In the early months of their arrangement, they would meet and head straight to bed without a word. A typical no-strings-attached situation. But now, things seemed to be shifting.
Emerald shook her head, trying to dismiss the thoughts that plagued her mind, and made another attempt to break free from Alaric's hold. When she finally succeeded, he quickly caught her wrist, forcing their eyes to meet. A small smirk played on Alaric's lips as he suddenly pinched her chin, as if he had read her mind."I've slept with you so many times. Why didn't I notice before that you found my touch so repulsive, Miss Greene?" he asked in a husky voice.Emerald quickly averted her gaze and shook her head. "I'm just hungry," she deflected, changing the subject.Even though they had been intimate countless times, Emerald was like a hedgehog, always guarded, never allowing anyone to truly get close. Once she finally pulled away from Alaric, she marched straight to the table, acting as"It was their illegal operation on the ship that caused the fire. The lawyer will hold them responsible and compensate for all losses,” he replied, clearly aware of the events leading up to the fire.Alaric moved behind Emerald and stood close, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. Emerald could feel his presence looming, and a sense of unease crept over her. Was he taking out some hidden anger on her? Or was there something else at play?She couldn’t help but wonder why no waiters or staff had approached them, despite the commotion. It was as if the area had been deliberately cleared, giving her and Alaric free rein to laugh and flirt without any prying eyes. The thought flashed in her mind briefly before she dismissed it. She was giving herself too much credit. If Alaric’s interest in her was purely physical, and if Ethan was so concerne
"You can write down your wishes," he said.She leaned over the table and wrote carefully, while Alaric released his lantern. Glancing at her list, he noticed a few entries:The salary has been increased to 28,000.Watch the sunrise on the famous mountain here.Visit three cities in one month.Drink a big cup of cheese and strawberry pop in one sitting.Alaric smiled and shook his head, realizing how simple Emerald’s wishes were. To him, these weren't wishes but rather easily attainable goals."Don’t bother God with that," he teased.Emerald quickly covered her wish list, pushing
From the start, many people have noticed Emerald's natural beauty. If she were just a bit taller, she could easily become a model or beauty queen. It's true that not everything is given to you by God. This is all thanks to her mother, Esperanza Greene. In addition to Emerald’s natural beauty, Esperanza has been carefully training her since childhood. Nowadays, Emerald has a delicate figure and a sultry voice that have left a deep impression on Alaric over time.Emerald noticed that Alaric had been walking a long distance while still carrying her, so she tugged at his collar. Alaric tilted his head to look at her.“Where are we going? Aren’t you going to take me back to the apartment?” she asked him cautiously.He smirked and continued walking.
This reality was far from what she told her mother. When her mother asked how she could afford the unit with her modest salary, Emerald lied and said that Ethan had given it to her—a claim that only angered her mother, Esperanza, further. With so many beautiful condo units in the city, Ethan had only given her a small one.The Florida family was well-known in the city’s business industry, but they still couldn’t compete with the truly wealthy families in the country. They were considered a second-class family. Although Ethan had wanted to buy the unit for Emerald, she refused to accept it because she didn’t want to owe anything to someone like him.Besides, she knew from the start that Ethan wasn’t the one she’d end up with. From the way Ethan had secretly watched his half-sister Samantha when they first met, Emerald knew thi
Alaric directly reached out and pulled out her legs. Because she was a little shy, her toes were curled up, making her look very cute.“Why are you nervous? I had already touched and tasted every inch of you, right?” Alaric chuckled which made Emerald roll her eyes while her face was still heating up.He pinched her slender white ankles and massaged her rough fingertips in circles, one after another, gently and patiently. Seeing his hand moving higher and higher, it stopped at the knee. There were still bruises on the knee from the previous knock, which was in sharp contrast with the skin next to it.Emerald wasn’t sure what Alaric was planning to do when he suddenly lifted her knee. Her eyes widened in surprise as he gently kissed the bruise on each of her knees.
Instead of heading to the bed, Alaric took her to the terrace. As soon as he set her down, the cool breeze greeted her. The curtains danced in the strong wind, instantly cooling her down and easing the heat she had felt.From the terrace, they could see the city lights. If she could, Emerald would wish for the night to never end, as she was genuinely enjoying this moment with Alaric and didn’t want it to be over.Emerald was about to get up when Alaric held her shoulders down and pushed her back down.“What are you doing? I’m going inside…” she mumbled weakly as Alaric suddenly bent down. Their faces almost touched again. Emerald’s heart pounded wildly, but she also felt embarrassed when she saw that Alaric was simply reaching for his phone on the nearby table.
Alaric pinched Emerald’s waist tightly. “Emerald, stop it. I know what you’re doing…”He smirked, though internally he was furious. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body closer to his. Emerald leaned against him, her breath hot and heavy in his ear.“Really? Can you tell me what it’s about… inside? It’s kind of windy here…” Emerald was surprised by the intense flirtation in her own voice.“Damn you…” Alaric muttered. In an instant, he stood up, lifting her effortlessly.She wrapped her legs around Alaric's waist until she felt the soft bed beneath her. One leg was bent, and her bathrobe hung loosely from her shoulders. She stretched out her leg, hooking her toes into the string of his robe, sending a clear invitation.Alaric stood by the bed, gazing down at her with a cool expression. There was no desire in his deep eyes, not what Emerald had expected. It wasn't the reaction she had hoped for from her actions.How could this be? How could he be indifferent when eve
“Being intimate in some special places can enhance the interest of two people. Why don’t you try to flirt with me in a public place, Miss Greene?” His voice was full of demonic temptation, as if he was trying to pull Emerald into the abyss of darkness.Emerald felt uneasy, unsure of what Alaric had in store for her. The way he could make her understand complex things with just a simple word always left her wondering. She couldn't grasp why everything seemed clearer when he was the one explaining it.“Shall I just follow your method and end our relationship when you are satisfied?” Emerald asked, trying to keep her voice steady.“Yes…” Alaric answered her directly, without hesitation.“Fine, but learn to be content,” she warned him, though she couldn’t help but feel nervous. She had no idea what he was planning—where they would go, what they would do, or how long this would last.Alaric's eyes flashed with a hint of triumph as he leaned closer to her ear.“Dress up tomorrow night, and
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