Chapter 3

Emerald took a small step back, trying to distance herself from the overwhelming tension. Her ears and cheeks were flushed bright red. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Alaric's intense eyes, her embarrassment palpable.

Alaric noticed the flush of shame in her eyes and grinned, giving his son’s shoulder a reassuring pat. “Next time, daddy will beat him to death.”

Emerald's brow furrowed at his words. She wanted to reprimand Alaric for how he was addressing his son, but she knew she wasn’t in a position to do so. She risked losing her job entirely.

Alaric quickly picked up on her disapproval, and his smirk widened. “You don’t have to worry about anything, Ms. Greene. It’s normal for children to fight, and it has nothing to do with you.”

"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Corrigan. I'll take James to change clothes now. Excuse me," she said urgently, quickly grabbing the child and leaving the room without looking back.

After changing James into fresh clothes, she gazed at him thoughtfully. Among all her young students, he was the one she cared for the most. Ironically, she also had an attraction to his father, but that feeling was just a purely physical relationship and had no strings attached. If they are friends, then it's called friends with benefits. Just thinking about the entire situation sent a shiver down Emerald's spine. It had to end.

She let out a heavy sigh, grabbed her phone, and typed a message.

We need to stop.

Emerald slipped into a dress, applied a touch of makeup, and made her way to the venue. In the auditorium, Alaric glanced at the message on his phone. It was from Emerald, and the text made it clear that her decision was resolute.

A spotlight suddenly bathed the stage in a brilliant glow, illuminating Emerald, who stood there in a white dress, holding a violin. The light highlighted her beauty, making her appear like an angel who had descended to earth, even though her appearance was understated. She wasn’t the seductive figure she had been in bed, nor was she as innocent as she appeared now.

Alaric couldn't tear his eyes away from Emerald. It was as if her beauty had anchored his gaze firmly to her. She was ethereal, with captivating fox-like eyes and a smile that held just a hint of aloofness. Alaric straightened up as Emerald closed her eyes. Damn, this woman looks so noble, he thought.

She gently rested against the violin, her hand moving to pull the strings. In an instant, the entire auditorium was enveloped in the enchanting sound emanating from her.

Alaric had already thought Emerald was a professional, but he hadn't imagined just how extraordinary her skills were. "You can really tell Ms. Greene's violin skills are top-notch," commented one of the parents beside Alaric.

He cleared his throat, his jaw tightening. "Generally, there's still a lot of room for improvement. She shouldn't just stay in her comfort zone. She needs to push herself harder, especially since she's teaching at such a prestigious school," he remarked, unsure why he felt so irritated.

His eyes were locked on Emerald even more intently. The image of her hugging him like a child while they were on his bed kept replaying in his mind as he watched her. Ms. Greene was undeniably talented, and Alaric felt like only he should be privy to that.

It was the first time he'd seen her dressed like this. She looked like a white fairy, her purity almost palpable. That dress clung to her slender form so perfectly that anyone who saw her would be entranced.

Alaric cleared his dry throat. He knew he couldn't restrain himself much longer, especially when it came to Emerald.

Alaric’s intense gaze was immediately felt by Emerald from deep within. As the song concluded, she only then opened her eyes. There, she saw the man in the front row beneath the stage, his aggressively piercing eyes locked onto her face. She didn’t look away.

The audience erupted in applause, including the wealthy and influential. The auditorium buzzed with praise for Ms. Greene and her exceptional skill. She wasn’t just a professional violinist; her talent rivaled that of the most accomplished musicians.

Emerald took her bow with her young students and handed out handmade gifts prepared by the children to each parent. It was one of the things she wanted children to learn as they grew up.

Once the mini-event was over, the parents left one by one, each with a smile on their faces, accompanied by their children.

Emerald sighed deeply. She had successfully navigated this event, which she had spent days preparing and worrying about, fearing it might not turn out well. She removed her decorative earrings and walked towards the dressing room, humming the song she had just played.

Just as she was about to open the dressing room door, someone suddenly pulled her back. She gasped in shock and fear as she collided with a solid chest. She could feel the hard arm sliding around her waist.

A flash of annoyance crossed her face as she looked up and saw Alaric.