Chapter 38 Emily, You Are Mine!
"Whether it's worth it or not isn't for you to decide." Emily's tone shifted. "You might not have money, but Alex has plenty. Three million is just pocket change to him. If you think it's too expensive, you don't have to come to me."
Grace's face turned pale with anger, her fingers gripping her dress tightly.
She hadn't expected Emily to ask for three million dollars right off the bat.
But thinking about having Emily design her wedding ring, she couldn't bear to give up.
After hesitating for a moment, Grace gritted her teeth. "Fine, three million it is!"
Hearing this, Emily smiled. "Good, then here's to a pleasant cooperation. I'll send you the design draft by email as soon as possible. Once the money comes through, I'll deliver the final version."
With that, she turned and left the café without giving Grace another glance.
Back at the old mansion, Emily still felt cold all over.
Three million dollars for a design fee, just for a wedding ring.
They really were willing to spend.
Margaret came downstairs and, seeing she was in a bad mood, sat down and patted the back of her hand. "Emmie, what's wrong? Who upset you? Tell Grandma, and Grandma will stand up for you!"
"It's nothing, Grandma. Just a bit busy with work."
"Don't take work too seriously. Your health is what matters most." Margaret thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh right, there's a church service next week. Let's go!"
Emily was stunned. "Church service?"
She rarely attended these kinds of events.
But Margaret was serious. "Of course! This old body of mine is hoping for a great-grandchild soon! Come on, come on, Grandma will help you pick out an outfit."
Emily didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Grandma, let's not..."
Margaret paused on the stairs, turned around, and made a gesture. "Stop! Grandma's taking you both. Let's go pick out a proper outfit first, so we can show our sincerity at the service."
Before Emily could refuse, the old lady pulled her upstairs.
Helpless, Emily could only agree.
Since they were going to church, they should keep it simple and elegant.
Maybe... going to church for a service would be nice. She could think of it as praying for the baby's blessing.
Hoping everything would go smoothly in the future.
After they finished picking out clothes, the old lady pulled her into making videos, spending quite a while playing with electronic devices and social media apps.
Soon it was evening.
The old mansion was so quiet that only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard.
Emily worked on her design until late at night, her fingertips gliding across the tablet as the outline of the wedding ring gradually took shape on the screen.
A mocking smile curved her lips.
The three-million-dollar design fee was like a thorn, keeping her both clear-headed and irritated.
As Emily's lips curved up, they felt a bit dry. She instinctively reached for her water glass, only to find it empty.
With no choice, she headed downstairs. But just as she reached the top of the stairs, she noticed a lamp on in the living room.
"You're back?"
Under the dim lighting, Alex was leaning back on the sofa, his suit jacket casually draped over his arm, his shirt collar loosened, his sharp jawline outlining his face.
She had to admit, Alex's face really did hit the sweet spot for many women. Even Emily couldn't help but be affected.
The whole living room reeked of alcohol, rather pungent.
Emily frowned slightly and came downstairs irritably. "It's the middle of the night and you're not sleeping in your room. Sitting here trying to scare people?"
Usually at times like this, Alex would have shot back at her.
But today he only slowly lifted his eyes, his gaze dark and deep, with a hint of drunken haziness.
Emily walked closer and glanced at him.
Oh, so he drank too much at a business dinner.
In the past when he came home drunk, she would busily search for hangover medicine and make sobering soup.
But now, she didn't want to do those things anymore.
Emily walked straight to the kitchen, poured a glass of warm water, and casually pulled out some hangover medicine from a drawer.
With a thud, she tossed it on the coffee table in front of Alex, her tone cold. "Hangover medicine. Take it yourself."
With that, she turned to leave, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed with force.
Emily was shocked. "What are you doing?"
"Why?" Alex's voice was hoarse.
It seemed... to carry a hint of grievance that was hard to detect?
Emily was confused by the question. "What kind of question is that? What are you talking about?"
"Why are you so cold to me?" Alex pulled gently, drawing her in front of him. "You weren't like this before."
Before?
Emily let out a cold laugh.
Before, she was thoughtful in everything, gentle and understanding.
But what about him?
He took her devotion for granted and turned around to shower other women with care and concern.
"Alex, you're drunk." Emily tried to pull her hand back expressionlessly. "Let go of me. I'm going back to sleep."
"I'm not drunk!" Alex stubbornly gripped her wrist.
Before she could move, he was standing over her, trapping her against the couch. The smell of alcohol and cold cedar—his scent—washed over her.
Emily's breath caught, and she looked up with a hint of panic. "Alex, don't go too far. Let go of me right now!"
Alex lowered his head, the haziness in his eyes fading, replaced by intense possessiveness. "Emily, you're mine!"
Before he finished speaking, he leaned down and kissed her.
Unlike last night's brief touch, this kiss carried an undeniable dominance, as if he wanted to devour her.
"Mmm... Alex, let go of me!" Emily struggled hard, her cheeks flushing red.
Both ashamed and angry.
He clearly had Grace in his heart, yet he was doing this to her?
Simply unreasonable!
And... he and Grace were getting married!
What was this now?
Emily lifted her leg and kicked hard at his shin with considerable force. "Go upstairs and take a shower. Stop acting crazy here!"
Alex was pushed back two steps by her.
Before he could speak, Emily pushed him into the second-floor bathroom. "Take a cold shower and sober up properly."
As her words fell, she slammed the bathroom door shut with a "bang."
The cold water soaked Alex's shirt, clinging to his body and outlining his firm muscle lines.
The drunkenness in Alex's eyes had already faded, leaving only deep complexity.
He wasn't drunk at all.
A few minutes later.
The bathroom door opened.
Alex was only wrapped in a towel.
He didn't say anything, just walked straight to the bed and lay down, then reached out and pulled Emily into his arms, holding her tight, as if afraid she would leave.
Emily was speechless. Sleeping in each other's arms had become the norm these past few days. Whatever.
The next morning.
Emily curled up in Alex's arms and slowly opened her eyes.
Not quite awake yet, or perhaps out of subconscious dependence, Emily didn't immediately push him away. Instead, she nuzzled into his embrace.
This unconscious snuggling made Alex's heart race—he had woken up not long ago.
The next second, their eyes met, and the air filled with an ambiguous atmosphere.