Her chest felt an overwhelming sensation of suffocation, making it impossible for her to breathe.
The sheer terror of being submerged, her ears, nose, and throat filled with water, caused Arabella Vanderbilt to abruptly open her eyes.
Unbeknownst to her, she had fallen asleep in the bathtub, her body had slid down, and the hot water had just passed the tip of her nose.
She suddenly sat up in the tub, breaking the surface with a splash, causing a considerable disturbance and splashing water everywhere.
Clinging tightly to the edge of the tub, she gasped for air with slight desperation.
Feeling that the water in the tub wasn’t very cold, she knew she hadn’t been asleep for too long.
However, thinking of the scene just now, Arabella eventually stood up out of the tub, stood under the shower to rinse off briefly, and then picked up a white bathrobe that was likely prepared in advance by the servants and draped it over herself.
Although she wasn’t considered short among women, the bathrobe was still overwhelmingly large on her, loose enough to nearly expose her chest.
Having no great thoughts after her bath, she found the hairdryer on the counter outside the bathroom.
Her hair, which she had not properly tended to in a long time, was its most natural color.
Because of frequently tying it up, her hair had casual, large curls like seaweed that casually rested on her slender shoulders.
Her small face, bare of makeup, still carried the blush from her soak in the bath, and the usual accumulation of indifference and assertiveness had also been stripped away.
Her black hair, the white bathrobe, her delicate, fair neck, the contrast of black and white, and the innate pride and sensibility woven into her marrow: all these combined to create a uniquely enchanting sight.
Yet Arabella walked out as if nothing were amiss, slipping on the slippers at the bathroom door and calmly walking to the bedside where she lifted the covers and lay down.
The bedding held a cold, refreshing fragrance, mixed with the scent of sunlight, very pleasant to smell.
No one would want to miss the sleep after a bath.
It was still early.
The servants downstairs had already started to busily prepare for tonight’s dinner.
It had been a long time since they were this busy.
At some point in the afternoon, the villa’s door opened, the long-standing quiet villa sensitive to the slight sound.
Servant Leila hurried to the door to see the handsome man dressed in a black, expensive suit with a tall build walking in.
“Young Master, you’re back so early today?”
Leila was somewhat surprised, but a moment later, a gentle smile crossed her face.
It seemed that Miss Vanderbilt was indeed different from other women.
“Hmm,” Joel Russo responded indifferently, after changing his shoes, he didn’t bother to take off his suit jacket and just walked straight into the living room.
A brisk wind swept past Leila, deepening the smile on her face.
No one was in the living room, Joel Russo’s dark eyes moved slightly.
Leila, following behind, said softly,
“Old Madam invited Miss Vanderbilt to stay for dinner.
They are both napping right now.”
Joel Russo turned around, looked at Leila, and said in a soft voice,
“She’s also napping here?”
“Yes, she couldn’t really refuse,” Leila said with a laugh, her tone implying a bit of helplessness.
Joel Russo understood.
It was Grandma who had insisted on keeping her here.
“There’s still plenty of time, why not rest for a bit as well, Young Master?
You must be tired after being busy with the company’s affairs since you returned,” Leila suggested.
“It’s no bother,” Joel Russo said dismissively, then began to unbutton his suit jacket.
Moments later, he paused, his gaze falling to Leila who remained in place, her smile meaningful and prolonged.