Every time she closed her eyes,Adrian’s voice echoed in her mind. "Marry me,Emily." It wasn’t just the proposal that unsettled her—it was the quiet certainty in his tone,like he had already decided this was inevitable.And what was worse…a small,reckless part of her wasn’t entirely against the idea. She groaned and buried her face in the pillow.This is insane. Emily tossed and turned,but sleep refused to come.The weight of the day pressed heavily on her chest—the whispers outside Mike’s office,the way he looked at that woman,the sound of his colleagues laughing as they speculated about her. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She knew who it was before she even looked. Mike. For a moment,she debated ignoring it,but curiosity—or maybe old habits—got the best of her.She unlocked her phone and read his message. Mike:How long are you planning to sulk?You’ve been acting ridiculous all day.If you keep up this childish tantrum,maybe we should just end this. Emily stared at the
She grabbed her coffee and took a quick sip to cover her reaction.But it was too late—her entire face felt like it was on fire. "When we what?"she managed to say. Adrian remained perfectly calm,as if he hadn’t just casually mentioned marriage over breakfast. "When we get married,"he repeated,setting down his coffee cup with ease."I assume you’ll want to keep eating food like this." Emily stared at him,utterly thrown. He had said it so naturally,so certainly,as if their marriage was already a settled matter. "Adrian…"She swallowed,suddenly feeling restless."You can’t just—say things like that so casually." His gaze softened ever so slightly."You don’t have to be nervous,"he said smoothly."I’m not forcing you to decide anything right now." Emily opened her mouth,then closed it,unsure how to respond. He was so calm about it.So assured. As if he knew she would say yes eventually. She set
The distraction worked. Lila blinked,then let out an excited shriek. “Finally!” Emily flinched as Lila all but launched herself across the couch,grabbing Emily’s hands and shaking them with unfiltered glee.“Oh my God,Em,do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?” Emily chuckled despite herself.“Gee,thanks.Love the support.” Lila waved a dismissive hand.“Oh,please.Mike was the worst.Self-absorbed,arrogant,and honestly?A total red flag parade.” Emily raised an eyebrow.“You didn’t say any of this before.” Lila huffed.“Because you were still with him!But believe me,I’ve been silently praying for this day.”She grinned,wiggling her eyebrows.“So tell me,what was the final straw?Did he finally propose to himself in a mirror?” Emily burst out laughing.“Close enough.” Lila sighed dreamily.“So,he’s officially out of the picture.Which means…”She wiggled her brows again.“You’re single.”
Letting out a slow breath.Then, she grabbed her phone from the table and turned it on for the first time that day.As the screen lit up, a notification from her calendar immediately popped up.Shareholder Meeting – A DesignsThursday | 10:00 AMHer thumb hovered over the notification for a moment before she exhaled and tapped out a message.Emily: I need to take a few days off. I won’t be attending the shareholder meeting.A moment later, a reply came through.Assistant: Understood. Should I reschedule any of your upcoming meetings?Emily hesitated for only a second before responding.Emily: No. Just handle things as needed. I’ll be unreachable for now.She wasn’t going back.Not to the company.Not to Mike.Not to any of it.For the first time in years, she had truly let go.And with that, she powered off her phone and tossed it onto the couch.For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel like she owed anyone an explanation. Emily spent most of the day in the quiet solitude
Adrian had just finished his meeting when he heard footsteps outside his study.He glanced up as Emily appeared in the doorway.For a moment, neither of them spoke.The setting sun bathed the room in amber light, casting long shadows across the polished wood floors.Then, Emily stepped inside.Adrian leaned back in his chair, studying her carefully. “Emily.”Her hands curled into fists at her sides, as if bracing herself.Then, with quiet determination, she met his gaze and said—"I’ll marry you."Silence.The kind that stretched thick in the air, wrapping around them like an invisible thread.Adrian’s expression didn’t change.Didn’t move.But his fingers—just barely—tightened against the armrest of his chair.Finally, after a long pause, he exhaled.And then, he said the only thing that mattered."Are you sure?"
Slowly, she turned back to Emily, then back to Adrian, her brain struggling to catch up.Then, still staring at her brother, she mouthed the words, How did you pull this off?Adrian’s expression remained composed, but his blue eyes darkened slightly, as if in silent response.Lila’s jaw nearly dropped.Emily, oblivious to the silent exchange, shifted slightly. “Lila?”Lila snapped out of it, looking at Emily again, still reeling.“You’re—you’re what?” she stammered.Emily swallowed. “We’re getting married.”Lila blinked rapidly, then exhaled sharply. “Are you guys insane?”She turned to Adrian, pointing a finger at him. “You—explain. Now.”Adrian didn’t even flinch. “We’ve made our decision.”Lila let out a frustrated groan, throwing her hands in the air. “That is not an explan
The conference room carried an air of quiet authority, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mixing with the polished mahogany and sleek leather chairs. The shareholders of A Designs took their seats, murmuring in low, measured tones as they prepared for the discussion ahead.At the head of the table, Mike leaned back, fingers tapping lazily against the surface. His expression was one of practiced confidence, his sharp navy suit tailored to perfection. He looked every bit the man in control—or at least, that’s what he told himself.The senior partner, an executive who had been with the company since its early days, cleared his throat. “Alright, let’s get started. We have several pressing matters today. First—the Luthmere Luxury Towers Development Project. The bidding process begins next month, and securing this contract would give us a strong foothold in the high-end market.”A few members nodded approvingly, flipping through the proposal documents in front of them.“The profits look pro
The air was crisp, carrying the soft scent of early spring. Emily stood before the mirror in the guest bedroom of the Blackwood estate, smoothing her hands over the dress. It fit like a dream. Perfectly tailored, hugging her waist, flowing effortlessly as if it had been made for her and only her. She turned slightly, studying her reflection. No veil. No extravagant bridal jewelry. Just this dress, simple heels, and the faintest trace of natural makeup. She looked… Like herself. Not a woman forced into a marriage. Not a bride of convenience. Just Emily. A knock at the door made her turn. Lila peeked her head inside, then froze. “…Okay. I officially take back everything I said about this being a rushed disaster,”she muttered, stepping inside. Emily lifted a brow.“What?” Lila waved a hand at the dress.“You look
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
With a quiet breath,Adrian shifted—his hands gliding down to the curve of her waist,then lower,lifting her gently but firmly into a new angle that made the world tilt with it. Emily gasped,her breath hitching as the sensation changed,intensified. Her hands clutched at the sheets,knuckles white with the effort to stay grounded,even as her body responded with a helpless urgency she couldn't contain. Each motion sent a ripple through her—low and aching,centered deep in her core,radiating outward like heat curling through her spine.Her lower belly tightened instinctively,muscles fluttering under the rhythm he set,as though every part of her was tuned only to him. She felt her lower abdomen pumping rhythmically. She could barely think.Could barely breathe. It wasn’t just the way he moved—it was the way he held her,the way he breathed her in,as if she were something he had longed for in silence and now finally held in both hands. Her name left his lips like a prayer—raw and
Her fingers clung to the sheets,her eyes fluttering closed as a soft moan escaped her lips,unbidden. It was as if her entire body had been lit from within,the warmth building and building until it crested—breaking over her like a tide she couldn’t stop,even if she tried. And she didn’t want to. The world blurred around her,sound fading,thought fading—everything reduced to the electric rush between heartbeats and breath. She barely registered the shift in his body until she felt it—his presence,closer now,heavier,his breathing rough against her skin.There was something unmistakably tense in his stillness,as if he were waiting,holding himself back with every ounce of control he had. Her eyes fluttered open,hazy and full of something she didn’t quite have a name for. Adrian’s gaze met hers—intense,searching. And without a word,he leaned in,brushing a kiss to her temple.His voice was barely audible,rough and strained. “Tell me to stop.” But she didn’t. She couldn’t.