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
In a flash, he was at the door, kicking it open with force.“What happened?” he demanded as he stepped inside, his handsome face now as cold as ice, his presence strong enough to drive away any ghost.A soaking wet Emerald rushed into his arms, her voice trembling, “Alaric, Alaric! A cockroach!”He smiled, both annoyed and amused, thinking the sky was about to fall, only to find out Emerald was afraid of a cockroach. Clinging to his chest like a small octopus, she was almost in tears.This little girl, still such a little girl.Holding back his laughter, he took the towel and wrapped it around Emerald, wiping the drops of water from her trembling body.“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. Just close your eyes.”Emerald closed her eyes. In truth, she hadn’t always been afraid of things like this. When she was younger, there was a time when Rose, her mother, lost financial support from Amalia and they lived in an old building without an elevator, where you could hear people in the units
Emerald knew Alaric had done enough for her. It wasn’t his fault that she couldn’t trust or decide to take the plunge for love. This was the path she had chosen. After walking it alone for so many years, she thought she should be used to it by now.She reminded herself in silence that it was just a cockroach, nothing more. She had left Rose behind, left the cabinet, left the darkness. She was no longer the child trapped helplessly in a closet. The cockroach she saw was now just a symbol of a deeper fear, a shadow she couldn't seem to escape, even now.Emerald’s body slid down against the bathroom tiles. She hugged her knees, burying her head in her arms as the shower water continued to cascade over her. Emerald had once suffered from mental illness, controlled only through medication. She had fought hard to appear &
She was beginning to feel a strange dependence and trust in him. It was a good sign. Perhaps one day, those feelings would grow into love—the most beautiful yet terrifying force in the world.Loving someone meant giving all of yourself, losing your sense of self. And when abandoned, it could drive a person to madness, turning them into something unrecognizable, like a ghost borne of despair.She feared… she feared one day she might become the person she hated most. Worse than a cockroach.Alaric lifted his head, locking eyes with her. He saw the hesitation, the fear, the vulnerability in her gaze. Sensing he might be coming on too strong, Alaric softened his voice."I know you’ve been through a fa
Emerald was startled when he gently brushed her hair.“You don’t have to do anything. Just stay where you are, and let me take care of everything. Let’s give this a chance, and if, in the end, you want to be more than friends, that’s wonderful. If not, I won’t pressure you. What do you think?”Alaric, a seasoned businessman, hadn’t gained anything from this arrangement—in fact, he’d given more than he’d received.“It doesn’t seem fair to you,” she said softly.Alaric chuckled. “Silly girl, fairness is business.”As he said this, he held her wrist gently and shook his head slowly.“Like before, you don’t have to give anything. Just stand there. If I make you uncomfortable, you can walk away at any time. No strings attached.”To Emerald, it felt like a gift from above—something she wasn’t sure she deserved.He lowered his head, kissed her neck, and teased her earlobe, making her breath hitch. Taking advantage of the moment, he whispered softly, “Alright, Teacher Greene?”Emerald closed
“Good morning, baby,” Emerald greeted warmly.She felt no barriers with James, and her affection for the boy grew stronger.She ruffled his hair.“Hurry back to class; morning exercises are about to start.”“Okay.”As Emerald walked away, James watched her, imagining how amazing it would be if Emerald were his mom. She was beautiful and kind.---Yosef lightly tapped James on the head with a small fist, his cute face scrunching up as he glared at him.“Stop with those crazy ideas, that’s not happening.”The two pretended to get along in front of Emerald. James crossed his arms over his chest, giving Yosef a cold look.“Are you itching for another beating?”Yosef and James were worlds apart—one cool and handsome, the other soft and cute. But they were both equally stubborn.Yosef leaned in closer to James, lowering his voice.“Don’t go running to your dad for backup. If you help Teacher Ru get the land, you win. My dad’s coming back here soon.”James sneered. “So what? You think your d
Emerald wore a loose silk blouse with a tied collar, her hair loosely pulled back. She looked pure and elegant—even with minimal makeup, just a swipe of lipstick and a slight touch-up on her brows, she still looked stunning."Mr. Florida, Mr. Allegre," Emerald greeted coolly.Ethan exhaled smoke, his voice rough. "Emerald, you seem completely unfazed by our breakup."She looked even more captivating than before, and the sight only fueled his anger.Ericson entered a bit awkwardly. "Ms. Greene, just give them all the paintings."He opened the trunk, revealing a number of paintings inside, touching some of them carefully."Honestly, I really like these paintings, and you’ve taken good care of them."Ethan, losing patience, cut in, "There’s still six million left. How are you going to pay it?"He was certain Emerald couldn’t come up with that kind of money. The orphanage incident had only been resolved by luck, thanks to Alaric. Sure, selling her house at a low price made sense with the
Ethan looked away, realizing he had completely overthought the situation. How could there possibly be an issue between Emerald and Alaric?The pain in his dislocated arm grew sharper, weighing down his heart. He knew he was in serious trouble. As the car started moving, he glanced back and saw Emerald bending down to pick up a painting on the ground. Her thin shirt shifted slightly, revealing the curve of her waist, accentuated by her jeans.Out of nowhere, the memory of Emerald wearing a dress in Alaric’s yard came to mind. If she wore one again, she’d undoubtedly look stunning.A wicked smile flickered in Ethan’s eyes.Emerald, you’ve brought this on yourself. If you refuse a toast, you’ll drink the punishment instead.Ethan’s patience had run out.Meanwhile, Emerald sat under a large tree, carefully wiping the frame of her painting. She had spent countless nights perfecting each stroke of her work. A soft smile appeared on her lips as she cleaned it, the dappled sunlight casting 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