After resting for a few hours and having dinner at Kennedy’s house, Darwin decided to take Veronica to his own residence. Since Celina had to return to work earlier, Kennedy, Luna, and Randy accompanied the couple in their move.
Upon arriving at his private residence, Darwin chose to have Veronica put their belongings in the room first. After taking turns freshening up, they decided to head back downstairs. Approaching and joining their cousins who were relaxing in the living room.
“So, where are you sleeping tonight, Randy?” Darwin asked. Among all of them, only he didn’t have a private house in Korea.
Randy sighed. He had been struggling to decide where to sleep tonight.
“I think I’ll just stay at a hotel. I don’t want to impose on you guys. I’d end up feeling envious since you both get to sleep with your respective partners.”
“That’s why you should find a wife. It’s useless to be handsome and wealthy if you don’t have anyone to share it with,” Luna teased gleefully.
“Bitter gourd, tomato. I don’t care, whatever! Finding a wife is an easy matter, Rosalinda. Even if it comes to it, you’ll end up being matched like Darwin,” Randy replied casually. He didn’t care about Luna’s teasing, which was clearly cutting.
“I strongly second that wish you just made.” Instead of Luna responding, it was Darwin who seemed serious as he endorsed what Randy had just said.
“Seriously, you two. No affection for me. Alright then, Win, can you take me to the hotel in Gangnam? I’m also tired and need some rest. Let Luna and Kennedy keep Veronica company for now.”
Darwin nodded in agreement. While Veronica was with Luna and Kennedy, he left briefly to take Randy to a hotel not far from his residence.
Indeed, after 15 minutes of escorting his cousin, Darwin hurried back. At that moment, Kennedy and Luna decided to bid their farewells. It was getting late, and they were in a hurry, especially considering that Kalvin was currently at home with the caregivers and assistants.
“We’re heading back. Let’s go out again tomorrow afternoon.”
“Sure. You both take care on the road,” Darwin responded and saw off Kennedy and Luna to their car. Once their figures disappeared, Darwin immediately led Veronica into the house. Climbing up to the second floor, they entered their room to continue resting.
“It’s late. You should just rest. I’ll wash my face and change into my pajamas.”
Veronica nodded, allowing Darwin to wash up in the bathroom, while she herself headed towards the bed.
Just as she sat down for a moment on the edge of the bed, a cold breeze swept in, chilling Veronica to the bone. Even though, as far as she could see, Darwin’s room was equipped with a heater. However, for some reason, the cold temperature outside seemed to penetrate the room’s walls.
Veronica shivered, rubbing her arms. Instantly, she remembered the drink Luna and Kennedy had given her when Darwin was taking Randy to the hotel.
“What’s this?” Veronica asked. While they were chatting, Luna suddenly handed her a glass bottle of a drink.
“It’s called Soju, Ve,” Luna answered. “It’s one of the most famous traditional Korean drinks. You didn’t know?”
Veronica shook her head. Although she loved Korean food, this was the first time she had seen the drink that often appeared in the TV dramas she sometimes watched.
“I know the name. But I’ve never seen it in person, let alone tried it,” she said honestly.
Luna nodded in understanding and proceeded to explain.
“Well… Because the air is really cold in Korea. Especially at night, it gets colder. You need a drink to warm your body so you don’t freeze. And soju is one of the drinks that can help warm you up.”
“But it’s not dangerous, right?”
Kennedy chuckled softly. From Veronica’s expression, she could tell that the woman was worried about what she was handed.
“Don’t worry. You won’t die from just drinking one bottle, Ve. The danger is if you drink a whole case at once.”
“Right,” Luna chimed in. “Besides, there’s no way we would harm you. Just try it if you suddenly feel cold. I’m sure your body will react instantly.”
Veronica didn’t forget about this gift. In fact, when given the drink, Veronica immediately put it in the nightstand.
To verify what Luna and Kennedy had said, Veronica opened the drawer where she had stored the item. She picked up the green glass bottle and took a swig without hesitation, leaving about half of it.
“Turns out it’s sweet,” Veronica mumbled after taking a sip of the drink she held. “But why is there no difference? I still feel cold. Maybe I need to drink a whole bottle to feel the warmth quickly?”
And in the next moment, Veronica finished the rest of the drink in the bottle. Shortly after, she slowly began to feel her body warming up. Not only that, her head suddenly felt light.
Darwin, who came out of the bathroom, was surprised. Especially when he looked at Veronica and saw her holding a familiar bottle of drink.
“Ve, what are you doing?”
“I’m drinking the soju Luna gave me.”
“What?”
Darwin’s brow furrowed. Was this revenge? Because in the past, he had given Luna this traditional Korean drink and she ended up getting drunk.
“So, Luna gave you this drink?”
Veronica nodded, confirming Darwin’s question. “She said this drink would warm me up. But, it’s strange, isn’t it? Now, instead of feeling warm, I’m actually feeling hot, Win,” Veronica explained. Slowly but surely, Darwin could see that his wife was uncomfortable.
Before he could react, Veronica, without any hesitation or embarrassment, untied the robe she had been wearing. She tossed it aside. Leaving her in a thin nightgown that hugged her body.
“Ve, what are you doing? Why did you open up your robe like that? You might catch a cold!”
Darwin exclaimed with mixed feelings. Swallowing hard, he even struggled to focus, given that Veronica now looked so alluring and enticing.
“My body suddenly feels hot, Win. My head feels like it’s getting lighter.”
Darwin sighed deeply. He was certain that the alcohol Veronica had just consumed was starting to show its side effects. It could be dangerous if not addressed.
“You’re being reckless with your drinking. Alright, just wait here lying down for a bit. Let me go downstairs and make you some lemon juice to stabilize your current condition.”
Just as he was turning around to leave, Veronica grabbed his wrist, stopping him from going anywhere.
“What’s wrong, Ve? Do you need something?”
Veronica shook her head repeatedly. Then, after a short pause, she grinned.
“I don’t need lemon juice, Win. Right now, I only need you.”
Darwin was taken aback. Confused, he asked again.
“You need me? What do you mean?”
This time, Veronica nodded. She even intentionally pulled Darwin’s wrist, making him sit down next to her.
With their proximity, Veronica wore a teasing smile. Gazing deeply into Darwin’s eyes, she whispered softly.
“Win, don’t you want to be intimate with me or we can making love, now?”
“W-what?”
Darwin was startled in that moment. In his mind, he wondered, should he accept the invitation Veronica had just given him tonight?