The blank space in Calista's mind was filled with certain imagery. It left her so exasperated she couldn't speak. Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Lucian also kept silent.The atmosphere grew more ambiguous with the sound of their joined breaths. She could also make out his calm breathing picking up and growing heavier; it was sultry. Veins bulged on her forehead."Restrain yourself, Lucian. This is a phone call. Where is your mind wandering off to?"The man's voice had turned husky."I've been holding back for too long. I can't hold back …"Calista hung up the phone before he could finish. That scumbag had his head filled with indecent thoughts. If she allowed him to continue, what other vulgar words would he utter?She tossed her phone aside and tried to go back to sleep. But the moment her eyes fluttered shut, she found that Lucian's antics had all but gotten rid of her drowsiness.She switched on the lights and scrolled through her social media. She somehow ended up
All the inspecting officials' attention shifted to Augustus at Thomas's outburst.Caught in the spotlight, Augustus' expression changed. He shot Thomas a warning glance before forcing a smile."I understand your anxiety about what's going on with your family, Thomas. I've asked someone to look into it for you. Please wait for me in my office. We can discuss this later. The officials still have matters to attend to after their inspection."Thomas was certain that Augustus had noticed the look he threw Calista's way. The director was protecting that woman.Why was he shielding her? She was always the first one Augustus thought about when anything good happened. There must be some kind of sordid connection between them.In their field, it was always the experienced professionals mentoring the newcomers. Someone Calista's age, capable of hands-on work, was already an impressive feat.What qualifications did she have to be graded and involved in such important restoration projects? Th
Calista had grown cautious after she learned about Vivian's identity and personality. She had been prepared for unexpected circumstances.Although she couldn't be certain Vivian was gunning for her, a string of coincidences was not good news. It had originally been for emergencies. Calista didn't think it would come in handy quite so soon.Silence fell over the group. Others were throwing her odd looks. What kind of weirdo monitored themselves that way?Calista switched on the laptop she carried around with her. The diadem had been restored three days ago.It was supposed to have been submitted today. But the officials' impromptu inspections had delayed the handover.She threw up the surveillance footage that had been taken three days ago. It clearly showed her placing the restored diadem into a box and labeling it with her name.After that, she worked on restoring the tiara with several other conservators in a temporary work area. She didn't return to her workstation during that
Calista stood still. She didn't dare to push Lucian's hand away. She was worried that the loose towel he wrapped around his waist would fall once she struggled away from him. She was only 25, and the last thing she would crave was a man's naked body. Lucian was taller than she was. As they were in a very intimate position now, when he lowered his head, the water on his chin dripped on her. It's already May. She's not wearing a lot of clothes, and she could feel the wet clothes glued to her body. Calista hated this feeling.She said reproachfully, "David said you're dying and he can't come right now, so I came. Just in case you end up dead at home."She thought of the housekeeper who quit and remarked in disdain, "You're living in such a horrible place alone, like a lone ghost. If anything happened to you, no one would even know after your body decayed."Lucian smiled, and deep chuckles resonated from his chest as he saw how defiant she was."Was it David who was worried about
Calista was brought to the couch by Lucian."Sit still. I'll treat your wound." She was stunned. What she didn't expect was that he forced her here just to treat her wound. As she lifted her head, she met with his dark eyes, which were filled with traces of glee."You already knew I can't get hard. So what can I do to you?" Lucian kneeled on one leg as he took out a mini first-aid kit from the drawer beside him. "Were you bullied?" he asked, as he wiped the wound with a cotton swab dipped in medicine. Calista didn't regard herself as being bullied. Even if she was bullied, it was also because the bully was humiliated by her success.So be it getting knocked over by Thomas, or being suspected in front of so many people, she didn't have any reaction in particular. But now when Lucian asked her, she suddenly held her breath, her heart clenched tight uncontrollably. Her gaze was fixated on his heavy-lidded eyes and straight nose.After a few seconds, she shifted her gaze
Lucian asked with a drawl of someone who just woke up.Calista was startled by his voice. As she regained her senses, she turned and glanced around the room. The interior of the room was familiar to her.She sat up and glanced at her clothes quickly. She was still dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. It's just slightly wrinkled from a night's sleep."How did I—"Calista's words halted as she vaguely remembered falling asleep on the couch yesterday. "What time is it now?" She lifted the covers and then got off the bed. "Why didn't you wake me up?" "I did though."Calista paused as she was getting off the bed. She shot him a suspicious look. Lucian also sat up, exposing his upper body, which was sexy and well-built."You didn't even wake up despite me carrying you from that couch to the bed. Isn't it considered as you not waking up after I tried to wake you up?" He grabbed his watch on the bedside table and glanced at the time."It's eight o'clock now." Calista's ab
"So, you've been abroad before?" Calista asked.She had no idea. She wasn't close with Lucian before their marriage, and it was perfectly normal for them to not meet for at least a year. Lucian shoved the utensils into her hands and replied indifferently, "Yeah."Though he still looked composed, Calista thought he sounded a bit irritated. Feeling diffident, she hung her head low and began munching on a butter bun. She didn't get her hopes up high regarding the butter buns. They were produced frozen products, after all. But the moment she bit into it, the rich flavor exploded on her taste buds. This butter bun was clearly different from the ones she usually had. "Forsons Hotel had them delivered yesterday."Calista fell silent. No wonder it tasted delicious. Indeed, a mogul would certainly start off his day with a lavish breakfast.She finally mumbled after stuffing two buns into her mouth, "We weren't close back then, so it's normal that I didn't know that you've been abroad
It was Vivian who called. And her name saved on Calista's phone indicated their close relationship. Lucian narrowed his eyes slightly as he saw the caller ID, 'Vivi' flickering on the phone screen. Calista couldn't stand his intense glare. As soon as she intended to turn around and answer the call, he grabbed her before she could do so.He remained silent, but his actions screamed, "Answer the call right here.""Hello?"Vivian sounded genuinely worried from the other end of the call."Calista, I've heard that you encountered some trouble at the museum yesterday, right? Is Thomas Jefferson sick? Why did he pester you like a lunatic? Even if you messed up the restoration, he should've talked to you in private first."Given how introverted Calista usually was, she would've fallen for Vivian's seemingly sincere words if she hadn't investigated her beforehand. People tend to be more vulnerable when they feel like they've been wronged. In that state, a simple word of kindness or c