Are you game?

Chapter 6 A hot Kiss

Due to the incident at the Met gala, Emma's mood hits rock bottom. She strolls to her favorite bakery called Lady M, where a piece of delicate strawberry cake comforts her heart. Then, she walks into a small quiet bookstore with soft music playing in her headphones. All the design books become her safe haven. Immersed in the professional design world, her mind gradually returns to peace. As midnight fall, Emma's mood has recovered a little bit, so she sets off on her way home.

Unexpectedly, Austin's figure staggers into Emma's sight in the glow of the moonlight when she walks on the first step of the stairs. His clothes are disheveled, his collar is open, and his cheeks are flushed unnaturally, as if every step he takes is in the rhythm of drunkenness.

Seeing Emma, Austin seems to have found his way home. He runs towards her desperately, hugs her tightly in his arms, and whispers in her ear with blame and desire: “Emma, you have finally come back, why is your phone always turned off?”

A strong smell of alcohol comes with his breath. Emma couldn't help but frowns trying to break free from his arms, and takes a few steps back to keep a sober distance.

However, Austin doesn't give up. He pushes Emma against the cold wall, staring into her eyes with a sharp gaze, and asks her a bunch of questions without a break : “Why did you leave without saying goodbye? Where have you been in the past four months? Who have you been with? What have you been doing?”

Emma smiles bitterly. Do I still need to report my itinerary to the ex-husband who is the water under the bridge?

She responds coldly: “What exactly are you doing here?”

But Austin seems to be stuck in his own world turning a deaf ear to her question, and he continues to ask : “why did you keep silent? Why did you agree to the divorce? Why? Why didn't you make a scene? Don't you even care?”

A series of questions are like a sharp blade cutting the connection that is already fragile between them. Emma feels an inexplicable anger and helplessness. It was him who proposed the divorce. Now he is questioning why she agreed. This logic is absolutely absurd.

She tries to break free again, but the drunken Austin is strong and he is holding her tightly. Emma's struggle gradually becomes weak. But when Elizabeth's gentle smile and bulging belly involuntarily appear in Emma's mind, an indescribable feeling of nausea surges into her heart. Finally, she uses all her strength to push him away with a crisp slap in his face that follows. The atmosphere suddenly falls into silence.

Both of them are stunned, and the air seems to freeze. Emma turns around and walks toward the little park near her apartment :“You are drunk. Please go home.”

Austin follows Emma's steps and his eyes gradually focus. Looking at the sight of her back, he feels himself can not hold his impulsion of hugging her. He nods and admits: “Yes, I am drunk.” Then suddenly, he pushes Emma against the towering tree in the park in an irresistible manner, presses her hands above her head, and a viciousness flashes in his eyes: “Remember, don't try to reason with a drunk person.”

Emma's hands are pinned above her head. Perhaps because Austin is drunk, he is strong and does not know how to control his strength. He pinches her wrists so hard that they hurt a lot. The more she struggles, the tighter he holds her. Emma stares at him and couldn't help but let a tear flow down.

Austin looks at her bright and watery eyes, her soft lips. Her delicate face looks so beautiful with her long aromatic hair shining in the moonlight. An indescribable emotion surges in his heart. He could not help it.

He leans over, lowers his head, and kisses Emma's lips and neck with burning passion. He sucks her neck and bites her as if he wants to pour out all his longings.

He wants her so badly.

Emma struggles desperately:“Let go of me......” As soon as she opens her mouth, she is blocked by a kiss with the smell of alcohol.

How good would this kiss be in the past when they were married? Now, this kiss could no longer evoke her former tenderness and attachment. It only brings her disgust and shame.

Realizing that Emma is no longer resisting, Austin props himself up and looks at Emma. When she finally finds a chance to catch her breath, Austin's eyes fall on the drop-shaped scar on her wrist. Some dusty memories come flooding back. He lets her go suddenly, as if he has touched something taboo.

The two of them are standing there quietly with the heavy breathing and the occasional sound of traffic in the distance between them.

Emma has no strength anymore after the struggle. She walks to a bench and sits down. Austin follows and sits down beside her. He lowers his head to light up a cigarette, then raises his head and exhales a puff of smoke:“Who is that man?”

As a matter of fact, she really doesn't know who the man is. This man is just some random guy she met on a diving boat. However, she blurts out:“Boyfriend. We met on a diving boat ”

A diving boat? Austin becomes anxious: “How long have you been together?”

Emma glances at him with a distant look in her eyes:“It has nothing to do with you.”

Austin puts out the cigarette, holding Emma’s jaw with one hand and says:“You are mine.”

She pushes his hand away, looks straight into his eyes with anger:“we are divorced. It is my decision to be with anyone I want.” The air freezes at this moment.

Austin sneers, He leans over and whispers with a charm:“What if I insist on intervening?” Then, a hint of ruthlessness flashes in his eyes:“My property, unless I am tired of it, otherwise, don't ever think of taking it away. What's more, I haven't tried you yet.”

His eyes wanders over her, sliding from her cheek to her chest. His fingers are lightly touching her face and stopping at her slender neck:“What should I do, Emma? You make me unable to stop. I regret so much spending those two years without touching you.”

Emma's eyes are full of stubbornness:“Is it because Elizabeth is pregnant, and she is not available? Or is it because Mr. Wells' charm has greatly faded. There are fewer women climbing into your bed?”

It was originally a quarrel. However, her voice is soft and tender. It is not like a reproach to him, but more like acting coquettishly. It feels like a feather teasing his heart. He loosens his grip and leans back. Austin hates this feeling of being out of control.

Austin has always been surrounded by beautiful women. During the two years of their secret marriage, he always had different female companions when attending various social occasions. Various young beauties come and go. Only Austin knows that all of these behaviors are just playing around for the sake of unspeakable purposes.

He wants to deny it. There had never been anyone else. However, he blurts out: “That's right, Elizabeth needs to rest. I don't trust women outside, and you are a safe choice for me. So, are you game? What are your requirements as a qualified candidate?”

There is teasing hidden in his words. When the two of them were together, he used to dote and tease her all the time. This unique way of getting along quietly has become a habit between the two of them.

A tear rolls down her cheek, and Austin's heart stagnated. He feels hurt seeing her tears. His head leans against the bench ,and he closes his eyes:“Emma, I.....” He wants to say something, but the words seem to be choked in his throat.

Maybe he is really drunk, otherwise why did he come here? He had once warned himself to let her go. He tried to convince himself that letting go might be the best solution to this complicated situation. He has been trying to distract himself by paying all his attention to work. But every late night, the flood of emotion breaks the dam of reason again and again, making him fall deeper and deeper into this struggle.

Emma touches the drop-shaped scar on her wrist. She is waiting for him to say something that may remind her of his kindness. After a long silence, Emma finds that Austin has fallen asleep.

Emma rolls her eyes:“He is really drunk.”

Austin's phone rings again and again. The calls are all from Elizabeth. Emma feels that it is not a good idea to keep her calling like this, so she picks up the phone.

“Austin...” A raring voice comes from the other side of the phone.

“He is sleeping right now, please call him later.” Emma is also stunned after saying this. How ironic it is! The words are exactly the same. Then Emma adds: “Do you want to pick him up? He is.....” Emma is about to tell her that he is drunk, but Elizabeth hangs up the phone angrily without saying a word.

After hanging up the phone, Emma calls Austin's driver to pick him up and send him back to the penthouse at One57.

What kind of game is he playing?

Emma tosses and turns all night. Austin's behavior is confusing her. She is puzzled. There were moments that she thought she had seen love for her in his eyes. She searches desperately for signs of his love for her, but those small blurry pieces of evidence of his affection pale in comparison with the bitter reality of their divorce and his ex-girlfriend's pregnancy. Love or no love, it doesn't matter anymore. She decided to move on and started a new life months ago. The less their lives intersect, the better.

The next morning, Emma is awakened by a series of phone calls while she is still sound asleep. She picks up the phone in a daze.

It is Austin. His voice is a little bit mad with a complaint:“Did you answer my phone last night? ”

Emma: “Yes, I did.”

“Why did you do that? She is pregnant.” Austin yells.

Emma is confused:“ What did I do?”