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."

a thin line before turning upward slightly,

understand why he thought her ordinary

joined the others in conversation. 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

to the restroom. Faris leaned close to Emily's ear, asking if

out of room 808, drawing stunned looks

hadn't been drinking, he drove them himself. Emily sat nervously in the passenger seat, unsure where he was taking her, stealing glances at his profile

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

this job?" he

her throat tighten. Faris lit a cigarette, the smoke drifting

answer.

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

extinguished his half-smoked cigarette and pulled a card from his pocket. "There's a million dollars here. Take it for your brother's surgery. This work isn't for you

the card gleaming in the neon light, desperately needing

this for nothing,"

butt, its ember tracing a red arc through the night

have it for free," he replied with a

froze, staring at

gently, his eyes sparkling in the neon

the moment she fell in love with him for his directness, his

irresistible. When she accepted the card, she had

one cigarette after another,

was a man with stories

carried a damp chill from

Faris tossed away his final cigarette butt.

"home" made her heart skip a beat, offering a

She hesitated before giving her address- reckless, perhaps, but she trusted