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,
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
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’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
Emerald woke up with a sore back, immediately regretting how far she had pushed herself last night. The man was nowhere to be seen, but the once-messy room had been cleaned up—clearly his doing. She glanced at the time. It was already past midnight.Dialing Alaric’s number, she spoke, her voice hoarse."When did you leave?""Around nine-thirty. Just waking up?" His voice was gentle, the kind that always put her at ease.She smiled. "Yeah… and I’m already missing you."Alaric was just finishing his meal when he heard her soft confession. A small smile played on his lips."How much do you miss me?""Enough to want to merge with you."He chuckled. This girl was unpredictable sometimes. But her honesty? It was endearing."Then maybe you should start thinking about marrying me—becoming Mrs. Corrigan in name and honor."Normally, Emerald would’ve brushed him off without hesitation.But tonight, she paused for a few seconds before saying, "Let me think about it."Alaric froze, expecting her
As soon as she stepped out, the black Audi’s low beams flickered on, casting a soft glow to light her way. Emerald took a few steps before suddenly stopping beneath a streetlamp. With practiced ease, she slipped off her high heels.Ethan knew this habit of hers all too well. She would wear heels everywhere—no exceptions, except at home. He used to tease her about it, saying that even in death, she’d probably insist on being buried with her favorite pair.The car door opened. A tall figure emerged, leaning casually against the hood. Emerald gathered the hem of her dress in one hand, clutching her heels in the other, and ran toward Alaric like an excited little bird.She was smiling—soft, radiant, carefree. Ethan had never seen her like this before. Whenever they met, he was always the one waiting, always the one filled with anticipation.But Emerald?She was always composed, always rational. She had never once run to him like this. Yet now, she was sprinting toward another man, complet
Had it not been for the presence of so many high-society elites, Iris would have whistled on the spot.So. Damn. Cool.She had always felt that Emerald was different from the rest of them.She wasn’t just talented—she was born for the spotlight.If this were a novel, Emerald would be the heroine.Even if her beginnings were humble, she was destined to rise.And people like Iris?They were just NPCs, background characters meant to highlight the brilliance of the protagonist.But strangely, that thought didn’t bring bitterness.Instead, she felt something warm, something oddly paternal—pride.Like an old father watching his daughter finally take flight.She had struggled, she had fought, and now, she stood in the center of the stage.And Iris couldn’t be prouder.Mrs. Florida heard the thunderous applause echoing through the hall.Her grip on her handbag tightened as she turned to Samantha, her voice sharp with urgency."Sam, it's your turn. You have to work harder—don’t lose to that li
Pantaleon finally snapped out of his shock. He had no desire to witness a scene like this. To him, an illegitimate daughter was someone who should remain in the shadows her entire life.Between Emerald and Samantha, there was no question—he would always side with Samantha.With a stern expression, he turned to Emerald and said coldly, "Haven't you caused enough trouble? Why are we making this a family competition? Just leave already!"Emerald looked at the man who was supposed to be her father. His coldness toward her was nothing new. Maybe it was because she had grown up without a mother’s love, but she had always craved warmth—even more than she feared rejection.But that slap… it ended everything. She no longer had any expectations of him.Her voice was icy as she said, "Mr. Valentine, you've made it clear how you feel. You have no right to tell me what to do.""You don’t even have a piano. What’s the point of embarrassing yourself here?"A voice suddenly cut through the tension."
Even Iris was moved. She grabbed the back of Gio’s hand excitedly. “This is so emotional! Wow, no wonder Ember plays the violin so beautifully—it turns out she’s the apprentice of a world-renowned master!”Gio glanced at his hand, which was already turning blue from her grip. Gritting his teeth through the pain, he muttered, “I get it, I get it… but can you let go first?”Meanwhile, the embrace between Rice and Emerald was nothing short of legendary—what people would call the reconciliation of the century.But for the Valentine, it was an absolute disaster.Samantha had meticulously planned everything for today. She secured the venue in advance, bought trending searches, and invested heavily in PR to ensure maximum publicity.The moment the event wrapped up, her team was supposed to flood the internet with glowing headlines about her performance.Instead, the entire scene had backfired spectacularly. What was meant to be a dazzling moment of glory had turned her into the laughingstock
Even Ethan, whom she had fought so hard to win, seemed completely disinterested now. His eyes weren’t on her—they were stuck on Emerald.Mrs. Florida naturally noticed the shift in the atmosphere.She had never liked Emerald. In her eyes, after leaving Ethan, Emerald would never find a man of better status—she was supposed to fade into insignificance.Yet now, standing before her was a woman whose circle was far beyond the Florida's reach. It was an embarrassing reality Mrs. Florida was unwilling to accept.Her lips curled into a sneer. “Look at that vixen, always scheming to climb higher, just like her shameless mother. How can she ever compare to our daughter? Samantha is generous, refined, and outstanding.”Mrs. Valentine quickly chimed in, eager to agree. “Of course! But it doesn’t matter. He will be here soon, and Samantha and Rice will naturally be together. That little vixen will never reach that level in her lifetime.”And as if summoned by their words, Rice arrived.The room
Emerald was restless, even in his sleep. His brows remained furrowed.Alaric watched her sleeping face with a gentle gaze, then pressed a soft kiss between her brows. "Little Moon, you'll get everything you desire."The Next DayNews of the Valentine's grand music dinner had been circulating for a while. Everyone knew that the internationally renowned chef, Rice, wouldn't just be performing at the event—he was also set to take Samantha as his final apprentice.Because of this, the dinner was an extravagant affair. As the pride of the Valentine, Samantha had sent an invitation to Emerald early on, eager to have her attend.She wanted to use this opportunity to flaunt her success.Samantha had always been the one to win. Taking what belonged to Emerald came easily to her, trapping her in an invisible cage with no escape.She had done it since they were children. But what she never expected was that today, Emerald would finally strike back.Emerald touched her ear. After days of adjustme
Alaric was sharp—too sharp for something like this to be a coincidence. It was entirely possible he had orchestrated the whole thing.“Even if he had his own agenda with you,” Alaric said calmly, “why shouldn’t I turn the tables on him?”So Lance had made the first move today. No wonder Emerald had found it strange that a family as prestigious as the Stevens would set her up on a blind date.Alaric must have caught wind of it in advance, which was why he had hijacked Lance’s setup and turned it into his own game.She sighed, shaking her head. “Aric, I can’t even imagine what you’d do to me if you ever became my enemy.”Alaric’s expression turned serious. “Are you scared?” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a murmur. “Teacher Greene, I won’t let anyone take advantage of you. As long as I can keep you by my side, I don’t care what it takes.”On the screen, a gruesome scene unfolded—a wife who had been murdered years ago had returned, now lying under the bed, her bloodshot eyes
Emerald wanted to cry but had no tears. The woman clung to her like an overenthusiastic pendant—poking her cheeks, touching her arms, and even wrapping her arms around Emerald’s small waist.If she hadn’t firmly gripped her own body for dear life, this woman would have reached her thighs by now!Alaric’s so-called blind date was terrifying. She just wanted to go home.“Enough.” Alaric finally scolded in a low voice.Emerald looked at him with deep gratitude. Yes! Finally, some control!Take care of your own blind date, or she’s going to devour me whole!She gave him a pleading look, silently screaming for help.But instead of rescuing her, Alaric turned serious and said, “You’re not allowed to touch my wife. Hands off.”Wife?!Nina clicked her tongue, withdrawing her hand but not without squeezing Emerald’s waist one last time.“So stingy,” she huffed before smirking. “Tsk, tsk. What a soft waist.”Emerald was this close to crying.What kind of blind date is this?!Wait—no. Why were t