Darren went inside his office and sat on the chair while Emery followed him before standing in front of his desk with her arms crossed and resting on her chest.
The office exuded a gloomy atmosphere, with a dark grey theme that perfectly complemented Darren's personality.
His dark eyes moved up and down on Emery's red bodycon dress, which hugged her curves perfectly.
“Okay, I'm here. Why did you ask me to come here at this time?" She asked, trying not to sound as mad as she was.
Darren raised his eyebrows while the corner of his lips moved slightly up. "Why did you fight with Camila?"
With a roll of her eyes, Emery gritted out her words, "I didn't fight with anyone; she came to provoke me first and then later ran to you to cry. What’s my fault in all this?
Darren gave an indifferent shrug, and his smug look never left his eyes. "Perhaps you were just jealous and...”
Before he could even finish his sentence, Emery cut him off and spoke angrily, “Why should I be jealous?”
Darren’s eyes narrowed at her reply; he gave her a sharp look before getting up from his chair. Emery felt her breath stuck in her throat as soon as she saw him getting up.
Darren walked around the desk as his gaze never left hers. His dark aura filled the room, wrapped in tailored elegance. His suit clung to his frame in all the right ways; his broad shoulders could easily be seen through the suit.
As he moved closer, the glint in his eyes turned sharper. A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he looked at Emery biting down her lower lip.
Stopping just inches from her, his voice dropped down low and got rough as it sent shivers down her spine. “I think you forgot your manners.”
Emery felt her heartbeat getting faster. Even after so many years, he still had that effect on her.
His breath fanned on her skin, and she felt like her whole body was on fire.
“You should know I don’t tolerate disrespect coming from any person around me.”
His hand lightly stroked her bare arm, and instinctively she pushed her body to the other side, causing her to stumble. But before she could fall down on the ground, Darren’s arm snaked around her waist.
Her waist seemed so petite and fragile in his veiny muscular arms.
For a mere moment, she was shocked before she tried to free herself from his steel-like grip.
“Leave me…” She barely managed to get those words out of her mouth.
“Shush…”
He looked at her lips for a good moment, like he wanted to devour her right there. Emery was well aware of his gaze on her lips, so she bit down her lower lip, trying to hide it from his vision.
“Listen to me now and listen well.” He said as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, “I hired you to handle my agreements, not to make them worse. I don’t want to see you going around fighting with any of my girls.”
As soon as she heard that, she felt heat rushing to her face. “Control your girls then. Don’t let them come near me if you don’t want any fights.”
“Mm.. Getting feisty, aren't we?”
His smirk was still there on his face, and it was somehow annoying Emery. She wanted to slap that smirk out of his face.
Emery opened her mouth, ready to snap back with a sharp retort, but Darren’s eyes darkened, and his grip on her waist tightened slightly, making her words catch in her throat.
His expression changed; the teasing glint was now gone, and it was replaced by something much more intense. She felt his fingers dig just a bit harder, reminding her of his strength and his control over her.
"Did I give you permission to speak?" He murmured, his voice deep and almost a growl as he leaned closer. His lips brushed dangerously close to her ear, his words laced with a warning that made her freeze.
She could feel the heat of his breath against her skin, while her pulse quickened against her will.
Emery swallowed hard her as he continued, his voice soft yet commanding. "You seem to have forgotten who you're dealing with." His hand moved up her arm, lingering on her shoulder, pressing just enough for her to feel his dominance. "I don’t care what Camila did or what you think is justified. When I say you’ll behave, you will."
She tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. “I-I wasn’t—” she stammered, but the words died in her throat when he looked down at her with a piercing gaze that left no room for argument. It was like he could see right through her. Every attempt to defy him crumbled under that gaze.
"No excuses," he said, with his hand moving to the small of her back, pulling her even closer. She could feel her knees weaken, the fire in her eyes fading now. “I hired you because I thought you could handle yourself. Prove me right. Or... perhaps you’d like a reminder of what happens when you step out of line?” His words sent a shiver down her spine, and she instinctively looked away, her defiance melting under the force of his authority.
“Okay!” Her voice merely came out.
With that, he let go of her, and Emery wasted no time before she came out of his office, not giving him time to say something anymore.
She directly went towards her car, and as soon as she was inside her car, she let out the breath she was holding in.
Slumping back in her car seat, she covered her face with her hands. “Ahhh, why does my body stop listening to me when he's around?” she muttered.
She could still feel the warmth of his hands and his gaze lingering on her, as if he’d somehow left an imprint on her.
Dropping her hands, she stared out the windscreen, shaking her head. “I let him dominate me again... What is wrong with me?”
Her fingers tapped restlessly on the steering wheel. “When is this going to stop? When am I going to stop letting him get to me like this?”
Igniting the engine, her car was on the road, and soon she parked it outside her modest apartment building.
As she stepped out of the car, she noticed a figure standing near the entrance, partly obscured by the dim light. He was tall, dressed in a plain black suit, his face darkened by the brim of a dark hat. The sight made her curious.
“Miss Hart?” He called her, yet his voice was low.
“Yes?” she replied, unconsciously pulling her coat a bit tighter.
The man approached her, offering a thin black envelope. “A message from the Thornridge family,” he said in a formal tone.
Emery’s eyes narrowed. “From whom specifically?”
He didn’t answer and just pushed the package in front of her. She paused, not knowing what to do, but curiosity won over caution, and she reached out to take it.
The man gave her a polite nod before turning on his heels and walking off.
Her fingers tightened around the envelope as she climbed the stairs to her room.
Once she was inside her apartment, she dropped her bag on a chair. She put the envelope on the small table in her living room, staring at it, still unsure if she should open it or just throw it.
"What if there is a bomb inside?" she asked herself.
After a moment of thinking, she decided to open it anyway. Removing the wax seal, she saw a bundle of papers inside.
Her inside clenched as she recognised the family symbol stamped at the top.
This was indeed from her family.
The first page was a list of assets, with each property named in bold black ink. Her family’s heritage, the assets her father had worked so hard to build.
But certain lines were marked in red ink, each name underlined twice. Her hands clenched as she realised what this meant: properties marked for sale.
Her family’s land, businesses, and even her childhood home were all on this list.
She felt anger rising inside her as she flipped through the pages.
“What is he doing?” She whispered under her breath, her voice breaking.
Her stepbrother was selling off major properties, ones her father had clearly stated were to stay within the family. They weren’t just properties to him; they were symbols of his life’s work, investments he had meant to pass on.
Her eyes landed on the final page, where her family home was named in red as well. That house, where she’d grown up, the place where her father had instilled in her the values she held so dearly, was now just another asset to be sold.
Emery swallowed hard; her vision blurred for a moment as anger and sadness mixed within her. It was one thing for her stepbrother to receive her father’s wealth, but this was intentional sabotage, a destruction of everything her father had built.
“I am really disappointed in you this time, Emery. You have been quite careless with your work for the past few days. I know things have been tough for you but you have to get serious with your work.” Emery’s boss and the senior lawyer of Fortis Legal, Colin Whitaker said to Emery. Looking down at her fingers once, she tried to get a hold of herself. Most of the people already knew who she was and how she was stripped off from her father’s inheritance. Some people pitied her while others were ruthless. “Believe me sir. I have done nothing this time. This article is nothing but a complete fake. Someone must be trying to deliberately slander us.” Emery blurted out. “I know this. But we still can’t deny all the things written in this article. Some of our past clients did get a divorce because of some of the clauses in the contract. So I would still suggest you be vigilant.” Emery nodded her head. Despite all this, she knew in her heart that she disregarded her job. “Don’t worry, sir
Wandering through the room, she tried to find people who would be of any use to her tonight.Soon she spotted a familiar face: Eric Langford, the young and handsome CEO of a top publishing company.Eric’s eyes lit up when he saw her. “Ms. Hart,” he greeted kindly, stepping closer. “It’s been quite a while since I last saw you.”“The feeling’s mutual, Mr. Langford,” Emery answered as she shook his hand.“Eric, please,” he amended with a pleasant smile. “And might I say, you look absolutely stunning tonight.”Emery felt the blush creep up on her cheeks. “Thank you, Eric. You’re too kind.”“Kind, but honest,” he said easily, his eyes never leaving hers. “Would you care to dance?”Her eyes flickered toward the corner of the room, where Darren was deep in talk but still very much aware of her. A part of her hesitated, but then she thought of his earlier order.Behave.Smiling, Emery put her hand in Eric’s. “I’d love to.”As they moved onto the dance floor, Darren’s eyes darkened. His grip
Eric got up from his seat. Giving everyone a fierce glare, he turned around and left from there.Emery had been looking at the scene in front of her quietly all along, but soon the cheers of people around her brought her back to reality. “Striptease! Striptease! Striptease!” Everyone chanted these words like all of them had just won and now wanted a prize. Emery's eyes widened as soon as she realized what they all meant. She looked at Darren helplessly, hoping that he wouldn’t be expecting her to striptease in front of everyone, but seeing the smirk dangling on his lips, she got scared. “What are you waiting for now?” “Hurry up!"Some of the men surrounding them shouted, which triggered Emery, but she calmly replied to them, “The match was between Mr. Harper and Mr. Langford, and it doesn’t concern me in any way.” Darren’s smirk deepened as he took a few steps toward her. “But Miss Hart, the thing was already decided."Emery stepped back, but as she could move further back, Dar
"Go on, then," Darren said in a tone as informal as if they were talking about the weather. But the seriousness of those words was anything but casual.Emery gripped the doorknob tightly, as though it might prevent her from slipping away. She could feel the heat of Darren’s presence behind her, slowly closing the distance between them. Her mind screamed at her to run, but her legs felt like lead.Darren’s footsteps were slow and deliberate, like a predator toying with its prey. Her heart beat faster with each step he took. Him being there made her feel small without trying.He asked Emery, "Where do you think you're going?" He said this in a voice that was dark, funny, and way too calm.Even she could tell she was lying by the way she spoke: "I wasn't going anywhere." Her body was frozen, her pulse pounding, and every sense screamed for her to flee. She tried but failed.Darren stopped just inches away, and she couldn't see anything around her because of how tall he was. He didn't mo
“Come on! Tell already! I want to know all the details. What happened there?” Jenna said excitedly clapping her hands. She looked at Emery with eager eyes sitting in front of her. Emery blinked forcing herself to stop remembering the last night’s scene. “Nothing happened,” Emery replied shortly and tried her best to Jenna pouted, as she didn’t get the answer she wanted, “You’re no fun, Em. Fine, don’t tell me. I will not tell you anything from now on too.” Emery shook her head at her childish nature. "Come on!" Spill already! I want all of the juicy facts. "What happened?" Jenna demanded, almost leaping in her chair.Emery blinked, attempting to break free from the spiral of recollections from the previous night. "Nothing happened," she stated honestly, attempting to appear unconcerned as she sipped her coffee.Jenna rolled her eyes theatrically. "Oh, come on, Emma. You are killing me here. You can't just send cryptic vibes and expect me not to be inquisitive!""I didn't drop an
Darren strolled around his desk, leaning gently against it, arms folded, and gazing at Emery."Forget what Camila said," he added, his voice calm yet firm. "Don't add any of that nonsense to the contract."Emery blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?""I mean, don't mention the villa, the car, or any of her little demands."Leave the prenuptial agreement as is."She stared at him, unsure if he was sincere. "Are you sure?" "Won't she be angry?"Darren shrugged as if it were no big deal. "That is the point. I want her to back out."Emery's eyebrows rose. "Back out? Do you want her to end their engagement?"Exactly." He smirked again, calm and assured. "Emery, you're intelligent. I'm convinced you'll figure out how to make it happen."She hesitated, focussing her gaze on him. "Why should I help you with this? What is in it for me?Darren pushed off the desk and stepped closer till they were nearly face to face. "I understand you want something. Something you've been trying to have
Darren pushed himself a little back as he acting like nothing happened, “Not at all. Come, join us.” Just after saying that Darren turned his attention back to Camila. Emery felt a bit uneasy seeing that as she felt nothing but a mere pawn in the game which Darren was playing. She always tried her best to get what Darren actually wanted but that man was nothing but a puzzle who always forced her in thinking what his next step is going to be. All of them ate their dinner in silence. None of them spoke anything after that. And soon all of them got up from their seats. “Well, I hope Miss Hart is doing what I asked her to do?” Damian raised his eye brows slightly as he said with a wide smirk plastered on his face. Emery forced a professional smile on her face as she replied, “Sure!”Walking out of there she finally let out the breath she was holding in front of those people. Ring…Her phone suddenly rang and she pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket. Victor Blackwood. The na
Emery’s fingers trembled as she grabbed the USB. “Why are you helping me?” The man looked down before he said, “Let’s just say I owed your father, and this is the only way I can repay him. Your brother is hell-bent on ruining the company that your father made with so many sacrifices. Emery knew Nick didn’t have enough potential to run a company, and she knew sooner or later the company would go bankrupt, but one thing she didn’t know was that Nick didn’t just want to make the company bankrupt; instead, he wanted to sell the company.His words hit her like a slap. “What do you mean?”The man ignored her question before saying, “You will see for yourself.”Just as he said that, he moved back and soon vanished from Emery’s sight. Emery went back to her apartment with that USB, and reaching there, she plugged it into her laptop. “I hope it’s nothing too bad.” Her heart was heavy not knowing what was coming ahead of her. Opening her laptop, she saw various files with bank statements,
Under Emery's fingers, the metal handle pulsed, sending a constant, throbbing beat up her arm. It seemed warm, almost alive, as if it were anticipating something. For her. The man in the mask spoke in a quiet voice that was slightly tinged with dread. "Are you certain that you are prepared for this?" Emery remained silent. as she wasn't certain. However, the noble was. His golden eyes flickered with delight as he leaned against the splintering frame with his arms folded. His lips curled into a lazy smirk as he whispered, "Go ahead." Don't claim I didn't warn you, though. She gripped the handle with her fingers. She turned it after that. The world disappeared. She was pulled forward by a gust of wind that ripped through her. Everything was sucked up by the weightless, limitless darkness. She was falling for a short, horrifying minute, her heart pounding in her ears, her air stuck in her lungs, and then— She landed. The air was heavy with laughter and music, and the aro
Before she even considered saying it, Emery's mouth came up with the name. It was waiting there, so sure, so familiar. Pain burned through her skull like a blade slicing right through it the instant it emerged in her consciousness. She shook from the sudden pain and gasped, sinking her fingers into the man's arms. The name escaped, barely within grasp. When she touched him, the man tensed. He strengthened his hold on her, as though preparing for the next move. His face was still expressionless, but there was something more in his keen, dark eyes. "Don't think about me." There was something almost regretful in his quiet voice. Emery's breath caught in his throat. "So why do I?" He didn't respond. There was a shudder in the room. The floor beneath them, the lamp, and the walls all wavered and warped like a water-shattered mirror. The tiny light from the carved symbols pulsed in time with the pounding in her head. It was falling apart here. Or perhaps—reforming. Another
Pain.. Emery was startled awake as it burned through her body like lightning. She inhaled sharply, taking in a breath that was too heavy and thick. There was something metallic and harsh in the air, along with the smell of damp stone and earth. Not in the ballroom. Not the manor. She didn't know of any place. With shaky hands on the uneven ground, she forced herself up. stone. The stone is cold, fractured, and wet. She looked up and realized that everything was wrong. She was surrounded by a ruinous courtyard that was engulfed by growing vines. Above, looming stone walls that had been partially defaced by time. The sky was a deep indigo, eternal twilight that swirled like a living creature and was neither night nor day. It shouldn't be here. The mist coiling at her feet dampened her clothing as she trembled and wrapped her arms around herself. Next came— Footsteps. Go slowly. Measured. approaching from behind. Her heart skipped a beat. anticipating the noble, anti
Before her, the door looms, its surface glistening like liquid silver and pulsing with an almost... living pulse. Between it and the two guys observing her, Emery remains still. The man in the mask remains silent, his fingers moving at his sides as though he is fighting the impulse to grab her. But the noble— A slow applause. Deliberate and slow, the sound cuts through the tension like a razor. She spins around. He is present. His golden eyes shine with laughter as he emerges from the shadows at the ballroom's edge. He appears as majestic and untouchable as ever, dressed in deep crimson, but a sly smile is visible on his lips. "You always believe you have options." Not because of what he says, but because she has heard it before, his voice makes her shiver. The world flickers before she can say anything. similar like a dwindling candle's flame. As if reality itself were unraveling. She glimpses something, someone, for a split second. Here she was again, standing
The air changes as soon as Emery enters the room. Her stomach lurches with a sudden, nauseating lurch. Under her feet, the solid floor vanishes. She dives into the shadows. The wind whips past her ears, engulfing her in a limitless emptiness. Nothing remains of the world she was familiar with, including the ballroom, the nobility, and the man in the mask. But the voices are still there. whispers. Sound waves. She feels as though pieces of a life she doesn't recall are etched into her very being. "You promised me." "You betrayed me." "You were supposed to remember." The words encircle her, drawing and tugging. accusing. Then... Impact. Her air is taken from her lungs by the power of the impact as she hits solid ground. The cold stone under her stands in sharp contrast to the oppressive emptiness she just left, and her vision swirls as she breathes. She remains still for a moment. Then she lifts herself up as the world settles. and gets frozen. This location... It
The air trembles. Ripples rippled through the ballroom like a stone breaking the surface of placid water. Without wind, the chandeliers wobble, the candlelight extending oddly before snapping back into position.Emery stumbles when he steps. The planet itself seems to be opposing her choice. An unseen, relentless force tugs at her, attempting to pull her back. She doesn't stop, though. She won't. Her fingers move in the direction of the man in the mask—in the direction of the unfathomable familiarity in his gaze. She is wrenched backward by a sudden jerk. The noble's icy fingers lock her in place as his grip tightens around her wrist. "You are not his property." He has a soothing, dangerously low voice. She detects something deeper, though, beneath that flawless exterior. Something breaking. The man in the mask only tilts his head and smirks, as though the noble's rage were merely a funny sight. "That's where you're incorrect." His calm, unflinching voice pierced the dis
The music swelled around her, the haunting melody stretching and distorting as if the very air was suffocating under its weight. Emery barely heard it over the ragged gasps of the masked man in her arms. His blood—warm, slick—painted her hands in vivid red.“No,” she whispered, shaking him. “No, no, stay with me—”His masked face tilted toward her, but the eyes behind it—those familiar, aching eyes—were already losing their light. His fingers curled weakly around her wrist, gripping as if he had one final thing to tell her.But before he could speak, the world shattered.The ballroom cracked like glass. The chandeliers flickered violently, their golden glow twisting into something cold and unnatural. The guests—laughing, drinking, dancing—froze in place, their bodies flickering like mirages. Reality itself was coming apart at the seams.A sickening déjà vu coiled in Emery’s stomach. She had done this before. She had watched him die before.And every time, the noble had been standing t
Between them, Emery remained still. One man gazed upon her with pride, his assurance unflinching, as though she had always been his. Something deeper—longing, anger, something unsaid but indisputable—was there in the other's eyes as he regarded her. She was unsure if which frightened her more. With effortless ease, the noble reached for her hand and lifted it. His lips lightly but possessively brushed over her knuckles. He whispered, "I'll remind you why you're mine." She couldn't tell if the chill that went through her body was from fear or familiarity. She was yanked away by a powerful pull before she could react. The man in the mask. His hold was dominant but protective, powerful but not harsh. With a stiff stance and a presence that begged to be recognized, he moved between her and the nobility. He replied in a low, sour voice, "She doesn't belong in this time." "And you don't either." The noble's smirk wavered for the first time. Emery's heart was racing. She ough
When he raised her chin and made her look into his eyes, Emery's breath caught. Around them, the ballroom dimmed into a haze of flickering shadows and candlelight.His dark, unending eyes scanned hers, eager, almost desperate."Prove it if you are really mine," he said, lightly brushing his fingertip across her jawline.In her ears, her pulse thundered.She wasn't his.Aurelia wasn't her.Nevertheless, she felt a shudder that was all too familiar due to the weight of his touch and the way his breath slipped over her lips. Too well-known.Reason struggled with her heart.She ought to push him away. Demand responses. Run.However, another factor took over.A pull, stronger than reason, stronger than terror. It felt like it should have been hers, yet it was a whisper from the past.Her lips touched his before she had a chance to think.A gentle, inquisitive squeeze of warmth.Then there was a surge.Like a tsunami, it crashed into her. As though they had always been buried in the marrow