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Zavian’s eyelids lowered slowly.“With pleasure!” he groaned.With that, his lips met hers hungrily.Their lips moved together in a dance of passion and desire, while allowing their eyes to flutter closed, surrendering to the sinful feeling that coursed through them.His hands found their way to the curve of her waist and pressed her against his painfully hard erection.The tender kiss morphed into something more heated, more passionate.The silence of the room was broken by their ragged breaths and muffled sounds of pleasure.Emmeline's hands traced patterns on his chest and Zavian pressed against her waist with equal fervor.His left hand squeezed her backside and she let out a soft groan, opening up for him further.Their lips remained locked until breathing became too difficult for Emmeline.Zavian finally broke away from the kiss and looked at her with predatory eyes that made her heart race even faster than before."Would you like me to join you in the tub?" he asked.Emmeline br
Emmeline complied eagerly, her heart pounding in her chest at the reality of their situation."What about your wife?" she asked suddenly. "What if she comes looking for you?""You just remembered I have a wife? Where was that concern a few moments ago?” Zavian’s response was laced with a hint of sarcasm.“I… I don’t know. But she could…”“She won’t,” he assured her, his fingers tracing small circles along her waist. “And if she did, I wouldn’t care.”Emmeline separated his arm from her waist, lifting his wrist to her mouth. “Do you want your precious wife to become our unwanted audience?” she whispered with a grin, lightly kissing his wrist.Zavian let out a low groan at the sensation her lips invoked. “You’re trouble, Emmeline,” he said with humor, but there was something deeper, a glint of melancholy lacing his words.“What you see isn’t always the truth. Some people… well, things behind closed doors are different.” His cryptic words hung in the air.Emmeline searched his face, tryin
Zavian strode out of the bathroom, leaving Emmeline behind as he made his way to his rarely used room next door.His strides were heavy and purposeful like a man on a mission, heading straight for his main bedroom on the top floor.The warmth that had been in his eyes mere moments ago while with Emmeline had vanished, replaced by a frosty, dangerous glint. The aura radiating from him now was the complete opposite of the harmonious energy that had dominated their intimate bathroom encounter.The heavy mahogany door to his bedroom burst open without him even needing to touch it.The person inside immediately dropped to their knees, head bowed in submission.Luca was visibly trembling, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. He knew this moment was coming - the time to receive his punishment for the mistake he had made the previous night."Master," Luca began hesitantly. "I'm here to receive punishment for my mistake." His voice was laced with trepidation.Zavian's expression wa
The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the villa.The warmth of the room and the comfort of the bed had wrapped around her, soothing her into a deep, restful sleep last night. For the first time in a long while, the weight of her worries felt just a little bit lighter.Everyone had left for work, except for Emmeline. She tossed and turned in bed until noon, boredom gnawing at her restless mind. Suddenly, an idea struck her – a way to alleviate the monotony of her day.Cursing herself inwardly, yet unable to resist the temptation, Emmeline found herself drawn to Zavian’s room. It was the same room where Zavian had given her her first taste of ecstasy. Its walls were a light gray hue, save for the one that hugged his bed – that one was as dark as the man himself.Emmeline lay on Zavian's bed, staring up at the ceiling. Moments later, she rolled over onto her stomach and reached for the bedside table, curiosity getting the better of her."Let's see what's o
Emmeline took a step closer, reducing the distance between them and burying her index in his chest, hissing. "I raise my voice as I like and in the face of whoever I want. How did you manage to mess with my feelings, Mr. Blackthorn?"Zavian grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand off his chest in annoyance. "You're being dramatic."He squeezed her wrist with his fist until her face shrank in pain. "I didn’t expect you to misinterpret my treatment of you as stemming from feelings, especially since I told you clearly and more than once that love isn’t my specialty."Emmeline lowered her head, unwilling to let him see the tears that had gathered in her eyes. "How can I not misunderstand you when you give me everything I need, and even take me into your house to protect me from my violent husband?"Zavian released her wrist with a tight sigh. "I thought you needed a distraction."Emmeline’s thoughts centered around her own brokenness. When she checked her actions, she realized she was wrong
Emmeline hated the disappointed, almost wistful tone her voice had taken right at the end - like she'd somehow built up all these unrealistic expectations around Zavian.What had she been thinking? This was just a messy situation she'd allowed herself to get tangled up in, nothing more.Flopping facedown on the bed, she grabbed her phone off the nightstand and was surprised to see three missed calls from Richard.She must have left it on silent earlier, because it hadn't made a sound. Figures that controlling prick would already be blowing up her phone, trying to reassert his dominance.Emmeline swallowed hard, steeling herself when his name flashed across the screen again before answering in a cold tone. "What do you want?""What nonsense is Mr. Blackthorn spouting? What's this about you not leaving his house until I apologize in front of everyone? Has that guy lost his damn mind or what?" Richard's shouts exploded so loudly from the speaker that she instinctively pulled the phone awa
Emmeline crumpled to the grass, hugging her knees to her chest as she stared unseeingly into the distance.She didn't even register the presence beside her until a warm cardigan was draped over her shoulders.She looked up to find none other than Zavian towering before her. "Are you alright?" The worry swimming in his deep eyes made her heart pound erratically all over again."I saw you arguing heatedly with someone on the phone. Who was the caller?"Emmeline recalled the harsh words they'd exchanged earlier that afternoon. Thus, she shrugged off the jacket, letting it pool in his lap. "I don't think it's any of your business, Mr. Blackthorn. Who am I to you that you'd come down here specifically to check on me?"She made to stand up but Zavian wrapped the soft cardigan snugly around her shoulders again, the weight of his hands pinning her in place. "I told you I care about you. And what happened between us this afternoon doesn't change that - you'll just have to live with my concern
Emmeline kept her chin up as Richard finally stormed into view, her lips twitching despite herself at the sight of his black eye peeking out from under the bandage."Good evening, everyone," he greeted tightly.The others merely inclined their heads in curt acknowledgment, refusing to be swayed by his feigned niceties as his glare zeroed in on Emmeline."Did you really have to go so far as to punish me like this, Emmeline?" he asked in a deliberately defeated tone, clearly hoping to garner their pity. "I called you so many times after our...disagreement this afternoon. I was hoping to find you home when I returned. But despite my begging, you showed me no mercy."His pathetic attempt to turn them against Emmeline failed miserably.Zavian stared him down with undisguised disdain. "You think a simple phone call apology is enough to make up for what you did yesterday? That is, if you even truly apologized at all like you claim!"Richard tugged at his slacks nervously. "I'm sorry for the..
Emmeline bit her lower lip. She struggled to maintain her composure as all eyes in the courtroom focused on her.The weight of their collective gaze felt physical."No," she said finally firmly despite the storm of emotions churning inside her. "I didn't feel angry. I expected him to refuse."Yuna's lips curled into a sly smile that didn't reach her eyes. She paced slowly in front of the witness stand confidently, unlike Emmeline who could feel herself wilting under the pressure."Have you been faithful to your husband, Mrs. Maine?" Yuna delivered the question with precision, knowing exactly where to cut deepest.The question almost knocked the air out of Emmeline’s lungs. Her hands trembled slightly as she placed them on the polished wood of the witness stand, fingers splaying out as if seeking something solid to anchor her.The courtroom seemed to hold its collective breath, waiting for her answer."Yes," Emmeline replied, though her voice wavered just enough to plant seeds of doubt
The courtroom was packed to the brim when they entered and the air felt heavy with tension. Every whisper, every rustle of paper seemed amplified in the charged atmosphere.Emmeline followed Brody inside. Each step down the center aisle required deliberate concentration as her legs felt heavier than cast iron."Just breathe," Brody murmured, barely audible as they made their way forward. "Remember what we practiced."Emmeline nodded slightly, focusing on placing one foot in front of the other.The weight of dozens of eyes tracking her movement made her skin prickle with discomfort. She felt like an actress who'd forgotten her lines, thrust onto a stage with a hostile audience.In the gallery behind them, Minnie reached for Taehyung's hand as they settled into their seats."Do you think she'll be okay?" Minnie whispered while her eyes never left Emmeline's rigid back.Taehyung squeezed her fingers gently. "She's stronger than she looks."On the left side of the room, Richard's parents
Emmeline pivoted slowly to see Yuna walking toward them with measured steps, her high heels striking the marble floor with precise clicks.Richard trailed close behind, his expression a carefully constructed mask of innocence that made Emmeline's stomach turn.Yuna's charcoal gray suit spoke of authority and professionalism, her hair pulled back in a severe bun that emphasized the sharp angles of her face. She carried her briefcase like a weapon and her knuckles white around the handle."How can you defend someone like him?" Minnie's voice turned cold. The warmth from moments ago completely vanished.Yuna's eyes narrowed. She stopped before them and her lips curled into something too sharp to be called a smile. "How can you stand beside someone like her?"Minnie's face fell, momentarily stunned by Yuna's sharp words. The two women had once been friends, part of the same social circle, but the current divide between them seemed unbridgeable.Yuna's gaze shifted to Emmeline. "I bet you
The day of the hearing arrived with alarming speed as though time had compressed itself, rushing Emmeline toward the confrontation she both dreaded and needed.She stood in front of her bedroom mirror, adjusting the beige suit she had chosen carefully for the occasion. The jacket fit perfectly across her shoulders, the short skirt looked professional without being severe and the crisp white shirt underneath added a touch of simplicity.Emmeline tied her hair back into a neat ponytail. Though her reflection looked composed, her heart raced beneath like a frightened bird seeking escape.She applied a light touch of makeup, not to enhance her features but to mask the evidence of sleepless nights and worried days."You can do this," she whispered to her reflection, drawing strength from the woman staring back at her. "You've survived worse."Emile waited in the living room when Emmeline emerged from her room. Eleanor and her father were conspicuously absent, having made their disapproval c
Brody accompanied Emmeline to her previous residence the following day. This was the apartment she had lived in before moving to the house where Richard's abuse had escalated to its breaking point—a stepping stone in their married life that now felt like it belonged to another lifetime entirely.The familiar streets brought back earlier memories, some pleasant but many tinged with the growing shadows of what her marriage would become. The mid-rise apartment building stood before them, unremarkable and ordinary, belying the pain that had begun within its walls."Are you ready for this?" Brody asked quietly as they approached the entrance.Emmeline drew in a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. "As ready as I'll ever be."The lobby smelled exactly as she remembered—a curious blend of cleaning products and the faint mustiness that seemed inherent to older buildings. The elevator ride to the third floor passed in silence, each floor chime marking their ascent like a countdown.When they re
Emmeline sank on her bed, The mattress dipped beneath her weight as tears finally escaped, streaming down her face in silent rivers.She made no attempt to wipe them away, allowing them to fall unchecked on the bedspread."You have to go back to your husband and apologize!" Eleanor's insistent voice was growing hoarse from the extended tirade. "The two families need each other. Think about it for the sake of your family!"Emmeline shuddered at the thought. Her arms wrapped around herself as if seeking protection from an invisible threat."I can't imagine what he'd do to me if I went back," Emmeline murmured, genuine fear threading through the quiet words.Eleanor paced the corridor like a caged animal. Each step seemed to punctuate her growing frustration."This isn't just about you," she hissed, stopping abruptly to glare at her daughter’s door. "Your father's business partnership with Richard's family has been in place for decades. Do you have any idea what your little... overreactio
The drive home was uneventful, giving Emmeline time to prepare herself for what awaited.The peace she had felt in Zavian's presence began to unravel with each mile she drove, like a sweater coming undone one stitch at a time. By the time she pulled into her family's driveway, her shoulders had tensed and her jaw had tightened in anticipation.Emmeline's apprehension proved justified the moment she stepped through the front door.Eleanor sat waiting in the living room, her posture rigid like a statue and her expression as stormy as a thundercloud about to burst.The morning light filtering through the curtains did nothing to soften her mother's harsh features or the disapproval radiating from her in palpable waves."Good morning, Mom," Emmeline greeted, forcing a polite tone despite the knot forming in her stomach. She closed the door behind her with a soft click, the sound unnaturally loud in the tension-filled room.Eleanor shot up from the couch like a spring released. Her movement
Emmeline's appetite vanished instantly, replaced by a knot of anxiety that settled in the pit of her stomach.She carefully set down her utensils, the soft clink against porcelain sounding unnaturally loud in the sudden tension."Bad news?" Emmeline asked hesitantly. She searched his face for clues, finding his expression uncharacteristically difficult to read.Zavian's gaze dropped to their joined hands and his fingers tightened slightly around hers.The gentle pressure felt both reassuring and concerning, like a doctor holding a patient's hand before delivering difficult news."I won't be presiding over your assault hearing," Zavian stated quietly, brushing over her knuckles in small, soothing circles.The words hit Emmeline, knocking the air from her lungs. Her heart seemed to stutter in her chest before resuming at double speed.The kitchen suddenly felt colder despite the heating."What?" She whispered, trembling with disbelief and the first stirrings of panic. "But you promised..
Emmeline's brows furrowed slightly in confusion, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features.Zavian's expression softened immediately, and he offered her a gentle smile that eased her momentary worry."Not the kind of promise you're thinking, little one," he murmured, reaching up to brush a wayward strand of hair from her face with unexpected tenderness.The casual intimacy of the gesture contrasted with the intensity of moments before."I meant what I said," Zavian stated. "I'll stay out of your way until you get your damned divorce. No surprises, no complications."Emmeline exhaled. The tension that had been building in her shoulders eased slightly. However, her brows quickly drew together as she fixed him with a pointed look."You scared me," her voice carried a hint of reproach despite the lingering breathlessness.Zavian's lips twitched into a mischievous smirk. Without warning, he reached out and lightly pinched the tip of her nose between his thumb and index finger."Are you