"...What?" Zoe came to an abrupt halt, looking at Simon with confusion and bewilderment.
Simon lowered his gaze. His indifferent, ascetic eyes reflected the woman’s astonished expression. He said, almost maliciously, "Since Mrs. Hawthorne misses me so much, I won’t leave. Are you happy?"
Zoe’s breathing trembled. How was this any different from having a ticking time bomb planted right beside her?
Zoe forced a hypocritical smile onto her face. "How could I possibly hinder your career development? Please don’t worry about me. I’m completely fine on my own, really."
"But then I gave it some more thought." Simon slowly bent down to meet her at eye level, his voice completely unruffled. "Mrs. Hawthorne getting a pregnancy checkup form today made me realize something."
He stared at her, his eyes suddenly narrowing. "Does Mrs. Hawthorne also want to have a child?"
Zoe’s expression froze instantly. What?
Watching the woman’s shifting expressions, Simon scoffed inwardly. He really wanted to see exactly when she would drop her act. Deliberately prodding at her guilty conscience, he continued firing hidden arrows. "I was abroad for two years. I truly neglected you and ignored your needs as a mature woman. Starting today, I will slowly make it up to you."
Zoe was on the verge of swearing. "There’s no need!"
She hadn’t been able to control herself for a moment. He was completely clueless when he actually needed to be considerate, so what on earth was he blindly figuring out when he didn’t need to be!
Realizing belatedly that she had overreacted, Zoe raised a hand to Simon’s chest, trying to push him away a little. But when her palm made contact with his firm pectoral muscles, her throat bobbed. With a face and body like this, it was no wonder she had loved him for so many years.
She was backed up against the sofa by Simon. With one hand pressed against his chest—feeling his aggressively warm body temperature—and the other gripping the sofa, her heart pounded like a drum. "I’m doing great. Being a proper, supportive wife and helping you is enough to make me very happy. You don’t need to worry about me."
She truly didn’t understand. How could Simon even consider her so-called physical needs? Wasn’t he madly in love with Stella Joyce? This was exactly what men were like. They kept their eyes on the pot while eating from their bowls, their brains connected straight to their lower halves. Wasn’t he afraid of exhausting himself to death!
"As your husband, I can’t let you suffer in silence just because you’re so understanding." Simon’s tone was faint, devoid of much emotion. He observed Zoe’s expression as he leaned in closer, his gaze carelessly glued to her lips. "I remember you saying when we first got married that I was your first love, and that you had never dated anyone before."
Zoe grew vigilant inwardly, but maintained a pure, innocent expression on the surface. "Naturally."
The next second, the man’s cool, slender hand landed on her cheek. His thumb unhurriedly stroked her lips, sending a numbing tingle through her that made her bones go soft. His movements were ambiguous and enticingly seductive. "Then Mrs. Hawthorne... must still be a virgin."
Zoe’s breath hitched. She couldn’t imagine that Simon, who usually maintained the image of an aloof and unapproachable gentleman, could be so... wanton in private.
"I..."
"Then let’s make up for our two-year delayed wedding night today."
Simon’s astonishing words left her brain with zero room to process. He effortlessly swept her up into his arms and calmly carried her upstairs. By the time Zoe realized what was happening, she had already been tossed onto the soft bed, her senses boiling with overstimulation.
The crystal chandelier in the room was on. It seemed to shine right through her secrets and guilt, making her feel as though she were completely naked.
But after that gigolo last night, she was no longer a virgin. And yet, Simon wanted to sleep with her at a time like this? Now, she felt as if she had been forced to the edge of a cliff, with no way forward or backward. In the past, she would have probably been thrilled beyond belief for this moment, but right now, she only wanted to curse out loud. What kind of hellish turn of events was this!
The bright light almost blinded Zoe. Her heart pounded as a fine layer of sweat broke out on the palms pressing against the thin silk blanket. She felt like a lamb being roasted over a fire, right up until the mattress beside her sank.
"Why are you so nervous? You’re sweating so much."
Simon’s dry, warm palm rested on her shoulder. Even through a layer of fabric, the heat made her tremble. "I... I’m just not used to this."
Zoe’s mind raced, desperately trying to figure out how to resolve the crisis before her. She had worked in public relations for two whole years, yet her brain had completely short-circuited during her own life-or-death moment!
"The first time is unfamiliar, but the second time is easy. There’s nothing strange about it." Simon narrowed his eyes. The lenses of his glasses reflected a cold glint, obscuring the emotions in his eyes. His gaze roamed over her face inch by inch, taking in her flushed cheeks—whether from nervousness or sheer terror, it was enchantingly alluring.
That is, until his long, well-defined fingers pushed aside the hem of Zoe’s skirt and stroked upwards along her thigh. It caused Zoe to tremble uncontrollably as ambiguity and stimulation erupted all at once—until the man’s fingers pinched her waist.
She couldn’t help but cry out, "Ah... don’t..."
Simon stopped, his gaze profoundly unreadable. The tender, romantic scenes of last night flashed through his mind. Zoe’s waist was a few degrees narrower than an average girl’s. He had always had little interest in romance or sex, but last night, he had failed to restrain himself, leaving a harsh string of finger marks right there.
"You’re very sensitive." The man’s voice was cold and textured, but his words carried a pointed implication, making Zoe’s cheeks flush an even deeper red.
Last night was an accident. But now... he couldn’t deny that it was partly to force this disobedient woman to show her true colors, and partly... pure instinct.
She suddenly grabbed the hand resting on her waist, tears misting in her eyes. "Actually, I’m really happy that you’re back in the country. I’ve missed you so much all this time, but..."
Watching the woman’s shifting, delicate expression, a barely noticeable sneer crept onto Simon’s lips. "But what?"
Zoe’s shoulders hitched. "But I’ve seen the news. I know your heart isn’t with me. Our marriage was originally just a transaction. Your heart belongs to someone else. If I really do this with you, wouldn’t that ruin the... relationship between you and her?"
Naturally, Zoe wasn’t actually this sensible or magnanimous. It was merely an excuse to get out of the current situation. She knew full well that Simon was as shrewd as they came. Sleeping with him when he was this clear-headed would instantly allow him to realize she was no longer a virgin. Furthermore, that gigolo from yesterday had left a few marks on the back of her neck that she just couldn’t cover up!
She had loved Simon for four years and didn’t want to make things too messy. If she hadn’t gotten so furious yesterday and made a horrible mistake while drunk, how ecstatic would she have been tonight? Zoe didn’t even know whether she should cry or what she should do.
Immediately, a low chuckle from the man sounded by her ear. It was inexplicably cold, as if laced with poison. "Mrs. Hawthorne is quite forbearing."
Should he give her a medal of honor?
Completely unable to figure out what Simon was thinking, Zoe pushed herself a little harder. Tears slid down from her eyes. "If you really want to do this, then let’s do it. As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters to me."
As she spoke, she unbuttoned her top, revealing the cleavage pushed up by her bra—a pulse-racing sight that trembled slightly as she wept softly. Zoe braced herself, ready to lie there like a dead log.
Simon stared down at her from above, the corner of his lips twitching upward. However, he didn’t follow the script Zoe had envisioned. He pinched her jaw, the webbing of his hand tightening as his thumb rubbed against the soft peak of her lips. "Since Mrs. Hawthorne is being so understanding, it wouldn’t make sense for me not to properly repay you tonight."
With that, he lowered his head. His lips landed on the soft flesh of Zoe’s chin in a bite-like kiss that was neither too light nor too heavy.
It seemed that tonight, desire was piling high.
Zoe was horrified! Given Simon’s temperament, shouldn’t he have felt the mood was ruined and let her go!?