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
Zavian stared unblinkingly into Emmeline's eyes. His gaze was so intense and unwavering that she felt pinned in place like a butterfly on display.He ran his thumb over her lips slowly yet torturously, traces of her strawberry-scented lip gloss sticking to his finger. His movements were so casual and nonchalant as if he wasn't affecting her at all - though her heart pounded harder with every passing second, threatening to burst from her chest.Emmeline found herself utterly unable to look away. She was powerless against Zavian's excessive prestige and commanding presence.His dark eyes seemed to hold secrets…mysteries she longed to unravel.She didn't come back to her senses until he finally pulled his finger from her mouth and tenderly placed his hand on top of her head."You could let my wife help you too," Zavian said smoothly.Emmeline’s hands trembled slightly, and she clasped them together to hide it. "I don't need anyone's help, Mr. Blackthorn. I can take care of my own busines
Emmeline walked out of the office, her legs feeling like jelly beneath her skirt. To her surprise, Zavian came up behind her and put his arm around her waist in a gentlemanly fashion.She trembled visibly but didn't dare utter a word of protest as they walked that way down to the staircase.Taehyung looked up from his phone when the two descend the staircase and his eyes narrowed slightly at their closeness. "What did you two talk about without us?"Zavian’s arm remained possessively around Emmeline's waist. She could feel the heat of his palm through the thin fabric of her blouse."We were planning what to do after dinner." She said calmly."I suggested drinking games, but Taehyung objected because everyone has to go to work tomorrow, and you all should be fine.” Minnie piped up, sounding frustrated.This is where Richard felt the need to stick his nose into the matter, as usual.He scoffed loudly, puffing out his chest. "A little drink won't hurt if a person's alcohol tolerance is s
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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