Here's today's update. :)
Emile released his grip on Emmeline's arms and exhaled deeply. "That's somewhat comforting."He took a seat in the front row while Emmeline proceeded to the plaintiff's table with Brody at her side.Brody’s expression shifted from contemplation to something sharper and more predatory. "I was looking forward to another round against Yuna," he admitted with a competitive gleam lighting his eyes. "I wanted to outmaneuver her in her own field and prove once and for all that I'm the superior divorce attorney. It's rather disappointing."Emmeline regarded him with barely concealed disapproval. "This divorce represents my entire future," she reminded him sharply. "Your attitude about it being some sort of professional competition is deeply troubling."They settled into their seats behind the prosecution table, and Emmeline added with admonishment, "I don't appreciate you viewing my personal trauma as just another notch in your professional belt."Brody placed his briefcase on the table and fo
The courtroom hummed with tension as everyone returned to their seats.Emmeline’s hands clasped tightly in her lap to hide their trembling. However, felt a strange calm beneath her nervousness. Today might finally mark her freedom from Richard.Brody rose from his seat with confidence. His tailored suit and commanding presence gave Emmeline a small measure of reassurance as he buttoned his jacket and addressed the court."I am Attorney Brody Park, representing the plaintiff, Emmeline Lawson," he announced.While Brody spoke with unwavering authority, Emmeline found her attention drifting to Zavian.The man commanded respect without effort. With penetrating eyes that seemed to see through pretense and his expression remained neutral as he listened to the proceedings."My client has filed for divorce and is seeking damages against her husband, Richard Maine," Brody continued. "The grounds for this petition are irreconcilable differences and, more significantly, the pattern of physical vi
Emmeline closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the sweetness of liberation. When she opened them again, she found Zavian watching her with an expression that contained unmistakable tenderness.She sat motionless, letting the words wash over her like warm sunlight after an endless storm.Her heart thundered in her chest, each beat a celebration of newfound freedom.The courtroom around her blurred into insignificance. Only Zavian remained in sharp focus, whose distinguished features softened by something deeper than satisfaction.Their eyes remained locked across the formal expanse of the courtroom, defying the crowd of spectators, attorneys, and court officials surrounding them.Zavian gazed at her with such intensity that Emmeline felt heat rise to her cheeks. The subtle curve of his lips spoke of personal triumph, of a private victory shared between them alone.She finally snapped out of their spellbound when the courtroom erupted into a cacophony of reactions.The chaos provided Em
Taehyung’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "Something tells me you won't be single for long, though."Understanding his hint about Zavian, Emmeline ducked her head as heat flooded her cheeks. "Maybe."She turned toward her brother Emile, who waited with the patience of someone used to family obligations. His expression revealed nothing."Congratulations, Emmeline," he offered, his tone measured.Emmeline responded with a small smile.Emile placed his hands on her shoulders, his voice taking on that big-brother seriousness she'd known all her life."A dark chapter of your life is over. Every door is open to you now. Choose the right path. Our family made a terrible mistake pushing you toward Richard. I hope you'll be smarter going forward."His pointed reference to Zavian made Emmeline's jaw clench, but she forced herself to appear agreeable. This wasn't the time or place."I've had enough pain to last a lifetime, Emile. I won't walk into more."Her brother studied her face, clearly suspic
Minnie grabbed the chance to pull Emmeline back, making sure there was enough space between them and the men for a private conversation."What's this about going to France?" Worry shadowed her expressive face. "When were you planning to tell me? Or was I supposed to get a postcard from Paris?"Regret washed over Emmeline's face. The truth was, she'd been putting off this conversation, dreading how Minnie would react."I never found the right time to tell you," she admitted, avoiding her friend's sharp gaze by staring at the fancy ceiling molding.Minnie's fingers tightened around Emmeline's arm and her eyes narrowed. "This wasn't your idea," she stated with certainty. "You have too much to lose if you leave Riverwalk. Maybe you could handle being without me—though I doubt it—but what about Judge Blackthorn? What happens to you two?"Emmeline put her hand over Minnie's. "Don't ever say that. I couldn't stand losing either of you."Satisfaction softened Minnie's expression, encouraging E
The group split up at the parking lot.Emmeline slid into her brother's car passenger seat while Minnie moved toward their own car.She caught Emmeline’s eye from across the lot, offering a small supportive smile before climbing into her husband's car.On the other hand, Brody's convertible roared to life with unnecessary force before peeling out of the parking space and disappearing down the street.The drive home stretched into an exercise in silence.Emile gripped the steering wheel with his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.Tension filled the car.Emmeline turned toward the window, watching the familiar streets of Riverwalk blur past. The town that had always been her home now felt like a place she was preparing to escape."Mother called while we were in court," Emile finally said.Emmeline traced a pattern on the condensation forming on the window. "What did you tell her?""What needs to be said.”Emmeline turned to face him, already knowing what he meant. "You shouldn't make p
Zavian kissed her like a man starved.Emmeline tried to match his intensity, her inexperience showing but only making him want her more.He took turns with her upper and lower lip, occasionally letting his hot breath slip into her mouth.The counter dug into her back as his body caged her in. When his tongue finally slipped past her lips, pleasure escaped her throat in a moan she couldn't hold back.Zavian’s hand moved from her chin to grip her waist tighter. He explored her mouth thoroughly. Their lips moved in perfect rhythm while their tongues danced together. Every so often, he pressed his hips forward, letting her feel how much he wanted her. Each contact pushed her excitement higher.Eventually, they had to break apart for air.Their eyes reconnected, glowing with obvious love."Damn everyone who kept us apart this week!”Their lips stayed inches apart while they caught their breath.The look between them was almost physical in its intensity."I've always gotten what I want witho
Emmeline turned away with embarrassment and desire coloring her cheeks as she faced the cake again. "Hand me that knife," she requested, extending her hand without looking at him.Zavian placed the decorating tool in her palm and his fingers lingered on hers longer than necessary.The brief contact sent awareness tingling through Emmeline.She quickly pointed to a bowl of cream on the counter. "Fill that piping bag so it's ready when I need it."Zavian picked up a spoon with his left hand and the bag with his right, concentrating on the task.His movements were precise despite his unfamiliarity with kitchen tools. "That looks easy," he commented, focused on not making a mess.Emmeline watched him for a moment with surprise crossing her features. "I always forget you're left-handed."Zavian continued working, his attention on the bag he was filling. "We're special that way."Emmeline laughed. "And modest too."With that, she returned to smoothing the cake's frosting."So about today's c
“Your Majesty. It’s Cara.” A soft, feminine voice whispered, barely carrying across the lavish bedroom. “I’ve come as summoned.”Zavian didn’t turn. His focus stayed locked on Emmeline, on the fragile rise and fall of her chest and the pale strain in her face.The cords in his neck tightened as fury simmered like a storm restrained by threadbare control.Then he moved.The shift was subtle but it sent a chill rippling through the air.Slowly, he rose to his full height and turned to face the person near the door.Cara froze when Zavian’s eyes landed on her, and whatever words she meant to say died in her throat.His glare burned into her with blistering intensity… with an unspoken warning passed with a single look.“Keep my mate safe. Or you’ll understand what true destruction feels like!”Cara gave a quick, frightened nod. She dared not meet his eyes again.The air shifted once more when the door opened behind her. This time, the presence that filled the room carried a different energ
"Home," Zavian replied, a new warmth entering his voice. His hand moved to stroke her hair gently. "Our home."Seeing the confusion in her eyes, he elaborated. "Not the estate you're thinking of. This is different. We're in another realm entirely."His voice took on a note of reverence. "This is my true homeland, the place I was born. A world parallel to the one you know but governed by different laws and energies."Emmeline's eyes widened in surprise and wonder. Throughout their relationship, Zavian had hinted at his otherworldly origins, but she had never fully understood what that meant.The reality of it… that she had crossed between dimensions was almost too much to process in her weakened state.Instinctively, she tried to sit up, wanting to see more of this new world, but the movement sent sharp pain lancing through her body.Emmeline gasped, falling back against the pillows."Careful now," Zavian was quick to move one hand to support her head while the other rested lightly on h
Emmeline's eyes fluttered open to a bright light that streamed through tall windows.She squinted, allowing her vision to adjust gradually while trying to make sense of her surroundings.Her body felt as though it had endured a tremendous ordeal. Every muscle ached, every joint protested, and a profound weakness permeated her entire being.The pain was particularly intense from her waist down, radiating in waves that made movement seem like an impossible feat.Her limbs felt disconnected from her commands, heavy and unresponsive despite her mental efforts to move them.Emmeline felt an unusual sensation in her left hand after several moments of disorientation and she managed to lift it slightly into her field of vision with considerable effort.An intravenous line had been inserted into her vein, connected to a clear bag of fluid hanging from a sleek medical stand positioned beside her bed.Emmeline blinked slowly, allowing her gaze to wander around her.The room was surprisingly spaci
The room seemed to grow darker and heavier.It suddenly went dead quiet. Not peaceful quiet… the kind of silence that crushes your lungs and makes your skin crawl.The fire that had danced so merrily before had withered to pathetic embers, their feeble orange glow mocking the darkness closing in.Frost slithered up the walls like hungry fingers turning their sanctuary into a tomb.Emmeline trembled violently beneath Zavian, her heart hammering against her ribs. Not from the biting cold, but from the terrifying wrongness radiating from the man she loved.His touch—God, his touch had transformed completely. Those hands that once traced her skin with reverence now moved with mechanical precision like a puppeteer yanking invisible strings.His eyes kept fracturing before her, flashing between the current molten gold, blood-red, obsidian like the very abyss and a silver so bright it hurt to look at.Each transformation felt like a knife twisting in her gut, screaming the truth she couldn't
Emmeline’s chest rose and fell in uneven waves, still trembling from the aftershocks of everything he had unleashed within her.Her skin glistened with sweat and every inch of her painted in the memory of his touch.The raw and soul-rending pain had receded at last, melting into something distant, hazy… almost dreamlike.Whatever Zavian had done to her... It was like a balm to her broken edges, a breath of cool air after drowning in a sea of fire.She blinked slowly, eyes dazed and glassy as the sensations gradually settled into her bones.Her lungs dragged in air hungrily, as though she had finally surfaced after being submerged in a flame licking at every nerve and every thought.A sweet, dizzying relief coursed through her veins, loosening the tight coil of agony that had gripped her since the moment he claimed her.Her fingers curled weakly against his chest. “That’s it? Have I truly lost my virginity?” she whispered, dazed, as though she hadn’t just been wrecked beyond repair.A d
Emmeline felt as though her entire being was being shattered, only to be reforged in the same breath again and again in an endless, excruciating cycle.Her body was no longer her own. It was his canvas, his battlefield, and his altar all at once.Pain seared through her hot and unrelenting, blurring the lines between agony and ecstasy until she couldn’t tell them apart. Her brain felt liquified, scrambled, as if it were melting beneath the weight of every thrust, every stretch… every unrelenting claim.Black spots flickered at the corners of her vision like cinders floating in smoke, and her breath came in shallow, desperate gasps.She could no longer see Zavian clearly save for the gleam of his eyes and the heat of his penis pounding into her in a savage branding.Every brutal snap of his hips sent her body lurching forward, sent her spine arching in protest and raw need, only to be wrenched back again before she could even catch her breath.There was no mercy in his rhythm only relen
A guttural growl rumbled through Zavian’s chest as her slick walls clamped around him, struggling to accommodate his size.The stretch was unbearable for Emmeline. Her body trembled beneath his weight and her breath came in shallow gasps as she adjusted to the brutal invasion.“You’re so tight.” Zavian’s gaze lingered, devouring every expression that flickered across her face.“I’m fine so far,” Emmeline struggled to articulate her thoughts, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as she struggled to contain the tears that threatened to spill. Yet, the way her nails dug into his skin revealed the truth behind her facade.Zavian clenched his teeth so tightly that the sound reverberated through the room, evidence of his struggle for control. He thrust deeper, inch by inch, splitting her open but paused when a sharp cry tore from her throat and her back arching in protest.“It hurts… fuck, it hurts so bad,” Emmeline choked out in a voice cracked and broken, trembling with the rawness of it.Her b
Zavian’s grip tightened on Emmeline’s shoulder as he captured her lips in a fierce, possessive kiss.His tongue slipped into her mouth, demanding, tasting, claiming her as his own.Emmeline was too numb with pleasure to resist—not that she wanted to.Their mouths moved in a synchronized dance.Emmeline breath caught in the moment as his taste lingered on her lips, mingling with the remnants of her own essence that he had just devoured.She traced her fingertips over his chest, teasing the taut peaks of his nipples.Zavian let out a deep, guttural groan that sent her already oversensitized body quivering. His saliva trickled down her throat, laced with her arousal and setting her senses ablaze. Zavian finally released her, just as she was on the brink of breathlessness and fainting.“What do you think of your food?” he murmured.Emmeline licked the taste of her from his lips. She hesitated before scoffing lightly. “Either you’re exaggerating, or I’ve lost my sense of taste because I do
A tremor ran through Emmeline at his words and his tongue swirling around her aching bud. She gripped the sheets tighter, desperate to ground herself against the pleasure consuming her."Zavian," she whispered breathlessly. "You always know how to push me to the edge."Another strangled moan ripped from her throat when his tongue flicked over her clit.Zavian groaned in response, the vibrations sending another surge of pleasure through her."You're driving me mad," he rasped before sucking her into his mouth, drawing her deep, consuming her essence like a man starved.“Oh, Zavian!” A sharp cry escaped Emmeline. She writhed beneath him, every nerve in her body igniting like wildfire as her thighs quivering around his head."If only you could see what I see," Zavian mused. "How your folds swell for me, how they burn with need. Your lips don’t need rouge, love… their blush is natural, painted just for me."His gaze remained locked on hers, dark and filled with something primal. "You're be