In the top-floor café of the Bucapital headquarters building, Georgia Adelaide sat opposite Murray.
"If she truly likes you, why wouldn't she be willing to sacrifice for you?" Georgia stirred her coffee in a bone china cup, the burgundy liquid swirling.
Murray lounged on the sofa, one hand casually resting on the glass table, the other holding his phone, glancing at the group chat with Shen Yun Su and others. Hearing Georgia's words, he sat up slightly, placing his phone screen on the table, nonchalantly saying, "I'm with her for fun. She doesn't need to sacrifice anything."
Raising her voice, Georgia Adelaide dropped the spoon into her cup with a clink, "Do you know about her relationship with Ronald Richardson of the Richardson family?"
Murray took a sip of his coffee, replying indifferently, "Whatever their relationship is, it's not important."
Georgia couldn't understa
Reassured about the company's legitimacy, Emily let go of her concerns. With her father having passed away some time ago, she felt no need to dwell on these connections.As they chatted casually, the conversation turned to Emily's injured leg.Frowning worried, she said, "I have a performance in two days, but I'm not sure if my foot has fully healed."Visually, the bruising had faded to a faint blue, and the swelling had mostly subsided. She was eager to join one more rehearsal before the actual performance, yet she feared aggravating the injury if it hadn't fully healed.Sandy stood up and examined her foot, "Let's go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up."Emily blinked like a sad child at the mention of the hospital, "I want ice cream."Sandy playfully pushed her head, "You know it's not recommended to eat sweet.""But I really want
As the final act concluded, the judges scored on the spot inside the venue. After eliminating the highest and lowest scores, the program with the highest final score was Emily's. Thunderous applause filled the air as the dancers took the stage to accept their awards. Presenting the trophy and certificate to Emily was none other than Cathy. "Congratulations," Cathy said, her gaze on Emily both tender and doting, enveloping her in a gentle embrace. Unaccustomed to such attention from an elder, Emily hugged Cathy back nervously. "Thank you." Cathy's presence reminded her of Ronald Richardson. She hadn't seen him all evening. Hadn't he promised her an unforgettable surprise tonight? Could this be it? She couldn't help but wonder if her mother, as the chief judge, had been lenient. Emily had always been insecure about her dancing skills, and this thoug
The desire in Murray's eyes slowly faded. Still, upon lowering his gaze to Emily's tender, dewy lips, reminiscent of a juicy peach, he found himself irresistibly drawn back for another kiss. His tongue lingered over the soft contours of her lips and the sweetness between her teeth, reluctant to part."Enough now, or things might get out of hand," Emily murmured, gently pushing against his broad, flat shoulders.Murray bit her lip playfully, half-hugging her, and casually straightened his crumpled tie, his smile reminiscent of a carefree rogue. "I wouldn't mind making the sky our blanket and the earth our bed."Emily disengaged herself from his embrace, shooting him a reproachful glance, "Well, I mind." Her eyes shimmered seductively as if casting a spell.Murray felt utterly captivated by her gaze for the first time, as if his soul was being drawn away from her.The young lady ha
The night outside deepened as the events inside the room drew close.Emily lay on the bed, her body bare, her features flushed with the afterglow of their intense sex. She had only eaten a protein bar throughout the day, leaving her hungry. The physical exertion now made her feel it was an almost inhuman task.Murray emerged from the bathroom, and his figure wreathed in steaming mist, his damp hair slicked back, accentuating his striking features amidst the swirling vapors.He sat at the edge of the bed, legs apart, arms resting on his knees, looking down. "What did you just say?" he asked, a posture he usually took while dealing with contraceptives post-intimacy.Emily, suddenly confused and alarmed, sat up abruptly. It dawned on her why the encounters had felt different and why she had experienced unfamiliar sensations in her body. He hadn't used protection."You're crazy. Why
Emily turned towards him, wrapping her arms around his well-defined arm, gently nuzzling her face against it. "Thanks for believing in me," she murmured, her voice light as air, her skin smooth and radiant against his.Her casual touch seemed to have an unintended effect on Murray, even beneath the bath towel……What happened afterward was a blur for Emily. There were no memories of a grand dinner on the mountaintop or a candlelit meal. It seemed like she was hastily fed something before being pulled into a night of intense "physical training" by Murray.The next day, wary of her walk revealing too much to those who knew the signs, she did not return directly to school. With graduation imminent, she didn't want to stir up any more rumors.Her graduation defense for the art program was scheduled in mid-May, with her thesis already submitted in early April. During thi
Murray placed a finger to his lips and chuckled softly, "Go on, tell me more."Not wanting to dwell on the sycophantic principal any longer, Emily switched the topic. She surveyed Murray from head to toe, smiling, "Aren't you hot?"The weather was splendid, with the sun shining brightly and the temperature likely around 27 to 28 degrees Celsius.Murray was dressed in a three-piece suit, its fabric a luxurious baby alpaca wool, which seemed overly formal for the occasion.Murray smiled and unbuttoned his suit jacket, handing it to Cornelius. He stood in a cream-white shirt and an apricot-grey waistcoat. Unbuttoning the cuffs of his shirt, he casually rolled up the sleeves to his elbows, revealing his well-defined forearms. His long, straight fingers, with prominent knuckles faintly blushing beneath the pale skin, trailed blue veins that climbed from his hands to his exposed forearms, a sight of striki
"Ah?" Emily was momentarily stunned.Murray had already ascended the steps, insisting Cornelius pass Emily's mortarboard to him. He placed it upon her head, carefully adjusting the slightly skewed collar of her gown.He donned his suit jacket, tying his tie with meticulous precision, every button fastened impeccably. Gone was the arrogant air of a man with his hands thrust in his pockets, unsure of his opponent. Now, he stood with his hands neatly crossed in front of him, spine straight, the very picture of propriety.Emily pursed her lips, a hint of panic as she fussed with her hair, unconsciously straightening up and subtly inching closer to him.Thus, the pair posed for a "grand" photo in front of the library, their first truly meaningful photo since meeting.Cornelius, armed with a DSLR camera, snapped several shots. Eager to see, Emily reached for the camera only to have Murray snatch it away first. His towering height and long limbs gave him an advantage, leaving Emily to stand
Eyes locked in a mutual fury, the atmosphere teetered on the brink of hostility.Murray suddenly let out a light chuckle, straightening up and glancing at the white roses in Emily's hands. He approached Ronald, giving a light cough before speaking with a look of regret, "White roses symbolize pure, unique, and supreme love for one's beloved. Thus, they are only meant for the one you love the most.""Ron, your flowers may be expensive, but they lack this special meaning, and naturally, they can't compare."With these words, a silence fell over the three of them.Emily and Elton shared a glance, the unspeakable awkwardness.Ronald, repeatedly rejected by Emily yet not daring to offend her, was already boiling with rage. Murray's words only added fuel to his fire, directing his anger towards Elton.Especially knowing he was the man from Emily's diary, Ronald's fury burned even brighter. However, the angrier he got, the quicker he calmed down. He carelessly tossed the flowers on the step