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
Zavian was slouched back in the plush leather chair at the head of the massive glass conference table.His legs were crossed elegantly in an almost effeminate way that somehow only amplified his aura of supreme power and dominance.A loaded Desert Eagle pistol sat on the glass tabletop in front of him, the chunky black metal weapon seeming almost comically out of place amid the sleek modern decor, yet ready to dole out death at any slight provocation.The air in the spacious room was thick with tension as the quivering Managing Director filled Zavian in on all the shady backdoor deals, embezzlement schemes and under-the-table payoffs a few of the directors and major shareholders had been carrying out behind his back.The losses to Blackthorn industries were easily in the tens of billions, but that didn't even put a dent in Zavian's personal net worth.The Blackthorn family fortune was more than most small countries combined."S-Sir, we have uncovered evidence of the several directors
Zavian didn’t utter a word. He remembered all too vividly the blatant lie Yuna had spun at last night's dinner about how they had fallen in love at university.The truth about how Zavian had become entangled with Yuna couldn't have been more different from her sugary delusions.She had manipulated…essentially seduced her way into his life years ago by lying that they had some profound soul bond and connection.Yuna was the only woman who had ever gotten remotely close to Zavian at the time, and she took full advantage of this by slowly pushing herself into his life and personal circle with her exotic beauty and innocent appearance.Zavian had never felt that bond Yuna swore they shared and never thought he would.He had only given in to her insistence about their relationship after a near-death experience where she happened to save his life from an assassination attempt and somehow ended up in his bed. And then he was forced to marry her.For years after that, he had lived with the de
The atmosphere in the Blake manor was thick with tension. Every family member present was gathered in the cavernous living room, huddled together in uneasy silence as fear etched deep lines into their faces.The lavish space that was usually a showcase of wealth and power with its crystal chandeliers and priceless artwork, now felt more like a cage.Dozens of men with sharp black suits and earpieces surrounded the manor like guards, taking up positions around it with their weapons clenched in their hands.Their eyes constantly scanned for threats, ready to neutralize any danger that dared to breach the front door without hesitation.The heavy oak doors carved with the Blake family crest might as well have been an impenetrable vault for all the good it would do them now.They had received credible intel from one of their most trusted sources that the master of chaos himself – the notorious Zavian Blackthorn – was coming for them. And when Zavian Blackthorn had someone in his sights, th
Old Master Blake felt the room spinning around him as Zavian Blackthorn's towering, menacing presence invaded the sanctity of the Blake family manor.The notorious, handsome man moved with grace, his aura of danger and brutality radiating outward in suffocating waves.Zavian's cold, pitiless gaze swept over the scene of utter carnage surrounding him - the bodies of the fallen Blake security troops lay in fast-growing puddles of blood, while the broken remnants of precious relics and antiques were strewn about like discarded waste.His lips quirked upwards in a disdainful smirk as though he found perverse amusement in the devastation he had unleashed.Sam, Ryan's hotheaded father, had been frozen in stunned disbelief by the turn of events.He could only gape in shock as Zavian's disciplined strike team ruthlessly cut down the Blake bodyguards with chilling efficiency. But the sight of the devil himself striding through the ruined doorway like a conquering warlord jolted Sam into franti
Old man Blake felt the weight of his years, of a lifetime of hopes and dreams crashing down on him with suffocating finality as he stared at the numbered seconds ticking away his future, his legacy and his very life's worth.A future that stretched out before him now seemed cold, bleak, and empty of everything he had devoted his existence to building.He scratched his signature across the indicated line, forever signing away his controlling interest in the Blake Enterprises. He felt a piece of his entire soul wither and die at that moment.Luca swooped forward like a carrion bird. He snatched up the signed contract and retreated to the shadows once more.Zavian rose from his usurped throne in one graceful movement.He took a moment to meticulously brush away some invisible speck of dirt from the immaculate fabric of his tailored suit before leveling the broken old man with a look of supreme indifference."A pleasure doing business with you," he intoned blandly as if commenting on a ro
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