Standing by the terrace, Emerald poured herself a glass of red wine, already knowing why her mother had suddenly called.
"Did you see the news about Ethan's engagement?" Her mother's voice was filled with disappointment and frustration.
"Yeah, I saw it," Emerald replied lazily, sipping her wine.
"Ethan is just a useless jerk to his family, but that little witch from the Valentine family still managed to snatch him away. It's really embarrassing that you didn't do anything. You're really useless!" Her mother's voice was firm and laced with anger.
Emerald winced slightly at the harsh words, feeling the sting of her mother's disappointment. She gripped the glass tighter, trying to block out the familiar feeling of inadequacy that always seemed to accompany conversations with her mother.
Emerald didn't say anything. She set her phone aside, putting it on speaker, and continued sipping her red wine as the sound of her mother's cursing filled the room. Sometimes she wondered if she was truly her daughter or if she had been adopted by this family. She couldn't understand why some parents didn't love their children. She had heard every hurtful word in existence from her own mother, yet it seemed like it was never enough.
"And you, you stupid girl! You may have a pretty face, but you're dumb and lack ambition! The wealthy son of my friend is coming home next month. I'm warning you, you better hook this man. His family owns a huge oil company!"
"Mom, I don't want to fall in love right now, much less get married."
"What do you want, then? To grow old and single just because Ethan didn't marry you? I won't forgive you if you let this rich son-in-law slip away again. Do you think I'll let Amanda Valentine walk all over me for the rest of my life? No way, Emerald. Find a way to marry a rich man!" her mother yelled again before abruptly ending the call, not even waiting for Emerald to respond.
Isn't it sad that her mother didn't care whether her daughter was hurt from beginning to end? In her eyes, nothing was more important than securing a wealthy marriage. This thought filled Emerald with bitterness, but what could she do?
After drinking more than half a bottle of red wine, Emerald felt the effects of the alcohol. She wasn't sad about Ethan's betrayal; she was sad about her broken family. Her heart felt empty, and no amount of wine seemed to fill it.
In the past, she would've texted Ethan and talked about this, and he would reply with a few words, followed by the hotel room number. Emerald would then choose a revealing dress for the date. But tonight, she felt particularly lonely and hollow, desperate to do something to fill the void in her heart.
Alaric, however, was her student's father, someone she could no longer touch. Annoyed, she poured herself another glass of wine and continued drinking, staring up at the full moon.
A moment later, the doorbell rang, breaking the silence of the night. When Emerald saw the handsome face reflected on the video doorbell screen, she thought she was hallucinating. She quickly opened the door, and there stood Alaric, dressed in a black Alaricet.
"What are you doing here?" Emerald asked, surprised.
Before responding, Alaric held up a small bottle of ointment in front of her. "I should be responsible for the injuries you sustained at my house."
Alaric's eyes traveled over Emerald. She was wearing a red nightgown, loosely tied with a matching robe at her waist. Her collar was loose, revealing a large expanse of skin. She was barefoot, standing in front of him. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders, the wet ends slightly curled, and her flushed cheeks and slightly glazed eyes gave her an alluring aura.
Lazy and seductive.
The strong scent of wine lingered around her, making Alaric realize she was drunk.
Emerald was only slightly drunk but still aware of what was happening.
"Thank you, Mr. Corrigan. Give me the medicine and leave," she said coldly, trying to resist the temptation standing in front of her.
Emerald took the bottle and was about to close the door, but Alaric's long leg swiftly blocked it.
"Wait, what are you—"
Alaric pushed his way in and shut the door behind him. The only light in the room came from the wall lamp on the terrace, casting a dim glow over the living room.
Emerald's small apartment, just a few dozen square meters, felt warm and cozy—a stark contrast to the vast, impersonal expanse of Alaric's thousand-square-meter villa.
"Mr. Corrigan, please leave now, or I will call the cops—"
Before she could finish, Alaric leaned down, slipping one arm under her armpit and the other behind her knees, effortlessly lifting her. The living room was small, so Alaric quickly reached the sofa, where he gently set her down. Feeling a bit hot from the exertion, he removed his Alaricet, revealing a broad-shouldered black vest underneath.
His well-defined muscles rippled beneath his skin, and the veins in his arms stood out, showcasing his full masculine appeal. He knelt on one knee beside the sofa and grabbed Emerald's ankle with one hand, his grip too strong for her to resist.
"Just let me do this, and don't move…"
With her leg raised, the hem of her bathrobe threatened to reveal more than she was comfortable with. Alaric seemed to know exactly how far to go, and Emerald didn't dare move. How could her small frame possibly compete with his rock-solid build?
Frustrated, she deliberately stomped her foot on his thigh, but to her surprise, it felt like she had kicked a stone—hard and unyielding!
Alaric's gaze fell on the tender, bruised skin of her knees, now a purplish hue. His handsome brows furrowed in concern.
"You haven't applied any medicine all day?"
Her skin was so delicate that even the slightest pressure would leave marks, yet she had brushed off the injury from the previous night's fall.
"That was just a small injury. It doesn't need—ah!"
Emerald couldn't hold back her pain as the medicine stung her wound! It felt like it was burning, slowly sapping her strength.
Her large, fox-like eyes welled up with tears from the pain, likely worsened by the alcohol. She cried out softly, her eyes burning.
"It hurts! Be more gentle!" she complained.
"I'm sorry…!" Alaric muttered, alarmed by her scream. "Please don't scream like that. I'm really sorry…"
Emerald immediately held back and bit her lip to endure the pain. Her pink lip bled, and she could taste the blood. This was what she hated most about getting injured—the treatment. The additional pain from the medicine or creams was unbearable for her, and even though she had been drinking, she still felt every bit of the sting.
The troubled look on her face reminded Alaric of the nights when she lay beneath him, clinging to his waist and begging him to be gentle. He suppressed the intense desire that surged within him and softened his touch considerably.
"You've always been so loud, Miss Greene," Alaric whispered teasingly, making sure Emerald heard him.
Emerald's forehead creased when she heard that, but she ignored it. All she wanted now was for him to leave. They couldn't stay in the same room alone because Emerald knew she might give in—especially since she was drunk!
The cold ointment gradually warmed under the heat of his palm, and his rough hand gently massaged her knee. Slowly, the pain subsided, and the skin where he touched grew increasingly warm.
"That should be enough. Just leave the medicine. I'll remember to apply it later," Emerald said before the ointment even dried on her wound. Her voice was cold.
She tried to pull her leg back, but Alaric's iron grip on her ankle wouldn't let her.
Alaric's eyes flicked to the half-empty glass of red wine on the coffee table.
"Why are you drinking alone?"
"That's none of your business, Mr. Corrigan," Emerald replied curtly, her tone icy.
Their eyes met, and in the man's dark pupils, she saw a complexity and depth she couldn't decipher. He slowly stood up, his movements smooth and predatory, like an elegant cheetah poised to strike.
Emerald instinctively wanted to escape, but his large shadow loomed over her, trapping her in the corner of the sofa. He leaned on the armrest with one hand and grabbed her wrist with the other, his grip firm and unyielding, preventing her from moving even slightly.
Alaric's gaze deepened, and she could feel the danger in his piercing stare. She struggled to breathe, feeling as though she was drowning under his intense scrutiny. This was exactly what she had feared would happen…
"Is it because of Ethan Florida's engagement? Are you drinking alone because you're sad and hurting?" Alaric muttered, as if certain that she was still in love with her ex and that was why she was drowning herself in alcohol tonight.
But, no. Of all the reasons for her sadness, Ethan wasn't one of them. She could still feel the harsh words of her mother burrowing into her heart, leaving a gaping wound that refused to heal. If she hadn't learned to defend herself, she would have been married off to a wealthy businessman before she even finished school.
Choosing Ethan wasn't just because he had pursued her for the longest time, but also because of his family background. Even though Emerald hadn't loved him in the past few years, she still considered marriage.
Her heart was not easily opened, and she thought she would be shattered by one incident like this for the rest of her life. Later, Emerald discovered that he had cheated on her. The trust she had built for Ethan was suddenly shattered and crumbled. She began to think that perhaps no one would ever want to marry someone like her.
Of course, she didn't need to explain these feelings to a bed partner like Alaric. Why would she even need to explain herself to him?
"Yes, I was with him for three years. I love h—hmp!" Before she could finish her sentence, the man silenced her with a forceful kiss, overpowering her lips. His movements were rough and aggressive, like an army advancing to conquer and plunder, leaving Emerald no chance to resist.
Emerald was stunned. During their three months together, they had been intimate in every way, but he had never touched her lips. Now, the one thing she had reserved for the man she will truly love was taken by Alaric.
The wine she had drunk lingered on her lips and teeth, acting as a catalyst. Wearing only a thin nightgown, Emerald was easily accessible to Alaric. When Alaric touched her, Emerald immediately felt an electrifying shock run through her body. It was as if his touch burned her, causing her to pull away slightly. However, that didn't stop Alaric from misunderstanding her intentions.
This was why Emerald wanted to end their relationship—she knew her body's reaction to Alaric's touch had become uncontrollable.
"You keep saying you want me to leave and end this, but why do I hear something different in your voice? Like you still want me to stay here with you..." Alaric's hoarse whisper came through, his voice tinged with a mix of desire and frustration.
Emerald's flushed face showed a look of humiliation, and she immediately pushed Alaric away.
"Let me go! You're disgusting!"
In the past, Alaric had been a considerate gentleman in bed. Although his actions were wild and domineering, he had respected her boundaries. But now he seemed like a different person. He didn't stop and instead lifted Emerald's chin with his fingers.
"Since we met at school, the most common thing you've told me is to let go. But Emerald…" Alaric's voice was cold and raspy, deep with a hint of lust that made Emerald panic inexplicably. "I'm not some trash you can just dismiss at your convenience."
"What do you really want?" Emerald asked straightforwardly, knowing he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. That was what she had noticed over their three months together.
"Keep things as they are, Miss Greene. I won't interfere with your life and work. After all, you said it's up to me to decide when it will end," Alaric said, his eyes blazing with intensity.
"Listen to what your body wants, Miss Greene. Admit that you need me... That I'm the one you need right now..." Alaric whispered as he claimed her lips.
Emerald wanted to resist, but she found herself unable to. Her strength was insufficient to push Alaric away. He knew exactly the words she longed to hear. Emerald's lonely heart cried out at that moment, and Alaric could hear it clearly.