In his sleep, he lacked the usual cold and aloof demeanor, appearing just as harmless as he had seven years ago. Time hadn't left much of a mark on his face, but his thick eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if something still troubled him even in his dreams.
What in the world could trouble him? He shouldn't worry about wealth, power, and a beautiful wife. What could disturb his sleep? She couldn't guess...
Of course, she couldn't guess because she was no longer part of his world.
Forgetting was a blessing from fate for him; otherwise, his suffering over the years would have been no less than hers. She knew how much he once cared for her.
What she owed him could never be repaid in this lifetime. Fortunately, he had forgotten her and achieved a glorious life.
She now understood that the Kingsly Scott before her was no longer the same Kingsly she knew seven years ago. The boy who yearned for simplicity and pursued art disappeared from this world the moment she broke up with him seven years ago... From that moment on, all her memories with that boy would only remain buried deep in her heart.
Kingsly... perhaps all she left him was that English name.
She remembered that in her first year of high school, her teacher gave her the English name "Queensly," which she loved. She insisted he take the name "Kingsly." She said that way, they would be a pair.
Had he not introduced himself as "Kingsly" while playing golf that day, she wouldn't have thought he still used that name after all these years. At that moment, her heart jolted an indescribable sensation.
Pulling her gaze away from his sleeping face, she walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in the room, lost in thought.
Over an hour later, a slightly hoarse male voice came behind her. "I thought you had already left."
Kingsly had woken up at some point and was standing by the bed, pouring himself a glass of water.
She turned around and saw him, dressed in a black velvet robe, taking a sip of water, the furrows of sleep gone from his brow.
An hour of rest had revitalized him, and he appeared as imperious as ever.
Sometimes, she wondered if they hadn't broken up seven years ago. Would he still be a businessman today? Would they already be married by now?
Kingsly set down the glass and glanced at her. "Why aren't you speaking?"
Rachel snapped back to reality. Perhaps her earlier musings had made her sentimental, leaving her with little emotion to respond. She said, "I want to see Noah as soon as possible."
Her lack of emotion seemed to displease Kingsly, who turned and walked towards the clothes rack.
She didn't follow him, remaining by the window, waiting quietly, catching glimpses of him changing clothes from the corner of her eye.
She hadn't expected him to change so unabashedly in front of her.
Her face turned red, and she quickly looked away, but not before her peripheral vision caught his well-toned back, V-shaped waist, and lean hips...
Just seeing him from behind, it was clear he had an impressive physique. No wonder he looked good in anything he wore.
"Rachel, come here."He suddenly called her, just as she pretended not to notice anything.
"What is it?" She asked, looking out at the scenery through the window, her heart inexplicably racing without turning her head.
"I'd like to ask you for a favor."
"Hmm?"
She slowly turned around, relieved to see that he was already dressed.
He looked at her. "Come here."
She hesitated, struggling internally, but eventually walked over.
The curtains on this side of the window were drawn, diming the light. His figure appeared somewhat shadowy yet still tall and straight.
While fastening his watch, he said to her, "Help me with my tie."
She was taken aback.
Noticing her expression, he frowned slightly. "Can't do it?"
Of course, she could; she often helped Jasper with his tie, but...
He finished with his watch, and seeing her still unmoving, his gaze deepened. "Can't do it, or don't want to?"
She remembered how her mother used to help her father with his tie, a scene always filled with warmth, their eyes always full of affection. This made her think it was something only couples did.
"I don't think I can help you," she replied softly, turning to leave.
He pulled her back, encircling her waist, his voice low and indulgent. "Don't be difficult... I can't do it and must attend the press conference soon. You don't want me to look disheveled, do you?"
His tone was like coaxing a sulking girlfriend, instantly making the atmosphere intimate.
She quickly broke free, glaring at him in embarrassment.
He chuckled again. "Shuman always helps me with my tie; I truly can't do it."
Her heart inexplicably jolted, and she immediately pictured Luna helping him with his tie, not to mention their loving relationship.
Without a word, she turned away.
But his arms came from behind this time, wrapping tightly around her waist. "Jealous?" He rested his head on her shoulder, his breath warm against her delicate neck, subtly tempting her.
His pleasant scent surrounded her, making her heart and face flush. She struggled to break free, but his hands remained firmly locked around her waist.
"Let go of me..."
"You have two choices: help me with the tie, or I'll hold you like this, and we'll stay here."
"You..." So shameless.
He seemed to hear her internal curse, chuckling, his warm breath by her ear, subtly stirring her body's natural desires. "At this moment, I suggest you choose the former. If you choose the latter, what happens next might not just be holding you."
Rachel's face turned even redder, feeling his body heat against hers. She immediately chose to compromise or perhaps to buy time. "Fine, let go of me first."
"Why do I feel like your little brain is plotting something?" As soon as Kingsly finished his sentence, Rachel kicked backward with force. Fortunately, he was on guard and not hit in a sensitive area.
She was embarrassed and frustrated, but before she knew it, he had spun her around, making them face each other, his voice dangerously low. "Seems you're not behaving."
She suddenly turned around, and her nose brushed against his expensive shirt, nearly colliding with his chest. She was startled and struggled, but his arms tightly held her slender waist."Let go of me!"
He lowered his head slightly, his chin resting on her pretty forehead. He could see her thick, curled lashes trembling with tension; her delicate face turned somewhat in embarrassment. The light filtering through the curtain highlighted the rosy hue on her cheeks, casting an enticing glow that stirred his senses.
She felt his gaze fixed on her unblinkingly, but she was trapped and couldn't move; she could only protest. "Let go of me, let go!"
He seemed to revel in her mix of shyness and frustration, tightening his hold around her waist and pressing her lower body even closer to him.
The warmth of his body transferred to her immediately, along with the undeniable hardness pressing subtly against her most private area.
Her face flushed to the roots of her hair, ready to scold him, but as she lifted her head, her nose brushed against his lips, catching his pleasant masculine scent and warm breath. Startled, her face reddened further as she tried to squirm away, only for him to hold her tighter, bringing their noses to touch. He gazed intently at her, heat spreading in their shared breath.
She finally felt nervous and afraid, her long lashes trembling violently. She did not dare move for fear of accidentally touching that part of his body. She bit her lip lightly, trying to hold back, and said, "You're going too far!" Her voice was small, fearing that speaking too loudly would anger him.
Seeing her look so innocent and frightened, like a naive little girl, he chuckled softly, his deep voice teasing. "Are you playing hard to get now?"
Taking advantage and then humiliating her, she was furious, glaring at him angrily. "What are you saying..."
He maintained the slight curve of his lips, gazing at her sardonically. "Your reaction makes me think that despite supposedly being with your boyfriend for years, you're still an inexperienced girl." He disliked hypocrisy, yet this woman before him always pretended to be pure.
She almost saw a flash of disdain and contempt in his eyes, and her previously pounding heart suddenly stopped. She looked at him in disbelief, seeing such revulsion in his gaze, and slowly lowered her hands that had been pushing against his chest.
He observed her face shift from red to pale, his deep eyes narrowing slightly. He then allowed her hands to fall away from his chest.
She had moved in with Jasper five years ago. To outsiders, they were already intimate, so his misunderstanding didn't particularly bother her. But the trace of sarcasm in his words and eyes shook her deeply.
She knew that she was insignificant in his eyes with his current status. However, such a dismissive gaze was still profoundly unsettling.
Perhaps he merely saw her as prey and didn't need to care about the prey's feelings.
She took a breath, turning her now pale face away. "It's rare for someone to find used goods so valuable, Mr. Scott."