MasukAcross from the hotel, Lex watched Sharon and Thomas walk off arm in arm, their closeness impossible to ignore. He raised an incredulous brow."So this plan actually worked… this easily?"Victoria gave a faint smile. "Lex, the simpler the plan, the easier it is to succeed."Lex's gaze darkened slightly. "Julliard is ruthless… to think he would willingly cooperate with us, giving the woman he loves to his rival."Victoria shook her head. "Lex, you misunderstand. Julliard didn't 'give' Sharon to his rival. Sharon was never his to begin with—how could he 'send' her anywhere? He simply exploited an information gap. "Even without him, Thomas and Sharon would eventually tear down the last barrier between them. If not now, then soon. Could Julliard have stopped that? Clearly… no."She leaned back slightly, lips curling in a knowing smile. "Even if Carter or Xavier tried to interfere, maybe it would have a slight effect. But Julliard… his presence barely touches the relationship between
Thomas looked at her intently. "Did you drink too much last night and forget everything?"Sharon's confidence wavered. "…Not really."Suddenly, the world spun. She was pressed down onto the soft bed as Thomas leaned over her.His flawless, striking face drew close, danger glinting in his eyes."So… were you dissatisfied with how I performed last night?"Thomas's physique was nearly perfect—no excess flesh anywhere, his muscles evenly defined, firm and smooth, like those of a top male model. One glance made it obvious that this body wasn't sculpted by casual workouts alone.So much raw masculine allure left her blushing and breathless every time she looked. Sharon felt her breathing grow uneven.Then he added softly, "I'm sorry. I don't have much experience. I hurt you. Next time, I'll be gentler."Before she could react, his burning breath slipped between her lips, and she was once again engulfed by his lingering, intimate kiss.Sharon wanted to tell Wendy that they had truly
Sharon vaguely remembered feeling unusually warm yesterday.The sensation hadn't been strong, and she had assumed it was just from drinking too much fruit wine.She hadn't expected… it might actually have been something else.Her mind immediately went to Wendy.Wendy had been shocked when she learned that Sharon and Thomas were sharing the same room, even sleeping on the floor."Seriously? You've known each other this long, and you're still keeping it platonic?" Wendy asked incredulously.Sharon replied, "Thomas said he didn't want to hurt me."Wendy looked even more baffled. "That excuse… sounds exactly like something a man would say to cover up his incompetence."The more Wendy thought about it, the stranger it seemed."I've read online—lots of men who aren't… well, capable—before marriage, they pretend to respect their partner, claim they don't want to hurt them, and never touch them. All of it's an excuse to cheat the system. Thomas even went through a divorce for some mys
Thomas wanted Sharon.This desire hadn't come out of nowhere. It had taken root in his mind long ago—buried, patient, simmering. But never before had it been so vivid, so undeniable as in this moment.Thomas was no paragon of virtue. All his life, he had restrained himself, controlled himself—not wanting to hurt her, not wanting to frighten her.But her disappearance for that one month had been like twisting open a tightly sealed valve.Even now, though the valve was mostly closed, it had loosened his self-control. The demons and beasts coiled deep within him stirred, restless and impatient, straining against the cage of his restraint.He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply several times, forcing himself to calm down.And then, a soft, unconscious whisper from her shattered every last shred of his reason."Tho… mas…"The next moment, he could no longer resist. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers.Even though he sensed something was amiss, the hunger to possess her overpower
Perhaps it was the heat—Sharon had undone a few buttons at her collar. Her collarbone peeked through, pale and enticing, stirring thoughts that refused to be tamed.Thomas's fingers tightened. His long lashes lowered, and he deliberately averted his gaze."Sharon… drink the sobering tea first," he murmured.Dazed, Sharon blinked and took the cup from his hand, whispering a soft, "Thank you."She sipped cautiously, small, careful mouthfuls. The water left a subtle sheen on her lips, giving them a glossy allure, an unspoken charm that made him ache to touch.Thomas's gaze darkened. His throat felt tight, his pulse quickening.He had never been a man swayed by mere beauty. Yet now, he felt heat rising in his chest, a struggle to maintain control gnawing at him.His eyes narrowed, instinct sharpening. Something was off.Rising, he moved through the room with careful precision.In a corner of the bathroom, he found a small incense burner, now burned out.It was harmless, yet the i
Xavier seemed to have realized something. He glanced around and asked, "Where's Julliard? Why didn't he come today?"Carter's expression remained calm. "I didn't invite him."Xavier let out a knowing smile. "I figured your good friend isn't the type to give up easily."Carter raised an eyebrow. "And you—have you given up?"Xavier's smile deepened, a trace of humor in his tone. "Sharon only sees me as a friend. Chasing her further would only trouble her. But…" He shifted his tone, chuckling lightly, "If she ever decides she and Thomas aren't suited for each other and breaks up, I wouldn't mind trying again."Carter's eyes were sharp. "No matter how many times you chase her, she'll only see you as a friend. She won't like you romantically."Xavier's expression was unbothered. "Even as a friend, I think I'm far better than you. After all, your marriage with her has long been predictable—there's nothing surprising left."The two men had little else to talk about. All they could do w







