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.
by the pool,” Aren suggested,
pool here as well?!” I gaped at him in undeniable excitement.
course there is. It‘s on the second
us. The terrace he mentioned was filled with potted plants and flowers, creating the illusion 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 water; it‘s heated,” Aren coaxed, grinning as he saw my childish excitement
soaked our feet in the pool. As Aren refilled my glass
get inside the snakes‘ nest?” I
to lose, so 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 my father‘s study fifteen years ago. During that conversation, two people were discussing whether they got rid of all evidence of my mother‘s murder. He had the file hidden safely on a
you assume that the flash drive is still hidden and waiting for you?” I painted a wicked
in his reaction. “You seem to be
that he would try to tell me about the recording, but they
wonder if I was one of those disposable people for Aren. There was nothing but a
right?” His voice brought me back from a state of daze. He grabbed my hand, his eyes carefully scanning
there any sense in denying
searched for
shoulders, turning me to face him. “I will always keep you safe, Cora. I am loyal to those
I will
his hands gently rubbing my arms. I
me, Cora... I will never betray you,” he whispered,
I breathed out a
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 the shiver of pleasure increase my arousal. I craved him. I
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
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!