Emerald recalled the first day she met Alaric, when he had saved her. The man had been dripping wet, his short black hair neatly styled, his eyebrows raised, and his strong arms had supported her soft body. He exuded a potent, irresistible aura. Ethan had always told her she was a boring woman, but Alaric had awakened something in her that made her feel physically satisfied even without love.
As the alcohol clouded her judgment, she found herself embracing Alaric, inviting him with boldness. The man took advantage of the moment, his kiss now gentle, guiding her hands around his muscular waist. With the soft sofa beneath her and the hard, warm man in front, her body was overwhelmed with emotions.
"You want me too, right?" Alaric's voice was sexy and enticing, whispering directly into her ear, deliberately pushing her to give in.
Emerald was no longer sure if it was the alcohol or her own desires driving her, but she didn't protest. She wanted Alaric even more than he wanted her. She couldn't admit it, though, because she feared the consequences it might bring to her life. Her dignity and career were at stake.
But how could she resist?
Her head was spinning, and her lips parted slightly as she struggled to speak. "I…"
Alaric's fingers toyed with the tie around her waist, coaxing her, "Baby, tell me, do you want me, too?"
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang, pulling Emerald back to reality. Her senses returned, and she quickly pushed Alaric away, irritation evident on his face. Emerald's conscience struck hard when she saw his expression. She instinctively wanted to hide him.
Iris or her mother might come over without warning. She couldn't afford for anyone to discover her with Alaric.
"You should hide in my room!" Emerald said urgently.
Alaric's face darkened at her words. "Why? Am I that shameful to you?"
"I don't want my mom to see you. I'd rather jump off a cliff than have anyone discover this," Emerald said plainly, pulling Alaric with her. He resisted, unmoving.
Frustrated, she glared at him. "You just said you wouldn't interfere with my life and work!"
"So, you mean it?" Alaric's eyebrows raised, and a small smirk appeared on his lips.
They locked eyes until Alaric finally complied, heading toward Emerald's bedroom. She almost pushed him the entire way, insisting, "Don't come out, no matter what happens…"
Before she could say more, Alaric suddenly pushed her against the wall. The back of her head hit her hand for support, and Alaric leaned in to kiss her.
"Alaric…"
Alaric held the back of her head, his hand pinching her waist as he kissed her passionately. He gently sucked her lower lip into his mouth, his voice hoarse and magnetic, full of bewitching allure.
"I'm a businessman. I'll do whatever you want, but what will you give me in return?" His gaze was as intense as a stormy sea, igniting her with desire. Emerald felt his hands softly tracing her waist, and the room seemed to burn with the heat of their passion.
Emerald felt trapped, her emotions in turmoil. She was cornered into a decision, and with little choice, she reluctantly agreed to Alaric's demands. The consequences of their encounter seemed to outweigh her desire to maintain a professional relationship as his son's teacher.
With a resigned sigh, she freed herself from Alaric's embrace, her frustration evident. She quickly shut the bedroom door behind her and composed herself before opening the front door.
Standing before her was a disheveled Ethan, looking far from his usual polished self. His coat was gone, his shirt was partially undone, and his hair, usually neatly styled, now fell messily around his face. It had been three months since they last saw each other, and Ethan looked as if he had been deeply affected by their breakup.
"What are you doing here?" Emerald's voice was icy, her expression cold.
Ethan, appearing hurt and weary, tried to wedge his hand in the door as Emerald attempted to close it. His voice was low and ragged. "So, you really don't care about me anymore? You haven't even looked for me since we broke up, Ru."
Emerald's eyebrows arched in irritation. She was tempted to dismiss him harshly, but his presence was an unwelcome complication she didn't need, especially with Alaric in the apartment.
"What do you expect? Chase you?" Emerald said bluntly, her calm demeanor belying her irritation.
Ethan's eyes betrayed his pain, making Emerald almost want to laugh at his audacity. He was a master at playing the victim, even now.
"What's wrong? I just wanted to see if you really care about me. So what if I cheated? Don't you love me anymore, Emerald?" His voice held a mix of desperation and vulnerability.
Emerald's frown deepened. If Alaric weren't in the apartment, she might have told Ethan the truth directly. But the cramped space and Alaric's presence made it impossible to have a straightforward conversation.
Seeing Emerald's silence, Ethan's eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. "Emerald, listen to me. I was drugged by my mother that night. I have my reasons."
"So, what would you like me to do? Take you back? Believe you again?" Emerald's voice was cold, her patience wearing thin.
Ethan's face was earnest, as if pleading for redemption. "Samantha and I are just in a business marriage. I'm sorry, babe. Let's not break up, okay? I can't lose you. You're different from Sam. I want you with me…"
Emerald's expression hardened further, her disgust evident. "I'm sorry, but I don't have a habit of recycling trash. Besides, your twelve minutes can't satisfy me."
Ethan's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. He seemed to be grappling with the harshness of her words, unable to comprehend the insult from someone he had always perceived as gentle and kind.
"What did you say?" His voice was now laced with anger and threat.
Emerald's gaze remained unyielding, her cold stare reflecting her final decision.
Emerald's bold declaration cut through the tension in the doorway, her words deliberately aimed to sting and assert her newfound confidence. She wasn't interested in revisiting past grievances or allowing Ethan to invade her space any longer.
"I said I'm already taken. He's wild and hot. He can satisfy me for more than an hour. Sometimes it even lasts all night. Can you even do that? No, right?" Emerald's voice was firm, her challenge clear.
Ethan laughed derisively, shaking his head in disbelief. "Come on, Emerald, stop kidding around. We've been together for three years and you wouldn't even let me touch you. Even holding your hand made you mad. How can you say that now?" His tone was incredulous, reflecting his frustration and confusion.
He was about to mention how Emerald's cold demeanor had once driven him to seek psychiatric help, discovering she had a mental disorder. But he stopped himself, not wanting to escalate the argument further.
"Alright. Stop this now. I know you're just saying that to get me to stop. Haven't you really moved on? Don't you still love me?" Ethan's voice was pleading, a mix of desperation and hope.
Before Emerald could respond, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the room's interior, causing Ethan to freeze in shock.
"How long do I have to wait for you, baby?"
Ethan's head snapped towards the source of the voice, his eyes widening in surprise and confusion. Standing there was a tall, unfamiliar man with a strong presence. Alaric, with his intense gaze and imposing figure, had emerged from the shadows of the apartment.
The tension in the room was palpable as Emerald's bold move took center stage. Alaric, with his peaked cap shading his eyes and his well-defined muscles exposed from the waist up, stood poised between shadows and light. The scar on his chest added to his rugged allure, making him embody the very essence of a dramatic, atmospheric male protagonist.
Ethan's confusion and anger were evident as he tried to comprehend the scene unfolding before him. The sight of Emerald, whom he once knew as reserved and distant, now passionately kissing another man, was a stark contrast to their past interactions. His mind raced, struggling to process the betrayal.
Emerald, determined to assert her position, approached Alaric with a mix of defiance and desire. Standing on tiptoes to reach him, she pulled him down and kissed him with a mix of tenderness and intensity. Alaric responded with equal fervor, his arms enveloping Emerald in a possessive embrace, making it clear to Ethan that she was his.
Ethan's frustration boiled over as he witnessed the intimate display. He roared in anger, unable to contain his outrage at the sight of Emerald in the arms of another man.
"What the hell, Emerald! Who the heck is he?" Ethan's voice echoed through the room, filled with disbelief and fury.
Emerald pushed Alaric away just enough to address Ethan, but Alaric remained close, his chin resting on Emerald's shoulder, his lips lightly nibbling her earlobe. His grip around her waist was firm, a silent declaration of his claim on her.
"Baby, tell your ex-boyfriend, who am I?" Alaric's voice was sultry, a contrast to Ethan's rage.
Emerald, with a smirk playing on her lips, met Alaric's gaze with an air of challenge. "This is an obvious fact. Are you sure you want me to say it, Mr. Florida?" she teased, her voice dripping with a mix of satisfaction and mischief.
The scene was charged with a blend of jealousy, assertion, and unspoken declarations, making it clear that Emerald's past with Ethan was now firmly behind her, overshadowed by the intense presence of Alaric.
As Emerald's defiant declaration hung in the air, Ethan's world seemed to shatter. The realization that Emerald had moved on with another man, particularly one as imposing and alluring as Alaric, hit him hard. Tears welled up in Ethan's eyes, his denial and pain evident. His desperate pleas for Emerald to retract her statement only made his situation more pitiful.
Emerald, now fully embracing her role, turned her attention back to Alaric. Leaning against his strong chest, she lightly traced the contours of his Adam's apple with her fingers, her voice soft but firm. "Do you want to stay and enjoy the live broadcast, Mr. Florida?" She gave him a sidelong glance, her tone dripping with seductive finality. "But sorry to say this to you, I don't do that. Leave or I will call the cops on you."
The cold, alluring manner in which Emerald addressed Ethan, coupled with the comforting yet commanding presence of Alaric, was enough to make Ethan's fury boil over. He attempted to confront Alaric, eager to unmask the man who had stolen Emerald's heart, but Alaric's swift and decisive action left him no chance. The door slammed shut, leaving Ethan outside, seething with anger and frustration.
A few seconds after Ethan stood outside, Samantha called.
"What's up?"
"Babe, where are you? I'm sorry for earlier. I'm just so excited about our wedding… Your parents and mine just signed the contract agreement."
Ethan cursed under his breath at what he heard.
"I'll be there," he said and ended the call. Before leaving, he cast one last, intense look at Emerald's door.
"Do you think I'm just going to let you go? No way, Ru. You're mine and only mine."
Inside, as Emerald finally let out a relieved sigh, Alaric's arm around her waist pulled her close, reestablishing their physical connection. Alaric's gaze, dark and intense, bore into her as he questioned her intentions. "Miss Greene, are you going to throw me away after using me?"
Emerald bit her lip, contemplating her response. The pressure of Alaric's hand on her lower back heightened the sense of urgency in her reply.
"Thank you… For what you did…"
Alaric's eyebrows arched in curiosity, his grin widening as he awaited her next words. Emerald took a deep breath, carefully choosing her words to strike a balance between gratitude and the need for boundaries. "I'll be with you for tonight…"
Her declaration was meant to set clear boundaries while acknowledging the complex emotions involved. By offering only a night, Emerald hoped to manage her own feelings and those of Alaric, avoiding any further complications in their relationship.