Today's update. :)
“Stop taking my breath away.” Emmeline’s voice came out in a soft, trembling whisper when they finally broke apart.Her fingers clung tightly to his shirt, anchoring herself to him as if she might lose her footing otherwise.She barely had time to process the warmth of his breath on her skin before pressing her lips against his again in a sudden, passionate kiss.Zavian didn’t resist. His hand slid up her back, curling lightly on the nape of her neck as he returned the kiss with a fervor that left her dizzy.The world outside their embrace seemed to dissolve, leaving only the two of them locked in this moment. Emmeline gasped for air when Zavian finally released her from his intoxicating yet overwhelming kiss, struggling to regain her breath.Her lips tingled from the intensity of the kiss, and her head felt light as though she were floating. She gazed up at him through half-lidded eyes, her body still pressed against his.Zavian’s intense gaze locked on Emmeline’s, burning with an in
Emmeline froze in place, her fingers locked around the cold metal of the door handle. It felt as though her body had turned to stone and her mind unable to process what was happening.The handle in her hand seemed heavier now, as if it were anchoring her to the spot. Slowly, her gaze dropped to her trembling right hand, then back toward the figure standing just a few feet away.Minnie.She stood against the wall with arms crossed tight over her chest and her usually friendly expression replaced by something cold and unreadable."So, your lover is Mr. Blackthorn." Her voice cut through the air like ice.The sharpness in her eyes could cut through blade, and her lips were pressed into a thin, humorless line.The silence between them stretched painfully.Emmeline’s throat felt dry, her heart pounding so loudly that it drowned out every coherent thought.She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The words she so desperately needed failed her, leaving her stranded in the suffocat
Emmeline’s head shot up and her eyes went wide with realization. “You ambushed me,” she said with disbelief. “You pretended you didn’t know anything in the message, and then you waited for me outside his suite to catch me.”Minnie’s expression was smug. “Of course I did. I knew you wouldn’t confess easily. You didn’t even deny having a lover when I found out about that. You were cold that day.”Her words hung in the air, and Emmeline knew she was waiting for an explanation. She didn’t hesitate.“That’s because you didn’t know who it was,” Emmeline said quietly. “If you tell anyone about us, I’ll make sure am the only one affected.”Minnie’s eyelids twitched, a flicker of emotion crossing her face before she let out a sarcastic laugh. “I forgot you’re in love with your lover.”Emmeline lowered her head, her cheeks burning with shame. She wanted to close her eyes and wake up in her bed, to discover that this was all just a nightmare.“Sacrificing for love is so touching!” Minnie’s sudden
Once the room was empty, Emmeline sank on the sofa. Her head tilted back, and she stared at the ceiling, trying to convince herself of something she wasn’t sure she even believed."Minnie will keep her promise." The words echoed in the empty room, hollow and uncertain.The soft hum of the air conditioning did nothing to drown out the doubts swirling in her mind.People always took sides in situations like this, their judgment colored by personal bias. And Minnie..."Please don't tell Yuna." The prayer slipped from Emmeline’s lips, barely louder than a breath.The bathroom tiles felt cool beneath her feet as she dragged herself there. Harsh fluorescent light illuminated every flaw… every sign of guilt in her reflection.The woman staring back at her through the mirror wore her face but seemed like a stranger - someone calculating, someone who put her own desires above others' feelings.Zavian's love had been like a healing balm, carefully mending the fractured pieces of her heart. Yet t
Taehyung glanced between Zavian and Emmeline, his smirk widening. “Richard left with Yuna in a rental car,” he said. “Which means Emmeline has to share a car with one of us.”Emmeline’s stomach twisted. She could already see where this was headed.“The question is,” Taehyung continued, “Who will take her?”“My best friend is coming with us, of course.” Minnie’s voice was firm.Her gaze darted to Zavian, who responded by squeezing Emmeline’s thigh so hard it made her want to cry out.“I think Emmeline would be embarrassed to ride alone with Mr. Blackthorn,” Minnie added sharply. “Since they’re strangers.”Zavian’s lips curved into a mocking smile. “Strangers?” he echoed. “We had a French kiss two days ago. If we were strangers before, we aren’t now.”His hand slid higher, and Emmeline instinctively closed her legs. However, his grip tightened until she reluctantly parted them again as her body betrayed her mind.“You have your husband, Mrs. Kim,” Zavian said coolly. “It’s not fair for y
Zavian didn’t elaborate. He simply kept his focus on the road.“How does he know?” Emmeline pressed. “Are you talking about New Year’s Eve?”He hummed in response.His silence only fueled her frustration.“You told me several times that Taehyung didn’t remember what he saw outside the women’s bathroom,” she accused. “I believed you even though his hints made me suspicious. Why did you lie to me?”Zavian gently brushed the back of her hand. “It was a white lie,” he said quietly. “I didn’t want to worry you. You don’t trust Taehyung, and I didn’t want you to carry that burden.”Emmeline yanked her hand away. “You should’ve told me,” she muttered angrily. “I had a right to know if someone found out about us.”Zavian took her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers again. “You’re about to enter a crucial stage in your life, little girl. Your mind needs to be clear. I didn’t want you filling your head with unnecessary worries.”Their eyes met, and though she pretended to be upset, his wa
Zavian pulled the car to a smooth stop in front of Emmeline’s house a while later.He stepped out and circled around to the trunk, helping her lift the suitcase out. His movements were calm, and efficient while his eyes lingered on her for just a moment longer than necessary.“Let me help,” Emmeline offered, stepping up beside him.“I’ve got it,” Zavian replied.He set the suitcase down on the ground. His hands lingered on the handle for a moment before he straightened.For a second, neither of them moved.“Thanks for the ride,” Emmeline said quietly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.Zavian nodded. “Anytime.”She hesitated before reaching out again for the handle of her suitcase. “You didn’t have to go out of your way, though. I could’ve managed.”His brow lifted, just enough to make his point without words. “You really think I’d let you haul this thing around on your own?”Emmeline’s lips twitched. “I’m perfectly capable, you know.”“I don’t doubt it,” came Zavian’s repl
Emmeline clamped her hands over her mouth. Her wide eyes were fixed on Richard’s motionless body sprawled across the kitchen floor.A wave of nausea churned in her stomach.“Oh my God,” Emmeline whispered, trembling. “What have I done?” Her legs felt like they were about to give out beneath her. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from him as her mind spun with the worst possible thoughts.Tears welled in her eyes, but they refused to fall. They were frozen in place as her lungs struggled to draw in air.“I killed him,” Emmeline choked out then shook her head in frantic denial.“No, no, no. This can’t be happening.” Her hands trembled as she crouched down beside him. “Richard? Can you hear me?”There was no response.Emmeline’s heart thudded even more violently in her chest. She hesitated, then reached out with a trembling hand. She slowly pressed her index finger under his nose while holding her breath.Relief flooded through her when she felt the faint warmth of his breath against her f
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
As Mrs. Winters stepped down from the witness stand, her gaze briefly met Emmeline's.The older woman gave her a small nod, a silent gesture of support that brought unexpected tears to Emmeline's eyes.She blinked them away quickly, not wanting to appear emotional in front of the jury. The men and women who would decide her fate sat in their box, some taking notes, others watching the proceedings with expressions that revealed nothing of their thoughts.Brody turned his attention to the judge. "Your Honor, I'd like to call the second witness, Mrs. Kim Minnie," he announced.Minnie rose from her seat. Unlike Mrs. Winters' cautious movements, she walked with purpose, her bright pink coat standing out vividly against the muted browns and grays that dominated the courtroom's decor.The security officer led her to the stand.When she reached the witness stand, she raised her right hand without prompting, clearly familiar with the procedure. "I, Kim Minnie, swear to tell the truth, the whole