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
She grabbed the apron hanging on the wall, and Alaric didn’t argue; he simply wiped his hands on a towel. Emerald tied the apron around herself with ease, moving naturally, like a couple married for years."I’ll wash some fruit, then," he said, taking some from the fridge.Unlike other men who needed prompting, Alaric acted on his own and always had something to do. He moved quickly and efficiently, while Emerald, in contrast, wasn’t as skilled in the kitchen. Despite her culinary training, she focused on Western cuisine, sashimi, and sophisticated dishes.When it came to food, she usually improvised. Living alone, she rarely cooked, often opting for just a salad.She stared at the live fish in the sink, feeling a hint of anxiety. Handling live creatures wasn’t her forte; she usually had her fish cleaned before buying. But Alaric seemed to prefer keeping the fish fresh.The fish lay in the water, eyes wide open, its tail flicking slightly. Though nervous, Emerald maintained her compos
When she returned, Alaric’s table was already set. Steamed fish, boiled shrimp, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and a light soup filled the cozy dining area with the aroma of homemade comfort.The tall figure beside the table carefully placed chopsticks and plates. Emerald noticed that his once-clean white shirt now had oil stains, but he didn’t seem to mind. Like a true gentleman, he pulled out a chair for her.Emerald remained silent, feeling a slight discomfort. She didn’t ask for much in life, just one simple wish.Three meals a day, with family, sharing warm food together.She remembered, as a child, handing her exam papers to her mother, hoping she would pat her head and offer praise. She imagined her father lifting her onto his shoulders for a stroll. But she rarely saw her father, and the idea of the three of them sharing a meal felt like an impossible dream.On the rare occasions he did come home, her mother would wake up early, prepare an elaborate meal, only for them to end u
After hearing Emerald’s words, Alaric seemed momentarily stunned."Somewhere else, where’s that?" he thought.He looked at her tear-streaked face, his gaze slowly drifting down to her lips—bright pink and slightly swollen. Her lips still bore faint bite marks from earlier, the vibrant color almost like she’d just put on a fresh coat of lipstick. They glistened softly, the edges shining under the light.Alaric felt a tightness in his throat and a warm sensation stir in his stomach.Meanwhile, Emerald looked at him with an innocent expression. Her face, neck, and even the backs of her ears were flushed from crying. Her nose and the corners of her eyes were red.Alaric mused how women, with makeup on, always seemed a bit intoxicated, and right now, Emerald looked the same. She was hard to refuse.He held her face, gently brushing his thumb over her lips. His voice was low and alluring, "How are you going to help me?"Emerald felt the warmth of his fingers on her lips and suddenly underst
Even Ethan, whom she had fought so hard to win, seemed completely disinterested now. His eyes weren’t on her—they were stuck on Emerald.Mrs. Florida naturally noticed the shift in the atmosphere.She had never liked Emerald. In her eyes, after leaving Ethan, Emerald would never find a man of better status—she was supposed to fade into insignificance.Yet now, standing before her was a woman whose circle was far beyond the Florida's reach. It was an embarrassing reality Mrs. Florida was unwilling to accept.Her lips curled into a sneer. “Look at that vixen, always scheming to climb higher, just like her shameless mother. How can she ever compare to our daughter? Samantha is generous, refined, and outstanding.”Mrs. Valentine quickly chimed in, eager to agree. “Of course! But it doesn’t matter. He will be here soon, and Samantha and Rice will naturally be together. That little vixen will never reach that level in her lifetime.”And as if summoned by their words, Rice arrived.The room
Emerald was restless, even in his sleep. His brows remained furrowed.Alaric watched her sleeping face with a gentle gaze, then pressed a soft kiss between her brows. "Little Moon, you'll get everything you desire."The Next DayNews of the Valentine's grand music dinner had been circulating for a while. Everyone knew that the internationally renowned chef, Rice, wouldn't just be performing at the event—he was also set to take Samantha as his final apprentice.Because of this, the dinner was an extravagant affair. As the pride of the Valentine, Samantha had sent an invitation to Emerald early on, eager to have her attend.She wanted to use this opportunity to flaunt her success.Samantha had always been the one to win. Taking what belonged to Emerald came easily to her, trapping her in an invisible cage with no escape.She had done it since they were children. But what she never expected was that today, Emerald would finally strike back.Emerald touched her ear. After days of adjustme
Alaric was sharp—too sharp for something like this to be a coincidence. It was entirely possible he had orchestrated the whole thing.“Even if he had his own agenda with you,” Alaric said calmly, “why shouldn’t I turn the tables on him?”So Lance had made the first move today. No wonder Emerald had found it strange that a family as prestigious as the Stevens would set her up on a blind date.Alaric must have caught wind of it in advance, which was why he had hijacked Lance’s setup and turned it into his own game.She sighed, shaking her head. “Aric, I can’t even imagine what you’d do to me if you ever became my enemy.”Alaric’s expression turned serious. “Are you scared?” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a murmur. “Teacher Greene, I won’t let anyone take advantage of you. As long as I can keep you by my side, I don’t care what it takes.”On the screen, a gruesome scene unfolded—a wife who had been murdered years ago had returned, now lying under the bed, her bloodshot eyes
Emerald wanted to cry but had no tears. The woman clung to her like an overenthusiastic pendant—poking her cheeks, touching her arms, and even wrapping her arms around Emerald’s small waist.If she hadn’t firmly gripped her own body for dear life, this woman would have reached her thighs by now!Alaric’s so-called blind date was terrifying. She just wanted to go home.“Enough.” Alaric finally scolded in a low voice.Emerald looked at him with deep gratitude. Yes! Finally, some control!Take care of your own blind date, or she’s going to devour me whole!She gave him a pleading look, silently screaming for help.But instead of rescuing her, Alaric turned serious and said, “You’re not allowed to touch my wife. Hands off.”Wife?!Nina clicked her tongue, withdrawing her hand but not without squeezing Emerald’s waist one last time.“So stingy,” she huffed before smirking. “Tsk, tsk. What a soft waist.”Emerald was this close to crying.What kind of blind date is this?!Wait—no. Why were t
Emerald looked up just in time to see a mother and son approaching. The woman was dressed in an elegant Chanel-style suit, exuding wealth and sophistication. The man beside her was in a well-tailored suit and tie, looking every bit the polished gentleman.Her gaze met his, and in an instant, his eyes lit up."Senior!" he exclaimed excitedly.Emerald’s stomach dropped. Her heart skipped a beat, and for a split second, she wished she could vanish into thin air.Lance?!What kind of twisted luck was this? He practically rolled out the red carpet for coincidence to walk right in!Hadn't Eula said the man she was setting her up with came from an oil empire?Emerald was speechless.Eula, on the other hand, beamed. "Oh? You two already know each other?"Lance’s mother also seemed pleasantly surprised. "So you and Senior went to the same school? What a small world! I didn’t expect you’d be meeting like this—as a couple!"Emerald frantically waved her hands. "It's just dinner!"Emerald had int
Not like me, Emerald mused. She never felt secure enough to sleep without holding onto something—whether it was a pillow, a blanket, or, more recently, him.And somehow, even in sleep, he had adjusted for her.One of his arms was tucked behind her head, holding her close, while his other hand covered hers. Their fingers overlapped perfectly, their wedding rings touching, as if even unconscious, he was anchoring her to him.A warmth spread through her chest.At this moment, with the rippling water around them and the morning sun casting a golden hue over the lotus pond, Emerald felt something profound settle in her heart.So this… this is what it feels like to be loved.Maybe it was because Alaric had been too busy lately, or perhaps it was the novelty of spending the night on a boat with Emerald in his arms, but his sleep was deeper and more restful than usual.The sun had already begun its slow ascent, casting thousands of golden rays across the morning sky. As the light filtered thr
Although Apollo already had two daughters, the Corrigan patriarch favored Alaric. Still, if a son was born first, the old master would undoubtedly take notice.Apollo exhaled sharply. "Then focus on raising your child properly and stay out of these matters. And as for you, Ethan, stop causing trouble for your uncle. Whether or not Emerald marries into the Corrigan—it’s up to the two of them to figure out.""I understand, Uncle," Ethan murmured, his eyes lowering.A flicker of regret crossed his face. The humiliation he suffered tonight—he would make sure to repay it tenfold.Meanwhile, Emerald was in an unusually good mood. She had always been indifferent to such things, but tonight, for the first time, she understood just how satisfying it was to put someone in their place."Aric, I never realized how useful your girlfriend's identity could be," she teased.Alaric caught the playful smile on her lips and smirked. "Baby, trust me—being Mrs. Corrigan is even more powerful than being my
Emerald’s lips curved into the faintest smirk. "Because you never saw me as your girlfriend. No matter how sweet you acted on the surface, deep down, you always treated me like a plaything. But he never did. He knows how to respect a woman.""That’s impossible." Ethan's expression darkened. "There’s no such man in the world. He’s just better at pretending than I am. Don’t be naive, Emerald."Emerald crossed her arms, her voice steady and deliberate. “You’re the naive one. You have no idea how good Alaric is. Even if it were only for three days, I would still choose to like him. Didn’t you say I could never step foot into the Corrigan? Mark my words—one day, I’ll marry into the Corrigan, and you’ll kneel before me, serve me tea, and call me ‘Auntie.’”Ethan wanted to laugh—it sounded ridiculous.But coming from Emerald, it was terrifying.Because he knew exactly what kind of person she was.She was relentless, a natural at anything she put her mind to.Years ago, someone had insulted h
Apollo, standing beside her, felt a headache coming on. His second marriage was already a calculated move, an attempt to secure a foothold in the powerful Corrigan. But now, before Cornelia could even settle into her new position, she had already offended the future head of the household.And Alaric… was not a man who let things slide.No one spoke.No one dared to.Because everyone knew—when Alaric smiled like that, the storm was only just beginning.But Alaric hadn’t just come to dinner tonight—he had come to make a point.And he made sure the Florida understood that.“That’s impossible,” Alaric said lightly, his fingers still resting against the necklace on Emerald’s collarbone. His tone was casual, but his eyes were anything but.“Teacher Greene has fair skin, a beautiful face, and legs that could make anyone jealous. Even women envy her. Whoever had the nerve to say such nonsense must be blind.”The room tensed. Cornelia turned her gaze to Ethan, her voice laced with artificial s