Almost reflexively, Vivian stepped out of the bathroom.
As Brevard's voice echoed from the phone, the sound of running water in the bathroom ceased.
It turned out Ethan had dialed Brevard before he even entered the bathroom, and the call had just been picked up.
The call was on speaker, and Brevard's voice filled the room, "What's the matter, Mr. Benton? Calling me at this late hour, are you done playing with your little simpleton?"
Ethan's voice was filled with restraint and irritation, "Get over here now, someone dosed me!"
"Ah? Drugged? What kind of drug? The 'love potion' kind?" Brevard sounded dumbfounded.
 Ethan had no time for his banter, "Yes! So haul your ass over here right this minute!"
"Alright, alright, I'm on my way. If it's too hard to bear, take a cold shower to cool your jets. Hang tight, I'm coming right over!"
The call ended abruptly, and the sound of running water sta

The velvet cloak of night had draped itself heavily across the sky.
Ethan, however, had made up his mind to leave the grandeur of the mansion behind. 
Just before he left, he felt the urge to steal a last glance at his little simpleton.
But as fate would have it, the door was locked from the inside! The little simpleton had bolted herself in.
Holding the unyielding doorknob, a frown creased Ethan's face. It was clear that this time, she was genuinely terrified.
On the other side of the locked door, Vivian curled up on the bed, heaving a sigh of relief only when she heard Ethan's retreating footsteps.
Beyond the physical pain, the only thing she felt was regret.
She'd been bitten by more than she could chew! Who was she kidding, trying to tame a hunky man standing tall at over six feet?
And that damn man! It was rough! She was nearly in tears by the time they were halfway through!
She was

After leaving the bar, Vivian was in a sour mood. She changed back into her original clothes and hopped straight into the driver's car to return to Lakeside Mansion. 
What happened between Ethan and Yolanda in the office was completely beyond her knowledge. 
Upon returning to the mansion, she disappeared into her playroom and got in touch with Nathaniel without delay. 
"Bad news, the deal fell through."
"Huh? What's the reason? Why did he refuse?" Nathaniel asked.
"He questioned why I was after Swain Group. Apparently, my answer didn't sit well with him, so the deal went south," she explained.
Recalling the disabled man, Vivian couldn't help but vent, "You have no idea. He was so eager to bolt out of there like his pants were on fire." 
"Well, his temperament is a bit offbeat, and he might have had something urgent to attend to," Nathaniel didn't seem surprised. 
"I'll touch base with him again later. If he still objects, we'll make our own moves. But my dear Crocodile, don't worry your pretty little head, I'll be by your side soon enough." 
Vivian promptly rolled her eyes, "Less chatter, more matter!" 
"...Since when have I been all talk..." 
Enough, I've got to go, I'm hanging up now," she said. Following that, Vivian snapped her case shut with a 'clack' and stashed away all her electronic devices. 
Through the window, she had spotted Ethan's car returning! 
She hustled from the playroom back to the master bedroom, feigning as though she had been watching TV all along. But her ears were pricked, tuned into the sounds outside. 
Soon enough, she heard a flurry of hurried and chaotic footsteps. 
Subsequently, the room door was pushed open with force.
"Vivian, where are you?" It was Ethan's voice. 
But something was off about his voice; it sounded somewhat hoarse. 
Vivian didn't have time for second thoughts. Wrapping herself in a blanket, she dashed outside, "Huh? Did you call me, Mr. Handsome?"
“Mr. Handsome, what's up with you? Why is your face so red?" The flush was so abnormal. There was clearly something off about him.
"Where have you run off to?" Ethan seemed so fired up, as if even his eyes were burning with desire. 
He loomed so large, advancing step by step toward Vivian. In an instant, she found herself engulfed by his shadow, 
"Do you have any idea how many people I've had scouring for you, huh?" 
Vivian took a couple of steps back, her eyes shimmering with moisture. "I... I got lost and then found my way home. Why is Mr. Handsome looking for me?" she queried.
”By the way, where's my sis?" Vivian asked, her tone laced with a touch of naivety. One look at Ethan's present state was enough to know that Yolanda had slipped him something.
However, it seemed Yolanda’s plan didn’t quite pan out. Ethan’s tie was still perfectly in place, showing no signs of having been tampered with.
"My sis went out of her way to change my sheets during the day, even donning my sleepwear from the wardrobe. She said she was going to teach me how to be a wife to Mr. Handsome this evening," Vivian added with an innocent smile.
Vivian continued to feign ignorance, taking the chance to throw her "sweet sister" under the bus once more.
Vivian's words seemed to pour gasoline on the fire of Ethan's desire, making it blaze even hotter.
"You said... she's teaching you how to be my wife?" Ethan's voice became even more somber than before. "How did you respond?"
"...???" Vivian blinked, taken aback.
What was he implying? Was he trying to coax her into bed?
When she had pretended to flirt with him before, hadn't he seemed entirely uninterested?
So now he didn't mind that she was a simpleton?
"Why aren't you saying anything, hmm?" Ethan was nearing his limit, particularly when he saw the little simpleton's full, rosy lips moving in front of him. He had an intense urge to taste them.
What might the little simpleton taste like?
Could she possibly be as pure and sweet as she appeared on the surface?
"Tell me, what did you say in response?" The fire within Ethan had reached a fever pitch, and he felt on the verge of explosion.
The tall figure of Ethan, looming over six feet, gradually leaned down towards Vivian. His voice was hoarse yet tantalizing, "Little simpleton, tell me, do you know what it means to become someone's wife?"
"..." Was he serious?
This man was now undeniably in the throes of passion!
But, truth be told, his fervor was quite enticing, very alluring indeed.
So, would tonight be the night to seduce him?
Vivian pretended to accidentally drop the blanket she was draped in, immediately revealing her thin sleepwear to Ethan's gaze.
Her cartoon-themed pajamas were a soft pink, barely a layer of protection. Under the light, the curves of her body were undeniably visible.
"Mr. Handsome, I've lost my blanket, it's so cold. Hold me, Mr. Handsome!" Playing the fool, Vivian suddenly threw herself into Ethan's arms.
The very moment her supple body pressed against him, Ethan froze entirely.
Vivian, standing at 5'6", felt so petite in Ethan's arms, yet so perfectly fitting.
She tightened her arms around his waist, already sensing a shift in his body.
"Mr. Handsome, you're so hot," she murmured, "just when Vivian was feeling so cold. It's so warm... Vivian likes it a lot."
"Little simpleton!" Ethan's voice had grown rough and hoarse. "Do you even know what you're doing?"
"Vivian is...umm..."
Before she could finish her sentence, her lips were sealed with a kiss, and she found herself suddenly tackled to the floor.
Though the floor was layered with a thick carpet, the sudden fall made her feel as though she'd crack her head open. Almost reflexively, she let out a sharp scream.
That scream snapped Ethan back to the last shred of his sanity.
"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath, "What the hell am I doing?"
Looking down at the tear-brimmed eyes of the little simpleton, a war waged between guilt and desire in the depths of his eyes.
Finally, he abruptly stood up and strode into the bathroom.
It wasn't until the sound of running water echoed from the bathroom that Vivian slowly sat up.
Could it be that the medication Yolanda gave Ethan was fake?
He had pounced on her, yet he could still get up and take a cold shower?!
Or was it that... Vivian couldn't help but fall into deep thought. Could it be she no longer possessed any feminine allure?
Earlier at the bar, the man in the wheelchair hadn't even glanced at her. Now, even at this stage, Ethan had chosen to take a cold shower!
Who could stand for such a thing?
Feeling indignant, Vivian got up and headed towards the bathroom.
The bathroom door was ajar, and the first things to catch her eye were the discarded suit jacket and shirt on the floor.
Beyond that, a well-built body came into view, broad shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist, forming a perfect V-shape.
From Vivian's current position, she could see the water flowing smoothly down the man's well-defined back, disappearing into his black suit trousers.
Vivian suddenly felt a dryness in her mouth.
But just as she was about to speak, a voice suddenly erupted from Ethan's phone, which was placed on the sink counter!

Almost reflexively, Vivian stepped out of the bathroom.
As Brevard's voice echoed from the phone, the sound of running water in the bathroom ceased.
It turned out Ethan had dialed Brevard before he even entered the bathroom, and the call had just been picked up.
The call was on speaker, and Brevard's voice filled the room, "What's the matter, Mr. Benton? Calling me at this late hour, are you done playing with your little simpleton?"
Ethan's voice was filled with restraint and irritation, "Get over here now, someone dosed me!"
"Ah? Drugged? What kind of drug? The 'love potion' kind?" Brevard sounded dumbfounded.
 Ethan had no time for his banter, "Yes! So haul your ass over here right this minute!"
"Alright, alright, I'm on my way. If it's too hard to bear, take a cold shower to cool your jets. Hang tight, I'm coming right over!"
The call ended abruptly, and the sound of running water started up again.
Vivian knew that Ethan was drawing a cold bath.
But taking a cold bath in t

Chapter 20 The One Who Stirred His Heart