Bonus chapter
The hot water lapped against Emmeline’s shoulders, its warmth seeping into her stiff muscles and coaxing her into a state of blissful relaxation. She leaned back, her eyelids fluttering shut as a lethargic haze settled over her.“I’m so sleepy,” she murmured dreamily. “Is it okay if I take a little nap here?”“The place is not for sleeping, Mrs. Maine.” Her moment of peace was interrupted by a deep, unmistakably annoyed voice.Emmeline’s eyes snapped open to find Zavian staring at her, his sharp features betraying his irritation.The intensity of his gaze made her sit up a little straighter, her drowsiness forgotten.“Did you bring appropriate clothes for New Year’s Eve?” Minnie's lively voice broke the ice before it could become too long.Yuna offered a faint smile. “I picked out one of my dresses. My husband’s all ready for the evening, too.”She turned her attention to Emmeline, curiosity lighting up her face. “What about you?”Emmeline forced a smile, trying to match Yuna’s enthusi
An involuntary moan escaped Emmeline's lips the second they united with Zavian's in a passionate kiss. It was low, but surely everyone heard the telltale sound, perhaps dismissing it as just a normal sniffle not worth complaining about.Zavian caught her lower lip between his and sucked it once with a sigh of exertion, quickly returning to capture her upper lip as if he wanted to sip her mouth mouthful by delicious mouthful before deepening the kiss further.Emmeline was confused about where to put her hands, needing to grab onto something. In the end, she folded her arms around his shoulders and tilted her head, her lips moving in harmony with his.Zavian was the one in control. Under the water, his hands openly danced up and down her waist while his hot breath scorched her flesh.A stillness had fallen over the place, broken only by the sounds of their muffled groaning.Zavian’s hands crept down to grip her ass cheeks firmly… without a care for the onlookers, giving them a squeeze th
Minnie quickly tried to defuse the tension. "Yuna could have volunteered to kiss you instead of her husband, Emmeline. You don't have to feel guilty, and she doesn't have to be angry. Heck, if I were her, I'd definitely kiss you over my husband!"Taehyung hissed furiously at his wife's remark. "Are you a lesbian or something?"Minnie blinked at him innocently. "No, I'm just Thai."He tightened his arm around her shoulders possessively, pulling her into his chest. "As if I'd ever let you kissing another woman."A smile crept across Emmeline's lips at their cute couple's quarrel.Yuna quickly caught her attention again with a dismissive wave. "I'm not angry with anyone. I may be a career-obsessed woman, but I can certainly distinguish between mere fun and something truly serious."When the heated atmosphere had calmed down a bit, Emmeline finally rose from her lover's lap.Zavian's hands slowly trailed down her waist, reluctant to let go until the distance between their bodies widened."
Minnie tenderly cupped handfuls of water, using it to caress her husband's reddened shoulders. "I think I've had enough of this game for now. My poor husband, the apple of my eye, is going to catch his death from my overzealousness."Richard grabbed Emmeline's arm forcefully, pulling her up to stand with him. "No need to linger if they're all leaving. We won’t take too long getting changed."Minnie grunted a vague response before they departed.Emmeline and Richard parted ways in front of the changing rooms, leaving her to awkwardly shuffle inside and find Yuna already seated, clad only in her underwear.Everyone had emerged from the hot spring area except Minnie, who stayed behind to tend to her husband.Emeline approached the spot where she'd left her bag. “Minnie will be a few minutes behind,” she spoke awkwardly."Taehyung needs some time to recover after that ridiculous challenge he foolishly agreed to." Yuna answered calmly, putting on her pants.Emmeline swallowed nervously when
The restaurant was situated in a different wing of the resort, so they didn't need transportation to get there.They sat around a window table and dined quietly for a while until Minnie brightly recounted one of her memories."We spent New Year's Eve last year at my family's resort in Thailand. When we went to the restaurant for dinner, this charming young man kept staring over at our table. My husband thought I was the one he had his eye on, so he went over to warn the guy off."Taehyung gave Minnie's chair a firm kick, the sound of his foot connecting cutting her off abruptly. "Enough of that story, Minnie!"Minnie looked over at her husband before bursting into laughter. "But he ended up flirting with Taehyung instead and asked for his number!"Everyone else at the table joined in the laughter, except for Taehyung whose ears burned red with embarrassment and Zavian who remained calm."He told Tae he was too beautiful to be wasting his time dating women and should seriously consider
Emmeline jutted out her lower lip in a pout. "I'm not really one for surprises. My mind will drive itself crazy guessing until I'm too worked up to even enjoy it anymore."She furrowed her brows and folded her arms across her chest. "The word 'surprise' gets me so keyed up that I end up losing my enthusiasm entirely."Zavian sighed heavily, removing his hand from her neck. "Women!"Before she could retort, the watch on his wrist caught her eye and she eagerly grabbed his hand. "Isn't this the watch I gave you for Christmas?"Zavian glanced down at it absentmindedly. "I haven't lost another one since you gave me this. If I get bored of seeing it on my wrist every day, you can give me a new one for Valentine's Day."He looked back at her face and was startled to see tears welling up in her eyes. He cupped her cheek and ran his hand over its smooth flesh. "Emmeline? Are you about to cry, love?"Emmeline tilted her head back, rapidly blinking away the moisture. "You're the reason I want to
"I thought the surprise was over?" Came Emmeline’s curious voice.Zavian settled in front of the window with her coming to stand at his side.The sky outside was dark and clouded, but not for long because fireworks began lighting it up in brilliant bursts of color the next second."Fireworks!" Emmeline said in disbelief, turning to Zavian. "I thought I'd missed the show when I went to meet you in the hallway!"Zavian looked at her teary eyes with mixed emotions. "There's always something special waiting for you with me."A smile curved Emmeline’s lips. She turned back to the window, watching as the Fireworks continued to explode across the sky with their vibrant hues shattering the darkness. "It's breathtaking," she breathed.The crackling booms of the fireworks outside were deafening, the vibrant bursts of color painting the night sky in an array of breathtaking hues.Zavian's arm draped possessively around Emmeline's shoulders, tucking her snugly against his side as they watched the
Emmeline returned to the gathering, her composure carefully maintained after stashing the roses beneath her bed, hiding the secret that no one could suspect and fixing her makeup.Everyone accepted her excuse of feeling unwell without question, blissfully unaware of the forbidden tension crackling just beneath the surface.She sank into the chair across from Yuna and Minnie, who were deep in conversation.The night wore on, the three of them downing martinis as if the alcohol could wash away their troubles.Yuna, clearly more affected by the drinks than anyone else, sighed heavily and let her head fall back against the chair. "It's been so long since I let myself get drunk like this," she muttered in a voice thick with the weight of unspoken emotions.Emmeline glanced at her briefly but remained silent, her gaze flickering instead toward Zavian across the room. He was leaning against the bar, exuding the dark, magnetic energy that always seemed to draw her in.She ignored Yuna's rambli
Brody’s attention shifted to Yuna with an almost predatory focus. The slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth suggested he knew exactly how damaging the doctor's testimony had been to the prosecution's case.Yuna’s frustration was evident in both her expression and the defeated slump of her shoulders. The case that had seemed so straightforward was unraveling before her eyes, and there was little she could do to stop it.After Dr. Ross was escorted out, Brody moved to the center of the courtroom with confident strides.He stood facing the three-judge panel, reflecting complete confidence in his position that lent him an almost theatrical presence as he prepared to deliver his argument."From what the doctor said, we can safely conclude that the marriage of the two parties was not consummated.” His voice carried easily through the hushed courtroom, commanding attention from every corner.He gestured briefly toward Emmeline, drawing all eyes to her momentarily before continuing
The courtroom remained utterly silent as the weight of Dr. Ross's revelation settled over the assembled crowd.Brody knew this was the perfect moment to press his advantage."Dr. Ross, I'd like to clarify a few points about your testimony," he said. "When Mrs. Maine came to you for this examination, what was her emotional state?"Dr. Ross's expression softened slightly. "She was visibly distressed. Anxious. Her hands were shaking when she filled out the intake forms, and her blood pressure was elevated beyond what I'd expect from routine appointment nerves." Emmeline was stunned. She never expected Dr. Ross to lie so smoothly for her sake."And did she explain why she suspected her marriage had not been... consummated?" Brody’s next question snapped her back.He carefully choose his words to maintain professional decorum while ensuring the jury understood the implications."She didn’t say," Dr. Ross replied."And in your professional opinion," Brody continued, "Would these behaviors
The brief interval that followed Judge Harrison's order was filled with the whispered conversations as spectators discussed the unexpected developments among themselves.The low murmur created a background hum throughout the courtroom, punctuated occasionally by a sharp intake of breath or a muffled exclamation as someone shared their theory with a neighbor. Several journalists scribbled furiously in their notepads, while others leaned toward colleagues, exchanging hushed speculations about what this new witness might reveal.Emmeline could feel Richard's eyes boring into her from across the room, his gaze heavy with anger and humiliation. His shoulders were squared defensively as though preparing for a lethal blow rather than testimony. The muscle in his jaw twitched visibly even from this distance, betraying the tight control he was exerting over his emotions.Brody remained standing as he waited for the witness to arrive. He adjusted his tie with ease, the gesture betraying none o
A wave of shock rippled through the courtroom at Brody's unexpected revelation.The effect was immediate and electric, as though a live current had suddenly coursed through the room.Mouths fell open, eyes widened, and a collective intake of breath seemed to momentarily suspend time itself. Even the Judges appeared momentarily stunned, their normally impassive expressions slipping to reveal genuine surprise. Then the room fell into a stunned silence as all eyes pivoted sharply to stare at the defendant.Emmeline felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment at the gazes directed at her, this time with undisguised curiosity and surprise.Richard sat frozen at the prosecution table, his eyes bulging with disbelief and mounting horror as the implications of what had just been revealed sank in.His knuckles turned white as he gripped the edge of the table until the veins in his temples visibly pulsed with each rapid heartbeat.Yuna stared across the courtroom with an expression that cycled rapi
Brody returned to Emmeline's table, his shoulders squared with confidence. Though his expression remained professionally neutral for the benefit of the court, there was an unmistakable energy radiating from him—the triumph of an attorney who knew he'd just scored crucial points with the jury."That went better than expected," Brody whispered as he settled into the chair beside Emmeline, his voice low enough that only she could hear.Emmeline shifted in her seat. Beneath the table, hidden from the watchful eyes of the judge, jury, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, she flashed Brody a quick thumbs-up. Relief softened the tense lines that had been etched around her eyes for weeks."You're brilliant," Emmeline murmured with genuine appreciation warming her voice. "The way you handled that recording... I never thought..." She trailed off, unable to fully articulate how it felt to finally have someone believe her… to have her truth laid bare before the court after months of suffering in silence
Brody handed the recording to the court technician, then stepped back to stand beside Emmeline.He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder as the technician inserted the memory card into the courtroom's audio system.The weight of his palm provided a small comfort as Emmeline braced herself for what was to come.Her heart hammered against her ribs, each beat a reminder of what she was about to relive while the courtroom seemed to hold its collective breath.The tension was thick enough to slice with a knife as everyone waited for the recording to begin.A moment of tense silence fell over the courtroom before Richard's voice suddenly filled the space."You think you can just leave me? After everything I've done for you?" Richard's recorded voice growled through the speakers. Each word dripped with venom and threat. "You're nothing without me, Emmeline. Nothing. And if you try to leave, I swear to God I'll make you regret it. No one will want you when I'm done with you." The raw hatred
Brody approached the witness stand. His expression remained serious but composed as he faced the highest-ranking judicial officer in the country.He maintained a respectful distance from Zavian, adjusting his posture to appear confident without seeming arrogant."Chief Justice Blackthorn, how long have you known Emmeline Maine?"Zavian’s broad shoulders relaxed as he settled into his role as witness rather than judge. His hands rested lightly on the polished wooden arms of the chair. "We've known each other for three months. Since she and her husband moved into the neighborhood."His tone remained matter-of-fact, betraying nothing of the complex relationship that had blossomed between them during those months. Brody nodded thoughtfully, taking a few steps to his right. "On November 10th, your wife received a call from Mrs. Kim, asking for help. You went to the Maine residence together. Is that correct?"His question established the timeline with clinical precision, laying groundwork
The words sent a jolt through Emmeline's body. Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of Zavian's name, and she found herself gripping the edge of the table to steady herself.The familiar warmth that always accompanied thoughts of him spread through her chest, mingled now with anxiety about what his appearance might mean for her case and for them.The courtroom erupted in murmurs of surprise and confusion. Spectators exchanged bewildered glances, their whispers creating a rising tide of sound that filled the high-ceilinged room.Reporters in the back row leaned forward with sudden interest, pens poised over notepads, while even the typically stoic court officers looked startled by the announcement."Silence in the court!"The judge's gavel came down sharply.Judge Harrison's face bore the stern expression of someone who wouldn't tolerate disruption, no matter how unexpected the development.The murmurs faded quickly under her commanding presence, though the tension in the air remained
A flicker of a smile crossed Yuna's lips, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by her usual mask.The subtle expression might have gone unnoticed by most in the courtroom, but Emmeline caught it. The fleeting glimpse of satisfaction that sent chills through her.The evil woman had gotten exactly what she wanted—an admission that could be twisted to serve her narrative.The realization settled in Emmeline's stomach like a stone as she watched Yuna's manicured fingers adjust her suit with deliberate slowness.There was something almost predatory in the way the prosecutor moved now, like a hunter who had finally spotted a weakness in her prey."Did you hear her scream during the second incident?" Yuna asked, emphasizing each word with precision.Minnie's hands flexed on the table, her frustration boiling over visibly. "Richard was covering her mouth so she couldn't scream and alert the neighborhood like last time," she snapped. "That's what Emmeline told me afterward when I found