Leaning closer to his ear, the faint scent of wine lingered in the air as she exhaled softly, like the fragrance of an orchid.
"Mr. Corrigan, it's you."
Emerald never imagined this moment would come. Not long ago, she had been as cautious with Alaric as someone guarding against a thief. Back then, Alaric had his hand on her feet under the table, and now, the roles had reversed.
The once vulnerable one was now the one holding control. As the saying goes online: "Before, you ignored me, but now, I'm the one you can't reach."
Thinking of those words, a soft and gentle laugh escaped Emerald's lips.
Under the dim lighting, the little girl with clear features, fair skin, a slender neck, and delicate collarbones came into view. She swirled the cocktail glass in her hand, and the breeze from the sea played with a few strands of hair at her temples.
Her smile gleamed, full of satisfaction.
