More murmurs. Another woman nearby raised a brow.“Yeah, sounds like she knew exactly what she wanted.” Just then— The door slammed open. Conversation halted mid-sentence. Glasses stilled. Heads turned. Lila stood in the doorway, framed by the dim glow of the hallway behind her. She was all sharp lines and darker edges—long black leather dress hugging her frame, stilettos clicking like a warning shot against the polished wood floor. And her face— That unmistakable bone structure, those piercing eyes, the cool poise in her expression. There was no mistaking it. Adrian Blackwood’s sister. Her gaze swept the room, cutting through the murmurs and glances like a scalpel. It didn’t search. It landed—straight on Vivian. Lila arched a brow, the corners of her mouth lifting in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Sorry to interrupt,”she said, voice smooth as silk but cold as steel.“But it sounded like someone was name-dropping my family.” The room went still. Chairs
Adrian didn’t speak right away. But when he did,his voice was colder than steel. “I see.” Someone near the table let out a shaky breath.Another man looked like he was considering crawling under the table. He had expected this. The moment someone—somewhere—would try to drag Emily’s name through the mud. Adrian voice still quiet—but with a sharpness that sliced through the air like a scalpel.“Let me make this clear.” Lila stayed silent.The others barely breathed. “It was me who pursued Emily.Me who asked her to marry me.She said yes.” A pause. “If anyone in that room still has questions about my wife,”Adrian continued,each word deliberate,“they’re welcome to bring them to my office at E International.Tomorrow.In person.” There was a click. Call ended. Lila set the phone down on the table—slow,deliberate.Like she was laying down a weapon. The room was dead silent. No one moved.No one spoke. Someone—somewhere—exhaled the breath they hadn’t realized they w
Emily blinked, then laughed softly.“I was going to wait until everything was ready to reach out. But yes, I am. And if any of you want in, I’d love to have you.” Word spread like a spark on dry kindling. Members from A group, B group—familiar faces with eager eyes—turned toward her, nodding, asking if it was true. Emily nodded.“It’s not fancy yet. We’re still laying the foundation. But if you’re willing to take a leap with me…” “You don’t even have to ask,”Lily said.“We’re in.” Emily smiled. It didn’t matter what she had left behind anymore. Because what she was building—was hers. - After wrapping things up at A Design, Emily headed out and got into her car. Emily had only been driving for about five minutes when it happened. A screech of tires. The sudden slam of metal against metal. A car veered sharply into hers, clipping the side mirror and jolting her vehicle with a force that sent her heart lurching into her throat. She froze. The world spun for a sec
Emily adjusted the delicate gold bracelet on her wrist as she passed the corner office. The low murmur of conversation from Mike’s colleagues reached her ears, pulling her to a halt when she heard her name.“Did you hear? That girl Mike had a crush on in high school is back from overseas,” one of them said, his voice low but intrigued. “Yeah, and I heard she’s stunning. If I were Mike, I’d be tempted too,” another replied with a quiet chuckle. “Things might get messy, especially since he and Emily are supposed to be engaged soon,” a third added. Emily froze. Her fingers tightened around the papers in her hand—design drafts for their engagement rings. The words swirled in her head like smoke, suffocating her thoughts. Engagement delayed? Tempted? Stunning?Then, another voice broke through the haze. “Oh, and get this—they left the bar together last night. Word is, they went straight to a hotel.” “Shh!” someone hissed, their voice urgent. “Keep it down. The boss doesn’t want thi
Emily stepped out of the office building, her heels clicking against the polished pavement as the bustling energy of downtown swirled around her. The air was crisp, but it did little to cut through the heaviness in her chest. Mike was the CEO of the company, a brilliant designer who built it to its peak, and Emily was the design department manager. They had been a seamless team in both work and life—or so she thought.In her hand was a folder containing the wedding ring designs she had painstakingly created for them. Today was supposed to be the day she showed them to Mike, but now, the thought of what she’d just seen in his office made her stomach churn.Reaching the parking lot, she slid into her car and sat there, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she stared out at the vibrant cityscape. This was the heart of downtown, where high-end restaurants and luxury cars lined the streets. But no matter how lively the surroundings, Emily felt lost, unsure of where to go.After a few min
Emily glanced at the clock above the bar as she stepped toward the door. The sky outside had turned pitch black, and the rain was still pouring heavily. It was only then she realized how long she had been sitting there, lost in her thoughts.Adrian stood next to her, holding an umbrella he had just opened. His movements were calm and deliberate, as always. “You parked your car at your apartment?” he asked, his deep voice cutting through the soft background hum of the bar.Emily nodded. “Yes.”“Then let’s walk back,” he said simply. “I’ll go with you.”She hesitated for a moment, but the thought of walking alone in the rain made her nod. “Okay.”The two stepped out into the downpour, the umbrella shielding them from the worst of it. The streets glistened under the soft glow of the streetlights, and Emily felt the coolness of the night air against her skin. Adrian walked close beside her, their shoulders nearly touching beneath the umbrella.She noticed how much of the umbrella’s covera
Emily and Lila chatted in the cozy living room for hours, catching up on everything they had missed over the past few months. Lila’s laughter filled the space, her light-hearted comments helping Emily momentarily forget the weight in her chest. Eventually, Lila yawned and excused herself to bed, leaving Emily alone in the quiet of the grand house.After a long day, Emily decided to take a shower, hoping it would help her relax. The warm water cascading over her skin was soothing, but it did little to ease the storm in her mind. As she stepped out and reached for her phone, a message from Mike lit up her screen.“You came to the office? Why didn’t you come in? Are you mad again? Stop being so childish, okay?”Emily stared at the text, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. But she didn’t reply. She locked the screen and set the phone down, leaning back against the cool wall. Her thoughts drifted back to the past two years with Mike. His family had always treated her well, welcoming he
Adrian excused himself and went upstairs to change. Emily sat in the dimly lit kitchen, swirling her tea absently as her thoughts raced. She could still feel the weight of their earlier conversation, the way Adrian’s calm, steady gaze seemed to quietly unravel all the worries she hadn’t even voiced aloud.When he returned, Adrian had changed into casual loungewear—a fitted black shirt and dark sweatpants that looked effortlessly elegant. His damp golden hair had been lightly tousled, and his steady presence filled the room once again as he walked over to the counter to pick up his tea.He noticed her shift her fingers slightly on the cup, as if the heat was bothering her. Without a word, he reached into a nearby drawer, pulled out a cup sleeve, and gently slid it over her mug. "Here," he said in his deep, measured voice. "Don’t burn yourself."Emily looked up at him, startled by the gesture. Under the dim kitchen light, with his relaxed posture and calm demeanor, he looked impossibly
Emily blinked, then laughed softly.“I was going to wait until everything was ready to reach out. But yes, I am. And if any of you want in, I’d love to have you.” Word spread like a spark on dry kindling. Members from A group, B group—familiar faces with eager eyes—turned toward her, nodding, asking if it was true. Emily nodded.“It’s not fancy yet. We’re still laying the foundation. But if you’re willing to take a leap with me…” “You don’t even have to ask,”Lily said.“We’re in.” Emily smiled. It didn’t matter what she had left behind anymore. Because what she was building—was hers. - After wrapping things up at A Design, Emily headed out and got into her car. Emily had only been driving for about five minutes when it happened. A screech of tires. The sudden slam of metal against metal. A car veered sharply into hers, clipping the side mirror and jolting her vehicle with a force that sent her heart lurching into her throat. She froze. The world spun for a sec
Adrian didn’t speak right away. But when he did,his voice was colder than steel. “I see.” Someone near the table let out a shaky breath.Another man looked like he was considering crawling under the table. He had expected this. The moment someone—somewhere—would try to drag Emily’s name through the mud. Adrian voice still quiet—but with a sharpness that sliced through the air like a scalpel.“Let me make this clear.” Lila stayed silent.The others barely breathed. “It was me who pursued Emily.Me who asked her to marry me.She said yes.” A pause. “If anyone in that room still has questions about my wife,”Adrian continued,each word deliberate,“they’re welcome to bring them to my office at E International.Tomorrow.In person.” There was a click. Call ended. Lila set the phone down on the table—slow,deliberate.Like she was laying down a weapon. The room was dead silent. No one moved.No one spoke. Someone—somewhere—exhaled the breath they hadn’t realized they w
More murmurs. Another woman nearby raised a brow.“Yeah, sounds like she knew exactly what she wanted.” Just then— The door slammed open. Conversation halted mid-sentence. Glasses stilled. Heads turned. Lila stood in the doorway, framed by the dim glow of the hallway behind her. She was all sharp lines and darker edges—long black leather dress hugging her frame, stilettos clicking like a warning shot against the polished wood floor. And her face— That unmistakable bone structure, those piercing eyes, the cool poise in her expression. There was no mistaking it. Adrian Blackwood’s sister. Her gaze swept the room, cutting through the murmurs and glances like a scalpel. It didn’t search. It landed—straight on Vivian. Lila arched a brow, the corners of her mouth lifting in something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Sorry to interrupt,”she said, voice smooth as silk but cold as steel.“But it sounded like someone was name-dropping my family.” The room went still. Chairs
“I saw them today and thought of you,”she said.“They just dropped this morning. Limited edition.” Adrian pulled one out, inspecting it.“You really have a thing for giving me these.” She shrugged, lips tugging into a soft smile.“You look good in them.” He set the box down and pulled her closer by the waist.“Then I guess you’re officially responsible for putting them on me from now on.” Her smile widened. “Deal.” Emily laughed softly.“Then let me practice. I’ve never actually put cufflinks on anyone before.” Adrian arched a brow, amused.“What an honor,”he murmured, and casually popped open the ones he was wearing.“Go on. Use these.” She took the new set from the box, fingers careful as she slid them through the cuffs. Her brows furrowed slightly in concentration—Adrian didn’t take his eyes off her. Then his phone buzzed. he answered with one hand. “Hey,”he said, voice warm but casual. The voice on the other end was easy, familiar—his longtime friend, Nate. “M
Emily let out a soft hum, eyes still closed.“I should be asking you that. Your office might need hazard pay.” Adrian chuckled quietly, the sound low and warm in his chest.“I’ll take the damage. Worth it.” They stayed like that for another long minute. No rush. No obligations. Just a quiet moment suspended in their own world. Then finally, Emily shifted slightly, resting her chin on his shoulder and glancing down at the floor where a few papers had fallen. “You think your team heard anything?” Adrian smirked.“Not unless they’ve got microphones in the carpet.” She rolled her eyes, swatting his chest lightly before going still again. Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen—Lila(Video Call)—then looked at Adrian. He gave a slight nod, lips curving. She answered. “Lila!”Emily smiled, tilting the camera so her friend could see her clearly. “I’m back!”she beamed.“Finally. My professor dragged me across five countries, three labs, and one very haunted guest hou
She shifted slightly, her knees pressing into the cushions on either side of his hips, dress hiked just high enough for her to feel the warmth of him beneath the fabric. Every brush of her thighs, every subtle movement of his hands on her back, created a rhythm that felt deeper than anything physical. Her breath stuttered as her hips moved—tentative at first, testing the pressure, the closeness, the friction that bloomed between them even through layers of clothes. Emily sinking her teeth into his lower lip, just shy of pain, and felt the shudder that rolled through him. His hands abandoned their teasing path to grip her waist instead, hauling her flush against him until the hard line of his arousal pressed unmistakably between her thighs. The noise she made was swallowed by his kiss, deeper now, hungrier. His tongue swept against hers in a rhythm that had her arching into him, her fingers fumbling with the buttons of his shirt. She needed him bare—needed to feel his skin un
Emily blinked again. It wasn’t until she stepped into the elevator that Emily realized just how far ahead Adrian had thought. As the doors began to close, she glanced back toward the design department’s lounge. On the long communal table, rows of pastries and coffee cups were laid out neatly—perfectly arranged, clearly just delivered. The packaging was from one of the trendiest bakeries in the city, the kind with lines out the door and a waitlist for catering. By the time she reached the 16th floor, Emily had already tucked away a dozen thanks she wanted to give him. She knocked once at his office door. “Come in,”came Adrian’s voice—cool, clipped, and all business. It threw her off for a second. It wasn’t the tone he usually used with her. She pushed the door open. He was at his desk, a tablet in hand, sleeves rolled up just enough to show his watch. The skyline glowed faintly behind him. But t
Mike’s head turned just slightly, like the question had cracked something open. Vivian smiled faintly to herself. Let him unravel. Because if Emily was truly gone—if she had thrown Mike away for good—then eventually, he would need someone to lean on. Someone who didn’t leave. And her family’s company? It could be exactly what Mike’s needed next. Strategic. Beneficial. Mutual. She folded her hands sweetly in her lap, playing the part of the patient one. The loyal one. Mike sat in stunned silence, the buzz of alcohol starting to fade as Vivian’s words blurred into background noise. Then, without looking at her, he said quietly—firmly— “Vivian. Let’s not see each other anymore.” She blinked.“What…what do you mean?” “I’m going to explain everything to her. She’ll forgive me.” Vivian froze, her voice sharp.“Explain what?” Mike’s eyes stayed on the table.“If I keep seeing you, E
Mike sat on the cold bench in the police station, jaw tight, wrists red from the cuffs they’d only just removed. He hadn’t spoken since they brought him in. Mike could hardly breathe. He used to be the one she waited for. Used to be the one she laughed with, called late at night, told everything to. And now… Now she looked at another man like that. His chest burned. His throat felt tight. But even then—he told himself, if she came back… If she just showed up and said she made a mistake… He’d take her back. He’d forgive all of it. Adrian. The wedding ring. The silence. The lies. He’d erase everything just to have her again. The heavy door creaked open behind him. Lucas stepped inside, his usual confidence nowhere to be found. He held a file in one hand, keys in the other, his expression caught between frustration and pi