Chapter 2
1115 Words
I was taken aback for a moment, rendered speechless by his words.
This man was truly insane. Shaking my head, I instinctively refused. "Please don't make fun of me."
Avery didn't reply, only slowly closing the distance between us. His eyes were like burning torches as his fingers brushed against my arm, stopping at my wrist, where they gently caressed my skin. "I wouldn't say I'm that bored."
His deep voice murmured in my ear, the corners of his lips lifting into a slight smile. "After all, marrying me is kind of in your best interest. Not only can it silence your family, but I can also help you keep your Samuel's company afloat. So, Eleanor, what do you say? Will you consider it?"
His warm breath brushed against my face, and the tingling sensation that followed made me close my eyes and turn my head away. My heart raced in that instant.
"No, it's not appropriate." I didn't dare meet his gaze, so I could only lower my head and wave my hands repeatedly.
Seeing this, the grip on my wrist loosened. Avery nodded and sat back down in his original spot.
"Your fiancé brought his mistress home, and you're still putting up with it. It seems you really are a pushover."
I fell silent, listening to Avery's words. Although harsh, they rang true. Even Owen had said the same thing to Ella: Eleanor had no temper.
Thinking of this, a wave of mixed emotions surged within me. Why was Owen allowed to hurt me time and time again?
I gritted my teeth and turned to meet Avery's gaze. In the next second, I reached out and lightly tugged on his tie, pulling him forward. A fleeting kiss landed on his cheek.
"You're the pushover."
The man froze for a moment before cupping my chin in his hand and lowering his head to kiss me.
My hands rested against his chest as Avery kissed me domineeringly, fiercely, as if he wanted to meld my entire being into his. After a while, he released me, his desire still lingering.
His breathing was ragged, his voice hoarse. "Let's go somewhere else."
In the bathroom, I was pinned against the mirror by the man, who had stripped off his shirt. The heat of his body spread inch by inch, consuming every nerve ending. My back was pressed tightly against his strong chest, leaving no space between us. His breath lingered on my neck.
Blushing, I tried to avert my gaze, but in the next second, Avery caught my chin and forced me to look at him. I was forced to look directly at myself in the mirror.
His cool lips brushed against my earlobe, sending shivers down my spine. He murmured in my ear, "Since you agreed, there's no turning back now."
One of his hands played with my messy hair while the other tightly gripped my waist, keeping me rooted to the spot.
Looking at our entangled bodies in the mirror, my self-control crumbled, and I couldn't help but whisper, "Uncle, gently, gently..."
The man nibbled on my earlobe as if punishing me. His voice was husky as he said, "Call my name."
"[Ave... Avery.]"
The next day, Avery was already gone when I woke up. He didn't leave a word.
*****
Everything that had happened the night before was still vivid in my mind. Thinking back on it now, it seemed utterly absurd.
We were both adults, and I understood that he would never get involved with his nephew's wife. He had probably only flirted with me on a whim.
With that thought, I suppressed my discomfort and got out of bed. My phone showed dozens of missed calls from Owen. With a calm heart and an impassive expression, I dragged his number into the blacklist.
After quickly packing my things, I pulled out my suitcase and opened the door. But in the next second, I was greeted by Owen's gloomy face.
Before I could react, he shoved me aside and barged into the room.
"Are you crazy?" I rubbed my aching shoulder, but before I could recover, Owen stormed back, grabbing me by the collar. His eyes were bloodshot as he roared at me, "Where is he?"
"Who?" I was confused.
"Don't play dumb! My dude saw you checking into this room with another man!"
It took me a second to understand. No wonder he had called me so many times. He had found out that I had checked into a room with another man and was angry and anxious.
Looking at Owen's livid face, a sense of exhilaration welled up inside me, along with the urge to provoke him further.
"Owen, need I remind you? We already broke up. It's none of your business who I sleep with."
As soon as I finished speaking, a crisp, resounding slap landed on my face. I stumbled and fell to the ground. Owen's furious voice rang in my ears.
"So you really are cheating on me! Tell me! Who is that man?"
The left side of my face throbbed with pain. As I saw the strange looks from passersby, anger began to rise within me.
Just as I was about to get up, a dark shadow flashed past me. The next thing I knew, I heard Owen cry out in pain as he collapsed to the ground.
I looked up in astonishment and saw Avery standing in front of me.
Hadn't he left? Had I misunderstood him?
At that moment, a wave of complex emotions washed over me, the strongest of which was gratitude.
Owen scrambled to his feet, looking rather pathetic. He was about to explode in anger, but the moment he saw the person in front of him, he deflated like a punctured balloon.
He asked in a wronged tone, "Avery, why did you hit me?"
The man snorted coldly and said impassively, "Have you no shame, making such a scene in public and disgracing the Campbell family?"
Owen's face flushed with embarrassment. He glared at me, pointed a finger at me, and began to complain to Avery. "Avery, you have no idea! This woman actually dared to cheat on me! She checked into this room with that adulterer last night, and I caught them. Damn it, when I get my hands on him, I'll teach him a lesson!"
With that, Owen reached out to grab me, but in the next second, he was pushed away by a strong arm.
As he watched in astonishment, Avery wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me into his embrace.
"Oh? I am the 'adulterer' you speak of. What lesson do you intend to teach me?"
- Writer
