Chapter 15

"There's no way I'm letting you go! Stop acting innocent. I know exactly what kind of woman you are!" Ethan sneered as he tried to drag Jolene into the room next door. "Get... Get away from me!" Jolene struggled against his hold, feeling more uncomfortable by the second. Her hand reached for the silver needle hidden in her sleeve, and she stabbed him with all her might. With that, Ethan howled in pain. Jolene stumbled back, pressing herself against the wall. She clutched the needle tightly, her entire body trembling from exhaustion. Ethan's face contorted with anger as he snarled, "I'll make sure you'll regret this! Since you won't cooperate, I'll just take what I want by force!" However, before he could make another move, a swift kick sent him flying across the hallway. Vance appeared and delivered two more solid kicks to Ethan's backside. "You scumbag!" "Who the hell are you to hit me? You'll pay for this!" Ethan cried out, his face contorted with pain and anger. "I'm just a concerned citizen doing my civic duty," Vance retorted. Meanwhile, Steven had already bent down and scooped Jolene into his arms. With his strong upper body that was visible beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, he effortlessly lifted her and settled her onto his lap. "Mr. Welsh..." Jolene whimpered. "Let's go home," Steven said softly, attempting to comfort her. The chauffeur, anticipating their departure, began pushing Steven's wheelchair toward the exit. Having heard the commotion, the others rushed out of the private room only to see Vance striding away triumphantly and Ethan nursing a swollen, bruised face. They exchanged confused glances until Molly finally broke the silence. "Who was that? And where did Jolene go?" Worry laced her voice as she wondered if her promised ten thousand dollars was slipping away. Ethan's expression darkened with anger. "Just some nosy bastard who wasn't even wearing designer clothes! As for Jolene—who knows how many men she's got wrapped around her finger? Clearly, she's not picky!" "Should we ask your uncle about this?" Molly asked, a hint of worry in her voice. "No need!" Ethan snapped, gritting his teeth. "There's no need to bother my uncle with such a trivial matter!" Nonetheless, he had no intention of letting this go so easily. … Outside the hotel, Vance slipped into the car and immediately noticed Steven and Jolene nestled together in the back seat. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "I did some digging. It turns out that guy has been pursuing your wife for years and was planning to take advantage of her at the graduation party tonight." "Jolene isn't usually careless," Steven said, puzzled by how she ended up in this state. Vance explained, "She was having Long Island. The drink masks the alcohol with its lemony flavor, so an unsuspecting woman like her wouldn't have noticed." He paused. "Besides, she grew up in the countryside—these kinds of tricks would be unfamiliar to her." A Long Island's alcohol content was deceptive as the drink tasted sweet. Even seasoned drinkers could be incapacitated after two glasses. It was a cunning tactic clearly tailored to exploit Jolene's weaknesses. Nestled in Steven's embrace, Jolene buried her face against his skin and murmured, "You feel so cool." Her throat burned, and her entire body felt hot. Steven gently pulled her away, but she leaned back in, seeking comfort. Vance watched them with amusement before imitating her voice. "You feel so cool, hubby…" "Shut up," Steven growled. "Don't be like that, hubby," Vance continued mockingly. "Vance!" Steven warned, his expression icy. Vance cleared his throat and quickly dropped the act. "So, how should we handle tonight's situation? Do you need me to send someone to…" "Keep it low-profile. Bradson's people are watching me," Steven said firmly. "Alright, we'll let the guy off the hook this time," Vance replied, knowing that the fewer people involved in their secret meeting, the better. "I didn't say I was letting him off," Steven said, his tone icy as he gave Vance a few hushed instructions. After listening, Vance grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Mr. Welsh, you never disappoint!" The car soon arrived at Steven's villa, and Vance helped him out. Rita hurried out upon hearing the car pull up. "Oh dear, what happened to Mrs. Welsh?" "She had a bit too much to drink at a class reunion. Rita, now that she's home safe, I'll be on my way," Vance explained politely. "Take care on your way home, Mr. Granger!" Rita called after him as he left before pushing Steven's wheelchair toward the master bedroom. "Mr. Welsh, I'll prepare a hangover remedy. Please take care of Mrs. Welsh. She must be feeling terrible after drinking," Rita said before closing the door and leaving. Steven glanced down at Jolene, who was clinging to him tightly and mumbling incoherently. "So cool," Jolene whispered, her eyes dazed as she sought comfort in Steven's embrace. It was almost as if his presence reminded her of the chill she had experienced amidst the snowy mountains. She murmured, "Mr. Welsh, thank you." "What are you thanking me for?" he asked, remaining composed. "For saving my grandmother and giving me the money," Jolene replied, her cheeks flushed and her voice barely above a whisper. "You're the kindest patient I've ever encountered. I have a wish..." Steven gently brushed her messy hair back behind her ears and said in a husky voice, "Since you're drunk, I'll play along and be your genie just this once. Make your wish, Jolene." Mustering the last ounce of her rationality, Jolene murmured, "I... I want to open a clinic." As soon as she uttered those words, regret washed over her, and she clung to Steven's collar. "Mr. Genie, can I have another go? Just remind me about this tomorrow!" "I'll be sure to remind you, then," Steven said. Jolene nodded in a half-asleep state. "I'd like some water." "I'll get you a glass." Steven gently placed Jolene on the bed before wheeling himself to the nearby table to pour some warm water. However, Jolene's restlessness took over, and she stumbled toward him before he could hand her the glass. A loud crash echoed through the room as the wheelchair toppled over, sending both of them tumbling to the floor. The entire glass of warm water splashed across Steven's face and chest. A sharp pain shot through his back, and his head spun. When he regained his senses, he realized Jolene was lying on top of him. "Jolene!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief and frustration. This situation was absolute madness. "Jolene, I've told you, we can never get intimate!" he groaned. He was pinned beneath her and unable to move. "I want water," she mumbled, her soft, red lips brushing the corner of his mouth as she shifted, causing Steven to clench his fists in an effort to maintain control. He felt his resolve crumble despite his best efforts and eventually gave in. "Fine. You asked for it," he whispered, turning the tables and capturing Jolene's lips in a heated kiss. Jolene's breath caught in her throat, and her vision swam as she tried to pull away. It was as if she were floating on a cloud, her focus blurred and hazy. Meanwhile, her phone that had fallen onto the carpet buzzed incessantly. Ethan was persistently calling. Annoyed, Steven paused, grabbed the phone, and checked it. Seeing a string of missed calls from Ethan and the sappy messages he had noticed before, Steven's irritation deepened. "Jojo? As if he deserves to call her that," Steven thought as he deleted and blocked Ethan's number without hesitation. Then, he powered off the phone and tossed it aside. His gaze returned to Jolene, who had fallen into a deep, peaceful sleep, her breathing even and steady. Steven gritted his teeth, attempting to quell the rising tide of desire and the strange sense of frustration mingled with embarrassment. "Mr. Welsh…" Just then, Rita entered the room carrying a cup of hangover remedy. Upon seeing the two of them sprawled on the floor, her eyes gleamed with a mixture of avid curiosity and delight. "Oh my!" she exclaimed.