So excited to have wrapped up today's update this early. It's only 9:40 am here! :)
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
Zavian studied her as his hand slowly trailed lower, finally coming to rest possessively on her backside. "I know jealousy is a rebellious feeling no lover can restrain or tame. It’s what tames us as it pleases. But I need you to trust me."He bent down to her level and squeezed her ass firmly as their bodies collided, the hard ridge of his erection prodding into her stomach. "Why do you doubt me?"Emmeline grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, pinning him with an accusatory glare. "Tell me why you're hard when you haven't even touched me yet? Does her proximity really excite you that much, Mr. Blackthorn?"Zavian nuzzled the tip of his nose against hers, a sly smile curving his lips. "Have you forgotten the naughty game you were playing with me in the tavern just a little while ago?" He trailed burning kisses along her skin.His hot breath on her skin left Emmeline dizzy and unable to think straight."You saw me staring at you the whole time. Out of all the women in the entire universe, you'
Zavian raised his hand from hers, encircling her throat in a possessive grip. His breathing quickened as his eyes blazed with unbridled lust. "”Sir” suits that siren tongue of yours very well. The sweetest word I've ever heard from those sinful lips."Emmeline’s lips curled into a teasing smirk as she held his stare. Her right hand drifted boldly downward, cupping the thick, pulsing member straining against the fabric of his slacks and stroked it with just enough pressure to make him grit his teeth."I’ll give you plenty more where that came from, but only if you beg me properly… like a good boy." She purred, brushing along his outline in a way that had him sucking in a sharp breath.Zavian’s reaction was immediate, volcanic even. His jaw tightened so hard it seemed he might shatter it.The tension rippling through his body was palpable… like a coiled storm ready to explode."You think you’ve got the upper hand, little girl?" his voice was thick with barely controlled rage. "I don’t be
The courtroom hummed with tension as everyone returned to their seats.Emmeline’s hands clasped tightly in her lap to hide their trembling. However, felt a strange calm beneath her nervousness. Today might finally mark her freedom from Richard.Brody rose from his seat with confidence. His tailored suit and commanding presence gave Emmeline a small measure of reassurance as he buttoned his jacket and addressed the court."I am Attorney Brody Park, representing the plaintiff, Emmeline Lawson," he announced.While Brody spoke with unwavering authority, Emmeline found her attention drifting to Zavian.The man commanded respect without effort. With penetrating eyes that seemed to see through pretense and his expression remained neutral as he listened to the proceedings."My client has filed for divorce and is seeking damages against her husband, Richard Maine," Brody continued. "The grounds for this petition are irreconcilable differences and, more significantly, the pattern of physical v
Emile released his grip on Emmeline's arms and exhaled deeply. "That's somewhat comforting."He took a seat in the front row while Emmeline proceeded to the plaintiff's table with Brody at her side.Brody’s expression shifted from contemplation to something sharper and more predatory. "I was looking forward to another round against Yuna," he admitted with a competitive gleam lighting his eyes. "I wanted to outmaneuver her in her own field and prove once and for all that I'm the superior divorce attorney. It's rather disappointing."Emmeline regarded him with barely concealed disapproval. "This divorce represents my entire future," she reminded him sharply. "Your attitude about it being some sort of professional competition is deeply troubling."They settled into their seats behind the prosecution table, and Emmeline added with admonishment, "I don't appreciate you viewing my personal trauma as just another notch in your professional belt."Brody placed his briefcase on the table and f
The kitchen door slammed shut behind Yuna.The thick tension she'd brought with her lingered for a few seconds, then faded away, leaving Emmeline alone with her ragged breathing and wounded pride.Barely a moment passed before the door swung open again. Noel poked his head in, then stepped fully into the kitchen with worry plastered all over his usually chill face.His eyes darted around before landing on Emmeline."Thank God she's gone.” His shoulders dropped with obvious relief.He ran fingers through his hair and let out a huge breath. "Lucky she didn't show up during lunch rush. Can you imagine the drama with all those customers watching?"Then he really looked at Emmeline and his eyes widened.Her waist-length waves normally her best feature was in a tangled mess around her shoulders. Angry red prints marked her cheek, and her white blouse was rumpled."My God." The words came out barely above a whisper. He rushed over, stopping just short of touching her. "What the hell happened
Emmeline's mind raced back, trying to remember where Zavian had been, what he had told her about that night.Had he actually been with Yuna?"Why are you telling me this?" Emmeline’s voice sounded hollow. "Why not just tell him about the baby and let him make his choice?"Yuna's expression softened slightly. "Because I know my husband," she said quietly. "He has a strong sense of duty. If he knows I'm carrying his child, he'll feel obligated to stay with me, to give our baby a proper family. But if he's torn between that duty and his feelings for you..." She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air."You want me to make the choice for him," Emmeline realized aloud. "You want me to walk away so he never has to know."Yuna nodded slowly. "It would be better for everyone," she insisted. "He wouldn't have to choose between his child and his... infatuation. You wouldn't have to live with the guilt of separating a father from his child. And I wouldn't have to raise this baby alon
Emmeline blinked rapidly as her mind refused to process the devastating news.The world around her seemed to slow, sounds becoming muffled as though she were underwater. Her chest constricted painfully, making each breath a conscious effort."What?" The single word escaped her lips as a strangled whisper.Yuna's lips curved into a smile that never reached her eyes. With deliberate slowness, she placed her hand over her stomach in a protective, almost reverent gesture."I said I'm pregnant." Each syllable was delivered with precision. Her gaze remained fixed on Emmeline's face, drinking in every flicker of devastation with undisguised satisfaction.The room tilted precariously. Emmeline's hands fell limply to her sides, fingers suddenly numb and disconnected from her body. Blood drained from her face, leaving her skin ashen against the pristine white of her shirt. Her mind raced frantically, desperately searching for any explanation other than the one hammering at her consciousness."By
The morning brought a return to routine. Emmeline resumed her work at the restaurant after a two-week absence, grateful that her manager Noel had kept everything running smoothly in her absence.She dressed casually in a white T-shirt under a wheat-colored cardigan and comfortable jeans. A beige apron was tied around her waist, and she had pulled her hair back into a simple ponytail.The familiar motions of working in the kitchen: chopping vegetables, rolling dough, checking seasonings helped ground her after the emotional turbulence of the previous day.Emmeline was in the middle of preparing a vegetable pie when the kitchen door burst open with unexpected force."Let's talk," demanded a familiar voice, sharp and commanding.Emmeline's eyes widened when she turned to find Yuna standing in the doorway."Yuna?" Emmeline asked, genuinely surprised. "What brings you here?""I'm sorry, Mrs. Lawson. I tried to stop her from entering, but she insisted on seeing you." A flustered waitress app
“Fuck!” Zavian cursed under his breath, seemingly losing his composure.Emmeline bit the inside of her lip to suppress a laugh, not wanting him to realize she was deliberately trying to provoke him."I love hearing what happens inside you," she continued in a seductive purr. "When you express your pleasure with those deep sounds, I feel it too. I never knew men's voices could be so seductive when they're aroused.""Your voice can't be beaten, minx." Zavian’s response came out slightly slurred, as if he were struggling to maintain control.Before he could say another word, Emmeline sighed dramatically."But alas, I can't continue this game right now," she lamented. "If I get too excited, I risk my brother hearing sounds from my room that would be difficult to explain."Zavian's ragged breaths were audible through the phone, making Emmeline's body respond in kind. A warmth spread through her lower abdomen, and she had to consciously keep her hands from wandering."How can I restrain my i
Emmeline exhaled with relief that their confrontation had ended well and focused on the road ahead.Her brother was waiting for her in the living room when she got home a few minutes later.His rigid posture and stern expression warned of an impending confrontation.Emmeline decided to ignore him and head straight to her room, but his strict voice stopped her in her tracks."Did you go to see him?" Emile demanded.Emmeline halted but avoided looking at him directly. "Why does it matter to you whether I saw him or not?"Emile straightened. "Emmeline!"Emmeline turned to face him bravely despite his grim expression. The happy moment she had felt with Zavian just moments ago gave her courage."You made a life-altering decision about my future," she stated firmly. "You're forcing me to travel to France without giving me any chance to object. The least you can do is allow me my freedom during these few days I have left in Riverwalk."As soon as she finished speaking, her brother crossed the
They exchanged longing glances. Their eyes communicated what words could not."I visited France twice during my human teenage years," Zavian remarked. "Paris was one of my stops. It's a beautiful city, well worth experiencing."Emmeline studied him closely. "With your family?""My grandmother loved spending holidays in different places," Zavian explained. "Because of her, I traveled to many countries. In recent decades, though, most of my trips have been for business, mainly across Europe and other continents."Emmeline nestled closer into Zavian's embrace, savoring the security of his arms around her."A while ago I felt depressed because traveling seemed like punishment," she sighed. "Now it seems like a reward. With you, even hell would become heaven.""France isn't that bad," Zavian teased. "Don't think of the trip as punishment. Look at it from the bright side. Together we'll visit a new city and spend good times together. No one there knows our past. No one will hold us accountab