Victor stood from his chair, the weariness in his body suddenly evaporating as his eyes locked onto Emma. The tension between them, once painful and unresolved, now crackled with something far more intense. Emma’s gaze held his, unwavering and fierce. Despite the turmoil of the night, the weight of betrayal and anger, an undeniable heat surged between them. The room felt smaller, the air thicker with each passing second.Emma didn’t flinch when Victor took a step toward her, the shadows of their argument still lingering in the air. But something had shifted, something raw and primal. They both knew this wasn’t the time to unravel everything between them, but the pull they felt toward each other was undeniable.Victor reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair behind Emma’s ear, his fingers grazing her skin. She didn’t move, didn’t resist. The silence between them was heavy, but now it thrummed with a different kind of electricity. "I’ve hurt you," Victor said, his voice low, the ad

Deals and DesireVictor awoke to the soft glow of early morning light seeping through the curtains. His body was still tangled with Emma’s, their skin flushed from the heat of the previous night. But as his eyes blinked open, the haze of passion faded, and the reality of their looming war returned like a cold wave crashing over him.Emma stirred beside him, her hand instinctively reaching for his chest. She didn’t open her eyes, but he could feel the weight of her thoughts pressing against him. The night had given them a brief reprieve, but the world outside was still full of danger, and the Graves Group was closing in.A sudden knock on the door broke the silence.Victor sighed. “Come in.”One of their spies entered, bowing slightly. “Sir, I bring urgent news. The Graves Group is forming alliances with the neighboring warlords. They’re consolidating their forces.”Emma’s eyes snapped open, the warmth between them vanishing as reality hit.“How much time do we have?” she asked, sittin

The villa was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore just beyond their patio. Victor stood by the window, looking out at the darkening sky, his mind already set on how perfect tonight was supposed to be. A romantic dinner under the stars with Emma, a night free from the worries of the world, where they could just be themselves. His fingers drummed against the glass as he glanced at the beautifully set table outside, the candles flickering in the light breeze.He had it all planned.And then, Lila came bouncing into the room.Emma’s daughter was a ball of excitement, her small feet pattering on the wooden floors as she ran up to Emma, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Mommy! Guess what? I’m staying with you and Victor tonight!” Lila’s eyes sparkled with pure joy, her infectious grin spreading across her face.Emma smiled down at her daughter, brushing a stray curl from her forehead. "Oh, you are, are you?" she teased, her tone warm. Her eyes flicked up to

Deals and DesireVictor awoke to the soft glow of early morning light seeping through the curtains. His body was still tangled with Emma’s, their skin flushed from the heat of the previous night. But as his eyes blinked open, the haze of passion faded, and the reality of their looming war returned like a cold wave crashing over him.Emma stirred beside him, her hand instinctively reaching for his chest. She didn’t open her eyes, but he could feel the weight of her thoughts pressing against him. The night had given them a brief reprieve, but the world outside was still full of danger, and the Graves Group was closing in.A sudden knock on the door broke the silence.Victor sighed. “Come in.”One of their spies entered, bowing slightly. “Sir, I bring urgent news. The Graves Group is forming alliances with the neighboring warlords. They’re consolidating their forces.”Emma’s eyes snapped open, the warmth between them vanishing as reality hit.“How much time do we have?” she asked, sittin

Victor held Emma close, feeling the tension leave her body as she melted into his embrace. The warmth of the fireplace flickered against the walls, casting soft shadows around the room, but all he could focus on was her, the woman who had changed everything for him."I don't want to rush anything," Victor murmured, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing gently against her skin. "But I can’t keep pretending that I don’t think about what we could be… about what this" he gestured between them, "means for us."Emma blinked, her eyes wide and full of emotion. "Victor, I... I feel the same way. I’ve been thinking about it too. But there’s just... so much going on. You know how complicated things are with everything, Lila, the business, the Phantom..." She trailed off, her voice full of uncertainty.Victor sighed. "I know. But we can’t keep putting our happiness on hold because of all that. Life is never going to be simple, Emma. We’ll alway