As soon as they entered the penthouse, Adrian loosened the top buttons of his shirt, his movements slower than usual.
“I’m going to take a shower,”he murmured. Emily nodded.“Okay, I’ll wait on the couch.” She had barely sat down when the bathroom door creaked open slightly. “Emily.” His deep voice carried through the air. She turned her head.“What?” The door opened just enough for his hand to slip through. “I forgot to bring my clothes.” Emily let out a soft laugh.“Really? You always seem so well-prepared.” Adrian didn’t respond, simply waiting. Shaking her head, she got up and walked toward his walk-in closet. His suits and shirts were arranged with sharp precision, each piece reflecting his meticulous nature. She grabbed a set of dark-colored sleepwear and returned to the bathroom, pushing the door open slightly to pass them through.Emily collapsed onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, her heart still racing. Her fingers brushed against her lips, as if to erase the lingering heat from his kiss. But the problem was—she didn’t want to erase it. She squeezed her eyes shut. He’s drunk. That was the only explanation. That was the only thing that made sense. And yet— Even as she told herself that, she couldn’t ignore the way her entire body still burned from his touch. She turned onto her side, burying her face in the pillow. But no matter how hard she tried— She couldn’t forget the way he kissed her. Couldn’t forget how it felt when his lips touched her skin. And worst of all— She couldn’t forget the way her body had responded. It took a long time for sleep to come. - The next morning, Emily woke to the smell of something warm and familiar drifting through the air. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stepped out of the guest room, following the scent toward the dining area. O
Attached was a link. Emily frowned and clicked it— And her stomach dropped. A Design’s Newest Collection–Official Product Launch Event! And standing there, front and center— Vivian Sinclair. Emily’s grip on her phone tightened. Vivian was dressed in an elegant silk dress. A pale champagne color. Subtle, yet refined. And on her chest, embroidered in delicate thread— A single white begonia. Emily felt a cold rush sweep through her. The same dress. The one Adrian’s designer had given her. The one she had worn the day she bought his cufflinks. The one Vivian was now claiming as her own. Her heartbeat quickened as she scrolled down. The comment section was already buzzing. “That dress is stunning! Where can I get one?” “Vivian, please tell me this is part of the new collection!” And then,Vivian’s personal reply: “So sorry! This is an exclusive design—something I created for myself. No duplicates available!” Emily let out a sharp breath, her j
Emily arrived at A Design, knowing today was her last. Her resignation had been sent in, but it wasn’t until she walked into the design department that she fully realized— People hadn’t expected her to actually go through with it. “You’re really leaving?”one of her coworkers asked, looking genuinely upset. Emily smiled softly.“Yeah.” Her assistant hesitated.“But…what about Mike? I thought you two were practically engaged?” Emily barely blinked.“We broke up a long time ago.” Silence. Then—a ripple of whispers. People exchanged stunned glances. It was like she had just confirmed one of the company’s biggest rumors. But Emily didn’t stay to watch their reactions. She simply handed in the last of her paperwork, thanked her colleagues politely, and walked out of A Design for the final time. It felt…freeing. Emily thought she would just head home and rest—but Adrian had other plans. Right after lunch, he picked her up himself. She barely had time to ask whe
A Design’s PR team was distancing themselves. Even the board members who had once spoken kindly to her were staying quiet. Vivian was alone in this. Her father sighed heavily, running a hand through his thinning hair.“Vivian, I swear to God, if you mess this up—” “I won’t.” Vivian lifted her head, her voice suddenly steadier. Her father’s glare didn’t soften.“Then fix it. And fast.” With that, he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The house fell into a tense, suffocating silence. Vivian slowly exhaled. She reached forward, gathering the papers into a neat stack, her fingers smoothing out the creases. Her gaze fell onto the official cease-and-desist order. Her own name printed boldly next to words like“unauthorized use”and“intellectual property theft.” Her nails dug into the paper. Emily.
Emily stood on the yacht’s deck, the salty breeze threading through her hair as she gazed up at the sky. The sea stretched endlessly before her, a vast expanse of deep blue, calm and steady. For the past few minutes, her phone had been vibrating relentlessly inside her bag. Over and over. She didn’t need to check to know who it was. Mike. But she didn’t pick up. Instead, she let the sound fade into the background, focusing on the shifting sky. She turned toward Adrian, who stood a few feet away, effortlessly composed, one hand resting on the yacht’s railing. “Look,”she murmured, tilting her head.“The sun is coming back out.” Adrian followed her gaze. Dark storm clouds had hovered over the water earlier, blocking out the light. But now, slowly, the sun pushed through, its golden rays piercing through the gaps in the clouds. He glanced back at her, eyes sharp but unreadable. “My parents will be returning next week,”he said suddenly.“They’ve heard about the we
The morning sun reflected off the waves as Emily and Adrian stepped off the yacht. They had spent the night onboard, the evening stretching into laughter, quiet conversations, and a rare sense of ease. But now, reality was waiting for them onshore. As Emily followed Adrian toward the waiting cars, she noticed that instead of heading for the same one, Adrian walked toward another. She frowned slightly.“You’re not coming with me?” Adrian adjusted his cufflinks, his usual composed expression in place.“I have a confidential meeting to attend.” Emily blinked.“Oh. Okay.” Adrian gestured to one of his drivers.“Take her home.” Emily nodded, sliding into the car. As the vehicle pulled away, she leaned against the window, watching Adrian’s car disappear into the city traffic. Emily hadn’t even reached home when her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. A familiar number.
Emily winced.“Let go.” Mike’s grip tightened. His voice was low, biting.“In your eyes, a random employee matters more than me?” His fingers dug in, his grip unrelenting.“Maybe I should give you a goddamn humanitarian award, Emily. Since you love playing the righteous one so much. Do you even understand loyalty? Or do you just love taking the side of complete nobodies?” Emily shoved him off, stepping back without hesitation. Her pulse wasn’t racing from fear. It was disgust. For the first time, she looked at Mike and felt nothing but cold, detached unfamiliarity. She had thought she knew him. They had grown up together. For years, she believed she understood him better than anyone else. But standing here, staring at him now, she realized— She didn’t know him at all. Her voice was sharp, cutting.“You think this kind of power play makes you superior? That crushing people beneath your feet makes you untouchable?” Mike scoffed. Emily’s eyes burned with quiet fur
Emily sat curled on the edge of the bed,the soft sheets untouched behind her. The room was dim,curtains half drawn,letting in a weak,golden glow from the setting sun.But she hadn’t moved in hours. The silence in the room was absolute. But her mind wasn’t. It was loud.Loud with the sound of Mike’s voice echoing— “You’re not even their real daughter.” At first,she didn’t believe it.She couldn’t. But the memories…they came back too fast. The way her parents had always been distant. The way they never really celebrated her milestones. How they didn’t react when she got accepted to the top design program. Not even a proud smile.Not even a simple“congratulations.” Her mind kept circling back—again and again—to the quiet way her parents had always treated her. Not cruel. But n
Their expressions shifted almost instantly.“What is it?” Emily asked, watching them trade sharp glances.Adrian’s mother frowned, turning the phone so Adrian could see. “Some celebrity nonsense.”Adrian’s brows furrowed as he read the screen.“Apparently a well-known actress posted a photo of me on her social media,” he said, voice flat.Emily blinked. “You?”He turned his phone to show her.It was a candid shot—Adrian’s profile, taken from across a restaurant terrace. The caption beneath it read:The view here is amazing.Her fans had already flooded the comments.“Is that your boyfriend?”“That’s Adrian Blackwood from E International!”“When did this happen?!”Emily stared, then let out a short laugh. “You don’t even know her, do you?”Adrian shook his head. “Never met her.”“Well… I mean, that was the day we got married,” Emily added lightly. “So unless sh
Upstairs, Emily face was warm. Her chest was tight.And she felt… awkward.Awkward, because she couldn’t understand why she cared so much. Why her first instinct had been to ask about Adrian’s past. Why it mattered so much whether there had been someone else.People had histories. She did too.And this wasn’t even a real marriage.Except…Except they’d shared things in the last few days that went far beyond their agreement.She touched her lips lightly, remembering how he’d kissed her.Remembering the way he had looked at her.And suddenly, everything felt very… complicated.Two hours later, the first draft was finally done.Emily sat back in her chair, exhaling slowly as she looked at the sketch on her screen. She tapped her fingers lightly against the edge of the tablet, then snapped a screenshot.The women’s ring featured twenty-five round b
She wanted to ask Adrian what style he liked—what kind of design he imagined wearing every day.But the question caught in her throat.What if he hadn’t meant it? And what if he’d just said that to pacify his mother?What if he didn’t care? That thought dropped into her stomach like a stone. Adrian’s mother stood from the sofa with a soft smile,announcing that she needed to rest and recover from jet lag.“Your father will arrive tonight,”she said,stretching slightly.“We’ll have dinner together,all of us.” Emily nodded and watched her disappear down the hall. She turned to go upstairs,already reaching for the railing—when Adrian’s voice stopped her. “Don’t you have something you want to ask me?” She paused,glancing back at him.“About the wedding rings?” He arched an eyebrow,as if amused by her hesitation.“Mm.&
Emily froze for a second, caught off guard by the question.Adrian’s mother had shifted her gaze—not just to Emily’s bare finger, but then to Adrian’s hand as well.No ring.Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You two got married and didn’t bother with rings?”Emily’s heart gave a faint stutter.In a flash, her mind flew back to that quiet little chapel, to the ring Adrian had handed her that day.She hadn’t even thought to bring it with her when she moved into his home. Maybe, deep down, she hadn’t wanted to pretend more than necessary. After all, this wasn’t real. It wasn’t supposed to be real.But now, under the scrutiny of Adrian’s mother, it felt like a glaring omission.Especially in a world like theirs—where a wedding ring wasn’t just a symbol of love, but a silent boundary, a social shield.Before she could scramble for an excuse, Adrian spoke up smoothly.“Emily’s designing our rings,” he said, tone calm and sure. “She’s putting a lot of thought into it. Once they’re ready, we’ll we
“I thought about it.”Adrian’s voice was low, his jaw tight. His gaze dropped for a second, shadowed with something unreadable.“But after five years…I still can’t watch her end up with someone else.” His mother’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing. Not yet. Adrian exhaled, slow and steady.“It was at that summit in Geneva. I overheard Mike—bragging to someone about how, once they were married, he’d have Emily transfer all her shares to him. Said it was for her own good. So she could stay home, stop worrying about work.” He gave a bitter smile. “Like she was just some pretty accessory to keep on a shelf.” His mother’s silence deepened. There was no judgment in her face, only calculation—and perhaps, the faintest trace of sympathy. “I asked Lila,”Adrian continued,“and she told me they’d already argued over it. Emily didn’t want to give up her work, her independence. But Mike didn’t care.” His gaze lifted, sharp again. “There’s a saying in business—timing
The orgasm crashed through her like a riptide, wringing a broken cry from her throat. Adrian gentled her through it, his mouth softening but not stopping until she pushed weakly at his shoulders. As she floated back to awareness, she felt him press a kiss to her damp stomach before shifting up to gather her against his chest. Her cheek landed on his pounding heartbeat. Neither of them spoke for a long time. "Sleep,"he said, tucking the covers around them both. His voice was rough, his body still visibly aroused beneath the sheets, but his arms around her were firm. Emily traced idle patterns on his collarbone."What about you—" His fingers laced through hers, bringing her hand to his lips."This wasn't about me." The room had long since settled into a heavy hush, the air warm with the remnants of shared heat. Emily lay still, her head on his shoulder, but sleep didn’t come. She couldn’t stop thin
Emily lay on his side, the soft hush of the evening wrapping around the room. The shadows on the ceiling shifted gently as the breeze moved through the curtains. She hadn’t spoken in a while. Adrian, lying beside her, finally broke the silence. “You’re still awake,”he said quietly. Emily hesitated.“I’m just…thinking.” “About?” She turned her head slightly, catching the faint outline of his profile in the dim light.“Us,”she admitted, voice barely audible. For a beat, he didn’t respond. Then—“I see.” “I mean…”she searched for the words.“It’s just…things feel different now. We’re still pretending, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like pretending.” Adrian’s gaze remained steady, though his voice dropped just a touch.“It doesn’t feel like it to me either.” Her breath caught, her heartbeat fluttering in the silence that followed. Then he shifted slightly, reaching up to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers lingered, soft and warm. She shifted sli
Emily returned from the bathroom with her damp hair tucked behind her ears, a towel draped loosely around her neck. When she stepped into the bedroom, she paused. The small breakfast table near the window had already been set. A silver tray held a bowl of warm congee, a few side dishes, and a cup of ginger tea, still steaming. Adrian was seated nearby, scrolling through his tablet with casual ease. She blinked, surprised.“You…set this up?” He looked up, his expression calm.“I asked the kitchen to bring it up.” Emily hesitated, then smiled faintly.“Thank you.” Adrian nodded. Then, as if remembering something, he added,“By the way, your phone rang while you were gone. I answered—it was someone named Claire? She said she’s from your design team.” Emily froze for a half-second, then relaxed and picked up her spoon.“Oh, Claire. She’s nice. Did she say anything?” Adrian leaned back slightly, watching her reaction—maybe expecting more. But when she stayed composed, he onl
The room was dark and quiet, save for the soft sound of Emily’s breathing. She had drifted into sleep, her body curled gently against Adrian, her cheek resting on his arm. He watched her for a long moment, her features softened by exhaustion and the glow of the moonlight.Carefully, he slid out from under her without waking her.He pulled the covers over her exposed shoulders, tucking them in with a tenderness that came from somewhere deep inside.Then he stepped out of the room, walking silently down the hall to his study. The city lights spilled in through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the sleek furniture.Adrian picked up his phone and dialed a number.The line clicked.“Mr. Blackwood,” came the voice on the other end. “Any further action on the A Design security breach?”Adrian’s voice was low, clipped. “Continue the investigation. I want a full report on every vulnerability. Especially the ones Mike tried to cover up.”There was a pause, then: “Understood. Should