The hand lightly checked her forehead. The natural intimacy of the gesture made Zoe Lancaster’s mind go blank, leaving her frozen for a moment.
Simon Hawthorne already had one hand resting on the back of her neck. With a gentle push, he pulled her closer to him. "You’re burning up. Why are you pushing yourself?"
His tone was cold, carrying a faint hint of mockery.
Zoe’s heart leaped into her throat, but she maintained her professional demeanor. "A little cold won’t make me mess up my work. You don’t have to worry, Mr. Hawthorne."
After all, today was the annual gala and the new product launch. It was completely understandable that he would worry about her underperforming if she wasn’t feeling well.
Looking at the woman’s pale yet stubborn face, Simon’s eyes darkened. His thin lips curled into an almost imperceptible smirk.
"You’re certainly dedicated to your job."
Zoe couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or an insult. She only felt that his mood had grown even colder.
However, there were too many prying eyes around. Standing so close together while he felt her forehead was highly inappropriate. Worried that being spotted would cause trouble, she immediately grabbed his wrist and dragged him behind a heavy, burgundy velvet curtain nearby.
The thick fabric instantly shielded them from the flickering lights and drowned out most of the ambient chatter.
In the narrow, dimly lit space, their presence was magnified. The faint scent of cedarwood radiating from him, his body heat, and his intensely aggressive gaze in the shadows—all of it made Zoe feel like a fish out of water, suffocating and panicked.
"I’m sorry, I was just worried that someone might see us and cause trouble. I’ll head out right n—"
He suddenly gripped her wrist. He pinned her against the heavy curtain. It felt like falling into a cloud, rendering her limbs weak and stripping away all her self-control. "Mr. Hawthorne...?"
"You seem even more worried about that than I am." Simon leaned in, arching his back slightly to meet her gaze in the dark. "What? Are you afraid that exposing your identity as Mrs. Hawthorne might ruin your chances with other men?"
Zoe rarely shared such intimate moments with Simon. Enveloped by his masculine scent, she tried to break free but couldn’t match his strength. She turned her head away to avoid him. "What other men? I just saw Mrs. Hawthorne and Miss Joyce appearing before the media. If it’s exposed right now that I’m the real Mrs. Hawthorne, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to both of them?" She tried her best to appear sensible and understanding.
To her surprise, a low scoff sounded by her ear.
"Zoe Lancaster, should I praise you for being such a supportive wife?"
Zoe certainly considered herself a decent person, acting as the fig leaf to protect their dignity. Why wouldn’t she deserve such a good reputation?
"There’s no need. It’s what I should d—Mmh!"
A sudden sting hit her lips. She was pressed hard against the wall, one wrist pinned beside her ear while his other arm forcefully pulled her slender waist against his chest. His long leg wedged between hers, pressing into the back of her knee and throwing her completely off balance. The overwhelming, tyrannical lust crashing down on her made her scalp tingle.
Her beautiful eyes widened in shock. She felt her lips and teeth being invaded as he fiercely plundered every drop of her sweetness. He kissed her so hard the base of her tongue went numb, reducing her to tiny, whimpering sounds. Her entire body melted into a puddle.
Occasional footsteps echoed outside, and some people even stopped right in front of the curtain to chat. Just one step closer, and they would hear the steamy scene unfolding behind the velvet barrier.
The extreme terror and thrill pushed her senses into overdrive, nearly driving Zoe insane!
Yet Simon was dead set on not letting her go. Ignoring her struggles, he completely shredded his usual elegant and refined facade.
Zoe’s legs gradually gave out. Simon caught her in his arms, forcing her to straddle his thigh in a deeply humiliating position. The surging wave of sensations was simply too much for her to handle.
Until a voice broke the tension.
"Simon?" Stella Joyce’s voice drifted in from the outside. She seemed to be searching nearby.
A sudden, inexplicable desire for revenge flared up within Zoe. She wondered if Stella would go completely mad if she saw the man she loved doing this with her.
However, that thought didn’t last long. Simon released her. His warm thumb gently wiped her lips. Completely unfazed by the risk of being caught by Stella, he said smoothly, "Remember to touch up your lipstick."
Zoe took a deep, shuddering breath. She absolutely couldn’t afford to make a scene at such a major event!
Simon had already turned and stepped out from the side of the curtain. Stella happened to run into him. She quickly scanned his appearance before a sweet smile bloomed on her face. "Simon, where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you. We just missed the interview."
She was feeling quite frustrated. It was incredibly rare to get a chance to make a joint public appearance with him in front of the media. But he was nowhere to be found, and the strict time limit meant she had completely missed a golden opportunity!
Simon calmly took off his gold-rimmed glasses, his features looking even more dangerously enchanting. "Next time, then." He didn’t bother answering her other questions.
Stella knew his temperament well and didn’t dare push her luck. She stepped forward, reaching out to hook her arm through his. "Then let’s—"
"I’m going to change clothes." Simon checked the watch on his wrist and walked right past her.
But in that fleeting second, Stella’s eyes locked onto a faint lipstick smudge on the collar of his white shirt. Her expression instantly darkened. Clutching her handbag, she stared at his retreating back, her chest heaving heavily.
Moments later, Zoe took the time to compose herself before emerging from the other side of the curtain.
She still held the chocolate that Simon had told her to throw away. Since he wasn’t going to eat it, it shouldn’t go to waste, right? Besides, she was practically fainting from hunger. Without hesitation, she popped it into her mouth and chewed.
As for why Simon had just done something like that to her... she honestly couldn’t understand it.
"Everyone else is busy, so what are you doing hiding here?" Mrs. Hawthorne, Ken Lowell, had walked over at some point. Her elegant, aristocratic face bore undisguised coldness and disgust. "How dare you fool around on such an important day for the Hawthorne Group? What were you dragging Simon back there to do?"
She hadn’t expected Ken to see them. Zoe lowered her head and quickly found an excuse. "Mr. Hawthorne’s tie was crooked, so I was helping him fix it."
Ken furrowed her brows. "This is an important occasion. Put away those filthy tricks, and don’t you dare taint the Hawthorne Family’s reputation!"
Zoe pursed her lips and replied softly, "I understand, Mom."
She couldn’t afford to clash head-on with Mrs. Hawthorne. She knew exactly where she stood. Since she had her own motives for needing the Hawthorne Family, she wasn’t arrogant or foolish enough to misjudge the situation. Furthermore, this woman was Simon’s mother. She had to show her respect, no matter how terribly harsh her words were.
Ken had no desire to waste her breath on Zoe. She simply dropped a final sentence, "Don’t address me like that in public."
Zoe swallowed hard, forcefully suppressing her emotions.
Mrs. Hawthorne probably wanted her to divorce Simon even more than Stella did. As long as she remained in the Hawthorne Family, she would be a thorn in Mrs. Hawthorne’s side. After all, it was Cecilia Sloan who had brought her into the family.
She looked at the terrible hand she had been dealt. An unloving husband, a hateful mother-in-law, and a disgusted sister. With such a disastrous start, did she really still dream of turning the tables?
Just as she was about to leave, Stella’s assistant hurried over, clutching her stomach as if in desperate need of a restroom. "Miss Lancaster, could you please deliver this jewelry set to Room 2017 on the second floor? Stella wants you to go over and help her put it on."