Bonus chapter. :)
Christmas Eve was so tiring, Emmeline made all the food on her own, not coming out of the kitchen since began.Her house was crowded with guests at eight o'clock- her parents, Richard's parents, her older brother and his wife. Fortunately, his two brothers didn't come, otherwise the house would have turned into a barn with their four children combined.Emmeline received them in a red dress, short but not tight, with long sleeves, under which she was wearing the underwear she had chosen for her rendezvous with Zavian.Everyone finally cleared out around midnight after the Christmas Eve party.Richard had knocked back way too many drinks and was totally plastered. When Emmeline told him she was heading out, he just gave a sloppy wave goodbye, not really registering what she said.Emmeline threw on a long black coat over her festive red dress and headed for the door.As soon as she arrived at the docks, her eyes were drawn to Zavian's yacht, twinkling with silvery lights scattered along i
Emmeline chuckled, taking another sip of her own wine before setting the glass down and changing the subject. "Tell me about your family. Is the study of law hereditary for you? Or are you the rebellious one who decided to take it up on your own?"She stuffed her mouth greedily with more meat and chewed loudly, not caring about manners in her ravenous state while Zavian meticulously cut his portion into neat slices."Are your parents alive?" Emmeline asked another question when the first one was left answered.Zavian shook his head slowly, his expression somber. "My mother died giving birth to me and my father passed before her."Emmeline immediately lowered her head in regret, cursing her own thoughtless stupidity for bringing up such a sensitive topic. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked that."An awkward silence reigned over their intimate meal, the only sounds being their forks scraping against the plates.When they finally finished the last bites of the delicious dinner, Zavian
Emmeline gladly took the glove from him and carefully slid it on his large hand, her small fingers caressing his skin as she worked it into place. But to her dismay, the fingers were slightly too short for his long digits."Oh my god, why won't it fit properly?" she fretted, biting her lip anxiously as she tugged fruitlessly at the wool.Zavian chuckled at her reaction. "How could you possibly misjudge the length of my fingers when they've been inside you so many times, exploring every inch of you?" he teased shamelessly.Emmeline looked up at him helplessly, feeling at a complete loss for words. "Something must have gone wrong in the sizing. I can't believe I messed this up!" She released his hand and covered her burning face with her palms. "I'm so sorry Mr. Blackthorn. I thought it would be perfect but I ruined everything." Her voice trembled as she fought back sobs of frustration.She would have broken into tears right then and there if Zavian hadn't tenderly pulled her into his mu
Just when Emmeline started to regret bringing it up, he finally spoke in a toneless voice. "Abortion!"“What?” Emmeline was certain she must have misheard.Zavian turned to face her, his expression utterly blank. "She got pregnant again but got rid of it."Emmeline instantly recoiled, pulling her arm free from his and brought her fingers up to cover her mouth in shock. "I can't believe Yuna would do something so heinous as to...to kill her own child!" she exclaimed."You don't know her very well then." Zavian's voice remained frighteningly calm though his eyes flashed with anger.Emmeline quickly drained the last of her wine, trying to process this horrific revelation. Setting the empty glass down on the table, she met his gaze with pity. "Can you tell me exactly what happened?"Zavian closed the photo album and set it aside on the couch with a weary sigh. Then he crossed his muscular forearms over his chest as he began to recount the painful memory."Three years after I lost my daught
Zavian immediately stilled, freezing in place as if turned to stone. Then he jerked back just far enough to meet Emmeline's eyes, his expression one of utter shock and disbelief as though her unexpected confession had simultaneously doused his burning ardor with a bucket of ice water while also inflaming it to unbearable new heights."What?" The single word escaped his lips in a hoarse rasp, disbelief written all over his chiseled features.His broad chest was still heaving with labored breaths from their heated make-out session just moments before. However, the crease between his furrowed brows was one of utter confusion and something akin to denial.Emmeline's mouth went completely dry from the sudden, dramatic shift in atmosphere between them. Her tongue suddenly felt like lead, unable to find any saliva to moisten her parched throat.An uncomfortable lump formed in her chest, making it difficult to breathe.She kept silent for a few long, agonizing moments while they simply stared
Zavian's hands found their way to Emmeline's waist, his touch as soft as a lover's caress. His breath, however, was anything but tender. It hit her face like a gust of wind on a stormy night.He moved closer, brushing his nose against hers in an intimate gesture that make her body tingle."Do you have any idea how many sleepless nights I've spent?" he murmured. "How I couldn’t ignore what could be happening between you and your worthless excuse for a husband?"His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her body flush against his with his lips hovering dangerously close to her skin but refrained from making contact."I've told you time and again about the rage your situation stirs within me," Zavian whispered into the shell of her ear - words that set her heart pounding. "You should have done something to ease my mind."Emmeline’s hands instinctively fell on his chest, surrendering completely to him… under his breath playing havoc with her senses, causing her heart to falter erraticall
"Divorce that scumbag!" Zavian stated without preamble.His words sent shock waves ricocheting through Emmeline’s body.Her eyes widened until she felt they would surely pull out of their sockets with her mouth falling open in a soundless gasp of disbelief as she struggled to process what he'd just said."What?" she finally managed to choke out, shaking her head in stunned denial as if to clear her ears.Emmeline opened her mouth again, fully intending to unleash a torrent of questions, of demands for clarification and explanation. But Zavian silenced her by pressing his index finger to her lips in a commanding gesture, his expression one of deadly seriousness that brooked no argument or interruption."If you can provide the court with documentation proving the marriage was never consummated despite all this time, the ruling will undoubtedly be in your favor,” he explained in a low, intense tone that seemed to reverberate through her very bones with the weight of his conviction. “You w
Zavian traced a gentle path along her lips, sending a wave of numbness radiating through her body as heat pooled low in her belly.The hardness of him pressed against her softness stirred a whirlwind of anticipation within."You've dressed yourself up for me tonight and it's been pure torture since the moment I laid eyes on you." He paused, drawing in a breath as if he were fighting off an insatiable hunger. "It's like seeing a feast laid out before you when you're starving."Zavian leaned closer until their faces were mere inches apart. His lips brushed against her cheek, planting moist kisses that tasted of sin and decadence. "I can't let your efforts go to waste," he said with a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That wouldn't be very gentlemanly of me now, would it?"Emmeline traced her hand over the hard planes of his chest, causing him to pause mid-kiss and look into her eyes with an intensity that made her heart flutter wildly in her chest."Who told you I'm still waitin
The folder trembled in Emmeline’s unsteady hands. "You want me to meet Richard and threaten to expose him?" Her voice quivered. "On my own?"Zavian’s fingers pressed into her shoulders. "My knowledge of your ex-husband tells me he won't stand against this card we're about to play. He'll give up the lawsuit without hesitation, despite his lawyer's advice to the contrary."Emmeline shook her head, fear evident in every movement. "I can't sit before him alone and blackmail him with a secret he's kept from everyone. He won't take this lying down." Panic crept into her voice, making it shake. "He'll kill me."Zavian bent closer until his warm breath caressed her face. "You have me, little girl. He wouldn't dare hurt you knowing that." His voice dropped to a hoarse whisper. "We have to exploit his weakness to our advantage."Emmeline searched for moisture in her bone-dry throat. "Do you think we can't win against him in court without forcing him to concede?""Of course we can defeat Richard
Emmeline rolled her eyes and dropped her hands from his face. "You don't need to remind me every time as if I'm always trying to seduce you. I understand my virginity is necessary to win the court case, and after my meeting with Yuna today, I couldn't possibly do anything to ruin myself."Zavian’s hand settled on her head and ruffled her hair with patronizing affection. "Good girl.""Don't treat me like I'm a little girl," Emmeline protested, knitting her brows together in frustration.The age gap between them had always been a sensitive topic, one that Yuna never failed to bring up during their confrontations.Zavian's warmth disappeared as he stepped away, moving toward the yacht's door with grace.His expensive shoes clicked against the deck. "You are my little girl.” He smirked. "Let's go for a ride. The scenery might lift your mood."Emmeline’s earlier irritation melted away, replaced by genuine excitement. The prospect of spending time with him on the water always had this effec
Emmeline drew in a sharp, shuddering breath."Neither Yuna nor anyone else can destroy me!" The words erupted from Zavian's throat, each syllable carved with steel-edged conviction. His jaw clenched and his muscles there ticked with barely anger. "If you believe her words, then you don't know me at all, little one."Warmth bloomed across Emmeline's tear-stained cheeks.Zavian palms cupped her face. His thumbs traced gentle paths across her skin, catching the tears that continued to fall despite his tender ministrations. The contrast between his fierce words and gentle touch made her heart flutter."She targets you because you're the easiest mark in her eyes," his eyes darkened with protective fury. "I won't let her harm you. Do you understand what I'm saying, Emmeline?"Their gazes locked, and Emmeline felt herself drowning in the depths of his eyes. Even through the tempest of her emotions, she found an anchor in his unwavering stare.The intensity radiating from him was quintessenti
The journey to the port stretched endlessly, yet Emmeline barely registered the passing scenery. Thoughts of Zavian consumed her. He was the only one who could steady her, the only one who could make her feel safe.The soft hum of the yacht’s engine greeted her when Emmeline arrived.She stepped aboard without hesitation, moving with urgency, as if time itself threatened to slip away from her grasp.Zavian’s tall and commanding figure was standing with his back to the door when Emmeline reached the deck.His hands were tucked into the pockets of his slacks and his posture deceptively relaxed. However, Emmeline knew him well enough to see the tension in his shoulders that betrayed his thoughts.“Mr. Blackthorn.” Her voice cracked with emotions.Zavian turned sharply at the sound. His striking features tightened with concern once he saw the state she was in."Little—" His words died in his throat as Emmeline launched herself at him. The impact nearly threw him off balance.Her arms wrap
Emmeline's gaze drifted away from Yuna to a random corner of the coffee shop, where a young couple sat sharing a dessert. Their happiness contrasted with the scene unfolding at her table."I pitied you at first because no one deserves betrayal," she confessed softly, watching the condensation trail down the window. "But my desires were stronger. I used to curse myself after every sin... until I committed one far worse."A sigh escaped Emmeline's lips as she returned her gaze to Yuna's eyes."I’m not a thief," Emmeline’s self-confidence grew stronger with each word. "I did not steal your husband from you because his heart no longer belongs to you. I didn't snatch him from your bosom - he deserted it long ago. I merely crept into the fractures that you created." The words tasted bitter on her tongue, but they carried the weight of truth she could no longer deny.Yuna’s grip tightened around her coffee cup. “Even if you rehearsed your stories together, they wouldn’t match this perfectly.
Emmeline’s thoughts drifted to Zavian, who had left with Yuna earlier. The image of them walking away together haunted her mind. Her fingers moved across the screen almost unconsciously."Where are you now?"The minutes ticked by without response, each passing moment heightening her anxiety. The silence felt deafening in her room as she watched the unchanging screen. Her desperation seeped through after what felt like an eternity."It's been half an hour since we parted, is it possible that you two are still together?" Emmeline sent another message.Her forehead creased as she stared at the unchanging screen. A bitter realization struck her, prompting another message:"What are you two talking about?"The absurdity of her own actions hit her suddenly. She tossed the phone aside and rolled on her back with fresh tears spilling down her temples."Of course, they're talking about her finding out about us. What else could it be?" Her voice was a fragile whisper, barely breaking the silenc
Emmeline caught a glimpse of Richard’s face through the tinted glass of his BMW as he also peeled away from the courthouse. His smug and self-satisfied smile made her stomach turn."Despicable!" she cursed under her breath. The word seemed inadequate to describe the magnitude of her contempt, but it was all she could manage without breaking down completely.Silence descended on the remaining trio, heavy and oppressive."Are you going to tell me why Mrs. Blackthorn seems to hate you so much?" Emile's question broke the quiet. "Why would she defend Richard after everything she knows about him?" His eyes darted between Emmeline and Brody, searching for answers in their expressions.Emmeline drew a shaky breath. "There's no enmity between us," she murmured. "At least, not that I know of."A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "Maybe she's hated me all along, and I've been too blind to see it."Brody's gaze bore into her, sharp and calculating. "I think there's more to this than you're letting
"Yuna is indeed Richard's lawyer!" Emmeline’s voice cracked, denial weighing down every syllable.She tightened her grip on the strap of her bag so tightly her trembling fingers dug into the leather. It was the only thing keeping her grounded in this moment that felt more like a nightmare than reality.Zavian’s head snapped toward her in disbelief. "What the fuck?" The curse came low and rough, like a growl from deep in his chest.His jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles in his neck stood out.Brody tilted his head slightly as his sharp gaze flicked between them. "Didn’t she tell you she’s defending Richard?" His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it.Zavian let out a bitter laugh—one short and humorless. "Looks like I’m the last one to know." He spoke in a chilly tone.His hands curled into fists at his sides, the veins in his forearms standing out as he fought to keep his anger in check.Emmeline opened her mouth to respond, but Zavian’s attention suddenly shifted.His enti
Yuna’s face darkened and her teeth ground audibly.“Let’s move on to the best part of the recording.” Brody tapped the screen once more before she could protest."The pain I've put you through is nothing compared to the consequences you'll face once I'm free from this place," Richard's voice slithered through the room, venomous and chilling.All eyes turned to Richard, whose face had gone pale. His lips parted, but no words came out.Brody’s expression was sharp with mockery. “Care to explain to us exactly what kind of torment you put her through?”Richard’s hands trembled. “I meant… well, actually…” His words stumbled over each other, collapsing into an awkward silence.Richard looked at Yuna in desperation when his tongue failed him, silently begging for assistance. Despite the damning evidence Brody had just presented, Yuna’s expression remained composed and as solid as stone.“Torture,” Yuna began smoothly, “can mean many things. My client’s words in the recording are vague at bes