Annabelle shot him a glare. She wasn’t looking for any signs of another woman.What she noticed was Kendrick’s pale complexion and the sweat beading on his forehead — it didn’t seem like sweat from heat. More importantly, he carried the distinct scent of medicine and blood."Let me see your wound."She tossed the towel aside, quickly twisting her damp hair up, already preparing to check his injury."I’m fine," Kendrick said. "Jax’s injuries are worse. The smell is just from tending to his wounds."Annabelle reached out, touching his forehead. It was slightly warm, but not burning. She then held his wrist, carefully checking his pulse."Your pulse is weak. It feels like your body has been affected by cold and your blood flow is compromised. It seems..."She frowned, staring at him. "Just how much blood did you lose last night?"Kendrick blinked, inwardly sighing. Marrying a little doctor really did mean there was no hiding anything."Not much. Don’t worry so much."Annabelle pursed her
Annabelle thought for a moment. Since Kendrick was well enough to work, his condition probably wasn’t too serious, so she set aside her concerns."Has everyone else left the boat?" she asked, glancing outside.Kendrick nodded and explained that the others had taken a seaplane back to the island. There were still two scenes left to shoot, but they were all Gauge’s, so the crew didn’t wait for her.He then suggested that if she wanted to explore Malé City, he could accompany her. But if she preferred not to, they could return to the island directly by seaplane.Knowing that both Kendrick and Jax were exhausted and injured, even if their injuries weren’t severe, it seemed unreasonable to make them accompany her shopping. Annabelle quickly decided they should head back to the island.The three of them disembarked and boarded a seaplane, flying back to the island.By the time they arrived, the crew had wrapped up filming. Annabelle returned just in time for the celebratory group photo.Aft
Annabelle wasn’t much of a drinker, but at this moment, she was overwhelmed with emotions and wanted to have a sip. She popped the tab open and clinked her can against Gauge’s.They exchanged a smile without saying a word, both gazing out at the vast ocean.The night breeze in the Maldives was warm and gentle, caressing their faces with a comfortable touch. As the fragrant bitterness of the beer spread across her tongue, Annabelle felt a sense of tranquility — as though the drink itself wasn’t intoxicating, but the atmosphere certainly was.“How’s Kendrick?” Gauge finally broke the silence.“He got a little hurt, but it’s nothing serious. A couple of days of rest, and he’ll be fine.”She hadn’t seen his wounds, but judging by how energetic he had been earlier, she assumed they weren’t too severe.“Not enjoying the party?”Annabelle shook her head. “I’m enjoying it. I’m just not used to it.”After all, she had grown accustomed to solitude over the years. Being part of such a large gath
Annabelle narrowed her eyes, seizing the perfect opportunity to land an even louder flick on Gauge’s forehead.Then, without missing a beat, she turned and bolted.Gauge was stunned for a moment. He hadn't expected her to be so playful. After a brief pause, he began chasing after her.She wasn’t fast, and if he wanted to catch up, it would be effortless.But he didn’t want to.There was something about this moment that felt perfect. If it were up to him, he would be content to follow her like this forever, remaining just close enough that she’d find him the moment she turned around.Yet Annabelle felt entirely different.The thrill of almost getting caught — but not quite — made her nerves tingle. She was so tense that she didn’t dare slow down, her legs carrying her frantically across the sand.Unfortunately, in her rush, she paid no attention to where she was stepping.“Ah!”A sharp pain shot through her foot. She stumbled and fell onto the soft sand with a startled cry.Meanwhile,
Kendrick’s temples throbbed violently.He told himself to stay calm. There had to be a reasonable explanation for this — otherwise, Annabelle would never let another man carry her like that.So, with forced composure, he watched as the two approached.But as they walked, they seemed to be chatting casually. Under the glow of the lights, Kendrick could clearly see the smile lingering on Gauge’s face.If Annabelle was truly unwell, there was no way Gauge would be smiling like that.Kendrick took two deep breaths, trying to suppress the storm brewing inside him. He reminded himself — stay calm, trust her.It didn’t work.Jealousy surged through him, setting his blood on fire. The rage burned so intensely that even the wounds on his body threatened to reopen.So this was why she didn't want him to come?To sneak off for a little date with that guy?Meanwhile, Annabelle, still unaware of the storm brewing inside Kendrick, was squirming with guilt.“You should really put me down. I can walk
Annabelle couldn’t understand it.Kendrick knew exactly what kind of person Ada was, so why was he even acknowledging her?She also knew he wasn't the type to entertain people like Willie. Yet there he was, walking away with both of them.And the worst part? He had clearly seen her, but he didn’t come over.A sourness surged through Annabelle’s chest, mixed with a wave of frustration. She had rarely felt this way before.Gauge followed her gaze, observing Kendrick. Then, without a word, he grasped her wrist gently, half-supporting her as they walked forward.She didn’t protest, but her mind was in turmoil. Her eyes remained fixated on Kendrick, watching as he joined the group around the bonfire.The atmosphere grew livelier in an instant.A man like Kendrick, admired and unattainable in the eyes of many, was like the sun — distant, dazzling, and impossible to reach. Yet here he was, sitting casually on the sand, mingling with the crowd.Naturally, he became the center of attention.Th
The little model's excitement was contagious, and soon the other girls were cheering along.Most of them were secretly hoping to draw Kendrick or Gauge as their dance partner. They didn’t dare dream of sparking any real chemistry, but just dancing with such strikingly handsome men would be a win.Watching their eagerness, Annabelle felt her frustration bubble. She wanted to shout on Kendrick’s behalf, “Sorry, ladies, not interested.”But before she could say a word, Kendrick’s deep, magnetic voice rang out."Sure," he said.The low, sultry tone was impossible to resist. The girls erupted into delighted squeals and cheers.Annabelle froze for a moment, the corners of her mouth twitching.Fine. Very well. Kendrick, you can forget about getting in my bed tonight!She couldn’t figure out why he even wanted to join the game. Regardless, she had already decided — she was not speaking to him for the rest of the night.The short-haired model, brimming with excitement, turned to Gauge with a b
Most of the women hoped to dance with Gauge or Kendrick. Of course, some models were eyeing the opportunity to cozy up to the director, hoping a little charm might score them a future acting gig.In short, despite the simplicity of the game, everyone had their own motives.As the girls drew their slips and read the names aloud, many tried to sound excited, even though Annabelle could tell their enthusiasm wasn’t entirely genuine. The odds weren’t in their favor, and most didn't end up with the partner they had hoped for.Still, out of basic politeness, they accepted their dance partners with forced smiles. No one wanted to be that person who showed disappointment or disdain — that would just be poor manners.That said, some of the more self-important models made no effort to hide their discontent. After the obligatory handshake and pleasantries, they immediately let their faces drop, visibly annoyed to be paired with mere crew members.Watching this unfold, Annabelle inwardly scoffed.
Seeing who it was, Scott pressed his lips together in mild disinterest.“What is it?” He glanced at his younger brother, Julian.Julian smirked. “Figured you weren’t asleep yet. I couldn’t sleep either, so I thought I’d come have a smoke with you.”As he spoke, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, handed one to his brother, then flicked open a lighter, lighting Scott’s cigarette before lighting his own. He took a slow drag.“Why did Julissa leave?”“Mm.”Scott’s posture was lazy, making it clear he had no intention of explaining.“Bro, are you serious? Still haven’t gotten the girl?”Scott frowned. “Did you come here just to talk nonsense?”“I told Mom and Dad that you’re dating.” Julian flicked off some ash with a grin.“I planned on telling them after getting the marriage certificate. You sure are quick to run your mouth.”Scott’s gaze was distant as he looked out the window.Back then, no matter how much he pleaded or tried to convince them otherwise, his parents had been determined
Julissa twitched the corner of her mouth. “Thanks, I guess.”It wasn’t like she had fought off some wild beast—just caught a cockroach. Did that really count as brave?Then she glanced at Yvette, who still looked pale and shaken. Suddenly, Julissa felt like a tomboy.She hadn’t been raised as a delicate, pampered lady and didn’t quite understand the refined way some women viewed the natural world.To her, she had simply disposed of a bug. If cockroaches weren’t such notorious pests with insane reproductive abilities, she might have even let it go.“How about we switch you to another room?” Scott suggested.Yvette hesitated before asking, “If a room hasn’t been used for a long time, isn’t it more likely to have cockroaches?”Julissa pressed her lips together. Oh, so what now? You want to stay in my boyfriend’s room? His is occupied often—probably no cockroaches there.Scott glanced at Julian, as if suggesting his younger brother switch rooms with Yvette.Julian looked troubled. “Bro, m
Julissa was completely under Scott’s control. She wavered, forgetting all of her mother’s warnings and her own principles.At some point, her dress had been pushed up to her waist, and her shoulder straps had slipped down her arms.The cool air on her exposed skin made her shiver, but the heat from Scott’s body pressed against hers made her burn. Just as she was about to give in entirely, a woman’s sharp scream pierced through the night.Both she and Scott froze, instinctively turning their heads toward the door.Scott let out a long sigh, clearly trying to rein himself in.Finally, he placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before getting out of bed.“I’ll go check.”He walked to the wardrobe, pulled out a fresh set of pajamas, and put them on quickly. As he reached the bedroom door, he turned back to ask the still-dazed Julissa, “Do you want to come with me?”Her senses snapped back into place. She hurriedly pulled her fallen shoulder straps back up and straightened her dress before noddi
Julissa closed her eyes for a moment. Even though she had expected this outcome, her heart still felt heavy.She steadied her emotions and continued asking, “Then… do you have a lot of experience?”Scott didn't know how to respond. Should he tell her that, at almost thirty, he had only ever been with one person—and that person was her?If she found out that, before they even knew each other, he had taken her to a hotel when she was drunk… Even though she had been very willing at the time, she had still been intoxicated. It could be considered taking advantage of her…What would she think of him if she knew? Would she see him as frivolous, reckless, even a bit predatory?Even if he explained that he hadn't known what came over him that night, that he had been utterly captivated by her and had been searching for her ever since—would she believe him?With a quiet sigh, he decided that no matter what, he hadn't handled that situation well. He didn't want to bring it up.“My experience is…
Scott was momentarily stunned, then chuckled. “So you were bothered by this?”“Why?”Seeing how determined she was to know, Scott decided to explain.“The pajamas Yvette wore were actually meant for you. The last time you got drunk and stayed over, there weren’t any suitable pajamas for you, so I thought I’d get you a couple of sets.”“You thought I would come back then?”Scott smiled slightly. “I figured you’d come to me sooner or later.”Julissa couldn’t help but feel her heart flutter at his confident and possessive words.But she quickly refocused on the main issue.“If they were meant for me, why did Yvette wear them?”Scott shrugged. “It was Julian who gave them to her. She came to Elfhedge in a hurry and forgot to pack pajamas.”This explanation eased Julissa’s mind a little.However, the clothes originally meant for her had ended up on another woman, so Scott shouldn’t be wearing the same set of pajamas.“You should take your clothes off,” Julissa said, her voice a little ster
Scott stood by the bed, dimming the bedside lamp before sitting down. He didn’t look at her, as if his earlier request was the most natural thing in the world.Julissa felt like she had been put under a spell. She obediently walked over with the blanket in her arms, placed it on a nearby chair, and sat on the edge of the bed, feeling incredibly restrained.A sudden realization hit her—wasn’t she just delivering herself straight into the big bad wolf’s den?Scott, however, didn’t do anything inappropriate. He simply scooted to the other side of the bed, making room for her, then lifted the blanket and patted the mattress.“Put your legs in.”“M… Mr. Nichols…” Julissa’s voice trembled as she stared at him, feeling so nervous she could cry.Wasn’t this just her voluntarily crawling into his bed?!Scott glanced at her bare legs and chuckled. “I’m just worried you’re cold.”She was wearing a nightdress, and she was feeling chilly.But the real question was—if she got into his bed, could sh
The thought that Scott might be a seasoned flirt—that everything he had said and done to her, he had also done to other women—made Julissa’s heart sink. She lowered her head, feeling a pang of sourness in her chest.But it was already late. She didn’t dwell on it any longer, quickly drying her hair before getting into bed.No matter what, the sun would still rise tomorrow. She had work, she needed to earn money to support herself, and she had to find a new place and move out…With so much to do the next day, she forced herself to stop overthinking and shut her eyes, willing herself to sleep.However, after lying there for a while, not only did sleep evade her, but she became more awake—because it was just too cold.The blanket she had was way too thin. It was basically a summer quilt!The weather wasn’t warm enough for something this light. Did Scott not have common sense? Was he bad at taking care of people? Or… did he do this on purpose?She tried to endure it, but the cold seeped t
Scott responded casually, “So? Do you need me to carry you out again?”Julissa’s face heated up. Sometimes, Mr. Nichols is really so… improper.This also confirmed one thing—this guy was definitely the reserved-but-secretly-wild type, and his desire seemed very strong.How do you deal with a man like that? Simple—flirt with him, tease him, but never let him have his way! lol…The corners of Julissa’s mouth curled into a mischievous smile. She was starting to feel more like a seductive villainess.She cleared her throat and said, “That’s not what I meant. I just wanted you to hand me my clothes.”As soon as she finished speaking, Scott pushed open the door and entered, holding a set of her sleepwear.Julissa had already hidden herself beneath the water, only her delicate collarbones visible above the surface—one of her proudest features.She pointed to the chair beside her and, blushing, said, “Mr. Nichols, just leave them there.”But instead of placing the clothes down, Scott caught h
“That’s enough, Mr. Nichols,” she interrupted him. “I don’t need all those complicated settings.”“Alright, then. You go ahead and wash up. Call me if you need anything.”Julissa nodded silently. If something went wrong halfway through her bath, could she actually call him in?Some rather colorful images flashed through her mind—doing this and that in the bathroom…She quickly shook her head, feeling like she was beyond saving.Scott didn’t say anything more and turned to leave the bathroom.Suddenly, a thought struck Julissa, and she quickly called after him. “Mr. Nichols, my luggage is still downstairs!”“I’ll go get it now. You just take your bath.”“The main thing is… my change of clothes is in my suitcase…”Scott paused for a moment. “I’ll bring it up for you.”Julissa wanted to ask him, How do you even know what I’ll wear? But before she could, he had already left the bathroom. She decided not to overthink it and just let him handle it.Once the bathtub was filled, Julissa slipp