“You planning to just stand there and watch me get dressed?” Edwin shot a look at Amelia.
Amelia, who’d been all fired up a second ago, suddenly turned all bashful.
“Edwin…”
Truth was, she wouldn’t mind catching a glimpse of him naked.
But Edwin wasn’t about to give her the chance.
“Out.”
“…”
Despite her reluctance, Amelia backed off.
She was still kind of scared of Edwin.
Before leaving though, she threw a vicious glare at Ashley.
Ashley wasn’t thinking about Amelia at all right now.
She was huddled naked in the water, just wanting the man behind her to hurry up and leave the tub.
Too bad Edwin had no plans of leaving.
Ashley lost her patience and turned around—only to lock eyes with his teasing, dark gaze.
“What, don’t wanna part ways?
You really that into this romantic bath with me?”
“…”
Could this guy be any more shameless?
The next second, the water stirred and Edwin, bare-chested, suddenly leaned closer, proving—very literally—that he wasn’t kidding around.
“Didn’t catch that?
Or maybe…
I should just carry you out myself?”
As he spoke, his hand slid to her waist, clearly about to pick her up.
Ashley flinched like she’d been electrocuted, face burning red.
…Total perv!!
Seething, she reached out and clamped a hand over Edwin’s eyes.
Edwin, surprisingly cooperative, let her do it.
His ridiculously long lashes brushed her palm, sending a weird tickle straight into her chest.
Flushed to her ears, Ashley kept his eyes covered while scrambling out of the tub.
The moment she let go, she snatched up her robe in lightning speed to shield the important parts.
Honestly, it all happened in two seconds.
But in that flash, Edwin caught sight of her slim, fair waist.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
So soft.
Resting his long fingers on the tub’s edge, he rubbed his fingertips like he was savoring the touch.
It really did feel that soft…
Ashley had just thrown on her robe and stepped out of the bathroom when two men in black suddenly grabbed her, one on each side, like a couple of goons.
“You filthy bitch, how dare you play tricks on me!” Amelia couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Seeing Ashley’s elegant and delicate face only made her jealousy boil over.
“I’m gonna ruin that pretty face of yours.
Let’s see how you seduce guys after that!”
At some point, she’d pulled out a sharp dagger and slashed it toward Ashley’s face with pure malice.
Ashley’s gaze turned cold.
She had still gone too easy on Amelia.
Using a quick twist, she broke free from the grip of the two bodyguards and ducked back, skillfully dodging the blade.
But she ended up slamming into a broad, warm chest that was still carrying the faint heat of a recent shower…
She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
Her whole back stiffened, and just as she tried to move away, Edwin’s strong arm firmly wrapped around her waist.
“Edwin, grab that slut for me!” Amelia yelled in glee the moment she saw Ashley held in place.
Without hesitation, she stabbed toward Ashley’s face.
With the blade closing in, there was no way Ashley could fight back—Edwin was holding her tight, and those bodyguards were useless earlier.
Resigned, she shut her eyes.
But the pain never came.
Instead, Edwin caught Amelia’s wrist in one swift move.
“Edwin?!” Amelia’s eyes went wide in disbelief, then twisted with rage as she glared at him.
“You’re actually siding with that cheap woman over me?!”
Did he forget she was backed by the whole King family?
And him?
Just a sickly man—where did he get the nerve?
Ashley was surprised too as she looked up.
Just in time to see Edwin glance down.
Their eyes met.
And she clearly caught the trace of playfulness in his gaze.
“Relax,” Edwin said lazily, corners of his lips lifting slightly, “Grams arranged our marriage.
If you wanna mess with her, better get Granny’s okay first.”
Ashley felt the little spark of warmth in her heart instantly go cold.
So he wasn’t protecting her, just afraid of getting scolded.
She must’ve lost her mind thinking he was actually standing up for her…
Amelia frowned, fed up.
“It’s late, I won’t bug Grams now.
I’ll just take her with me tonight and explain tomorrow.”
She threw a look to the bodyguards, signaling them.
Take her now, teach her a lesson later.
Once it’s done, even that old lady wouldn’t be able to say anything!