Chapter 3

Lila lay on the couch. She was upset and gradually fell asleep. Amid her sleep, it felt like somebody was touching her face, jolting her awake. Before she noticed the figure sitting before her, a faint scent of alcohol hit her nostrils. The living room was dim, illuminated only by the faint glow of the streetlights filtering in from outside. Kieran looked at her, his gaze deep and contemplative. He wasn't donning a suit jacket at the moment, and his necktie was loosened. His proper white shirt somewhat accentuated his muscular build. Lifting his hand, he tugged at his necktie with his slender fingers to loosen it again, his movement charming and seductive. "Uncle Kieran?" Lila could tell he was drunk. "How did you get so drunk?" She rose and intended to help him back into his room, yet his warm hand cupped her face. Lila was stunned. She froze, afraid to move, but regretted her action the next second. Kieran lowered his body, wrapped his arms around her waist, and carried her. With no choice but to split her legs, she sat on his lap and was trapped within his embrace, face-to-face. Holy crap! Following that, he nestled his chin against the crook of her neck, his warm breath tickling her skin like feathers. It felt tingling. At that moment, they resembled an intimate couple, slowly absorbing each other's warmth. Lila was baffled to the core. She couldn't describe her feelings, but she knew her heart would jump out of her chest. With a delayed reaction, she pushed him away. Kieran, seemingly dissatisfied by her movement, held her waist and pulled her into his embrace again. She could feel the heat from his body, even through his shirt. "Don't move." His deep, hoarse voice sounded like he was suppressing something. His voice had a hint of allure, and in that strange state, Lila fell silent. The next second, her eyes widened as his face loomed over her, causing her heart to skip a beat. Following that was a domineering yet restrained kiss. The tip of his tongue, warm and wet, lightly traced her lips. Her body froze, and she had lost her ability to think straight. The heat from his palm traveled underneath her shirt, making direct contact with her skin. It wasn't until then Lila realized what they were doing. The more she struggled, the more tightly he embraced her, as if he wanted to merge their bodies. Amid the panic, she tilted her head and bit on his neck. Kieran gasped from the pain. Taking advantage of his distraction, she swiftly escaped from his hold and stood up. He pressed the spot she had been bitten with a frown, and after pinching between his brows, he appeared more sober. "Uncle Kieran, I know you've mistaken me for someone else. Are you secretly dating someone?" He looked up at her, still looking tipsy. "Lila?" It was obvious he was unaware of the outrageous move he had committed earlier, and neither had he heard what Lila said. Her mind was in turmoil. "Uncle Kieran…" Lila tried her best to calm down. "You're drunk. Why don't you wash up and rest? I'll head back to my room." Kieran watched her retreating figure that looked like she was almost fleeing with a chilling gaze that resembled the stubborn remnants of snow on a mountain peak, making others quiver in fear. He rarely drank, as alcohol would muddle the mind, making it hard to react swiftly and correctly in critical moments. Thus, he loathed that feeling of helplessness. However, that changed at a wine party when he heard about Dorian's behavior at the awards ceremony. Kieran was the current president of Morgan Group. He took over the family business at 17 and, in just three years, elevated the family business to new heights. Known for his decisiveness and ruthless methods, he was a figure that everyone was wary of provoking. Yet, tonight, the cold and aloof man was constantly distracted because of Lila. Meanwhile, the restless Lila simply washed up and lay on her bed. Her thoughts, originally occupied by Dorian's controlling and revolting behavior, were now taken over by Kieran's domineering yet restrained kiss. "This is madness! That's Uncle Kieran, Lila—wake up from your dirty thoughts!" she told herself. After a night of tossing and turning, Lila woke up with an extremely poor complexion the next day, like a vampire had drawn all her blood. She initially planned to leave before Kieran woke up by rising in the early morning yet ran into him as he returned from his morning jog. Their eyes locked, and she pursed her lips lightly. "I should've just slept in," she mused. Having been "caught in the act", she flusteredly called out. "Uncle Kieran." The sight of her weary demeanor made Kieran tighten his brows. He couldn't comprehend what Lila saw in Dorian—that piece of trash—but knew it was hard to control one's feelings, just like his very own unspeakable secret. He said, "Join me for breakfast." His voice was cold yet clear, and his simple offer made Lila feel rather touched. The grievances of getting betrayed engulfed her like the waves of the ocean. She lowered her head, trying to conceal her teary eyes from him. By then, Kieran had placed the breakfast items before her. Up close, she could distinctly smell his woody scent. Her mind instantly brought her back to the moment he passionately kissed and hugged her. Suddenly losing the capacity to be sad, she became embarrassed, her cheeks flushed as she uttered, "Uncle Kieran, you—" "Stay away from me!" she screamed in her head. He caressed her face, asking, "Are you hot?" The contact felt like an electric touch, prompting her to shove his hand away. That was exactly how Kieran touched her face last night! Except his gaze was full of lust yesterday… His eyes dimmed after having his hand slapped away, but Lila hadn't noticed him. Instead, she hesitantly asked, "Uncle Kieran, are you interested in someone?" His fingers trembled ever-so-slightly, and he withdrew his hand like it was nothing before sitting beside her. After a mouthful of oatmeal, he softly asked, "Is my dad's push for marriage reaching you, too?" Lila hurriedly shook her head. "No, but Grandpa and Grandma have good intentions." Kieran looked meaningfully at her, prompting her to zip her mouth. "I'll drop you off at work after breakfast." She didn't want to trouble him, but upon recalling an urgent matter, she accepted the offer. When they almost arrived at the company, Kieran suddenly asked, "Are you still planning to work here?" Lila froze as she opened the door. "You found out, Uncle Kieran?" He stayed quiet. After some hesitation, she assured him. "Don't worry. I won't continue my relationship with Dorian anymore. I remember what our family taught me—those who betray shall never be forgiven." Then, she seemed to notice a hint of a smile on Kieran's face. "What did you like about him?" "Huh? Oh, his looks, I guess." "His looks?" Sensing his doubt, Lila quickly detected the flaw in her response. "Of course, he falls short compared to you." Kieran chuckled. "You've always had a sweet tongue." She naturally smiled alongside him. "I'm just being honest. You look great when you smile, Uncle Kieran. If you could be slightly gentler, I'm sure no girl can ever resist falling for you. "Alright, I won't hold you back. I need to tell the higher-ups that I plan to resign from Dorian's team. If that doesn't work, I'll just tender my resignation." Kieran nodded, caressing her head. "Resigning isn't the worst idea. Your brothers are reluctant to take over the company, and I can teach you about management once you're free." Immediately, Lila's face dropped. "Alright, go on, Uncle Kieran. I'm still too far behind; let my brothers handle the company matters, okay?" Although she said so, she knew deep in her heart that she was nothing more than the Morgan family's adoptive daughter. The kindness and care the Morgans had shown her was something she couldn't repay in this lifetime, so how could she dare to eye their family business? "Lila." She turned around. "Your company might not give you the answer you want. When that time comes, I can handle it for you."