Chapter 16
The chilling voice took on a slight magnetic quality, and Ash found herself frozen in place as Calvert’s face suddenly loomed large before her. She quickly recovered. “You must think highly of yourself,” she said.
Whether it was the close proximity between them or not, Ash suddenly felt a warmth spreading through her body. With a quick jab, she aimed precisely at the hand Calvert had pressed against her ear.
But before she could make contact, he dodged with remarkable speed.
“Please, keep your distance from me.” With that, Ash quickly moved to a far corner of the bed, wary of being accused of seduction.
Seeing her avoid him as if he were something terrifying, Calvert’s eyes darkened. ‘Am I really so repulsive? Is she genuinely seeking to break off the engagement, or is this just a game?’
However, Ash, now huddled by the bedside, didn’t spare him a single glance, her attention instead fixed on her phone, revealing her long, slender, flawless neck.
Calvert unbuttoned his shirt irritably, a warm sensation rising within him.
“Do you have any water?” Ash asked, setting down her phone.
Despite wearing little, she suddenly felt overheated.
“No,” Calvert replied, glancing over. Somehow, the usually cold–faced Ash now wore a faint blush, looking charmingly delicate. His throat tightened slightly. “Feeling shy?”
“Don’t flatter yourself!” Ash looked away, her complexion changing as an unusual warmth spread through her body. Her fingers quickly found her pulse as she looked up, accusingly. “Did you drug me?”
Calvert laughed coldly. “I’m not that desperate.””
Ash shot him a look and fell silent, carefully recalling the details of the evening.
Remembering Dorothy’s satisfied expression when she saw them both drink the soup, Ash stood up and walked over to check Calvert’s pulse.
A subtle, feminine fragrance wafted into Calvert’s nostrils, surprisingly pleasant. ‘Is she coming onto me?‘
Calvert narrowed his eyes. “Done pretending?”
Ash ignored him, feeling much more at ease. “You’ve been drugged too. We’re in this together now.”
She withdrew her hand. ‘It seems Mrs. Snider set a trap for both of us, not just me. But why the rush?‘
“What do you mean?” Calvert asked.
“The soup we drank tonight was spiked with
Though potent, such drugs were harmless
aphrodisiac.” Despite the changes in her body, Ash remained relaxed.
and left no aftereffects. Moreover, with her skills, she could easily counteract them.
By pressing a few acupoints on her body, Ash quickly neutralized the effects of the drug. However, Calvert was not as calm.
Her proximity acted as a catalyst, making him feel parched instantly. He struggled to maintain composure, quickly piecing together what had happened. “I’m sorry; I didn’t expect Grandma to something like this.”
He bore some responsibility since it happened in his own
“It’s fine.” Ash waved it off, not taking it to heart.
own home.
Dorothy likely just wanted them to hurry up and get hitched, with no ill intentions.
Besides, to others, their current state as an engaged couple meant sharing a bed was perfectly acceptable.
Calvert was surprised by her easygoing nature, but soon his earlier thoughts were proven wrong.
After neutralizing the drug’s effects on herself, Ash leaned her chin on her hand, finding amusement in his current state.
A faint blush colored his sharp features, softening his stern expression.
Admittedly, even Ash, who had seen many handsome men, ranked Calvert among the top three. It was just that his words could be so harsh.
Wasn’t he accusing me of seducing him? I wonder who will end up seducing whom now, Ash mused.
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Do you know medicine?” Under the influence of the drug, Calvert’s voice grew hoarse.
Ash’s complexion returned to normal, signaling to Calvert that her earlier action of pressing acupoints lightly was meant to detoxify.
“No.” Ash lied without so much as a blush or a breathless moment.
Every time they met, he always had that haughty demeanor. It was rare to see him in such a disheveled state, and Ash naturally took her time to enjoy the sight.
“You…” Calvert felt his body growing hotter by the second. Watching her previous actions, it was clear she had the means to help but chose not to deliberately, now watching with an amused expression.
Calvert, feeling overheated, took off his shirt, revealing a well–defined torso, and walked toward her.
‘Wanna watch my show? It won’t be that easy. Calvert quirked his lips into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Ms. Turner, refusing to detoxify me, are you waiting for me to make the first move?”
As they closed in on each other, the subtle fragrance of women became more pronounced.
Calvert added a hint of mockery to his tone. “Are you in such a hurry to marry me?”
Ash rolled her eyes. ‘He really knows how to flatter himself. If I don’t detoxify him now, it would confirm his accusations…
Ash was speechless, her earlier enjoyment of admiring the handsome man gradually fading. “Even if I know medicine, I’m not obliged to detoxify you.” She pointed to the bathroom. “If you can’t stand it, take a cold shower.”
Calvert acted as if he hadn’t heard her, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “As my fiancée, isn’t it only natural for you to help me with this aphrodisiac poison?”
The warm breath on her face made Ash suddenly feel the suppressed effects of the drug trying to resurface. Taking a deep breath, she reluctantly reached out and pressed Calvert’s acupoints.
“There, all done,” she said curtly, walking back to the door to try opening it again.
Calvert felt the heat dissipating from his abdomen and a flicker of curiosity crossed his eyes.
He thought inwardly, ‘She actually knows medicine. Being able to counteract an aphrodisiac with acupressure is not something just any doctor can do. The Moreno family never trained her in medicine; how did she learn? She doesn’t seem to be playing the game; or else, there would have been no need to detoxify me!
***
In the Turner household, Jade hid in her room, her face pale and distressed,
Hours had passed since she sent her message, yet Calvert hadn’t replied once.
‘Could it be that he’s truly captivated by Ash and no longer wants me?‘ She lowered her head and set down her phone, a flash of resentment crossing her
eyes. ‘Ash, why did you have to come back after disappearing?‘
Just then, Brooke walked in. Seeing Jade’s reddened eyes, she wore a somewhat serious expression. “I know you still care about Calvert, but he’s Ash’s fiancé, beyond doubt. You should forget about him soon.”
“Mom-“Jade hung her head, her voice tinged with caution. “Ash is back, does that mean you all don’t want me anymore?”
Brooke sighed. Though Jade wasn’t her biological daughter, she had raised her and naturally felt attached. She patiently explained, “Ash has been missing for so long, enduring hardships outside. I want to make up for it and ensure she’s happy… But you will always be my daughter. I won’t neglect you; I hope you understand.”
Hearing this, Jade’s face softened into a gentle smile. “Don’t worry, Mom. I won’t fight over a man with Ash; we will always be family.”
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