Dylan’s disheveled hair mirrored his demeanor, exuding a hint of laziness from just waking up.
With his eyes slightly narrowed, a habit of his, he said, “Whatever should have or shouldn’t have happened, it all went down last night. Flora, you’re way wilder than I thought.”
Her face tightened, and she somewhat remembered the night. Even now, her body still ached.
Dylan was right. If she had fought back with all her might, he wouldn’t have her vulnerable moments to take advantage of.
Dylan casually wrapped her long hair around his finger and buried his head in Flora’s neck.
His voice was gentle, “You were really passionate last night.”
At least it had given him a thrilling experience.
Flora glanced at him, her expression icy. She didn’t remember that passion, so there was no embarrassment for her.
“Why did you leave me on the windowsill, then?” she asked.
Dylan’s mind involuntarily recalled a certain name. He quickly tossed off the blanket, donned his bathrobe, and threw the medicine Keith had left to Flora. “Take it, get some rest, and I’ll take you home this afternoon.”
Without waiting for her response, he closed the door assertively.
Feeling feverish and uneasy, Flora reluctantly swallowed two pills and curled up in the blanket, soon falling into a deep sleep.
Dylan headed downstairs, his hands in his bathrobe pockets. He saw the person he was expecting already seated in the living room.
“Mr. Bowles.” The man stood up respectfully as he heard footsteps.
“Speak,” Dylan sat on the couch, crossing his legs.
“Justin, twenty-five years old, graduated from an Ivy League university, heir to the third generation of the Farnection Group, an only child. His father is the current CEO, and his uncle works for the state prosecutor’s office. A year ago, just as Justin was preparing to take over Farnection, he suddenly vanished…”
“Vanished?” Dylan thought of Flora’s two moments of distress. “Didn’t he die?”
“No official news about his death has been reported. His family said he went to Europe, and there’s reliable information that within ten days, Justin will return to take over Farnection.”
The man took something out of his pocket, placed it on the coffee table, and slid it over to Dylan. “His family is very mysterious. I found this photo in his university’s archives.”
Dylan picked up the photo, which showed a young man with sharp eyes and undeniable handsomeness. The smile on his face revealed a sense of sweetness.
Dylan tossed the photo back on the coffee table and ordered, “Go to Saint Grace Hospital and find out what happened a year ago. Take this photo with you.”
“Yes, sir.” The man didn’t linger, grabbing the photo and departing.
Dylan reclined on the couch, but his mood wasn’t as laid-back as he seemed. According to the intel, Justin was still alive.
Pondering it, Dylan’s brow furrowed. As long as he wasn’t tired of Flora, she was still his. Anyone who dared to snatch her away would go from living to dead real quick.
He went upstairs, pushed open the door, and found Flora sleeping peacefully at the edge of the bed. Her body was curled up, and her forehead glistened with sweat. Dylan reached out and felt her temperature had dropped significantly.
The sunlight outside the window was too harsh. Dylan got up, walked over, and silently pulled the curtain to block most of the glare.
Leaning against the windowsill, his charming eyes fixed on Flora. His tightly pursed lips concealed many emotions. He crossed his arms, aware that Flora would eventually learn about the news of Justin.
He turned his face slightly, and the sunlight outside the window shone on his burgundy hair, brilliantly bright.
After lunch, Flora was still asleep. Dylan changed into casual clothes and sat in the living room. When Lilian arrived, she saw him typing intently on his keyboard.
“Mr. Bowles.”
He looked up, his expression relaxing for a moment. “What brings you here?”
“I have an urgent document that needs your signature,” Lilian took the file out of her bag. “Kitty said you didn’t come to the office, so I followed the address here.”
Dylan took the file, flipping through it. “You could have signed this document yourself. You didn’t need to come all the way here.”
Despite his words, he still read through and signed the document.
This was Lilian’s first time here, and her eyes curiously scanned the surroundings. “The garden outside is huge. It took me a while to get to the main hall.”
Dylan put down his work, smiling. “You can take the afternoon off.”
“Really?”
“My word is the final say.”
Lilian tried to suppress her grin, sitting next to Dylan. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the staircase, and her smile froze.
Flora, barefoot and wearing the clothes Dylan had prepared for her in the room, slowly descended the stairs, feeling a bit dizzy and supporting herself against the wall.
Lilian clutched her purse tightly, looking at the man beside her who had returned to work. Then she asked, “What makes me different from other women?”
Dylan stopped typing, resting his arms on his knees and turning his head. “Why ask?”
Lilian tried to hide her emotions, leaning back into the couch. “I want to know who I am to you.” Her expression was serious, and her usually indifferent tone seemed somewhat urgent.
Dylan propped his legs up and rested his hands on the chair back. “Would you take the initiative to sleep with me?”
Such a bold question caught Lilian off guard, making her blush. She knew the kind of answer Dylan expected from her, so she answered as it was, “No.”
Flora stood atop the staircase, her hair a hot mess, which, of course, couldn’t hold a candle to the dazzling and stunning Lilian at the moment.
“That’s what sets you apart from them,” Dylan said, grinning, one arm casually resting behind his head.
Flora could’ve brushed off his words, but the biting sarcasm still managed to stab her tender heart.
After that night, she knew all too well that she’d be keeping herself with “them” for the rest of her days.
Hovering awkwardly at the top of the stairs, going down meant facing the music.
Hearing Dylan’s reply, Lilian couldn’t help but smile, her lips forming the perfect come-hither curve.
Dylan gazed at her face for a sec before pulling her in for a hug.
Flora, barefoot, tiptoed through the living room. Her shoes were by the front door, and lucky for her, the door was wide open.
Just as she was about to slip on her shoes like a sneak, she stumbled and knocked the other high heel, making a noise. Though it wasn’t loud, it was enough to grab Dylan’s attention.
Letting go of Lilian, he eyed Flora. “Where’re you off to?”
Busted, Flora simply put on her shoes. “Heading home.”
This time, Dylan didn’t put up a fight like before. His hand on Lilian’s shoulder seemed like second nature. “My driver can drop you off.”
“No need. I’ll hail a cab at the entrance.” Flora wasn’t keen on any more of his “help.” As she turned to go, the sunlight outside was blinding, and she squinted her eyes. The gnawing hunger was brutal, making her head spin.
Dylan watched her walk away, while Lilian’s smile stayed low-key.
Back at home, Flora had a humble serving of pasta, which felt like the fanciest meal ever.
Later, a string of chill days went by without Dylan’s meddling, making life a breeze.
One day, inside the office, everyone was buried in work. Lilian, dressed to kill in a power suit and flawless makeup, announced, “I want your case files on my desk by tomorrow morning. There’s a Farnection press conference this afternoon, and while I’m out, nobody’s allowed to slack.”
“No sweat, Lilian,” her coworkers nodded in unison.
Flora’s gaze drifted from the paperwork when she heard the word “Farnection”.
“Lilian?” Flora stood as Lilian was about to split from the office. “Do you know what the Farnection press conference is about?”
Lilian spun around, sizing up Flora with curiosity. “Word on the street is that the family business is changing hands and the next heir’s taking over. They’ve only got one son in the pipeline.”
