Chapter 2

1 year has passed.

The marriage between Alaric and Emerald seemed normal, nothing had changed about Emerald. The girl was still very cold.

That morning, Alaric came out of his room, his eyes accidentally fell on Emerald who was reading a book in the living room with a flat face.

Alaric approached, he sat down in front of Emerald who did not move at all.

"Your mom called you today, I'm busy so go with the driver." Alaric said.

Emerald nodded without looking at Alaric making a sound in her mouth. Honestly for Alaric Emerald was too sickening to be a wife, but he didn't care about that.

Alaric immediately stood up from his position, he was about to leave but it seemed that Emerald left him first.

Again and again Alaric's growl could be heard.

Alaric and Emerald are in different rooms, it's their decision this year.

****

Emerald was about to leave but her hand was held back by Alaric. Emerald's eyes looked flat at Alaric.

"Come with me." Alaric said.

Emerald didn't say much, she pulled her hand from Alaric and got into Alaric's car.

Not far away, suddenly a woman entered the Alaric residence.

PLAK

Alaric's face was suddenly slapped so hard that it turned red. Alaric's eyes flashed, he looked sharply at the woman who had just slapped him.

"Are you crazy?" Alaric screeched angrily, his eyes even bulging with anger.

The woman was also glaring, she was angry and annoyed.

"You crazy bastard, Alaric!" Said the woman.

Emerald chose to watch the fight without any intention of joining in.

The woman's eyes were drawn to Emerald who was standing by the car.

"Is this your wife? What family is she from huh? Is she taller than me?" The woman railed.

Seeing Alaric not answering made the woman approach Emerald, she raged then slapped Emerald hard on the face.

Emerald was still silent, she was like a statue that didn't mind being slapped. Alaric's growl was stifled as Emerald remained silent.

"OLIVIA!" He shouted at the woman.

He firmly gripped the arm of the woman with the name Olivia, he moved her away from Emerald.

Olivia's eyes looked angrily at Alaric.

"Are you crazy? You yelled at me, forgetting who I am, huh? I'm your fiancée and you're marrying someone else while I'm in another country." Olivia said angrily.

Alaric smirked, he looked at Olivia's face then brushed it off quite roughly.

"Go away, you and I are long over!" Alaric insisted.

Olivia glared.

"Who are you to end our relationship so easily, huh? If we're over then I'm the only one who can break this relationship! You bastard!" said Olivia angrily.

Alaric smiled but it looked like a grin.

"We are engaged but obviously I will not accept a woman like you who can even go for a year to another country, we are over a long time ago Olivia." Alaric said.

Olivia shook her head, she didn't accept making Alaric not care anymore.

"Drag this woman out of my residence!" Alaric yelled at his bodyguards.

"ALARIC!" Olivia snapped, which Alaric ignored.

Alaric's hand roughly pulled Emerald into the car leaving Olivia raging in disgust.

```````

Liona smiled as Emerald entered her residence.

There was Alaric behind Emerald.

"Have you come? Come sit down, I want to eat with you." Liona said.

Liona's face was now pale, it looked like she was quite sick.

Emerald gave Liona a friendly smile.

"Let me help you mom," Emerald offered as she put her arm around Liona.

Now the three of them were eating in the dining room.

"Your relationship is fine, right?" asked Liona.

It seemed that the morning meal was over.

Emerald nodded, making Liona sigh.

"Looks like you lied to mom, didn't you Eme?" asked Liona.

Emerald looked at Liona in surprise.

"The blood on the corner of your lips, did Alaric abuse you?" Liona asked.

Emerald smiled slightly, she shook her head again until Alaric's figure came into view.

"Just a little trouble but he didn't do it." Emerald was honest.

Liona frowned.

"Then who did that to you?" Liona asked.

Suddenly Alaric said.

"Olivia, she did it mom." Alaric said.

Liona looked at Alaric's face.

"Olivia? Is she back?" Liona asked.

Emerald's small smile was visible, Liona's face looked enthusiastic. Emerald would be very happy if Liona asked her to divorce Alaric.

Before the conversation could continue, the waiter accidentally dropped the cutlery near Alaric's feet.

"Incompetent!" said Alaric, glaring angrily at the waiter.

BRAK BRUK

Alaric kicked the servant's body so hard that he winced in pain, Alaric immediately left Liona's residence.

Such was Alaric's nature, he was a demon in human form. Rude and unhuman-like, for more than a year Emerald had only witnessed the man's madness in torturing several servants who he thought were incompetent in his eyes.

Liona could see Emerald's face.

"Are you surprised, that's Alaric's nature." Liona said.

Emerald nodded.

"Yes, I'm used to seeing his rude behavior." Emerald said.

Emerald moved away from her sitting position, she bent down to help the maid who was down in pain.

"No need ma'am, I'm fine." said the servant.

Emerald didn't answer, she kept helping the servant to stand up.

Emerald seemed to understand how the servant felt, she was like a slave. Alaric had no heart.

Liona was about to stand up but her body faltered and fell unconscious.

****

Hospital.

Emerald ended up in a hospital where Liona was usually treated, the girl was sitting while reading a book.

Liona's eyes opened, she called Emerald very softly.

"Eme." she called.

Emerald immediately got up, she stood near Liona's bed.

"Yes ma'am?" replied Emerald.

Liona smiled, her face was very pale.

"Sit here, please accompany me. I don't want to die, I still want to see you and Alaric have a child." she whispered, Liona's tears visible.

Emerald gently grasped Liona's fingers.

"Don't talk about anything mom, everything will be fine." Emerald said.

"Thank you for your words, they soothed my feelings." Liona said.

Liona brought Emerald's hand to her face.

"I heard that you don't live in the same room with Alaric, is he rude?" Liona asked.

Emerald's sigh was heard.

"I don't know what to tell you, but I'm definitely not compatible with your son. We're too far apart to be similar, looking at a horrible man like him makes me sick." Emerald was honest.

She really didn't like the way Alaric looked down on the servants, even though Alaric never hit her but just looking at Alaric's face made Emerald sick.

He was a rude and evil rich man, he was not her ideal but there were many women who were ready to satisfy him in bed.

"So that means you can't accept my son?" Liona asked.

Emerald nodded.

"I also felt that you seemed happy when you heard that Olivia and your son seemed to get along well with that woman." Emerald said, conveying her thoughts.

Liona sat up, trying to explain something to Emerald.

"I'm happy because I already consider Olivia as my daughter but the one who is now Alaric's wife is you and will forever remain you Eme." Liona said.

Emerald let out her breath.

"Don't you want to tell me the reason why you chose me? Honestly ma'am, I can't see the way your son acts, he's so rude to all the servants and I'm sure he'll do the same to me one day." Emerald said.

Liona was about to take Emerald into her arms but Emerald refused, she pulled her arms away from Liona.

"This marriage might as well end," said Emerald.

Liona shook her head.

"No, please don't do that. I don't know when I'll die, please don't ever leave Alaric's side." Liona sounded pleading.

Again and again Emerald sighed wearily.

"I don't know how far I've entered your life that you trust me so much, I'm bad. I have no family and am poor, all I need is a quiet life. Honestly, you brought me into a difficult situation." Emerald said.

Liona smiled and shook her head.

"I should apologize to you, but for me only you can save Alaric. He does act like a demon and many people say he's a demon but Alaric is actually very kind." Liona said.

Emerald smiled very small.

"I'm sorry, I've never felt the love of a parent. Maybe this is how it feels to be defended by parents." Emerald said.

Liona's hand again gently grabbed Emerald's hand.

"I'm your mother, so just think of me that way. I love you just as much as I love Alaric." Liona said.

Emerald smiled, this time looking very sincere.

"If you really love Alaric, then stay alive and watch until he can turn into a good man in the future according to your expectations." Emerald said.

Liona's tears fell again.

"I'm sorry to say this, Alaric has his reasons for being like that." Liona said.

Liona's hand rubbed her own face roughly.

"My husband had an affair with a servant when Alaric was five years old." Liona whispered.

Emerald eyes looked straight into Liona's face.

"An argument in the past made Alaric accidentally push the body of my husband and the servant, they made love in front of my little son." Liona sobbed.

Emerald did not expect that behind Alaric's cruelty there were many stories full of hidden wounds.

"Sorry, just forget about my story." Liona said.

Emerald chose to remain silent, until Liona's sobs finally stopped.

"This very long incident is like a wound that should have dried up but my mind was wrong, the wound is very difficult to heal." Liona said.

Emerald's hand reached for a tissue and gave it to Liona.

"It would be better if you do the treatment according to the doctor's advice. If you leave Alaric then you will only add to his wounds." Emerald said.

Liona was silenced by Emerald's words.

Continued...