Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 125 Three Things a Qualified Husband Must Do

He held me tight, his chin rubbing against my hair, and his hand sneaking into my pajamas like he owned the place.

When he cupped my breast, I shivered, and all my tough-girl act crumbled.

"Why you shaking? You cold?" he asked, all smug, his lips right by my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

"In this weather? If I ain't cold, what else would I be?" I snapped back.

Ethan chuckled, straightened my shoulders, propped his head up with one hand, and gave me that deep, amused look of his.

"Babe, if you're cold, that's on me."

Before I could even roll my eyes, he kept going.

"As a top-notch husband, there are three things I gotta do right now."

"What three things?" I asked, curious despite myself.

Ethan's hand wandered over my body, a wicked grin on his face.

"First, I gotta warm you up with my body. Second, I gotta warm your heart with sweet talk. And last, we gotta do some exercise to get you feeling warm and fuzzy inside and out."

He was just looking for an excuse to be a rogue, but he made it sound like some noble mission. Classic Ethan!

"I'm not cold anymore."

I tried to move away, but he grabbed my waist and flipped me over, pinning me beneath him.

"Exercise ain't just for when you're cold. Gotta stay fit, you know?"

I was both laughing and annoyed.

When his tongue slipped in, I tasted a hint of booze.

"You've been drinking?" I pushed him away.

I'd been keeping an eye on him all evening, and he couldn't have had a drink unless he snuck one while I was in the restroom.

He leaned in to kiss me again, but I pressed my hands against his chest, staring him down.

He smiled, a bit sheepish. "Just a little. My buddy got engaged, and it would've been rude not to drink at all."

"What's rude about it? Oliver knows your situation. Don't blame others for your choices," I said, irritated.

His fingers gently stroked my cheek, his gaze softening, and his Adam's apple bobbed a few times. In a low, sexy voice, he said, "Babe, when you care about me, it feels so warm. Being cared for feels really good." My heart ached, like a knife had gone through it.

I said, "I care about you, but I can't watch you 24/7. Your body's yours, so you gotta take care of it. Replacing parts is tough, expensive, and they're often out of stock. Sometimes, even money can't help."

He laughed at my words, the warm bedside lamp casting a deep, charming light over him as he leaned in suggestively.

"My parts are fine, performing well, and always ready for inspection."

He always had a knack for steering the convo towards sex. Gotta give him props for that!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Want some?" Faye

a cover; Faye just didn't want me to have a

off

my arms around his

are you guys asleep?"

letting him leave, not giving him a chance to

and he finally kissed

the big bed, tangled up in

more we ignored her, the harder she knocked, determined to get

thrilling

bed early," he panted, his

Finally, the knocking stopped.

have it for breakfast tomorrow," Faye

her footsteps faded

days later. The film crew was starting in a month, and Ethan had set her up with some courses at an art institute before

to stay on campus. Of course, Ethan had arranged everything and

she left, I walked her out of the villa, giving her all sorts of advice

me feel sick. But I figured, since she was finally leaving, I might

was polite on the surface, but when Ethan wasn't looking, she whispered provocatively to

to bottom, erasing all traces of her and restoring everything to how

that couldn't be restored was that Scruffy was

me a bit resentful, but resentment couldn't change

cleaning, I collapsed on the sofa, exhausted. Suddenly, the phone rang. It was

didn't call unless something was up, so I

"Sophie."

court this afternoon. I want to take Abby to let

hadn't mentioned Richard's

called Ethan, but

a spare battery so it couldn't be out of power. Why was it

he had no reason not to go to court.

time, quickly changed clothes, and headed

temperature had dropped like crazy today, so I threw on a black and white checkered wool coat. As soon as I stepped outside, the dry, cold wind hit me, making me hunch

was all packed and ready to

while I lugged

joke; she had to bring a big bag everywhere. Bottles, formula, diapers, change

taxi, I tried calling Ethan again, but his phone was

Emily? I'm so nervous," Sophie said, looking like a bundle

hand. "Don't stress. Abby is Richard's daughter; he'll love her. And for the case, there's a lot of people working hard on it,

we hopped out of the cab. Just as it drove off, a small car suddenly screeched to a stop in front of us, sending a gust of wind our way. Sophie, holding Abby, took a few steps back

a black trench coat, unbuttoned, and casually closed the car door with one hand while holding a

and sauntered over

heard Sophie's timid voice beside me

She actually knew Faris.

stopped in front of us, looking down at Abby in Sophie's arms for

did look like Richard, no need for a paternity test to

car pulled

immediately recognized it

it stopped, Victor and Linda got out, followed by Lacey from the

and it

gaze landing on me with