ferocearcadia

Emerald Greene, a teacher with a broken heart, is rescued from drowning by a mysterious man. They start a no-strings-attached fling, but Emerald's world turns upside down when she discovers he’s the father of one of her students. Torn between being a mistress or letting him go, Emerald faces a choice that’s even harder when she realizes she needs him for revenge against her ex. Will she stay for love or leverage?

An Affair with the Billionaire

"Em, you have to try this strawberry ice cream! It's so good!" Iris's voice snapped her back to reality as she slid a bowl of strawberry ice cream toward Emerald.

Emerald's gaze fixed on the bowl of strawberry ice cream. The bright red strawberries reminded her of the nosebleed she had that day—vivid, red droplets splattering onto the hot ground. Though time had passed, she still recalled how that bite of ice cream had sent a chill through her heart.

Now that she was older and independent from her mother's control, the trauma from that seemingly innocent treat lingered like a deep wound. Emerald pushed the bowl away.

"No, thanks. I'm not really into sweets," she lied, despite her mouth watering at the sight of the ice cream. She forced a smile at Iris, but Alaric could see the sadness in her eyes. At that moment, Emerald resembled a delicate porcelain doll, vulnerable and fragile.

ETHAN'S APOLOGY