Sensing the argument brewing, Yvo quickly stepped in to diffuse the tension.“Miss Greene, why don’t you order something else? The salad’s great, but I know there are some excellent main dishes here. Want to give them a try?” Yvo smiled at her, pulling her attention away from Alaric.“I’m fine…” she muttered.“Alright. Let me see—”“Let me see the menu again,” Alaric interrupted Yvo, taking the menu from him. Yvo gaped at Alaric, staring in disbelief.“I’ll order for Miss Greene,” Alaric said, looking over the menu with intent.Yvo felt unsettled. He’d known Alaric for a long time, and this was the first time he’d seen him take the initiative with a woman. He studied them both, trying to figure out if there was something between them, but he saw nothing. They looked like strangers.Besides, it was unlikely that Alaric would be interested in a woman so easily, especially when it came to sex. So why was he suddenly so eager to please Miss Greene?Little did Yvo know, Emerald’s leg was s
Iris almost choked on the lemonade she was drinking at that moment, reacting to Alaric’s comment. She clicked her tongue and gently nudged her friend’s arm.“Hey! Mr. Corrigan doesn’t even look old. Actually…” Iris paused and looked at Alaric.“You’re not old at all, Mr. Corrigan. You’re like a Greek god, not a regular person. If I listed you in my online shop, you’d sell out in no time, no matter how high the shipping cost. That’s how handsome you are!”Yvo's jaw literally dropped at what his girlfriend had just said. When he looked over at Alaric, he was even more shocked to see him laugh. In Yvo’s experience, Alaric was always quiet and grumpy, never easy to get along with. That's why seeing this kind of interaction between them caught him off guard! Alaric was actually responding to all of Miss Greene’s teasing, which was something new to Yvo.Shaking his head in disbelief, Yvo reached for Iris’s hand. “Baby, you nailed it. But maybe don't do it next time,” he said, worried Alar
Like Emerald, her mother, Esperanza Greene, was a strikingly beautiful woman. Men were easily drawn to her, just as they were to Emerald. After the incident with Emerald’s father, Eula stopped begging for his attention and instead focused on finding other wealthy men to marry. It seemed her plan was to elevate her social status and prove to Emerald’s father that she could secure a better life. Yet, no matter how many expensive bags or pieces of jewelry Eula collected from these men, none ever dared to marry her.Frustrated by her own failures, Eula shifted her focus to Emerald, who was still young and untainted by the hardships of life. She decided that Emerald would be the one to fulfill her dream of marrying into a wealthy family. Eula used the money she received from her lovers to groom Emerald, training her to attract the attention of rich men.According to Eula, sugar was useless—it brought no benefits other than weighing down the body and accelerating aging. Emerald still vividl
She paused for a moment. Seeing that the man seemed serious, she suddenly remembered their first encounter when he saved her. The moment he pulled her out of the water, his handsome face was full of seriousness and coldness. She tried to suppress the panic in her heart. "Is there a problem, Mr. Corrigan?" "I didn’t do anything to make you disappointed or hate me, did I?" Alaric asked with a serious expression. "I also didn’t break any part of our agreement, right?" he added. Emerald almost hugged herself from the chill in Alaric's voice. She was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected him to suddenly bring up the three parts of their agreement from before. Alaric stepped forward, closing the distance between them. It was close enough for Emerald to smell his scent and feel the cold emanating from him. "I don’t have any woman by my side, if that’s what you wanted to know..." Emerald’s eyes fell to Alaric’s chest. She couldn’t look him straight in the eye, sensing someth
Ethan: I won’t give up on you, Ember.Without hesitation, Emerald blocked his number and headed straight to the bathroom for a shower. Afterward, she went to her small studio room. It wasn’t big, less than ten square meters, with various blank canvases on the floor, and some completed ones hanging on the walls. Painting had been Emerald’s hobby for a long time, and now, with the need for extra income, she turned it into a side job. This profession was very niche. Not only did she love what she did, but it also relaxed her mind and helped her forget her problems for a while. The down payment for her apartment was paid for with money from this side job. Esperanza didn’t like her being out of her control. Not long ago, a world-renowned violin master wanted to take Emerald as his apprentice and have her tour the world with him. On the day she was supposed to board the plane, Esperanza hid Emerald’s passport, completely cutting off her path as a violinist. Emerald knew well that her
Emerald’s mouth fell open at what she heard. Her ears seemed to perk up at the mention of that name. Before she could react or say anything, the principal spoke again.“I know one of your students is a Corrigan, so I believe you’ve already met his father, right? Teacher Greene, can you speak to Mr. Corrigan privately on behalf of our school? The land isn’t that big. To them, it’s just scraps they could turn into a lawn. After all, this will benefit all the children here, including his son,” the principal explained, as if he wouldn’t take “no” for an answer.Emerald knew that this principal’s concern was fake. It was just another one of his political moves, but what he said was true—this would benefit the children.“I know this matter isn’t easy. As educators, we always have to think of the children’s welfare. I can’t promise I can do it, but I should at least give it a try. What do you think, Teacher Greene?”Emerald sighed. She didn’t have much choice but to comply.“I can do that, s
“Yes… I want to…”“I’ll be back tonight.”Emerald smiled and shook her head. Her heartbeat gradually slowed down.“What time is your flight? I’ll pick you up,” she suggested.“I’ll arrive around nine o’clock,” he replied and immediately hung up the call.Emerald closed her eyes tightly and tried to calm herself down. She could hear her heart pounding hard in her chest—so much so that she wanted to reach in and yank it out just to make it stop!Alaric didn’t refuse, which meant there was still room for negotiation in this matter!The hot wind blew through her hair as Emerald traced her fingers along the rough surface of the wall. She listened to the faint sound of the children crying on the other side, and she finally made up her mind.Alaric is a businessman, and Emerald knew exactly what it took to negotiate with a businessman. All she had to do was put her bargaining chips on the table.The only question was—is her body worth the value of this land?She had no idea. She knew full we
After having kissed a man like him before, Emerald now realized that she had never truly understood him. He was powerful and mysterious.She felt the rough yet gentle touch of Alaric’s hand slowly sliding from her shoulder down to her hand, making it hard for her to think clearly. He was a patient hunter.Emerald looked up and met Alaric’s intense gaze. She wrapped her arms around his neck and examined every inch of the man before her. She had never done this before—staring so closely at the man who awakened a side of her she never knew existed.The man who taught her everything she now knew. The man who made her feel that she wasn’t as boring as she thought she was.Emerald bit her lower lip, her breaths becoming deeper. She felt like she was slowly being consumed by the fire radiating from his body.“I want to…” she whispered seductively.She was a straightforward person. Once she made a decision, she wouldn’t hesitate. Pressing herself against Alaric’s body, she nuzzled into his ar
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