When the Valentine family and Mrs. Florida’s gaze landed on Emerald, their smiles immediately faded. Mr. and Mrs. Valentine exchanged looks, as if silently questioning why Emerald was even here. Mrs. Valentine wasn’t oblivious; she knew her son was only playing around and would never risk the family’s reputation by bringing an illegitimate daughter to an event like this.Mrs. Florida narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Emerald with a silent warning, almost in disbelief that Emerald had disregarded her earlier reminders. It felt as though the entire room grew colder with Emerald’s arrival.Oblivious to the tension, Sue abruptly asked, "Emerald, what are you doing here? Who are you to attend an event like this?" Samantha quickly took Emerald’s hand, feigning concern. “I invited Ember. She’s family too, after all. How could we have a family dinner without her?”Emerald ignored the critical stares around her and focused instead on the middle-aged man in a perfectly tailored suit, radi
“Yes, Ember has loved children since she was young. She must have quite a lot of experience caring for them.”This was the first time Emerald had ever heard her father praise her. After Samantha and Ethan began dating, her father had pushed Emerald to resign and study abroad to avoid any gossip about her and Ethan.Pantaleon had never truly cared about Emerald’s career, so his compliment now felt empty and insincere.Emerald showed no joy on her face; instead, she felt her irritation rising.Alaric seemed to notice the other side’s pretense, so he commented further.“Teacher Greene’s talents go beyond caring for children. The violin performance she gave at the school art show was highly praised by parents. They called her skills ‘master-level.’”The word “master” seemed to stir something in Mrs. Valentine. She covered her mouth, smiling.“Speaking of violin, our Samantha was just accepted as the last disciple of an international violinist. If you’d like, Ember, why not pass your name
Emerald was always the picture of a calm and modest traditional woman. But everything changed the moment she met Alaric. Her restraint vanished when he defended her in front of everyone.Since childhood, her father had doubted her suitability for marriage, while her mother insisted that her only path was to marry a wealthy man. Ethan had a simple belief: beautiful women should rely on men.None of them paid attention to her true feelings. Whether she was hurt or struggling, they didn’t care. All that mattered was how long she could maintain her beauty.She had walked alone down a dark, muddy road for years, holding a broken umbrella.For the first time, when she was pushed into the mud, someone stood up for her and dismissed all criticisms on her behalf.Emerald felt a spark of joy and hope bloom within her. This complex emotion was like a seed planted in the softest part of her heart, slowly growing like fresh sprouts in a gentle drizzle.At the end of the dim hallway, Emerald presse
Emerald replied calmly, “I sold the house. With property prices so high, I made enough to cover what I owed.”“Are you insane? That apartment had huge appreciation potential! Where will you live now?”Emerald’s smile remained gentle as she tucked the check into his pocket.“That’s not your concern anymore, Mr. Florida. From now on, whether you marry a man or a woman, I wish you and my sister a long and blissful life together. Goodbye.”Panic flared in Ethan’s eyes. He suddenly realized that the harder he tried to possess Emerald, the further she slipped away—and he might lose her completely.“Ember, listen to me, I—”He reached for her wrist, but the woman who had been smiling a moment ago moved swiftly and decisively. In one smooth motion, she grabbed his arm and flipped him over her shoulder.With a loud “thud,” Ethan landed flat on his back, helpless.Emerald pressed her stiletto heel onto his chest, her smile still bright, but her eyes—sharp and cold, like a fox’s gaze.“Mr. Flori
She disrupted his calm. Alaric’s breathing grew rapid, and Emerald’s hands moved quickly, unbuttoning his shirt, her slender fingers slipping inside. When her palm touched his lower abdomen, she felt the hard, uneven ridges of his muscles, each part of him responding to her touch.They both gasped softly. It had been a long time since they were this close. Maybe it was true what they say—sometimes, a little distance does wonders, even better than a newlywed’s embrace. This feeling was achingly sweet.Emerald tugged at his coat, unbuttoning it one by one to properly feel his body.In the darkness, she heard Alaric’s soft groan. Her fingers traced his Adam’s apple, then settled on his belt buckle. Her voice came out with a teasing, seductive lilt.“Mr. Corrigan, want me to take this off for you? Hmm?”The delicate mountain flower, always regal and unmatched in beauty, had been stopped by a woman at his door. In an instant, Emerald was testing his sensitivity in the shadows, her touch ch
Meanwhile, Emerald busied herself picking cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms, and lettuce. When she turned around, Alaric was already pushing a cart toward her, half-filled with beef, mutton, fish, and shrimp.“All good? Anything else we need?” Alaric asked as he added her veggies to the cart.“I also need to pick up some seasonings.”“This way. Follow me.”Alaric seemed surprisingly familiar with the supermarket layout, his long strides easily leading the way. Emerald, meticulous and conservative as always, carefully searched through the brands until she found her favorite.But the bottle she wanted was on the top shelf. Standing in her flat shoes, she had to stretch on her toes to try and reach it.A deep, steady voice came from above her. “I’ve got it.”Emerald turned and bumped into Alaric’s solid chest. He had taken off his jacket and was just in his white shirt, her lips brushing lightly against his chest.Alaric didn’t seem to register the tension between them. He reached up, grabb
Back then, when they were being sweet, he'd call her "baby." But most of the time, it was "Teacher Greene." Now, though, he had a new name for her.The tall man stood by the daily necessities aisle, picking out toothbrushes. She watched as Alaric grabbed a pair and tossed them into the cart. He then explained with a playful grin."In private, you always make me feel like a bad boy getting scolded by his teacher."Emerald frowned. This sudden change in how he addressed her—it felt like something was shifting between them."Just use my name," Emerald replied, her resistance to his unexpected intimacy clear."Alright," Alaric agreed, smiling slightly."Did you get everything? I’ll go to the checkout.""Not yet; there’s one more thing."Emerald reached for the cart. "Fine, I’ll wait for you at the counter."But Alaric caught her hand, smiling. "No, you need to pick this one yourself."Emerald looked at him suspiciously. What else could he need? She already had plenty of essentials at home
Emerald, overhearing, nearly tripped, but Alaric caught her, holding her steady in his arms."Careful," he murmured softly.Once outside the supermarket, Emerald bolted, only stopping when the cool air hit her. Gradually, the heat in her cheeks faded as she took a deep breath.When she’d calmed down, she looked back to see Alaric strolling leisurely under the streetlight, carrying the three large bags. His deep black eyes watched her tenderly, following her every move as she drew closer.He didn’t say a word, just stood there, quietly observing her, like he could swallow her up with his gaze."Let me carry a bag," Emerald said loudly, breaking the tension. "They’re too heavy."Alaric casually moved his hand to block her attempt. "They’re not heavy," he said calmly. "You can manage one."“Nonsense,” Emerald protested. “I need both hands just to lift one bag most times. And you—”Before she could finish, Alaric shifted all the bags into one hand and, without warning, wrapped his other a
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