Isabella moved her wrist, which was sore from his grip, and replied displeasedly, ‘Don’t get me wrong, I just want to put a blanket on you’
Andrew lightly pursed his thin lips, still staring at her without blinking, his gaze carrying a kind of penetrating depth.
‘Concerned about me?’ he said, pursing his firm lips, and a smirk played on the corners of his mouth.
Her cheeks reddened, and she struggled to climb down from him. ‘Don’t be presumptuous. I’m afraid you’ll catch a cold and pass it on to Asher… Uh…’
Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were forcefully sealed. In her mouth was a strong alcoholic taste, mixed with a hint of tobacco.
Her mind went blank, and their bodies pressed tightly together. She could even feel the warmth of his chest rising and falling slightly. Every breath was filled with the strong masculine aura, making it hard for her to breathe.
The suffocation made Isabella instinctively struggle. However, his powerful hand pressed against the back of her head, his muscular legs restraining her body, leaving her with no chance to break free.
She felt embarrassed and annoyed, raising her palm to slap his handsome face. Andrew, though seemingly with closed eyes, accurately caught her hand.
Seemingly to punish her for her restlessness, his kiss became more dominant. It was almost cruel, yet he didn’t hurt her. Instead, he ruthlessly plundered her breath.
Isabella couldn’t breathe properly, and her brain buzzed due to lack of oxygen.
She couldn’t break free from his embrace, and her vigorous resistance became increasingly feeble.
She had almost surrendered when the baby’s cry suddenly echoed from upstairs, exceptionally loud.
“Let, let go of me, Asher, Asher is awake!” She used both hands and feet to clumsily fall off the sofa. Then, in a panic, she ran upstairs.
Behind her, Andrew sat up from the sofa. His slender fingertips gently brushed over his thin lips, and an elegant smile curved his lips. He licked his lips, feeling his blood boiling. Unlike his interactions with other women, he eagerly desired her, “mate.” He stared at her departing figure, softly calling out.
Isabella ran back to the nursery, where Amelia had already prepared milk and was feeding Asher.
Asher lay in Amelia’s arms, eyes closed, lips moving to suckle the milk, his head burrowing into her embrace.
Isabella sat down on the side, her ears red, her chest rising and falling uncontrollably.
After finishing a bottle of milk, Asher continued to sleep soundly. Amelia gently placed him back in the crib.
“Why weren’t you in the room just now?” Amelia asked Isabella.
“Oh, I was thirsty. I went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water.” She replied with her head hanging down.
Amelia didn’t continue questioning but noticed her unusually flushed face. “Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?”
Amelia extended a concerned hand, intending to touch her forehead.
Isabella instinctively evaded her, saying, “I’m fine, probably just a bit stuffy in the room.”
While speaking, she hastily took off her shoes and got on the bed. “I’m tired, Amelia. You should go back to rest too.”
She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling in the dim light.
In her mind, scenes from her eighteenth birthday night flashed by.
In the dim room, barely any light was visible. Andrew’s strong arms and robust chest, enveloping her from behind, his hand exploring beneath her dress.
He pressed her onto the large bed, indulging in kisses, entwining without a hint of tenderness. She kept crying out in pain, and he silently kissed away the tears on her cheeks, displaying no sympathy. He was truly a man who didn’t understand how to cherish a delicate beauty.
She tossed and turned all night, and the noisy sound of rain outside persisted.
After daybreak, the rain cleared.
Isabella hurriedly ran outside the apartment as if escaping. While descending the stairs, due to her haste, she accidentally bumped into a solid wall.
“What are you rushing for?” Andrew reached out to steady her.
“Mind your own business,” she resisted, pushing him away, then swiftly ran out.
Amelia heard the commotion and walked out from the kitchen. “What’s wrong with Isabella? We agreed to have breakfast together. I specially made the duck soup she likes. Mr. Andrew, did you two have a quarrel?”
Andrew stood on the staircase, casually raised his arm, and glanced at the time on his wristwatch.
He descended the steps with long strides, picked up his coat draped over the back of the sofa, and then left.
Andrew entered the CEO’s office, where Ryan was sitting on the couch, tapping his foot.
“Alpha, you seem to be in a good mood today. The financial director made a mistake in the report, but you didn’t scold him. Anything good happened? Share it with us,” Beta Ryan said cheerfully.
Andrew held a document between his left two fingers and casually threw it onto the large desk. He loosened his tie with his right hand.
“I’ve reviewed the latest acquisition proposal. Handle it according to the procedures. Have the legal department review the acquisition contract again, don’t let the other party exploit any loopholes.”
“Don’t worry, I can handle this trivial matter well.” Ryan picked up the document, flipping through it while speaking leisurely. “Alpha, Henry is back in the country. There’s a family banquet this weekend, and you can’t be absent again.”
Andrew sat in the boss’s chair, his long right hand resting on the desk, his brows deepening.
Ryan looked at him and continued, “Zoe Green will probably attend the family banquet as well. She has asked me many times about what you’ve been busy with lately.”
“Do you not know what I’m busy with?” Andrew casually picked up the cigarette box and lighter from the desk, lit a cigarette without much thought.
“I know, and I dare not speak casually. Zoe Green is the marriage partner selected by your father. According to the investigation, she’s also a werewolf. Your father likes her, and the other werewolves in the Shadow family have no objections to her becoming your Luna. It seems you can’t escape this marriage.” Ryan said.
“When did I say I wanted to marry her?” Andrew, smoking leisurely, exhaled a faint smoke.
“Not getting married? Do you plan to remain a bachelor for life? Although Zoe is the adopted daughter of the Green family, she is well-regarded there. She graduated from a prestigious school and is a renowned lawyer. Marrying her is not a loss, and it can also please your parents. Why not take the opportunity?” Beta Ryan continued, deliberately staring at Andrew’s expression, as if he didn’t believe Alpha had no interest in Isabella.
Andrew ignored him, acting as if he hadn’t heard his words, and focused on opening his computer.
However, Ryan stared at him with curiosity. “Why do I feel that something is off with you? You never used to resist the Green family’s marriage proposals. Could it be because of Asher’s mother?”
“My mother will celebrate her birthday next month. If you’re free, help her choose a birthday gift.” Andrew interrupted him, his two long fingers resting on the edge of the crystal ashtray, and the smoke instantly vanished.
Seeing that he didn’t respond to his words, Ryan shrugged helplessly. “Alright, play with fire then. If you keep pretending to be indifferent like this, be careful your human Mate runs away with another man.”