll kneel before me, serve me tea, and call me ‘Auntie.’”Ethan wanted to laugh—it sounded ridiculous.But coming from Emerald, it was terrifying.Because he knew exactly what kind of person she was.She was relentless, a natural at anything she put her mind to.Years ago, someone had insulted h
Apollo, standing beside her, felt a headache coming on. His second marriage was already a calculated move, an attempt to secure a foothold in the powerful Corrigan. But now, before Cornelia could even settle into her new position, she had already offended the future head of the household.And Alaric… was not a man who let things slide.No one spoke.No one dared to.Because everyone knew—when Alaric smiled like that, the storm was only just beginning.But Alaric hadn’t just come to dinner tonight—he had come to make a point.And he made sure the Florida understood that.“That’s impossible,” Alaric said lightly, his fingers still resting against the necklace on Emerald’s collarbone. His tone was casual, but his eyes were anything but.“Teacher Greene has fair skin, a beautiful face, and legs that could make anyone jealous. Even women envy her. Whoever had the nerve to say such nonsense must be blind.”The room tensed. Cornelia turned her gaze to Ethan, her voice laced with artificial s
Emerald, however, found it amusing. Alaric, who was usually so arrogant around her, was now acting all proper in front of his family.“Oh? That’s funny. Sister-in-law didn’t say that before,” Emerald remarked casually, immediately drawing Apollo’s attention.“Oh? You’ve met before?” Apollo asked, surprised. After all, Cornelia hadn’t known Emerald for long, and she worried that Emerald might not like the gift she had prepared.“Yes,” Emerald replied.Before she could say more, Cornelia quickly cut in, afraid that Emerald might bring up what had happened at the boutique earlier.“I ran into Teacher Greene at the counter today,” she explained hurriedly. “I didn’t realize she was Alaric’s girlfriend at the time. If I had known… I would’ve let her choose for herself.”As she spoke, she took out an entire set of pink diamond jewelry. The vivid pink diamonds alone were worth over ten thousand yuan each, and the set featured intricate inlay designs—clearly an expensive and carefully chosen g
He pressed the accelerator just in time, sending the car speeding forward.Emerald couldn’t help but stare at him—suited up and in leather shoes. Her heart raced. This man was undeniably charming."Aric, the rain has stopped, and the flowers in the lotus pond are blooming. Would you like to go see them with me?"Alaric, not quite catching her drift, answered in a low voice, "...Okay."As her mind wandered, imagining what the evening might bring, she noticed they had arrived at a villa.Meanwhile, Apollo's family was in a rush. Although Apollo was over ten years older than Alaric, he always felt wary of his quiet, cold cousin.Apollo was the center of attention—he had grown up overcoming challenges and was now well-positioned to take the lead in the Corrigan. With his sharp mind, impressive background, and carefully calculated moves, he was poised to replace the old man.Today’s dinner had been moved up, and the family was scrambling to prepare. They’d urgently called Cornelia Florida,
The salesgirl who had brought her upstairs rushed to smooth things over. “Mrs. Corrigan, please don’t be upset. You’re still pregnant, and stress isn’t good for you. I’ve already checked on the bracelet you ordered—it should arrive within two days.”Caroline waved a hand impatiently. “The issue isn’t the bracelet—it’s her.” She scoffed and turned to the gathered onlookers. “Do you even know who she is? Her mother was a mistress—”The room went silent as every eye turned toward Emerald. Before she could react, Iris, who had been quietly munching on macarons, suddenly leaped to her feet.“You’re pregnant, so maybe try being a decent human for your baby’s sake?” she snapped. “You might want to be careful—karma has a funny way of dealing with people like you.”"Who the hell are you? Dressed like a scavenger—are you made of wood? Why don’t you sweep these two pieces of trash out of here?""Aunt, who upset you?" A deep voice suddenly broke in—Ethan.When he spotted Emerald standing not far
He had seen how she had broken up with Ethan all those years ago, walking away without hesitation. But back then, she hadn’t known the man’s true nature.Even after all those years together, she had left without a second thought.Would she do the same to him?His only advantage—the one thing keeping her tethered to him—was her desire for him. So he would use it.Like dangling a piece of meat in front of a greedy little cat, he would keep her wanting, keep her reaching, until she was caught in the trap he had so carefully laid.Step by step.By the time they pulled up to the garden, Emerald was no longer as composed as before.She sat in the passenger seat, waiting expectantly for him to open the door. Alaric was already reaching for her, ready to carry her out, when she stretched out her arms, eyes full of mischief.“I want a piggyback ride.”Alaric chuckled, amused by her sudden whim. He liked it when she acted spoiled."Alright, I'll carry you on my back."He turned around, and Emer
Alaric took her small hand in his, gripping it firmly as he asked, word for word, "Have you ever slept with Griffin?"Emerald blinked her big eyes, then nodded earnestly. "Slept."She started counting on her fingers before looking up and adding, "Not even once."At that moment, she finally understood what had been weighing on Alaric’s mind. Griffin and Alaric were complete opposites.On the surface, Alaric was the heir to an elite chaebol family—elegant and refined. But in reality, he had a distinct sense of style, always carrying himself with a quiet intensity.Griffin, on the other hand, came across as a gentleman, but deep down, he was still the mischievous little devil from their childhood—willing to use any trick to get his way. He was the one who taught Emerald how to climb onto rooftops and remove tiles, and how to wade into the river to catch shrimp.And now, she was sure he must have whispered something in Alaric’s ear just to stir trouble.Ever since Alaric entered her life,