His promise
I pull in one shallow breath after another, I remembered Neil saying that Aren had a lot of enemies, but I used to think of them as business competitors, not people who literally wanted him dead!
“I thought that your mother committed suicide,” I said nervously, feeling my body start to tremble.
“They made it look that way.” A painful grimace surfaced on his face.
I raised my eyebrows, processing his words. “They?” He locked his eyes on me. “There were at least a few people involved in it. My father might be one of them.”
I gasped. The deadliest form of crime that I‘d had contact with was hacking and stealing data, but Aren lived in a world full of killing, conspiracy, and true wickedness. Only now did I realize that compared to Aren‘s, my computer world was angelically safe.
“My head starts to spin...” I muttered, my body shivering even more.
Aren corrected his grip on my hand and pulled me close, his arms wrapping around my body.” You‘re trembling. You should have taken a scarf.”
I nodded, smiling nervously. I didn‘t want to admit that his words terrified me. I stepped into the unknown, naively believing that as long as I got along with Aren, I would do just fine...
We got back inside the mansion. Aren rushed to take the blanket scarf and wrap it around my shoulders, believing that I was shivering from the cold. Then he gave me something that had a bigger chance to help: he brought me a glass of wine. I drank a gulp from the glass and suddenly felt much better. As I enjoyed the wine, Aren confirmed our dinner order. The food arrived by the time I finished the glass, which was about a few minutes later. Again, Aren took care of everything, asking me to wait while he prepared our table in the dining room. I felt awkward about being spoiled like that. I didn‘t think I could ever get used to doing nothing. Nonetheless, since Aren‘s revelation caused a huge explosion inside my brain, I decided to use that time to focus on my current remedy: wine.
“The dinner is served, Milady,” Aren announced, nonchalantly bowing in front of me.
I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand, but as I cleared my throat, I figured I should follow his example. “Lead the way then,” I said, nobly raising my chin.
He grinned and gestured widely, inviting me to the table. He ordered shrimp pasta, which was probably the best pasta I had eaten in my whole life. Once I cleaned the plate and emptied my second glass of wine, my courage passed the usual limit of being careful. I grinned happily as if the fact that people around Aren were dying didn‘t matter to me in the slightest.
go sit by the pool,” Aren suggested,
here as well?!” I gaped at
there is. It‘s
of entering a secret garden. The pool was beautifully lighted, giving the water a beautiful inner glow. I walked to the edge and couldn‘t resist the urge to
on the edge and put your legs into the water; it‘s
and we both sat and soaked our feet in the
you feed to get inside the snakes‘ nest?” I asked, curiously locking
he came to me. The guy wasn‘t stupid. He wanted to get leverage in case the Wintons‘ business went south. He told me that he recorded a certain conversation in
that the flash drive is still hidden and waiting for you?”
reaction. “You seem to
try to tell me about the recording, but they
face was turning pale. I instantly started to wonder if I was one of those disposable people for Aren. There was nothing but a contract binding us together. Would he sacrifice me as soon as he got the inheritance he
His voice brought me back from a state of daze.
any sense in denying that I
voice cracked as I searched for the
me to face him. “I will always keep you safe, Cora. I am loyal to those who are loyal to me. What I can promise you is that I will never let you get
and that I will always protect you.”
me. It made me calm down in an instant. He leaned closer, his hands gently rubbing my
me, Cora... I will never betray you,” he whispered,
breathed out a second
slid around my waist and another tangled my hair at the back of my head. He pulled me close, but I didn‘t resist. His lips claimed mine passionately. His tongue moved in swift, delicate strokes that quickly turned into lush caresses. I moaned against his lips, feeling
surface. He helped me stand my feet on a small step near the edge of the pool, which was enough for me to keep my head and neck over the water, my back leaning against the pool rim. He caged me between his arms as he placed his hands on the edge of the pool on both sides of my wet body.
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!