Chapter 7
A hall hour later, a bright beam of light shene on Stephanie. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes, but as the light went out, she slowly lowered her hand.
Zane opened the back door and approached Stephanie to grab the suitcase. “Mrs. Fletcher, please get in the car,” he said.
After thanking Zane, she entered the car, smiling warmly at Vincent and saying, “Good to see you again, honey!”
Her innocent smile made him softly chuckle. “I thought you were crying when I heard your voice.”
She blinked her eyes and confessed, “I was. I missed you dearly,”
“You are lying.” Despite that, a faint smile graced his face.
Stephanie drew closer, presenting her face. “Did my nose grow longer?”
Vincent chuckled. “What do you think?”
“It didn’t, because I didn’t lie,” Stephanie affirmed with a smile.
Vincent, noticing the delightful scent of pears on her, swallowed subconsciously. “Sit down.”
“Okay,” Stephanie replied and leaned against his shoulder.
As Zane joined them in the car, Vincent resumed his serious demeanor and instructed him to drive back to Tranquil Garden.
“Okay,” Zane replied before raising the partition.
Stephanie was familiar with Tranquil Garden. Nestled on the pricey east outskirts of Jacaster, it was a paradise that money alone couldn’t buy. In her past life as Vincent’s executive secretary, she’d often come here to get his signature on some papers or to collect documents.
During those times, she discreetly snapped photos of crucial sections and shared them with Douglas. Now reborn, she deemed it as a chance for not just revenge but also redemption for past sins.
She clung tightly to Vincent’s arm, oblivious to how tense he was. Vincent closed his eyes, though he could still sense her presence. Luckily, they were reaching Tranquil Garden shortly. In a husky voice, he announced, “We’ve arrived”
Stephanie startled, then turned to look out the window. Despite the darkness, every corner of Tranquil Garden was lit with floor lamps, casting a warm and romantic yellow glow.
“Do you like it here?” he asked.
Stephanie turned to him and nodded. “Yes.”
*This will be your home from now on,” he declared.
She clenched her fists tightly in response. In her past life, she’d never felt the warmth of family, even in death. This time, Vincent granted her that precious gift. With a smile, she replied softly, “Okay.”
After exiting the car, Stephanie wheeled Vincent toward the mansion. The door swung wide open, and ten housekeepers stood in a row led by Connor Lane, the butler. In unison, they greeted, “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher!”
Vincent glanced sideways and remarked, “They’re waiting for you to say something.”
Chapter 7
May
Looking at them, she cleared her throat and said, “Thank you.” In response, everyone stood upright.
Connor, a kind-looking man of about 60, said, “Mrs. Fletcher, we await your orders.”
Stephanie paused, then proclaimed, “expect everyone to adhere to the rule of three don’ts under all circumstances.”
Tension filled the air as everyone heard her declaration.
Meanwhile Connor wiped his forehead, silently noting the newfound assertiveness of the new lady of the house.
Stephanie tried to suppress her laughter while observing the tension, and added, “Don’t stir up trouble, don’t betray others, and don’t hurt others for your own benefit. I expect a strict adherence to these principles.”
A collective sigh of relief swept through the room upon hearing these straightforward rules.
Vincent, on the other hand, chuckled.
Lowering her head, Stephanie whispered in his ear, “What do you think about my rules?”
Vincent tensed as he caught a v
a whiff of her scent. “Well said.”
“Well, just didn’t want to embarrass you,” Stephanie replied playfully.
Vincent nodded and instructed, “Sophia, please prepare the room next to mine for Mrs. Fletcher.” Sophia Zeller, the housekeeper, nodded.
Stephanie didn’t object. She understood that sharing a room with Vincent might be inconvenient due to his pretend disability. B secrets to keep.
The mansion was equipped with an elevator, for Vincent’s sake.
Besides, she had her own
The master bedroom was situated on the third floor. Stephanie wheeled him into the room. The interior design, with black, grey, and white tones, radiated simplicity and luxury through its furnishings and amenities. The walls were fitted with handrails, and the furniture was free of sharp edges to avoid injury.
Vincent looked at her and said, “We don’t have any women’s items at home. Make do for tonight, I’ll have everything you need tomorrow. I had to rush our marriage license because of personal reasons, and it needs to stay private for now. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
Stephanie pondered briefly and suggested, “Since you’re putting me through this, I expect to be compensated.”
Vincent raised his eyebrows. “What do you want?”
With a broad smile, she said, “Kiss me.”
Vincent gazed into her beautiful, clear eyes, which captured the symmetry of her nose and the plumpness of her lips. She seemed unreal, and his heart s k p p e d a beat. He reached out, holding the back of her head, and kissed her. He awkwardly pecked her, and their teeth knocked against each other, eliciting laughter from her.
“It seems you don’t know how to kiss. Is that why you didn’t kiss me in the car? I understand now. You were worried Mr. Quinlan would laugh at you,” she commented playfully,
“Stop laughing.” said Vincent h o r y.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t as she noticed they resembled greenhorns, which she found amusing. Vincent deepened the kiss, swiftly transitioning from hesitant to domineering, leaving Stephanie breathless.
Chapter 7
Sat, 25 May
A knock was heard. “Mrs. Fletcher, your room is ready,” someone said.
Their lips parted, and with fluttering eyelashes, she couldn’t help but wrap her arms around his neck. She felt something hard beneath her.
Vincent’s eyes filled with desire as he gently patted her back, his voice low and seductive, saying, “Go back and rest.”
Aware he might not want her to realize the effect of the kiss, she promptly stood up, pursed her lips, and said, “Okay. Good night.”
Vincent nodded. “Good night.”
Hearing the door close, he stood up, walked to it, locked it, and entered the bathroom. Turning on the tap, cold water burst out from the showerhead. Images of Stephanie’s lovely face, those innocent yet enticing eyes, and captivating lips filled his mind. Just one kiss had been enough to make him want to crush her in his embrace.
Feeling a surge of lust, he looked upward and unbuckled his pants, granting himself release.
In the next room, Stephanie soaked in the bath and heard a notification from her phone. Drying her hands, she picked it up, and her eyes narrowed.
It was Fantasy Entertainment’s official announcement, stating: [Mr. Douglas Fletcher is engaged to Florence Hayes, a rising star.]