Dressed in black with inky hair, the man’s pale skin looked almost ghostly under the light.
He stepped in, slow and composed, but every inch of him screamed danger.
There was this dark, creepy vibe around him, and he reeked of blood—strong enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
As Edwin moved closer, Ashley caught a whiff of that thick, metallic scent.
She tightened her grip on the edge of the tub, her eyes catching his long, elegant fingers—once beautiful, now streaked with dried blood.
Even his black shirt was soaked at the edges, blood dripping steadily to the floor.
In an instant, she was pulled back to the memory of meeting him for the first time—that wretched hidden room.
That was no place for the living.
He was the devil in human skin.
Ashley trembled.
Silent dread clung to her like a shadow.
“Heh…” Edwin let out a low, chilling chuckle.
The dark gleam in his eyes locked onto her paling face.
“Scared?”
His large hand clamped around her chin, cold and firm, his gaze sharp and unblinking, like a hunter toying with cornered prey.
“People who can’t hear or speak usually have a sharper nose…
So tell me, how many people’s blood can you smell on me?”
Ashley flinched in his grip.
…None of that blood was his.
“Little mute, remember how I smell.” His fingers dug harder into her jaw, and a flicker of ruthless menace lit up in his eyes.
“If you ever lie to me or betray me, I’ll drain you dry myself.”
“…”
Freaking psycho.
Ashley bit back her fear and gave a small nod, barely moving.
He looked oddly satisfied with her frightened reaction, even let a small grin slip.
“Good girl.”
Right then, chaos erupted outside.
“Where is that bitch Ashley?!
Tell her to get out here!”
Amelia’s shrill voice pierced the air, slicing through the bathroom door like nails on glass.
Edwin’s expression shifted, the killing intent that had softened instantly ignited again—but then, just as fast, it disappeared beneath his calm mask.
“Miss King…”
“Move!
Anyone dares block me, I’ll have my dad take them out!”Amelia had already barged into the bedroom, her heels clacking sharply until they stopped abruptly—she stormed straight toward the open bathroom door.
Edwin’s eyes turned chilly in a flash.
Without a word, he yanked off his black shirt and stepped right into the tub.
Ashley’s eyes shot wide open in panic.
The bathtub was full of bubbles, sure—but under all that foam, she was completely naked…
“What the hell are you two doing?!” Amelia froze at the door, stunned by the scene.
Her already dark expression sank into something almost black.
“Edwin!
How could you mess around with this kind of trash?!”
She’d been chasing after him forever and hadn’t even managed to hold his hand!
Edwin lazily rested his toned arms over the edge of the tub.
Looking over at her, he said coldly, “Watch your mouth.”
His gaze was calm but carried a force that made Amelia flinch involuntarily.
What was that look?
…It had to be her.
That damn woman must’ve bewitched Edwin!
Amelia glared at Ashley, eyes burning with jealousy like she wanted to tear her apart.
“Edwin, don’t fall for that mute act.
She’s not as innocent as she looks!
She’s a backstabbing little witch, that’s what she is!
Look at what she did to me!” She hiked up her sleeves angrily.
Her once-pale arms were now covered in red welts and healing bite marks from some kind of venomous bugs.
Edwin narrowed his eyes slightly, a breathless chuckle escaping his lips.
He leaned in toward the woman beside him.
“So you’ve got hidden talents too, huh?”
His warm breath brushed lightly against Ashley’s neck.
Ashley was frozen stiff, not daring to so much as twitch.
Under the water, Edwin’s strong, chiseled chest lightly grazed her smooth back—it felt like handling a live weapon…
dangerous and impossible to ignore.
Ashley felt every nerve in her body go on high alert.
“That woman showing up in Kingsview Garden must’ve had something up her sleeve!
Honestly, I say we just get rid of her,” Amelia’s voice turned cold and venomous.
“Edwin, you hate blood, so just hand her over to me.”
…Afraid of blood??
Ashley’s mouth twitched.
Clearly, Amelia had no clue what kind of man Edwin really was.