Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 306 Gratitude

"Mr. Kim, why torment a woman like this?" Faris asked coolly, toying with his lighter.

The other men quickly chimed in. "Faris is right. Why give a woman such a hard time?" Hearing Faris speak up, the man finally released his grip on Emily's hair.

Tears streaming down her face, Emily collapsed onto the floor as Peggy rushed to help

her up.

"Ungrateful bitch," the man spat.

Faris kept his eyes fixed on Emily, contemplative.

The man noticed Faris's stare and a knowing grin spread across his face. "Perhaps Faris wants this one. If that's the case, I wouldn't dream of competing."

He kicked Emily lightly with his foot. "Consider yourself lucky I'm letting you go for Faris's sake. Go on, sit beside him."

Emily knew she wouldn't escape that easily. But Faris seemed less threatening than that man, so she wiped her tears, stood up, and moved to sit next to Faris.

The space beside Faris was limited, forcing their arms to press together. She detected a subtle tobacco scent on him. Though she typically disliked smokers, strangely, his smell didn't repel her.

Unlike that man, Faris didn't immediately paw at her, but his silence made Emily nervous. Afraid of displeasing that man again, she poured Faris a drink.

"Thank you," she said earnestly before downing her own glass.

Faris studied her tear-stained face for a long moment. Only now, sitting so close in the dimly lit room, did Emily realize how handsome he was. His intense eyes were magnetic, impossible to look away from.

"What's your name?" he asked.

Emily looked down, responding softly, "Emily Glover."

before turning upward slightly,

understand why he thought her ordinary name was

Despite sitting among these privileged young men, Emily sensed he was different-there was an inherent decency about him. His features, mannerisms, even the way he exhaled smoke everything about him intrigued

man excused himself to the restroom. Faris leaned close to Emily's ear, asking if she wanted to step out for a

Faris led Emily out of room 808, drawing stunned looks from

in the passenger seat, unsure where he was taking her, stealing glances

stopped at the railing, gazing at the water reflecting the city's vibrant lights. She

this

Faris lit a cigarette, the

answer.

made his fortune. He never came back—not even when my mother died of a heart attack during my sophomore year of college. I dropped out to work as a waitress so my brother could stay in school. He was always promising to

listening, Faris extinguished his half-smoked cigarette and pulled a card from his pocket. "There's a

card gleaming in the neon light, desperately needing

can't take this for nothing,"

away his cigarette butt, its ember

it for free," he

froze, staring at

gently, his eyes

moment she fell in love

When she accepted the card, she had already prepared to give herself to

at the river, smoking one cigarette after another, his furrowed brow

sensed he was a man with stories

damp chill from the river,

his final cigarette

skip a beat, offering a warmth she hadn't felt since

he asked where she lived. She hesitated before