She pushed open the door, which slowly creaked open to let in the bright light. Alaric watched her leave, dazed, before heading back to the elevator and then to his bedroom door. The housekeeper, who had been watching with a smile but maintained a respectful demeanor, spoke up as Alaric approached.
"Is Ms. Greene really the teacher young master wants?" she asked, still looking at Alaric.
"She is," Alaric answered, unable to deny it given the circumstances. "A woman who's so intriguing…"
"Has young master mentioned that you're not really his father and that you don't have a wife? If the boy is really interested in Ms. Greene, you should clarify that you're not related by blood so he doesn't get any wrong ideas," she suggested.
Alaric shook his head. "She's not interested in knowing that, Max," he said firmly, heading toward the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Emerald sat quietly on the living room sofa, taking in the beauty of the house. She hadn't had a chance to properly observe it earlier due to her concern for James, so now was the time to appreciate it.
Soon after, the butler who had greeted her earlier arrived with a tray of food and juice, and silently placed it on the round table in the center of the room.
"James is still taking a shower upstairs. Please eat first, teacher," he said politely.
Emerald typically only eats low-calorie meals or meal replacements in the evening. She is very conscious about her body and keeps a strict watch on her diet, but she couldn't refuse the butler's offering.
"Thank you," she said.
Looking at the tray, Emerald saw that it was filled with low-calorie fruits like tomatoes, kiwis, and star fruit, with some exquisite and delicious snacks on the side.
"All the food in the mansion is nutritious because that's what Sir Alaric prefers the young master to eat," the butler explained, seemingly reading her thoughts.
Emerald gave a thin smile and tried the lemonade, which had been making her throat dry.
"I would also like to learn a few things about his family, aside from James' daily life at school. Mr. Corrigan is away from home all year round. You must have more time to take care of James," she began.
She wanted to leave quickly to avoid seeing Alaric again, so she started her inquiries about the household.
The housekeeper simply nodded. "That's true, since Sir Alaric is a busy man, but you can be assured that he will be spending more time with young master. Don't worry, teacher," he replied.
Emerald paused for a moment. Was she worried? What should she be concerned about?
She always found the housekeeper's words strange, but she didn't dwell on them. Perhaps that was just how he answered questions.
"Although James usually has you around, the child needs more maternal care. James' personality is quite withdrawn. When Mr. Corrigan is not at home, does Mrs. Corrigan take care of the child?" Emerald couldn't help but ask, as this was what had been troubling her.
The dynamics of wealthy families are often complicated, and as teachers, they are cautious about prying too much.
The housekeeper chuckled briefly, causing Emerald to look at him in confusion. Had she said something unusual?
"Seems like you're quite the inquisitive teacher, Ms. Greene. Sir Alaric isn't married. Who is this wife you're referring to?"
Emerald's brow furrowed even more. Not married? So, James was born to his parents before they were married? He really is a scumbag!
But Alaric hadn't lied about being single. The housekeeper wanted to clarify further to prevent Emerald from thinking James was Alaric's biological son, but their conversation was interrupted by a voice coming from the stairs.
"Ms. Greene, if you want to know anything else, why don't you ask me?"
Alaric appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a set of black silk pajamas that glistened under the smooth satin chandelier. His demeanor was a mix of dignity and casualness. His hair, slightly longer than Emerald had noticed before, had a few stray damp strands falling across his forehead.
He descended in slippers and took a seat opposite Emerald, his long legs crossed casually, giving him the air of a wealthy heir.
He looked like a different person—nothing like the Alaric she had faced in the boxing ring earlier.
The housekeeper quickly left, and Emerald could only frown at Alaric.
"Is this how you treat your guests, Mr. Corrigan?"
She had tried so hard to set boundaries with him, but his lack of respect for her as an outsider made her upset. Initially, she had acted on impulse with him, taking advantage of the wine, an experience she had never felt before.
In the early hours of the morning, Alaric had wrapped his arm around her waist, his breath hot against her ear, asking if she would come again. Exhausted, she could barely open her eyes and simply nodded. They had naturally planned for another encounter, but that was based on her belief that Alaric was just an ordinary or single man with acceptable conditions.
Had she known he was married, she would never have continued with this.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at his lips. "Why, Ms. Greene? Not decent enough? After all, we spend more time together without clothes. I didn't know what you wanted me to wear. Or, if you like, you can come with me to my room and try on my sleepwear for as long as you want."
Emerald clenched her fists when she heard Alaric's frivolous words. She wanted to yank the corners of his smirking mouth and tie it back behind his head, then stuff him with a mouthful of whole wheat bread. Her irritation was so intense that she could no longer hold back the urge to be violent towards this man who kept spewing nothing but vulgarity.
Emerald took a deep breath to steady her nerves and managed to compose herself. She cleared her throat, pretending to cough softly.
"My preferences are irrelevant, Mr. Corrigan. I need to discuss your son, James," Emerald said, her voice calm yet firm.
She didn't wait for a response from Alaric and continued with her report, eager to finish and minimize her time in the man's company.
"James is a child with a sensitive disposition and a withdrawn personality. Recently, he has shown signs of depression and has lost his appetite. During a nap at school, I discovered he has sleep disturbances. Even when he does manage to sleep, he wakes up frequently due to minor noises. After evaluation by our school's psychiatrist, it has been determined that your son…" Emerald paused and fixed Alaric with a penetrating gaze. "He has depression, Mr. Corrigan."
Alaric's expression shifted immediately upon hearing this. His eyes grew serious, locking onto Emerald's with a focused intensity.
"When did this start?"
"James has never been particularly lively, but he began exhibiting increased gloominess and emotional instability about two months ago," Emerald replied.
In reality, Emerald suspected that the root of James's problems lay within his family. She knew that if the issues were family-related, sending James home might only exacerbate his condition. She was particularly concerned about James and Yosef, two children struggling with psychological issues at school.
Alaric's eyes remained fixed on Emerald, the playful and seductive demeanor from earlier replaced by a grim seriousness. He lit a cigarette, and a veil of white smoke briefly obscured his face, making it harder for Emerald to read his expression.
"Then what does Ms. Greene suggest?" Alaric asked, his voice subdued.
"I hope you pay more proper attention to your child, Mr. Corrigan. What you did to him earlier will never work," Emerald stated directly, unflinchingly. "If possible, try to let the child's mother accompany him. His heart longs for maternal love. With his mother present, the situation might improve somewhat."
"That would be impossible, Ms. Greene," Alaric countered immediately upon hearing this.
Alaric tapped his cigarette, letting the ash fall into the ashtray with a casual elegance. Emerald furrowed her brows, puzzled by his response. She leaned forward, placing her hands on the table.
"May I know why, Mr. Corrigan?"
"Because his biological mother is no longer here," Alaric responded, his voice cold and unwavering.