Skip to content
Novel Catalog
Chapter_37
Natalie was brimming with confidence as she spoke, “Don’t worry, I’m a die-hard fan of romance novels. I know all about the push and pull of love—the fiery passion, the golden rule. They may spar in the living room, but they’ll reconcile in the bedroom. No one sets up a whirlwind romance better than me.”
Taryn couldn’t help but think that maybe Natalie’s confidence was a bit misplaced.
In the room, a tall man stood by the bed, where a soft bundle lay, breathing a sweet warmth into the room. He had noticed that she preferred to sleep on her stomach. Her curves arched invitingly, and her delicate hands were softly curled in her inky hair, her fair face tinged with a rosy flush.
She was undeniably beautiful, pure, and captivating. His breath quickened, and he found himself loosening his tie. Beneath his fine shirt, his muscles tensed slightly.
There was no computer in the room. Was she not supposed to be here to work on her designs? The man lay beside her, pulling her into his arms. This was the first time they’d shared a bed. Before, there had always been a distance between them—a formality as they sat on the sofa in the bedroom.
To his surprise, his hand brushed against something soft—her pajama’s tail. Her hat even had little ears.
Lifting the blanket, his gaze darkened as he saw what she was wearing. What was she implying? A fire ignited in his chest, spreading to his limbs.
Something wasn’t right.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he remembered the soup Taryn had given him earlier. How sharp he was to immediately suspect who might be behind this trickery. His head throbbed, desire heating his eyes as he leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss. At first, it was gentle, then deepened.
Whitney woke to the kiss, her breath stifling as she pushed against a solid wall.
When clarity returned, she opened her wide eyes to see a shadowy figure above her. “Who are you?”
“It’s me,” the man murmured, his voice low and husky, with a teasing laugh.
“What are you doing?” Whitney realized the nature of his kiss and suddenly remembered the woman on the phone, the woman in his car. Her face cooled, and she pushed him away.
Thinking she was just startled, the man gripped her delicate wrist, his voice low and teasing. “You invite me to a hotel like this, dressed like that. What do you think I’m going to do, Madam?”
“What are you talking about? It was you who asked me to bring you something. Never mind that now, get up!”
“What if I say no?” he pressed down on her.
Whitney felt stifled, noting the unusual heat and strength of his body.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Touch my forehead,” he said, lifting her soft hand.
When she touched it, it was alarmingly hot.
He propped himself on his elbow, eyes smoldering, “The old lady tricked me into drinking that soup. I had drinks earlier, which only made things worse. What should we do now, Madam?”
She seriously thought for a moment before responding. “Think of something, quickly.”
He murmured something unintelligible and encircled her waist with his arm, nuzzling her shoulder as he laid his head there.
Suddenly, Whitney realized what he was implying and sharply rebuked him.
“I’ll carry you to the bathroom, okay?” His voice was calm, almost too much so.
Whitney’s anger flared, and she slapped his hand away. “What are you doing? Do you even know what you’re doing, Mr. L?”
His face turned stern, and his voice dropped into a cold, haughty tone. “What do you mean? You know exactly what I’m doing. You’re the one who invited me here, dressed like this.”
Whitney glared at his perfect profile, her anger bubbling like an exploding star. “And do you know what you’re doing? Getting drunk and dragging me here, blaming it all on the soup your mother gave you? I must say, you’re quite the energetic man. Didn’t you just rest in another woman’s room yesterday afternoon?”
“What are you talking about?” His anger made his presence feel overpowering. His face twisted, his features sharp and intimidating.
Whitney clenched her hands into tiny fists, afraid to move.
His eyes were cold, his handsome face exhausted from working nonstop from the previous morning. Seeing her dressed like this, he naturally assumed…
This ungrateful little thing, what was she playing at?
Without allowing for any argument, he scooped her up and placed her on the couch. His large hand lifted her chin, kissing her again, this time his voice rough with desire. “The marriage contract is clear. You need to fulfill your duties. Consider it doing me a favor, okay?”
Whitney pushed his advances away, her mind spinning with questions about the woman on the phone.
He could do as he pleased outside, without offering her any explanation, and then come back to flirt with her, using the contract to pressure her.
He was truly despicable.
Her breath cooled as she pushed his solid body away and snapped, “If you need help, go find another woman! I’m not here for your amusement, Mr. L.”
“What did you say?” He suddenly released her, gripping her hands.
Whitney looked up, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Girlfriends, lovers… You’ve got plenty, right? With your money, do you think you can trample over someone’s life? I only sold you a year of my womb, not my soul. After a year, we go our separate ways. I have the right to refuse you, Mr. L. If it’s just that one thing you want, don’t bother me—plenty of women will satisfy you.”
The room fell into a heavy, eerie silence.
His anger was palpable, the coldness in his eyes sending a chill down her spine. He stared at her defiant face, then lifted her chin forcefully. “You think any woman is worthy of my bed? What do you take me for?”
He stood, his fury overwhelming, and scoffed. “So high and mighty. How did you end up in my car then? You were willing to go to great lengths for your own goals, and now you lecture me on shame? Whitney, if anyone is unworthy, it’s…”
With that, he kicked over the table in frustration. Without waiting for a response, he stormed off, slamming the door behind him.
Whitney sat there, stunned, her thoughts swirling as her emotions clashed. She took a moment to notice the cut on his knee—had he hurt himself? Her heartbeat quickened, but she didn’t have time to process it as the driver arrived to take her back to the villa.
She didn’t see the man again.
Natalie, realizing her mistake, nervously approached Whitney, trying to explain the situation and begging her not to hold a grudge. It was all her doing, after all.
But Whitney pieced it all together. Natalie had deceived both her and her son. Whitney managed a wry smile. The root of the issue wasn’t Natalie after all.
For several days, Whitney saw no sign of the man returning home. This time, he was truly furious, and the house was eerily quiet. He had given her the cold shoulder.
Yet, Whitney didn’t feel she was in the wrong. Clearing the air sooner would be better for both of them.
Still, her mood grew somber. She forced herself to ignore the emptiness gnawing at her heart and dove into her work, sketching designs to avoid worrying Natalie. She even moved in with her friend, Tiana, for a while to keep up appearances.
Tiana would occasionally bring over Stella, and the two of them would try to cheer her up. Thanks to their efforts, Whitney’s design drafts were completed on time.
Finally, on October 10th, the day arrived for the preliminary round of the jewelry design competition, held at the grand exhibition hall of Imperial Gem Corporation.
