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
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
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
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
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,
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."
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
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
Emmeline could feel a rush of heady power thrumming through her veins as she held his burning stare, silently communicating that this tantalizing game of cat-and-mouse between them was just beginning.The defense lawyer launched into his arguments, but Emmeline barely heard a word..."Your Honor, members of the jury, my client is an upstanding citizen who was an exemplary employee at his workplace for years. He never caused any trouble or gave anyone a single reason to doubt his character. And most crucially, he has an ironclad alibi for the time when these heinous crimes were committed.""Objection!" The prosecutor jumped up from his seat, nearly knocking over his chair in his haste.He pointed an accusatory finger at the defense. "That alleged alibi is highly dubious and suspicious at best."All eyes turned to Zavian. His penetrating gaze swept over the court before settling on the prosecutor. "On what grounds are you calling the credibility of the alibi into question?"The prosecut
It was Monday morning and Emmeline was up at the crack of dawn, eagerly getting dolled up for her day at the courthouse.She couldn't stop thinking about her lover all the time. Even when she lay beside Richard at night, her longing for Zavian wracked her nerves like a drug addict needing their next dose.She remembered his reckless desire to visit him during a court hearing, and the thrill of risk that accompanied it.Emmeline decided then and there that she would take him up on his invitation, consequences be damned.Today, she wanted to look sophisticated and polished, yet also alluring enough to drive Zavian wild - the kind of outfit that straddled the line between professional and provocative.After much deliberation, Emmeline decided on a fitted gray skirt suit that hugged her curves in all the right places. The skirt was made from a stretchy wool blend that clung to her toned thighs, the hem falling just a few tantalizing inches above her knees. She paired it with a crisp white
"Who was that guy who snuck out the back door of your house two days ago?" Minnie suddenly asked pointedly.Emmeline's eyes widened in shock. She forgot how to breathe for a moment, feeling trapped by Minnie's question.She knew Minnie must be referring to Zavian - who else would have been leaving through her back door like that?Emmeline hadn't prepared herself to face a confrontation like this, so she was unable to find a convincing excuse right away.After a charged pause, she smiled nervously. "And who else could it have been other than Richard, my husband?"She refrained from looking directly at Minnie, afraid of what she might see in her friend's eyes."I can give you more than one reason why that guy couldn't have been Richard," Minnie replied in a confident, assured tone.Emmeline's arms were resting on top of her stomach, and she couldn't control the trembling in them as Minnie started ticking off her reasons on her fingers."Firstly, your husband arrived home just a short ti
A few days passed in a blink.Minnie texted Emmeline asking for accompany to the facial care center the following day.Emmeline didn't hesitate to accept the invitation because her skin was in a terrible state, giving her an irreplaceable opportunity for some pampering.The doorbell rang after lunch the next day. Emmeline swiftly opened it, knowing who her guest was.Minnie was wearing a short gray knit dress under her brown wool coat, while Emmeline had on fitted jeans and an olive green peacoat."Right on schedule, Minnie," she said cheerfully.Minnie always hugged her whenever they met. But this time, she just stared at Emmeline's face intently as though the latter suddenly grew two horns.Emmeline wiped her cheeks self-consciously. "Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?"Minnie snapped out of her daze and shook her head quickly. "Oh no, I was just thinking about the kitchen faucet and whether I turned it off."Emmeline didn’t think much of her friend’s behavi
Emmeline felt her blood turn to ice, the pulsating waves of the washing machine beneath her suddenly lost their allure as the reality of Richard's return hit her.Her eyes darted to Zavian, who maintained an unnerving calm."Shit, Richard's home. What should we do?" she whispered with panic.Zavian's expression shifted. His usual devilish charm was now laced with a dark intent that Emmeline had come to recognize as his plotting look."Fasten your seatbelts, we'll complete the euphoria trip spoiled by his return!" he declared with a mischievous grin.Emmeline's chest swelled with air. "Have you lost your mind, sir? My husband has come home! What if he comes looking for me?" she muttered in disbelief. However, Zavian ignored her protest.He resumed expertly teasing her breasts.Emmeline fined his touch both soothing and infuriating under the circumstances."I doubt he will come to the laundry room. Until then, I’ll drown you in ecstasy. The excitement is beyond thrilling. The feeling of
Zavian had already slipped away when Emmeline woke up a while later.A tray of food sat on the table, covered with foil to keep it warm.She approached cautiously, lifted the foil and inhaled deeply. The rich aroma of tomato sauce and garlic filled her senses."The smell alone is enough to make my mouth water," she murmured appreciatively.Her gaze landed on a folded note propped against the plate.Emmeline snatched it up with a fluttering heart."I didn't want to wake you while you slept so peacefully. There’s some pasta for you - just heat it up if it's gone cold. -Z"A girlish giggle escaped Emmeline at the thoughtful gesture.She pressed the note to her nose, trying to catch his lingering scent on the paper as warmth blossomed in her chest. That this powerful, imposing man would take such simple care of her needs..."That man captivates me more each day," she sighed, tracing the note with a fingertip.Despite her lack of appetite lately, Emmeline found herself devouring every bite
Zavian winked at her before he dipped his head to capture her lips in a scorching kiss that robbed the breath from her lungs.She melted into the passionate embrace, her body tingling with desire as his tongue teased against her lips, demanding entry.Emmeline parted her lips with a soft moan, allowing his skilled tongue to delve inside and engage hers in a sensual dance.His large hands slid down her back to pull her flush against his hard body as the kiss deepened, growing more heated and intense.Emmeline gazed up at him with half-lidded eyes and was breathless when they finally broke apart.“Delicious as always,” Zavian commented wickedly, placing two bags in her palm. "I heard women crave snacks during their period, so I brought you bags of chips, feminine stuff and chocolate," he responded.Emmeline looked at the first bag in astonishment, seeing numerous brightly colored bags of potato chips inside in a wide array of flavors. Then she blushed furiously at the numerous branded pa
~The next morning~Emmeline woke up feeling a bit under the weather, with some uncomfortable cramps signaling her monthly visitor was on its way. Ah, the joys of womanhood!As if that wasn't enough, her entire body ached as though a truck had plowed into her - no doubt the result of all the passionate smooching Zavian had lavished on her the previous night aboard his yacht.A ghost of a satisfied smile curved her lips at the delicious memories. Their heated embraces, his skilled mouth blazing a path of sin across her bare skin, the way he'd worshipped every inch of her body with fervent devotion...Emmeline shivered, warmth pooling low in her belly despite the cramps. Last night had been nothing short of heavenly debauchery.She'd barely slept a wink, too consumed by visions of her devilishly handsome lover and the sinful acts they'd indulged in together.Richard, the oblivious fool, hadn't even batted an eye when she arrived home well past midnight yet again. He simply grunted his usu
Zavian wasted no time driving straight to his private estate located on the outskirts of the sleepy town of Riverwalk after making sure Emmeline arrived home safely."Double the security detail," he instructed one of his trusted men through the mind link tersely. "Keep a low profile for now. "You got it, boss. The lady's security is locked down tight," came the quick mental reply.Zavian had handpicked five of his most elite and loyal shadow guards to keep a watchful eye on Emmeline while Luca was busy with other important matters. No way was he taking any chances with her safety.As Zavian's sleek ride pulled up to the circular driveway, he spotted the men in crisp black suits and earpieces standing at stiff attention like statues lining the whole thing.They all snapped to attention the second Zavian climbed out of the driver's seat, giving a respectful deep bow of their heads."Welcome back, sir!" They chorused like one voice, showing their utmost respect for the man whose power an