Eric guided Emily to their room, supporting her as she stumbled slightly in her heels. He helped her sit on the edge of the bed, watching as she kicked off her shoes with a careless abandon. As he moved to tuck her into bed, Emily's hands roamed over his body, her touch lingering with a fiery intensity. She leaned in close, her words slurred with alcohol but filled with a boldness that took Eric by surprise. "I want you," she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. "I don't want to wait."Eric couldn't help but chuckle softly, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Emily, you're drunk," he reminded her gently, trying to keep the situation light despite the intensity of her advances. "This isn't the right time."But Emily pouted, her bottom lip jutting out in a childish display of frustration. "I don't care," she insisted stubbornly. "I want you, Eric. And I know you want me too."Eric shook his head, a fond smile playing at the corners of his lips. "That may be true,

As they stepped out of the hotel room, Emily glanced at Eric with a curious expression. "Eric, are you sure about this? I mean, can we really afford to go shopping right now?"Eric flashed her a reassuring smile, his expression calm and composed. "Of course, Emily. Don't worry about it," he replied smoothly, his voice oozing with confidence.Emily furrowed her brow, still uncertain. "But I thought you said you were tight on money..."Eric chuckled softly, reaching out to take her hand in his. "I may not be rolling in cash, but I've been saving up for a special occasion," he explained, his tone earnest.A hint of skepticism lingered in Emily's eyes, but she couldn't help but be swayed by Eric's convincing demeanor. "Okay, if you say so," she relented, offering him a small smile.As they wandered through the shops, Eric regaled Emily with tales of his thriftiness and resourcefulness, painting a picture of a man who knew how to make every penny count. With each anecdote, Emily found her

Claudia stormed into her home, her heart heavy with despair and resentment. The sight of Eric and Emily Walter together had shattered her already fragile spirits. She felt like she was losing in every aspect of her life – her acting career was in ruins, her financial stability was crumbling, and now, even the hope of finding solace in a wealthy man had been ripped away from her as Mayor Skarsgard's fraudulent identity was exposed before he was sent to jail.Fury coursed through Claudia's veins as she paced the room, her mind consumed by thoughts of Eric and Emily. She couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and bitterness that gnawed at her soul. Had she made a mistake by divorcing Eric? Despite his lack of material wealth, he had always been there for her, offering unwavering support and comfort. And now, seeing him happy and in love with someone else was like a knife through her heart.In a fit of rage, Claudia grabbed a nearby bottle and hurled it against the wall, the sound of shat

Later that night, Emily and Eric were on the bed, their laughter ringing off the walls. “You should've seen the way those women were staring at you in the boutique,” Emily teased, nudging Eric playfully.Eric chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, it was like I was some kind of celebrity or something. I almost felt like I needed to sign autographs."Emily grinned, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think it's because you looked so handsome in those suits. Even the little girls couldn't take their eyes off you."Eric feigned surprise. "Really? I must've missed that. I was too busy trying to find the right fit."Emily nudged him again, her smile widening. "Oh, please. You were loving every second of it."Eric shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, maybe just a little."As they bantered back and forth, their laughter filled the room.And as it went on, Emily's expression grew earnest as she turned to Eric, her eyes reflecting a newfound vulnerability. "Eric," she began softly,

Eric's search for the missing ring led him back to the boutique where he had been the previous day. With a sense of urgency, he approached the staff and explained his predicament."I seem to have lost a ring," Eric said, his voice tinged with desperation. "I was here yesterday, and I'm certain I had it with me then."The staff nodded sympathetically, eager to assist in any way they could. They scoured the boutique from top to bottom, searching every nook and cranny for any sign of the missing ring. But despite their efforts, they came up empty-handed."I'm sorry, sir," one of the staff said, shaking their head in disappointment. "We couldn't find any trace of a ring anywhere in the boutique."Frustration boiled up inside Eric as he struggled to come to terms with the fact that his search had hit yet another dead end. How could the ring simply vanish into thin air?Desperate for answers, Eric pleaded with the staff to check the boutique's CCTV footage, hoping that it might provide so