Chapter: Chapter 18: What Happened with Minjun?Jin’s POVThe phone rang four times before clicking over to voicemail. The sound of her generic greeting—a cheerful, professional tone that was so utterly at odds with the flustered, passionate woman who’d just fled from me—was a special kind of torture.“You’ve reached Emily Carter. Leave a message.”Beep.I ended the call without speaking, my grip on the phone tight enough to strain the casing. The silence in the back of my town car was absolute, a stark contrast to the riot in my head.She ran.She’d looked at me with those wide, shocked eyes, seen God-knows-what on my face, and she’drun as if I were a monster. As if what we’d just done was something to escape.The driver’s eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, a silent question. I gave a sharp, almost imperceptible shake of my head.Not yet.We didn’t move. I sat there, parked down the street from her ap
Last Updated: 2025-09-12
Chapter: Chapter 17: HeadlinesEmily’s POVI…I…I’m kissing Jin Baek!Wait, no.He kissed me!I’m sure I’m going to wake up any second now. It must be a dream because there is no way Jin Baek decided to kiss me.And what did he mean by I’m driving him crazy?!But I was not dreaming, this was reality, and Jin’s lips were against mine. The worst part, he was a great kisser. Kis lips moved with practice eased as they devoured me. His tongue started pushing as he asked for permission, which I gladly granted.One of his hands slid from my cheek to the nape of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair, holding me exactly where he wanted me. The other arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against him. I could feel the solid wall of his chest, how his heart beat increased, matching my own.I kissed him back. I couldn't help it. My hands slid up from his lapels to curl around his neck, pulling him closer. A low groan rumbled
Last Updated: 2025-09-11
Chapter: Chapter 16: First KissEmily’s POVThe air in the main hall was thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the low hum of wealthy anticipation. Jin led me to our table—front and center, of course—his hand a firm, impersonal pressure on my lower back. The space where his fingers had curled around my neck, where his thumb had stroked my skin, felt like it was on fire, a brand hidden beneath the emerald silk.I tried to focus on the auction, on the polished auctioneer and the glittering items being paraded across the stage. But my mind was a reel of the moments just passed—the heat in his eyes, the rasp of his voice, the devastating almost-kiss. Prove that one night with me wouldn't ruin you for any other man. The challenge echoed, a dare that made my blood hum.Then, a new piece was presented: a necklace. It wasn't the largest or most ostentatious piece, but it was exquisite. It was a delicate cascade of diamonds and pale blue sapphires that looked like frozen starlight. It was
Last Updated: 2025-09-10
Chapter: Chapter 15: Jealous?Emily’s POVInstead of asking such a personal question, I did something else. I tilted my head, feigning a curiosity that was only half-feigned. “What is ‘Hyung’?”The question seemed to startle him out of his intense appraisal. The unreadable expression on his face shifted into something softer. He was amused by my question.“It’s Korean,” he explained, his voice losing its edge. “It’s what a younger brother calls an older brother. A term of respect.” He paused, his gaze flicking in the direction Minjun had disappeared. “Or, in some cases, a term used to maintain a pretense of respect.”The bitterness in that last part was subtle, but I caught it. It was another crack, another glimpse into his family's complicated dynamics.“Oh,” I said, processing this. “So he has to call you that? Even though he clearly…”“Despises me?” Jin finished for me, a wry twist to his lips. “Yes. Appearances must be maintained. It’s a family rule.”
Last Updated: 2025-09-09
Chapter: Chapter 14: Too RealEmily’s POVI feel like my heart went all the way up to my throat.“You are going to be fine. You look amazing, Ms. Carter,” David said, trying to ease my nerves, but it didn’t help in the slightest.“Why don’t you try going to one of these events?” I countered.We were about to park, meaning I had to get out of this car soon. Could I handle the stares? Yes, yes, I could. Perhaps I’m going to throw up later, but I’m sure I can handle myself at least for a few hours.“I’ve always gone with Mr. Baek to these events, since he never takes a partner with him,” David carefully replied.David’s words should have been a comfort. Instead, they felt like a final, heavy weight settling on my shoulders.He never takes a partner.Of course, he didn’t. Because he was Jin Baek, he wasn’t a playboy like Ilay.The car glided to
Last Updated: 2025-09-05
Chapter: Chapter 13: Feelings?Jin’s POVDavid didn’t contact me again, meaning Emily had likely sent him and his entire team away. A tight, frustrated knot formed in my stomach. She was going to show up in something from her own closet. Something that would be glaringly, obviously inadequate for the scrutiny she was about to face. It would be a distraction. A flaw in the presentation. An unnecessary variable I had failed to control.If only I had done this sooner…Suho was right, I had taken too much time, and now Emily thought I was only doing this out of charity, when that was not the case. I didn’t want her to feel the stares from all these socialites. Emily was beautiful, sometimes chaotic, but gorgeous nonetheless.I stood near the entrance of the museum’s grand hall, a glass of champagne in my hand that I had no intention of drinking. The air hummed with the sound of glasses clinking and fake laughter. I scanned the crowd,
Last Updated: 2025-09-03
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