Chapter 15 Tempting
Yet, Welburn recovered within an instant. With lowered eyes and an unreadable expression, he cleanly sliced through the seal with the corkscrew.
The next second, he stabbed the wooden cork with it.
Somehow, Eileen felt that Welburn seemed to be stabbing hard. His veins. stood out on the back of his hands.
Normally aloof, he now seemed almost feral. Especially his blue–veined hand showed a surge of rizz.
He twisted the cork until it finally popped out of the bottle.
With mixed emotions hidden in his eyes, he looked down at her and said indifferently, “Congratulations then.”
Welburn poured a glass of wine for himself and a glass of water for Eileen.
Eileen smiled, “I didn’t expect you to have such a sense of occasion.”
“You like babies so much. I guess you must be thrilled.” Welburn held the wine glass.
He raised the glass and stared at her, saying slowly, “This is to you. Finally, your wish has come true.”
When it came to the baby, Eileen held the glass tightly as if to crush it. Her lips curved into a bitter smile.
She raised the glass and clinked his.
The sound of glass clinking lingered in her ears.
Eileen watched the water and murmured bitterly, “Tell me about it.”
She craned her neck and pressed her lips against the glass. Her eyes were closed Instantly, tears streamed down her cheeks and sank into her soft hair.
It was water that she drank but somehow, it tasted so bitter.
Even the tip of her tongue was coated by bitterness.
Welburn’s brows furrowed.
Eileen thought he didn’t notice that. She wiped off the tears and said with studied casualness, “It’s quite a pity that I can’t drink your good wine today. When my baby is gone, you must give me a bottle.”
“I’ll give you ten bottles after you give birth.”
Eileen felt a bit surprised and thought, “After I give birth? I’m afraid the baby can’t make it through the dawn.”
She replied with feigned casualness, “Ten bottles then. Not even one less.”
“Deal.”
After the dinner, it was getting late.
Eileen looked out of the floor–to–ceiling window in the living room and saw the night scene of almost half Warington.
Generally, only from a height could one see this kind of scene, but this villa was situated in a high place. It was easy to enjoy the panorama of the city from here.
When she was little. Eileen thought those who couid afford to live in the high buildings were all rich. Now she realized that the rich people’s life was totally beyond her imagination.
Welburn’s silhouette was reflected on the window. He asked, “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking why you agreed to continue the show.”
Eileen turned around and stared at this complicated man.
“I’ve investigated you. Apart from the play we did together. I didn’t find other information about you. For an actor, exposure is the most important thing. But you don’t care about it at all. The bottle of Romanée–Conti you just took out is worth 40,000 dollars or so.”
Eileen looked terribly calm. “This residential area is the most expensive in Warington. Welburn, you have no interest in acting. Why did you agree to my request?”
She couldn’t help thinking, “Does Welburn want anything from me? But even all my assets can’t even afford half a bottle of his wine.
“Is he into me? Given his condition, as long as he wants, he can marry any woman he likes. How can he possibly fall for me?”
Eileen never thought of him as a bad man, but she just couldn’t think of anything to make him agree to do the show.
Welburn took a step forward, which made Eileen step back unconsciously.
Her back was pressed against the floor–to–ceiling window. A chill swept down her spine.
Welburn didn’t get any closer and kept a distance from her.
Despite that. Eileen still felt uncomfortable and ne: vous,
Welburn was even a few inches taller than Fremont.
He carried himself with an air of prominent prestige, but his gaze on Eileen was rather calm without any desire.
“What if I tell you I just want to finish that undone show?”
Eileen was surprised to hear that. He agreed to continue the show not for fame or wealth.
“Why? If you like acting, you could’ve got plenty of choices given your popularity back then. But you didn’t.”
“I can’t refuse it for some reason.
Eileen raised her head to look him in the eye, craving for an answer.
Somehow, the atmosphere became tense.
Eileen elenched the hem of her dress and felt as if her heart was seized by an invisible hand. She couldn’t help holding her breath, afraid the answer was too much for her to accept.
Welburn lowered his head and noticed the uneasiness that flashed across her face.
He said casually, “Ms. Shaw is my aunt–in–law.”
Eileen realized why she would be assigned as a newbie’s agent back then.
She thought it was the investor’s arrangement, but it turned out to be Bonita’s idea. That day when Eileen visited Bonita, the latter made it clear she wanted the original crew to reunite for the sequel.
Eileen was relieved to hear the answer “No wonder you’d agree
Then, she walked around Welburn. As her body brushed across his shoulder, a fragrance was left behind.
Welburn felt like his heart was tickled by a kitten.
“Why else can it be?”
Eileen’s body stiffened a bit. When she turned around, her face was already filled with a smile. “Why else could it be? I thought you were after money. But since you live in this kind of house, I won’t be worried then. It’s getting late. Gotta go.”
“I’ll give you a ride.”
Eileen waved her hand. “No need. Since you’ve had wine, you can’t drive. I’ll go home myself.”
She didn’t want to bother him anymore.
Welburn picked up his phone and dialed a number before saying to her, “Ten more minutes.”
Before she refused him, the call was put through. He just asked the person on the other side of the call to come to the villa.
He was terribly cold and imposing.
There were ten minutes before Eileen could leave. Cross–legged, she sat on the carpet and watched the view outside. She felt it was magnificent and ethereal as if looking down at the mortal world from heaven.
Their silhouettes were reflected on the window.
“Welburn, do you have a girlfriend?”
“No.”
She mumbled, “Don’t you feel lonely staying in such a high place?”
Welburn stared at her reflection on the window with a glint of mixed feelings flashing across his eyes. “Not anymore.”
Soon, Cedrick appeared at the door.
Eileen said, “Thank you. I owe you another one.”
Welburn replied calmly, “I won’t let a pregnant lady go home alone. Besides, you don’t have to take me as an outsider. Just treat me the way as before.”
Four years ago.
The first time Welburn came to the set, he saw a woman wrapped in a black down jacket lying in an armchair with an opened book above her face.
He still remembered the book’s name. It was called “How to Make Your Husband Love You Forever“.
The woman was covered all over. Only her pointed and fair–skinned chin was exposed.
As her assistant gave her a reminder, she took the book away from her face and cast a casual glance at him, saying, “Whoa, there you are.”
It happened to be the time for her to act. She took off her down jacket and tossed it in his arms, exposing her pretty acting costume.
“Boy, look carefully. I’ll teach you only once.”
At that time, Eileen was confident and lively with a cool vibe that ordinary women didn’t have. The action scene she did was notably worth mentioning.
H
Obviously, she couldn’t handle the cold. But the moment she began acting, she transformed, glowing so brightly that everyone became breathless, unable to look away.
Afterward, whenever he had to act with her, she’d rehearse with him in advance. Never had she asked him about his identity.
From time to time, she’d take away his snacks like a mouse. When Welburn looked at her, she’d stuff the snacks in her mouth and dart an angry glance at him, saying, “What are you looking at? The snacks are the tuition fee.”
She was always casual, arrogant, and somewhat cheeky.
On the contrary, now she barely smiled. Even when she smiled, it was just a bitter smile.
Eileen nodded. “Fine, we’re even then.”
Welburn was rendered speechless.
He watched her leave and disappear from his sight.
Welburn closed the door and returned to the dining room. Eileen only took a few mouthfuls of her favorite dishes.
The glass was half full of water. The edge of the glass glistened coldly under the light.
Welburn picked up the glass and drank off the water.
He freshened up and lay in bed. Eileen’s scent still lingered on the bedsheet.
The smell was as tempting as the rose in the dark.
