While searching for clothes from the previous night, she wandered into the master bedroom and noticed a new row of wardrobes. Opening one, her eyes widened at the sight—an extensive collection of women's clothing.She pulled out a few pieces, unable to believe what she was seeing. Every garment, from undergarments to outerwear, fit her perfectly. The designs were simple yet elegant, made from soft, luxurious fabric. But the most striking were the blouses and dresses, each looking meticulously crafted.Emerald chose a white dress with a green floral pattern, soft and fresh-looking. It fit her like a glove—no more, no less, as if tailored precisely for her body. There was no way these clothes were made overnight.It hit her like a ton of bricks—during those nights together, Alaric had memorized her measurements, committing every detail to memory. Just like Ethan, Alaric had been planning for her all along.Emerald rushed to the orphanage, finding the place in utter chaos. A group of thu
Alaric calmly replied, "I did. These unknown individuals broke into the orphanage under the guise of Corrigan Holdings, maliciously destroyed property, and intentionally harmed others."The officer looked at the bloodied and bruised thugs. "So, there was a fight?"Alaric remained composed. "We’re all law-abiding citizens here. We don’t engage in illegal activities."The police officer glanced at the thugs. "And the blood on them?"Before Alaric could answer, the thug with the large gold chain clung to the officer’s leg."I fell and hurt myself! Please, sir, arrest me!"The man quickly got up and opened the door of the police car, waving eagerly at the chief, "Chief, let’s hurry this up!"The other thugs scrambled to follow, begging as they chased after the police car, "Sir, take us with you too!"The police officers stood there, dumbfounded. It was the first time they had seen people begging to be arrested."There’s too many of you. You won’t all fit in one car," the chief said, stil
Alaric chuckled softly, “Is that what you call thanking me? Even the grandma at the village gate is more enthusiastic than you.”At that, Emerald hooked her arm around his neck and kissed him firmly with her red lips. Since that night at the Altitude Hotel, the two hadn't been intimate again. They were like embers that had never fully gone out, just needing a slight breeze to ignite again. And it would burn even hotter than before.Emerald could clearly feel her desire for this man. It wasn’t about love, just pure, instinctual need. She missed a man—more precisely, she missed Alaric’s body. He had won this game. After tasting him once, Emerald craved more and more.Their lips and teeth intertwined, like two obsessed lovers. The tension between them grew uncontrollably, making Emerald forget where they were—until the car suddenly stopped, forcing them to pull apart. Emerald’s body fell forward but was yanked back into his arms with great force.The young driver, trembling with fear, st
He knew this was her weakness, so he kissed Emerald’s delicate neck. Her arms trembled slightly, struggling to match the tenderness of his touch."Alaric, I can sleep with you as many times as you want, but I only have one heart. If you lose it, you can never get it back." She murmured softly, her voice as lazy as a cat's. "Alaric, can I be your lover?"The way she said it was so casual, as if she were merely commenting on the moon being bright in the sky. When Alaric looked at her, despite Emerald’s attempts to hide it, he saw the unmistakable sadness and weariness deep in her eyes."No, baby," he rejected her again. "If you're trying to thank me for what I did for the kids, it's not necessary. I was just doing what needed to be done, that wasn’t really helping."Emerald didn’t quite understand. She knew the clothes he had prepared in his penthouse were for her. Why had his attitude suddenly changed?"What exactly do you mean?""James likes you very much. I want you to take care of h
Honestly, his self-control was quite impressive. He hadn’t made any moves in the past few days. In fact, sometimes it was Emerald who had more thoughts about it.Biting her lip, Emerald hesitated to speak.Sensing her discomfort, Alaric asked softly, “Is everything alright?”“It’s just... a bit much.” Emerald stammered, gesturing helplessly with her hands.It was rare to see Emerald like this—flustered and embarrassed. Alaric smiled as he looked at her. “What’s wrong?”“It might... stain your pants.” Emerald muttered softly, stammering.Alaric chuckled lightly. “Why are you so nervous? It’s just a pair of pants.”“That’s not what I meant. It’s just... very messy.” Emerald avoided his gaze, her voice dropping to a near whisper.Alaric placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.“There’s nothing dirty about your body.”Emerald blinked in surprise, finding it hard to believe. She thought men were usually uncomfortable with this kind of conversation. Suddenly, Emerald felt herself getting heavi
As Ethan approached, he noticed Alaric bent over inside the car. At first, he thought Alaric was reaching for something, but as he got closer, he realized there was a woman tucked underneath him. Everyone knew Alaric had no interest in women. In the past few years, no one had seen a woman by his side. No one knew the real identity of the twins' mother, a detail that had never been made public. Ethan was shocked by the scene he had just witnessed. The man who was always calm and distant seemed quite entertained by the private moment. Ethan couldn't see the woman's face, only her thin arms wrapped around Alaric's neck. Two long legs poked out from the slit of her dress, still wrapped around Alaric’s waist. Her toes, painted a vibrant red, gently nudged him nervously. It looked like she was trying to pull away, but to an outsider, it seemed like a reluctant yet seductive struggle—a moment filled with tension and ambiguity.Ethan’s first thought was: This girl is so fair. Her legs, hoo
Half an hour later.When Alaric went upstairs, he found Emerald on the terrace, speaking softly on the phone."I really don’t have a choice. I need the money. Can you come by tomorrow for a house inspection? There’s a place closer to the kindergarten that’s available for rent... Alright, let’s finalize it then."After hanging up, Emerald stared at her phone, lost in thought. Her face reflected a mixture of sadness and hesitation.Alaric waited for her to snap out of her thoughts before he approached her."Did you have the cake?"Emerald turned to him, quickly masking her sadness. She smiled gently, her pale complexion glowing softly. Her voice was sweet, with no trace of sorrow."No, I was waiting for you."Alaric walked closer, staring into Emerald's smiling face. "Anything you want to ask?"For instance, why Ethan called him 'uncle,' or the reason for his visit.Emerald’s smile widened. The soft light from the wall lamp highlighted her face, making her glow even more. But her aura r
After a day of rest, Emerald's mindset returned to its sharp state. Ethan had belittled her over and over again, repeatedly reminding her that she was just an ordinary person with slightly better skills, incapable of making a real impact. His deception was clear: I’m your best option—don’t even think of escaping, or you’ll end up with nothing.Emerald stared at a painting she had created years ago. When day meets night, a crimson sun breaks through the darkness, bringing light to the world. From now on, she would be the light guiding her own life. The days of being controlled by others were over.What’s a mere man, anyway?Emerald dialed a number and spoke, “Hey, it’s me. Is your previous offer still open?”The voice on the other end was full of excitement. “Ms. Greene, it seems you’ve come to your senses. It’s such a waste of talent for someone like you to be a kindergarten teacher. Join me, and I’ll make you a world-renowned designer.”Emerald chuckled softly. “Ivy, I love teaching
He slammed the brakes at an observation deck. The motorcycle skidded to a halt, the tires grinding against the pavement.Behind them, Yngrid was nothing more than a crumpled heap on the ground, her body still, her face pale. She had fainted somewhere along the way, her once-arrogant presence reduced to a pitiful sight.Emerald barely spared her a glance.Instead, she tilted her head and smirked at Alaric. “What? This is so exciting—”Before she could finish, he grabbed her by the waist and crashed his lips onto hers.It was a raw, desperate kiss—hungry, claiming. The salty sea breeze wrapped around them as he pushed her back against the motorcycle, pressing into her.Her body arched slightly at the force of it, but she wasn’t the type to simply surrender.She bit down on his tongue—hard.Alaric pulled back with a sharp inhale, tasting the faint tang of blood.Emerald licked her lips, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Are you a dog? You’re just chewing on me like a bone.”He grinned,
Emerald gripped her hair and yanked her head up like he was holding a football.Seeing Alaric approaching, Yngrid's eyes filled with tears, her expression pitiful. "Alaric! She’s trying to drown me—please, help me!"Emerald didn’t react with jealousy to her pathetic plea. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and smirked at Alaric. "What’s this? Feeling sorry for her?"Alaric stopped beside them, his voice calm. "Teacher Greene, have you cooled off yet?""No," Emerald said flatly. "I nearly drowned in this sea yesterday. Do you think it’s that easy?"Yngrid had expected Alaric to step in and stop the madness, so when he didn’t, her voice grew even more aggrieved. "Alaric, after all these years of friendship—"Before she could finish, Alaric shoved her back into the water.Then, turning to Emerald with a soft gaze, he asked, "What do you need to calm down? Tell me, and I’ll help you."His eyes, warm and steady like sunlight, fixed on Emerald. The contrast was striking—Emerald’s second personal
The two men gritted their teeth, forcing themselves to their feet. Limping forward like zombies closing in on their prey, they rushed toward Emerald.But before they could even get close—bam!—one swift kick sent them flying backward.How could someone with such a slender frame possess that kind of raw power?Without missing a beat, Emerald grabbed Yngrid by the scruff of her neck and shoved her toward the motorcycle. She smirked."Get on. Don’t make me do it myself."Just then, a small, trembling voice cut through the tension."Mommy!"A child’s nervous cry.Aiden had just climbed out of the nanny’s car and was running straight toward them.Emerald froze for a moment. Then, realization dawned.Her lips curled in disgust. "Aiden… Alaric… you people are absolutely repulsive."Aiden, the kid who had haunted her dreams for so long, was now standing right in front of her. And the woman in black—the one next to him—was someone he never expected to see again.Emerald.The person he hadn’t se
"I know I can’t beat you," she said, "but don’t you love her so much? If I start cutting her body with this knife, do you think that will hurt her? Hmm?"Alaric froze, his mind racing. He had never witnessed Emerald's second personality before, and this version of her was unrecognizable.The face was the same, but the way she carried herself, the way she spoke—it was all so different.His instinct was to stop her, and he reached out quickly. "I won’t hurt you, just stop."Emerald’s lips curled into a smirk. "Good choice," she said, her voice dripping with a dangerous sweetness.She took a step closer and gently hooked his chin with her finger. "If you were a little whiter, younger, smaller, you might fit my taste a bit more."Her words were playful, but there was something dark beneath them. She was like a fox, sly and irresistible.In the past, even in intimate moments, there had been an innocence to Emerald, a purity that Alaric had cherished. But now? Now all that was left was pure
When he found her, she was holding a fox cub in her hands, and not far off, a bleeding eagle lay on the ground.To his shock, she had knocked the eagle down with a stone, revealing a side to her that no one had expected—this delicate little girl, barely six years old, had somehow summoned the strength to do that.When she looked at him, an evil grin spread across her face. "Hey, little brat, you're here."Griffin was taken aback by the nickname. "You..."Emerald tossed the little fox into his arms and shrugged nonchalantly. "Just call me little fox."Griffin felt a strange unease as he watched Emerald, but the next day, she was back to her usual self, so he didn't dwell on it.Now, the woman moving around the room bore a striking resemblance to the child she once was."You..." Griffin hesitated, unsure of what to say.Emerald took the initiative, gulping down some water with a look of mild disgust. "Is this really all you have? Are you sure this can quench thirst?""Then what do you w
His grip on reality slowly returned.Maximo rushed to the accident site. Inside the car, there was an eerie silence. Alaric sat motionless, uncharacteristically quiet.The streetlights flickered past, casting brief flashes of light onto his hands and chest.His face remained in the shadows, his eyes cold and piercing—like death itself had arrived.Then, the silence shattered.The phone rang.Greg answered immediately. "Hello, Officer. Do you have any updates on the salvage operation?"He was driving with the speakerphone on, and his voice came clearly through the car: "The car salvage operation is tough, so it won’t be quick, but our divers found a body in the car."Boom!Alaric's face turned pale, and the veins on the back of his hands tightened. Before he could react, Officer continued, "It's an adult male, around 32-35 years old, about 187 cm tall. The cause of death wasn't drowning, but a chest injury."When he heard it was a male body, Alaric's expression softened."Did she find
Alaric suddenly realized something—if the person had really been taken by Ethan, there was no way Ethan would be sitting here drinking."If it wasn’t you, then who was it?" Alaric let go of Ethan.No matter the motive or evidence, no one should have even known that Emerald was staying here."What happened to Emerald?" Ethan took a sip of wine, sobering up instantly.Alaric had a gut feeling—whether Ethan had done it or not, he was definitely involved in some way.He briefly explained the situation, then asked coldly, "Did you tell anyone where Teacher Greene was?""I didn’t. I was—"Ethan's voice suddenly faltered. "There is one person who might know.""Who?""Ariza.""I was drunk last night. She called me… I think I might have said something, but I don’t remember exactly what."Alaric immediately went looking for Ariza, only to find out that she had left the apartment early in the morning—with her suitcase.The place was completely empty.Alaric had always assumed that Ethan was the
Griffin was a doctor, but at this moment, fear gripped him. Emerald’s condition was critical.He didn’t dare waste a second. Desperation took over as he frantically performed CPR, pressing down on her chest, breathing life back into her.Emerald—the woman who had consumed his thoughts day and night. Now that she was right in front of him, all his usual restraint, all the boundaries he had drawn, meant nothing.Only one thought filled his mind:Live. You have to live.After what felt like an eternity, she suddenly choked, spitting up mouthfuls of water, her body wracked with violent coughs.The man kneeling beside her wasn’t Alaric. It was Griffin.For a brief moment, surprise flickered in her eyes, but exhaustion consumed her. She barely had the strength to speak. Just before losing consciousness, she whispered, “Griffin… please… contact Aric for me…”Then, everything went dark.Griffin gazed at her pale, fragile face, a wave of memories washing over him.He remembered an afternoon, y
"I have no grudge against you—why the hell did you kidnap me?"Before Emerald could even make sense of the situation, a convoy of off-road vehicles roared to life, speeding after her. The pale-faced woman in the Maybach was seething, her voice sharp with fury."Catch her! I want to kill this bitch with my own hands!"There was no mistaking the hatred in her tone. But Emerald didn't even know this woman. She was certain they had never met. So why was she out for blood? And with all these men surrounding her—armed bodyguards at that—it was clear they weren’t here for a friendly chat.Emerald had never been a saint, and she sure as hell wasn’t about to start now. With no hesitation, she did the only thing that made sense—she floored the gas pedal and charged straight at the crowd.No cameras. No witnesses. No regrets.The woman let out a blood-curdling scream."Ahhh!!!"At the last second, a bodyguard yanked her out of harm’s way. Emerald missed her by mere inches, but there was no time