With Berta's departure, the vast living room was now a solo stage for Calista.She glanced around, taking in Yara's warning about five visible surveillance cameras and the potential for hidden ones in uncharted territories. Who were they monitoring? Was it her?During Calista's first visit, Berta and the mysterious man had the manor entirely themselves. However, Berta had just disclosed that the unidentified man had left. So, who was on the upper floor?Calista felt her heart race amidst the eerie silence. Her heartbeats seemed to resonate uncomfortably close to her ears. Thump ... Thump …She pivoted and gracefully climbed the staircase, her steps nearly silent thanks to the plush carpet and the soft-soled disposable slippers on her feet.The study was on the second floor, yet there was no sign of anyone as she reached the corridor on this level. A faint, distant sound, too low to discern, seemed to originate from the third floor.Calista's hand rested on the granite handrail of
Calista's gaze traveled from Lucian's arm to his face, and she couldn't help but notice his thick, well-groomed hair, which seemed to be meticulously maintained.Lucian furrowed his brows, puzzled by the affectionate look in her eyes."Why are you staring at me like that?"Calista responded casually, "I think you look rather handsome."A mischievous idea of playfully cutting Lucian's hair crossed her mind. Lucian didn't pick up on the subtle undertone of her reply.He interpreted her remark as a compliment, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. Nevertheless, his smile faded as he considered that this might be the only redeeming quality Calista saw in him.Lucian asked, "Do you question it when I say it's always been you?"Calista paused briefly, then responded, "I suppose we were mere acquaintances before our marriage."That was a bit of an overstatement. Lucian and Calista were practically strangers. They didn't even exchange nods when they bumped into each other, especially
Cade tried to hide his surprise after Lucian shot him an intense gaze.After a brief pause, he took another sip of his drink and spoke, "No. But for physical issues like yours, it's best to consult a professional or perhaps try some, um, supplements."Discussing such matters could indeed be a blow to a man's pride. Cade usually engaged in playful banter, poking fun at Lucian's bedroom skills.However, if this turned out to be a genuine issue, it would be challenging to maintain their usual lighthearted teasing.Even Cade, known for his easy-going nature and ability to stay calm during crises, was at a loss for words. After he spoke, he hung his head and swiftly downed two glasses of alcohol.Lucian fixed a frigid gaze on Cade, restraining the impulse to submerge his head in the alcohol, and spoke through clenched teeth, "There's nothing wrong with my body."Lucian possessed all the typical reactions and impulses a man should have, but he always seemed to hit a roadblock when taki
Agnes cleared her throat and continued, "I must say, after all these years, it seems highly improbable that anyone would return. But, one can never be entirely certain. Whether they choose to return or not is not our concern.""That residence has a rather unfortunate reputation. It's become renowned as a haunted mansion in Capeton. What kind of work have you undertaken there? Did you stumble into some scam?" Agnes asked in concern.Calista wasn't sure how much Agnes knew about her mother's death, but she decided to take a chance and continued, "Agnes, you know, my mom's passing wasn't just a random accident. Grandpa and I have been digging around for years, yet we haven't encountered any useful leads. Have you got any scoop on whether my mom had any tight buddies or pals?"Agnes returned to arranging flowers and replied, "Your mom was one of those workaholic types. She could hibernate at home for weeks, not bothering to chat with anyone or surf the web. Gossip and internet drama wer
Lucian stopped, a sense of frustration washed over him.He rested his chin on Calista's shoulder and spoke hoarsely, "You don't like it when I kiss you, huh? It makes sense. You're not into me. So why would you like it?"Calista had never seen Lucian in such a drunken state before.While there had been previous bouts of drunkenness, he would usually pass out completely, to the extent that not even an earthquake could wake him.She remained silent, and Lucian followed suit. Yet, the silence was short-lived.Suddenly, Lucian unbuttoned his shirt and said, "We skip the kisses then. How about we cut to the chase?"Even if Calista was slow to catch on, she understood Lucian's indication.She maintained a poker face and replied, "Sure, let's move things to bed. Standing around here feels awkward."Even in his drunken state, Lucian managed to navigate to the bed with surprising precision. He wrapped his arms around Calista, fearing she might run away.When they reached the bedside, L
Lucian wanted to say something but restrained himself. He pursed his lips, and the veins on his forehead bulged. After a while, he finally found a more refined way to express himself."Can you cut the guy some slack and take it easy on him?"He had completely forgotten the lectures he had given to the stuffed toy.Calista continued relentlessly, "Sexual desires are just basic physical needs, and you're telling me to be lenient about someone's shortcomings? Is it too much to ask for a healthy relationship? Also, tell your friend to move on sooner. Don't waste that poor girl's time."Lucian was left speechless at her reply.She added, "You might want to suggest therapy for him. If he's having trouble in the bedroom with his wife, it could be a sign to try something different.""You've read those cheesy novels, haven't you? The idea that men only get aroused by their one true love is a load of nonsense. Maybe he needs to spend more time with women and gain more bedroom experience, a
Calista was nearly as tall as Thomas, with a pair of heels adding an extra 2.5 inches to her stature. She exuded an air of poise and elegance that seemed to command the room."Hey, Mr. Jefferson. If you're so sure about it, why don't you spill the beans and tell us who you think I've supposedly slept with to get to where I am today?"Pretending to stay calm, Thomas asked, "What's your intention?""Very well. I intend to convene them here for a public confrontation with you. Regrettably, I lack influential connections among these higher-ups, so I may need to seek Mr. Beaumont's assistance," she explained.Given their busy schedules and critical responsibilities, getting those high-ranking officials to attend was highly unlikely. However, the mere thought of unsettling Thomas was worth it."We'll find out who can handle the embarrassment. Will it be you, Mr. Jefferson? Or me, the one you believe is only here because of connections?"Calista made a comment that chipped away at Thoma
Calista remained seated, undisturbed, while Yara sprang into action next to the table, forcibly turning someone to face her."Hector, you sneaky guy! Didn't we agree that I'd be the one to ask the question? You threw me under the bus there. Now Calista probably thinks we're in cahoots or something."Hector brushed off Yara's grip, pulled out the chair next to Calista, and sat down."I'm here to go after someone, and being here in person shows I mean business. Yara, you can take off now since you've brought me into the picture. Grab some food next door. My treat."Yara glared at him and retorted, "Why involve me in the first place? Why not ask her directly?""You see, showing up unexpectedly too often can irritate folks. Timing is key. Given that you've already set the stage, it made sense for me to step in," Hector replied."Do you ever wonder why passing love notes through messengers was a thing back in school instead of just asking someone out directly?" he continued."Why?" Y