After freshening up, Emily and Sandy prepared for bed. As Emily locked the door, she noticed Lydia hadn't returned yet."Can you ask if Lydia is coming back tonight?" Emily asked.Sandy shook her phone, "She posted on Instagram saying she won't associate with people of questionable character and is sleeping in another dorm tonight.""Oh," Emily replied indifferently, locking the door before getting into bed.Sandy turned off the lights and joined her.With Lydia away, they could talk openly without texting each other, even when face-to-face.Emily turned over, lying on her back. Moonlight streamed obliquely through the window, casting a sparse, hazy light on the ceiling. She squinted into the dimness, suddenly curious about what Murray might be doing at that moment. The thought scratched at her heart like tiny claws with sharp nails, tingling and slightly itchy.She reached for her phone, pretending to scroll through Instagram. Severa
Emily chuckled softly, her slender fingers swiping across her phone's screen before holding it up for Lydia. The image on the screen showed a man and woman cheek to cheek in a photo, capturing Lydia's attention completely. Her eyes widened, and her pupils shifted from unfocused to a sharp focus, almost frozen in place. "Want to see something even more exciting?" Emily teased, her eyebrows raised, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "No, no, this is fake; you Photoshopped it; it's not real," Lydia stammered in denial. "Not convinced? Here's something more," Emily said, scrolling through her phone's gallery. She opened a video of Murray wrapping his arm around her, kissing her cheek, and setting it to loop play. Standing beside Lydia, Emily watched the video with her, occasionally making remarks. "The sugar daddy keeping me is quite handsome, isn't he? Almost like those big movie stars." Lydia stared at the intimate couple in the photo; her image of the unattainable Murray Gibs
His searing kisses lingered on her skin, reluctant to part even for a moment.Emily felt herself melting under his touch like a quiver might send her sliding off the seat. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson; she half-resisted, half-surrendered in his embrace, whispering, "Are you serious about this?""Are you playing pretend?" Murray paused, propping himself up on his arms to gaze down at her, his half-closed eyes brimming with desire.The man's intense aura enveloped her, a hint of mint fragrance in the air, "Don't you find it thrilling?"Emily bit her lip, nodding shyly, her face flush in embarrassment. Outside, the rush hour traffic was in full swing, with bustling crowds and a whirl of activity. Inside the car, they were a picture of intimacy, a stirring scene indeed."Shall we continue?" Murray's voice was dangerously enticing.Her cheeks blushing furiously, Emily timidly reached down to unbuckle his belt."Are you sure about doin
The restaurant boasted chefs from various countries, allowing customers who booked the entire venue to choose their preferred cuisine.Despite knowing Murray preferred mild flavors and couldn't handle spicy food, Emily deliberately chose Spanish dishes, emphasizing extra spicy."Just as Miss Rockefeller wishes," Murray said casually, loosening his suit button and sitting down with an air of nonchalance."What would you like to drink?" he asked Emily."Dry white wine," Emily replied quickly.Murray slightly furrowed his brow, then instructed the waiter, "Get one from the L winery, any vintage or grade."After the waiter left, he sat up straight, leaning back in his chair while elegantly folding his napkin onto his lap. He lifted his eyelids to look at Emily, "Satisfied?"Emily propped her head with her hands, her eyes crinkling into a smile, and let out a light "hmm.""Too bland? Want to change it?" Murray wasn't fond of white w
“What are you doing!” The woman's shrill voice quivered with shock.Murray’s momentary panic, sparked by the sudden lighting of the room, quickly faded, replaced by his usual composure.He calmly rose from Emily, his upper body bare. First, he reached for his trousers, slipping into them nonchalantly as he drawled, “Mom? Still playing the surprise inspection game?”Was the screamer Murray’s mom?Emily suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment, akin to a young girl caught in an early romance, brought home by a boy for mischief, and nabbed by the parents.For the first time, she felt exposed.Head bowed, she wished she could vanish into the couch.Unfazed and bare-chested, Murray sat beside her, casually picking up his suit jacket from the floor and draping it over Emily.Emily, unlike him, couldn't be so shameless. She glanced at the tattered T-shirts and underwear strewn across the carpet, mental
"It's simply not acceptable, Murray. You're not getting any younger, and it's time to consider marriage. What respectable young lady would fancy someone who frolics around like you?"Murray was at a loss for words, finding her back at square one.He couldn't be bothered to argue with Georgia.Rising from his seat, Murray headed to the bar and poured himself a whiskey, adding a generous amount of ice cubes to cool himself.He really couldn't fathom his mother meddling at the worst possible moments. Did she not fear for her son's well-being?And what about her desire for grandchildren?"You will break up with that girl immediately!" Georgia commanded."We're not even in a relationship. What is there to break up?" Murray downed his drink in one gulp, replying nonchalantly.Georgia stood up and walked over to the bar, stopping him from pouring another drink, "You know what I mean!"Murray smirked, patting her hand and noddin
On the other end, Cornelius returned the call, "Mr. Gibson, Miss Rockefeller has safely arrived at the school. As for that black car, I will have someone investigate it..."After hanging up, Murray returned to the living room, where Georgia emerged from the kitchen, their eyes meeting.Georgia's eyes were fixed on Murray, her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to say something.Murray, anticipating her words, quickly ascended the stairs with his long strides, "Mom, I have things to do; I can't stay to chat."Watching his retreating, Georgia sighed and called out louder, "Don't stay up too late; get some rest."As a mother, she knew what was in her son's heart. How he cared about that girl, Emily, showed his genuine affection. But being born into the Gibson family, mere affection was not eno
Emily had left the apartment complex with strict security protocols preventing taxis from entering. After walking a bit, she saw a few private cars parked along the road and casually got into one. The driver, a middle-aged man, noticed her coming from the upscale Snowy Motel and heading to Q University. His gaze on Emily carried a hint of unsavory intent. Throughout the ride, Emily was absorbed in thoughts about subtly bringing up the No. 9 Pier project to Elton. She was so preoccupied that she didn’t pay attention to her surroundings. It was only when she noticed the increasing darkness outside her peripheral vision that she looked up. The view was pitch black, with overgrown weeds. Though Q University was in the suburbs, and parts of the route from the city were poorly lit, it wasn't normal for the view outside to be completely obscured. Suspecting the driver was up to something, possibly taking a back route, she asked in a calm tone, “Drive