Lucian didn't know if she understood, but she obediently sat still. He held her, and she didn't resist. She wasn't exactly light, and it was manageable under normal circumstances. However, when drunk, it was a bit of a struggle.As Lucian began to lift her, his arms and legs turned weak, and they both tumbled onto the sofa. Fortunately, the apartment belonged to Paul, and he had chosen quality furniture.The sofa was wide and soft, so when Lucian fell, he used his elbow to cushion the impact and didn't fully fall on top of Calista. He propped himself halfway, looking down at the quiet woman beneath him. Calista's eyebrows and eyes were red. Her gaze towards him was different from her usual rejection and mockery.Lucian's long fingers slid along the contours of her face, "What if it never works out between us? Will you still want me?" Calista tilted her head, probably annoyed that he had disturbed her sleep. Lucian chuckled lightly with a hint of self-deprecation."But you did
Calista was filled with shock, disbelief, and even a hint of sympathy, but it lacked the kind of desire that Lucian hoped for. His face was cold, and he gritted his teeth, "Do you wish for that to be true?" "Well, it's not like I'm wishing for that, exactly."Calista shifted her gaze from his crotch back to his face. But if that were the case, it would make her three years of sexless marriage seem less miserable. At least this meant she wasn't entirely at fault and he was just not interested in her. Lucian wasn't amused by her words. His face turned darker. "If you could tone down the happiness in your eyes, maybe I'd believe you." Was he admitting it? Calista couldn't control herself and let out a light chuckle."So, you really can't perform?" Lucian didn't answer her. Instead, he pulled her into his arms from behind, his lower abdomen pressing against her waist."What do you think?" Her face flushed red. He was doing it on purpose, holding her so tightly that her wai
Yara glared disdainfully at Lucian and remarked, "Have you ever wondered how your ex-husband managed to make everyone despise him?"Lucian found himself at a loss for words, a rare occurrence indeed. Calista watched him stumble for the first time and couldn't help but find it amusing.Her urge to resist a wry smile failed, and she responded, "The universe seems to have a way of rejecting him, perhaps."Yara's gaze then shifted to Calista's swollen ankle.She furrowed her brow and inquired, "Whoa, what happened to your ankle? Did you get it checked out by a doctor?"Yara scanned the room filled with assorted alcohol bottles as she approached Calista.There was quite a selection of alcoholic beverages on display, ranging from top-shelf choices to more budget-friendly options.Yara had immediately spotted the array upon entering the living room.Since Calista wasn't known for indulging in alcohol, it didn't require much detective work to deduce who was responsible for this spread.
Calista looked at Liam and muttered, "How did you ..."Liam calmly pulled his phone from his pocket and answered the call. As he did so, Calista caught a glimpse of the displayed number. It wasn't hers."Sorry, I need to take this," Liam remarked.He walked a few steps away to answer the call. Meanwhile, Calista continued to hear the beeping sound on her phone until it disconnected.Liam attended to Calista after finishing his call."Where to next?" he asked."Back home," she replied.Calista no longer had to make daily visits to the Baker Group office.The overall project plan had been set, and the remaining tasks were about refining the details, which she could easily manage from home.She could plan another trip when the final draft was ready.Calista's foot injury had taken two weeks to heal, but it still restricted her from walking for extended periods.She needed to ensure she took enough rest to facilitate the recovery of her muscles and bones.It happened to be a we
Hector walked straight up to Calista and casually pulled down the sleeve she had rolled up."Aren't you cold with the air conditioning set so low?" he said.Despite the sunny weather, it was late April, and the temperature was cold. The air conditioning was running because of the crowded mall.Calista asked, "What brought you here?"Hector glanced at the composed Yara and replied, "Someone texted me, and I was in the area, so I decided to drop by."It wasn't purely a coincidence. Hector's family had been attempting to set him up with Ava. His mother had convinced him to meet her. Just as he did so, he received a message from Yara.Ava remained seated on the ground, her eyes fixed on Hector as he assisted Calista in adjusting her sleeve.Her frustration simmered just below the surface, stoked by Hector's evident disregard for her presence. With a somewhat pitiful tone, Ava raised her head and called out."Hector."Hector turned his head, his brow slightly furrowed."Why are yo
Lucian asked, "Did you block my number?"He had attempted to call Calista multiple times throughout the day at his workplace, only to hear the busy signal repeatedly. It eventually struck him that she had blocked his number.Calista unlocked the door using her fingerprint and entered her apartment.Lucian followed suit, a practice he had established during this period, using the pretense of taking care of her as his way into her apartment.While Lucian could only claim the couch for sleeping, it was a small victory that Calista no longer halted him at the entrance.If he could pass through the living room door, the bedroom door might be open for him soon. Suddenly, Calista reached out and stopped Lucian before he could step foot inside."I'm healed now. I don't need your help anymore."Lucian's gaze locked onto Calista's delicate arm. After a moment, a low, humorless chuckle escaped his lips.His eyes and furrowed brows betrayed no hint of amusement. Instead, they radiated an i
The next day, Calista went to the manor on the hill, with Liam following her.They had grown somewhat acquainted over the past few days, but their discussions revolved around subjects other than the mysterious man.Whenever the topic of Mr. Mysterious arose, Liam would fall silent, keeping his thoughts to himself. There was no prying any helpful information from him.Liam had received strict instructions that prevented him from venturing upstairs in the manor. He simply walked Calista to the foot of the staircase.Usually, Calista would have ascended without a second thought.But today, she clung to the stair railing and asked, "Liam, ain't you the least bit interested in what Sir looks like?"The portrait had been restored today, and Calista had arranged to meet Mr. Mysterious.Liam replied, "Curiosity killed the cat."Calista rolled her eyes in mock disdain and said, "You are no fun."After that, she made her way up the stairs. Over time, she had become well-acquainted with
Liam appeared more aloof in his role as Mr. Mysterious than when he acted as Calista's bodyguard. He exuded an air of superiority as he looked at Calista."Ms. Everhart, we have a business relationship. I saved you in Apthon because it was profitable for me. I've invested a lot of money in you, and I can't just let it go to waste," he said, removing his hat and tidying his messy hair.He continued, "It's none of your concern whether someone is on the third floor. If there is, they're under my employ. You, Ms. Everhart, are merely hired hands doing tasks for money. Do you believe you have the right to interrogate my people?"Calista furrowed her brow and retorted, "I just wanna get the lowdown on anything connected to my mom. That was the deal when I signed up."Calista wouldn't have taken this job if it weren't for the photos and the impression that they knew some insider information.Liam frowned and replied, "You haven't unearthed anything yet, and you nearly bit the dust in Apt