Chapter 1

"My little Emerald, you can't handle any loss," the man's hoarse voice whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

Emerald had never been with a man before and was unfamiliar with the sensations it brought. She had no idea that once she experienced it, she would crave the fiery passion it ignited. She felt the cold glass door in front of her as the man pushed her against it, his burning body pressing against her from behind.

She could sense his towering presence, and when his lips touched her neck, she nearly burned from the heat of his kisses. Emerald turned in pain, climbed up the man's strong chest with her weak arms, and bit down hard on his neck. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she entwined her legs around his waist, feeling intoxicated. She didn't recognize herself anymore.

"Can you be gentle?" she asked, even though she was curious about the opposite.

The man chuckled in her ear, his grip on her waist tightening. "Do you want me to be gentle?" he whispered. "I don't think I can be gentle..."

Emerald took the initiative and bit his earlobe, her hot breath coming in gasps as if it might stop at any second. "Get on the bed and spread your legs wide," the man ordered seductively.

In an instant, the only sounds in the room were their moans and cries. An intense affair began between them, with no concern for the consequences.

Clothes lay scattered on the carpet, torn stockings and her blouse nowhere to be found. Emerald sat up on the bed, covered only by a blanket over her naked body. Seeing her black bra, she picked it up and put it on. Suddenly, the man's arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back into his embrace.

"Where are you going? Let's sleep together," he said in a hoarse voice. His arms were tightly around her waist, his hot, muscular chest pressed against her back. Strong, sexy, and sultry—just a few reasons why she chose him.

"Did you forget? We had an agreement," he added. She sat on the edge of the bed, trying to ignore him. Her fair cheeks were flushed, and she couldn't help but smile, emotions swirling in her heart.

Three months ago, Emerald had caught her long-term boyfriend—now her ex—with another woman. That's how she met the man she was with now, who saved her from falling into a pool after she'd gotten drunk. She could still remember the first night they shared; it was unforgettable.

"Do you want me?" she asked in a seductive voice, her arm draped around his neck. At that moment, it wasn't just her body that was wet.

They had sex for hours—who knew how long? She left her contact number the next morning. "If you need anything, you can contact me," she said, knowing she would miss him. Only then did the man notice the red stain on the bed sheet after she left. He was the one who took her virginity, something she hadn't told him, as if it wasn't a big deal to her.

A few days later, the man contacted her, and it happened again and again. Whenever they had time, they would meet. It was as if their bodies were made for each other, an addiction they couldn't shake, poisoned by each other's kisses. Before deeper feelings could develop, the man set some ground rules, which she quickly agreed to: no staying overnight, he had a girlfriend, so no one should know, and their relationship would be purely physical.

There would be no exchange of money, no obligations—just the purest desires of a man and a woman, intertwined in the darkness like a web of stars. Once it was over, she’d fix her skirt and turn cold.

"Want to do it again, huh?” the man whispered to her. Emerald closed her eyes, shivering from the slight breath in her ear.

She shook her head, trying to hide her excitement. "I can't. I have to be up early for school tomorrow. There are events and activities," she explained, pulling away from his embrace. She stood up without looking back and started getting dressed.

“I see…” the man muttered, followed by the sound of a lighter clicking.

Through the smoke of his cigarette, Alaric watched Emerald pull her skirt up to her small waist. He bit his lower lip, staring at her. From her ample chest, slim waist, flat stomach, and long legs, he couldn't believe this woman was a teacher. She had an innocent face, but it changed in bed, turning into a wild animal.

Once Emerald zipped up her skirt, she looked back at the man who had been staring at her. Only then did she notice his striking features. He wasn't the popular handsome type nowadays. He had sharp features, a perfectly chiseled jaw, deep black eyes, and red lips. Her gaze dropped to his body, noticing the large tattoo, and that scar on his chest. His muscles were smooth, not those of a gym-trained bodybuilder. The lean muscles with defined outlines exuded a raw, masculine allure.

Especially when those strong arms wrapped around her, she felt completely secure.

Before she could be tempted any further and let a small smile appear on her lips, she quickly looked away. "I'll go ahead. Good night."

Alaric put out his cigarette, a satisfied smile appearing at the corner of his mouth right after Emerald left. Clearly, he was pleased with the woman, too.

The next morning, Emerald woke up early to get ready for work. After showering, she quickly dressed in her teacher’s uniform. Her hair was tied up high, with the slightly curly ends forming an arc in the air.

When she arrived at school, she immediately attended to the activities planned for the day. Emerald is a teacher at a prestigious private kindergarten. They were having a mini-concert that day, and all the parents were required to attend, which made her excitement hard to hide.

“Ms. Greene, your students are fighting!” an alarmed fellow teacher called out to her.

Emerald panicked. Children shouldn’t get hurt while in their care, or they will be in serious trouble. The students at their school were either rich or noble, and as teachers, they were responsible for keeping them safe.

Emerald hurried backstage, where the two little boys were fighting. James Corrigan was on top of Yosef Williard, punching him with his left hand. Yosef wailed, his face turning red. Although James was young, his eyes showed a cruelty unexpected for his age. These two boys were the only children of the Corrigan and Williard families, both spoiled and constantly fighting. The teachers only dared to intervene verbally, afraid to step in physically.

"That’s enough, Yosef and James!” Emerald commanded authoritatively.