Chapter 304
It was six in the morning.
After waking up. Stephanie stood in front of the bathroom mirror, lost in thought for a long time.
She tied up her long, curly hair, tilted her body, and craned her neck to get a clear view of some ‘marks” on her skin in the
mirror.
Her fingers gently brushed over them. They didn’t hurt or itch. They looked like hickeys.
Her brows furrowed even deeper. Suddenly, a sense of alarm rose within her, and she immediately turned and ran out to the small living room, carefully inspecting her tiny apartment..
The doors and windows had been locked by her last night, and she was the only one in this space.
She didn’t feel physically unwell, just a slight heaviness in her bed. She glanced at the bottle of antidepressants on the
coffee table.
All psychiatric medications had side effects. For example, an overdose could cause hallucinations, brief memory loss, brain fog, and even affect heart rhythm.
Stephanie wasn’t sure how the “marks” on her neck and earlobe had gotten there. Maybe it was the medication, or perhaps she had pressed against something before sleep and didn’t remember.
The doors and windows had been closed all night, and the heater had been running throughout the winter, making the small apartment stuffy with poor air circulation.
Standing in the middle of the living room, she once again surveyed the eerily quiet space, but her vision was slightly
blurred.
Even her breathing became labored, and the oppressive feeling in her chest grew more irritating.
This enclosed space made it easy for her mind to wander, and slie desperately wanted to escape this predicament.
She twisted the doorknob and rushed out.
The temperature difference between the inside and outside made her shiver, but the winter chill also cleared her head and calmed her heart.
Soon, however, Stephanie realized that she had stepped on something.
She glanced down and was stunned for quite a moment. It was a vibrant red rose.
She had run out barefoot. Her delicate feet stood out starkly against the bright red petals.
She had mixed emotions as she bent down to pick it up.
The thorns on the rose had been meticulously removed. “Who left this here?” she murmured.
Who would place a rose at her apartment door?
A scene from the previous night flashed in her mind. At Eastwall Plaza, a little girl had tried to sell her flowers.
It was the same kind of rose.
Stephanie’s expression turned grim as she tightly gripped the rose until a petal gently fell. Taking a deep breath, she turned back inside, changed her clothes, and headed out again.
At 9 AM, Stephanie received a call from Molly.
Molly asked if she wanted some specialty items from Caclorium I’m in Caelorium right now. Why are you at the hospital on Christinas? Are you sick?” She heard the sounds of the hospital’s pharmacy broadcast.
“I wandered around the square last night and caught a cold.”
“Is the fever serious?”
“Just a common cold. Nothing to worry about,” Stephanie replied calmly, giving nothing away in her tone. “I’m in line to pay the bill. I’ll talk to you when I’m free.”
Then, the call ended.
Molly thought for a moment. Stephanie’s voice seemed normal, but would she really go to the hospital for a common cold, given her personality?
“What’s going on?”
Suddenly, a figure approached her from behind, startling Molly She looked up at the man in front of her and was taken aback. “Why are you in my room?”
Scott looked at her frightened expression and shrugged nonchalantly. “Where did you think I slept last night, out on the
Street?”
You slept here last night?!” Molly was even more horrified, her voice rising and turning sharp. “Scott, you pervert! You came into my room and..
The rest of her words felt awkward, and she silently closed her mouth.
“Why are you so tense?” The culprit showed no remorse, glancing at her gradually reddening face. Scott then smiled even more wickedly. “Ms. Snuggleton, are you afraid I’ll make a move on you?”
Molly was completely stunned.
This shameless guy actually said that out loud!
“What exactly did you… Molly trembled with anger.
Scott kindly explained, “I went downstairs last night to book another room, but the hotel told me they were fully booked for Christmas.”
“No rooms available? Why didn’t you tell me first?”
Scott, seeing her displeasure, sighed. “I was just thinking of you!
Molly glared at him, gritting her teeth.
How could she believe this sly fox was really that considerate?
Scott raised an eyebrow, asking directly. “If I had told you last night that we were sharing a suite, would you have been able to sleep?”
Molly was dumbfounded. She was frustrated that she couldn’t refute him, not even once.
it were late at night, and they were in the same suite, of course she wouldn’t be able to sleep!
“In such a big suite, you hogged the entire double bed, and I didn’t even try to squeeze in with you. I just slept on the sofa.” Scott spoke seriously, even sounding a bit wronged.
He didn’t forget to add at the end, “Ms. Snuggleton, don’t worry, I won’t make a move on you.”
Molly glared at his handsome, refined face. Honestly, how could this man be so sharp–tongued?
‘Screw you!” She seethed.
matter how civil Molly was, she couldn’t help but feel like cursing early in the morning
Spending even one more second with this man would send her blood pressure soaring.
From the first day she met him, Scott had been like this. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing!
Scott rarely showed this mischievous side of himself. As Molly, this soft and gentle woman, was fuming but not daring to speak, he felt immensely pleased.
He naturally reached out his hand and pinched her cheek. “Ms. Huggleton, don’t make that face. We’re going to meet clients soon. Come on, smile. As expected, even her cheeks were soft.
Molly’s face darkened even more. This man was more childish than his own
Yesterday afternoon, she left her apartment, intending to meet Stephanic at Eastwall Plaza for some shopping, but she unexpectedly ran into him in the parking garage. Scott was standing right next to her car.
At the time, she was surprised and embarrassed because she had been fired by him a few days earlier and had run off crying.
He said Andy was sick and throwing a tantrum, wanting to see her.
za
Perhaps it was the sincerity in Scott’s eyes at the time that made her foolishly follow him.
It wasn’t until they reached Caelorium that she realized she had been tricked.
Scott told her sarcastically, “About what happened last time, it was my fault. Andy really liked the Christmas gift you gave
him
Molly hadn’t expected an apology from him. In all honesty, they were adults, and it was hard to say who was right or wrong in some situations.
“Why did you trick me into coming to Caelorium?” she asked.
He replied confidently as if it was a matter of fact. “I didn’t have a holiday for Christmas. I had to come here to meet a client.” Molly ground her teeth, wanting to say that it was none of her business.
But as always, just when she thought she had the upper hand and was about to give him a piece of her mind, Scott calmly told her. “Ms. Snuggleton, knowing you as I do, you wouldn’t spend money on yourself even if you had it. So, to make up for my rudeness last time, I’m offering you an all–expenses–paid day at Caclorium, with the most expensive cuisine and a stay in the presidential suite
It was a roundabout way of calling her a penny–pincher, implying she’d probably never have the chance to experience such luxury in her lifetime.