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CH.22

last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 21:22:53

"You really came!" Emmeline exclaimed in a cheerful tone, genuinely surprised her friend had followed through on her word despite her doubts.

A small part of her had hoped Minnie might cancel and spare her the need to pretend everything was fine.

Minnie gave her an amused look. "Of course I came, you goof.” sarcasm dripping from her voice. “I may be a total motormouth who never stops yakking, but unlike some people, I actually keep my promises."

She let out a spontaneous peal of laughter at her own teasing jab.

Emmeline gave her a playful nudge with her elbow, careful to maintain her balance on her good foot.

"Hey, that's not fair! You know how it is...life just always seems to get in the way. Things keep happening, one thing after another." She tried to keep her tone light but couldn't help wondering if Minnie could sense the weight behind her words.

The adorable twins instantly captivated her attention, which provided a welcome distraction.

She leaned down, ignoring the twinge in he
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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.23

    Emmeline made her way towards the kitchen, still marveling over the twins' insightful comments.She heard Minnie gently scolding her son. "Ruhn, we don't say things like that, sweetie. It's not a nice word, even if it's true sometimes. We talk about being kind to everyone, remember?"Emmeline hadn't expected such a heavy conversation from what was supposed to be a light-hearted visit with a friend.She took a deep, steadying breath and quickly got to work pouring four glasses of cold lemonade, the tart aroma refreshing her senses and helping to clear her head.She carefully arranged the freshly baked lemon cupcakes on four plates, taking care not to smudge the pale-yellow frosting that she'd painstakingly piped earlier.The familiar motions of playing hostess helped push away the lingering discomfort from their earlier exchange.When everything was set on a large tray, Emmeline took another deep breath and returned to the living room, plastering on her best hostess smile as she rejoin

    Last Updated : 2024-10-29
  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.24

    Minnie and Emmeline immediately got up from the couch. Their laughter instantly died down as they turned toward the entryway.Emmeline quickly smoothed down her skirt with her palms in an attempt to regain some composure.She could feel her cheeks were still flushed from laughing.“Welcome back, honey.” She beamed like a good and happy wife at Richard. “This is Mrs. Kim from next door.” She hurriedly introduced with her gaze zeroing in on Minnie with a polite, tight-lipped smile.Minnie's eyes briefly flickered over to Emmeline before returning to Richard.Emmeline noticed the slight narrowing of her friend’s eyes as she took them in, probably wondering what they'd been laughing about."Good evening, Mrs. Kim. I'm Richard Maine, Emmeline's husband," Richard's deep voice rang out as he extended his hand.Minnie bowed politely and then introduced herself and the twins. "Kim Minnie and these are my children, Mimi and Ruhn."The twins peeked out shyly from behind their mother's legs and o

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.25

    The days leading up to Sunday flew by in a flurry of cleaning, cooking, and fretting over what to wear.Before Emmeline knew it, Sunday evening had arrived, and they were heading to the sprawling Blackthorn estate for the neighborhood barbecue.Emmeline wanted to look presentable without going overly formal, so she opted for a simple but elegant ensemble - a white silk blouse with delicate pearl buttons down the front tucked into a flowy pink midi skirt that skimmed her calves.The fabric swished pleasantly around her legs as she walked.She left her hair down in loose, tousled waves around her shoulders and applied just a touch of makeup to enhance her features without looking overdone.Richard, on the other hand, took a more casual approach in a pair of dark-washed jeans and a thick gray knit sweater over a collared shirt, dressing for comfort and warmth.Emmeline noticed how the sweater clung to his broad shoulders, reminding her of the man she'd fallen in love with. How unfortunat

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.26

    Emmeline sensed Yuna wasn't as harsh as her icy exterior suggested.She found Minnie actively chopping vegetables and meat on the large island that sat in the middle of the space when she arrived in the spacious and modern kitchen.Minnie wore a flirty peach dress that showed off her toned, tanned legs. Even while working, she looked effortlessly stylish, making Emmeline glance down at her own simple outfit with a momentary pang of envy."Emmeline is here," Yuna announced.Minnie set down her knife and enveloped Emmeline in a warm, exuberant hug despite having seen her earlier. "We can use two extra sets of hands in here!" She patted her new friend’s back affectionately, feigning annoyance in her usual playful way. "Glad to see you, I guess. Though I was hoping for a strapping young man to help instead."Emmeline rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Sorry to disappoint. You'll have to make do with little old me."Then her brows furrowed in confusion. "But I saw so many servants milling ab

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.27

    Emmeline pushed open the door with her hip and stepped into the immaculately landscaped Blackthorn garden, which looked like something out of a magazine spread.The late afternoon sun bathed everything in a warm, golden light, making the scene before her look almost surreal in its perfection.A massive rectangular pool took up a large portion of the space, the crystal blue waters shimmering invitingly.It was surrounded by sleek, modern patio furniture and lush greenery artfully arranged to feel both lavish and tranquil.Emmeline once again felt a twinge of envy at the sheer beauty and luxury of it all.Near the pool, a long wooden table was set up where Richard sat engaged in what seemed to be an animated conversation with a man Emmeline didn't recognize—Minnie's husband, Taehyung, she assumed.Richard's hands were making gestures while he spoke, his face beaming with excitement. It was nice to see him so engaged, though a small part of her felt a bit left out.A short distance away,

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.28

    Emmeline found her gaze lingering on Zavian, studying him more closely than she probably should have. Besides Ruhn and Mimi, she didn't see any other children around.She wondered if perhaps one of the Blackthorn couple could not have children or if there was some other reason behind their lack of offspring.The thought of Zavian getting annoyed with her over something like that in the car the other day made her increasingly curious about the situation."You seem deep in thought," Zavian's voice broke through her reverie.Emmeline startled slightly, realizing she'd been staring. "Oh, it's nothing really. I was just... wondering about something."His eyebrow arched inquisitively. "And what might that be?"She hesitated for a moment. "I noticed there are no other children here. Is there... a reason for that?"A shadow seemed to briefly pass over Zavian's face before his expression smoothed out again. "That's a rather personal matter. It's not your place to speculate about such things."

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.29

    Emmeline found herself wedged between Yuna and her boorish, insufferable husband at the elegantly set dining table.An even more overwhelming sense of inferiority washed over her when the uncouth man proceeded to open his mouth and ruin the pleasant atmosphere with his typical boorish behavior.She wished for the air to swallow her whenever Richard spoke."The cake you brought over last time tasted great," Zavian suddenly spoke.Emmeline forced a smile on her lips and her cheeks flushed with a foreign sensation.Yuna turned to her husband with a warm, loving look. "My Zavian isn't usually one with much of a sweet tooth, nor does he habitually eat anything before heading into work most mornings. But he decided to try a small piece of the delightful cake Emmeline had so thoughtfully prepared for us. It was enough to make him change his plans entirely and sit back down at the table to enjoy it properly," the elegant, poised woman explained in a melodious voice that rang with fondness.A

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.30

    Emmeline turned right down the elegantly appointed hallway and strode towards the door Yuna had indicated.She paused to take a fortifying breath before rapping her knuckles against the thick wood. "Mr. Blackthorn? It's Emmeline...I hope I'm not disturbing you...""Come in!" his deep voice beckoned from within.Emmeline hesitated briefly before pushing open the door and stepping into the impeccably appointed study.It was a space utterly befitting of its owner - a cold, masculine space lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves overflowing with thick, leather-bound tomes. The air was perfumed with the rich, complex scents of aged wood, paper, and smoke.A pair of supple burgundy leather armchairs sat facing each other before an impressive stone fireplace, beckoning one to sink into their buttery soft embrace and lose themselves in the printed word for hours on end.Zavian stood with his back to her before the towering windows. One hand was in his pants pocket as he gazed out over the lus

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  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.231

    Emmeline offered Zavian a faint, tired smile. Her exhaustion was evident in the way her shoulders drooped and her gaze flickered to the floor as if even holding eye contact required too much energy.Minnie leaned closer and automatically put her hand on Emmeline's shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” Her voice was warm but tinged with irritation.Emmeline felt grateful. “The original plan was to have Mr. Blackthorn stay outside the house to protect me from Richard. However, I decided to handle this on my own. I thought being calm would be enough to keep me safe.” She drew in a shaky breath that seemed to rattle in her chest. “But I ruined everything when I blurted out that Mr. Blackthorn was outside in a moment of anger. He made sure I couldn't call for help after that.”"Don't you dare blame yourself," Minnie’s eyes flashed with fury. "Richard is the only one responsible for his actions. You were trying to protect yourself."Her gaze darted toward Zavian, who stood a

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.230

    Zavian’s eyes closed for a moment and his shoulders sagged under the weight of his guilt.“I’ll be fine,” Emmeline whispered. “For both of us.”His eyes opened, and he stroked her hand with his thumb. “Did you call Minnie, or do you want me to?”“Can you?” Emmeline asked, handing him her phone.Zavian nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket. As he typed out a message, he glanced at her, his expression softening. He didn’t want to remind her of what had happened, not now. She’d been through enough.The phone vibrated in his hand about a minute later, pulling his attention away from Emmeline. He glanced at the screen then turned back to Emmeline.“She’s on her way home,” Zavian announced as his thumb brushed over the back of her hand in a soothing rhythm.The quiet comfort he offered was enough to keep her from spiraling again. But the moment was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps and a familiar voice echoing through the house.“Emmeline!”Minnie’s voice carried urgency. Sh

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.229

    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

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.228

    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 rep

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.227

    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 w

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.226

    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

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.225

    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

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.224

    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 sudde

  • The Billionaire's Sinful Affair   CH.223

    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 suffoca

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