Chapter 115: Chapter 115
The moment Eugene Vaughn locked the door with a "click," Victoria Sinclair’s back was drenched in sweat. She clutched her backpack strap tightly and looked at him uneasily.
"Not doing anything." Eugene turned around and walked toward her.
Victoria retreated timidly two steps back, her calves pressing against the bed’s edge; she had no way to escape, so she searched for a topic to distract from her inner turmoil.
"This photo..." Victoria’s voice trembled slightly, "Did you secretly take it?"
Eugene took off his coat and tossed it into the corner laundry basket. His Adam’s apple gently rolling in the shadows, he walked to Victoria, picked up the photo from the table, and gazed at it with eyes gentle like water.
The subtle scent of pine mixed with his body heat surrounded her.
Victoria’s heart raced wildly, her breath filled with the pleasant aroma of the man, not a trace of the hotpot smell.
Even so, he still loved cleanliness, changing coats after eating hotpot.
Eugene’s distinct fingers caressed the photo frame’s edge, "I took it. You stood in the wild chrysanthemum field for two hours that day."
Victoria’s pupils suddenly contracted. Memories flooded back; the scent of withered grass wrapped in winter’s cold wind that year. Indeed, she stood in the field for quite a while.
But when she turned around, there was only rustling reeds behind her.
"Were you stalking me?" Her tone suddenly heightened.
Eugene put down the photo frame, gazing down at her blushing face, his breath whispering past her ear: "It was protection."
As soon as the words fell, Eugene grasped her wrist and turned her around, guiding her hand around her waist, pulling her into his arms.
Victoria let go of her backpack, quickly extended her other hand to push against his firm chest, feeling its vibrations clearly, a scorching heat emanating through his cashmere sweater.
He leaned down towards her.
She turned her head to avoid the heat but exposed her reddened ear tips: "We are already divorced, please show a little respect."
The air fell into a silent, oppressive heat.
Suddenly, fine rain began to fall outside, scattered across the windows.
Eugene lowered his gaze, deep and mesmerizingly intense, looked affectionately into her eyes, his nose almost touching her cheek, his voice hoarse like intoxicating brewed wine: "You obviously saw, I kept your photo by my bed; for the past half year, I’ve really, really wanted to see you, but could only gaze at your things and miss you."
His voice suddenly choked, his large hand gently caressing her rosy cheek: "Victoria Sinclair, do you truly believe that a divorce can rid you of me?"
"I cheated..." Before she could finish.
Eugene abruptly pulled her into his arms, his jaw pressed atop her head: "Don’t bring it up anymore; that was before our marriage. If I cared, I wouldn’t have married you, nor refused the divorce while our marriage lasted."
Victoria was tormented inside.
She wanted very much to tell Eugene that she was manipulated by Nathan Austin; she didn’t cheat.
But now the marriage is over, she doesn’t want to maintain a lingering connection with him, revealing it would only increase her troubles.
"Can you let me go?" Victoria calmly asked as she struggled in his warm embrace.
"Stay and keep me company." Eugene’s arms tightened, pulling her closer, closing his eyes to breathe in her soft fragrant hair.
"I can’t." Victoria replied firmly.
Eugene relaxedly said, "Then I won’t let go."
"This is illegal, you know that?"
"I know." His voice became increasingly light, his other hand touched her nape gently rubbing, "You can report me for sexual harassment, even assault, I’d admit it all."
Victoria couldn’t comprehend Eugene’s mentality.
Why does he always give her the feeling that he loves her?
Yet she completely doesn’t believe that someone could like a fiancée who cheated after three months together. Such a man existing in this world?
It defies logic. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveIꜰire.net
Hating her would be normal.
Victoria couldn’t overpower this man, nor could she just remain held motionless by him?
Being so close to the large bed in the room was indeed too dangerous.
"Fine, I’ll stay, please let go of me." Victoria said in a calm tone.
Eugene exhaled lightly, reluctantly releasing her, stepping back.
Victoria curiously looked around: "What do you want me to stay here for?"
"You can do whatever you want, sleep, read, watch a movie, play chess, play games, even do nothing at all, just sit with me is fine."
"I’ll keep you company by playing chess then."
Eugene smiled knowingly.
A Go board was placed on the low coffee table in the living room, two soft cushions, Victoria and Eugene sat cross-legged facing each other.
She took the white pieces, Eugene took the black.
"It’s more fun if the game has stakes." Eugene suggested.
Victoria twisted a white piece between her fingers, "What stakes?"
"The winner can make a request and the loser must comply without question."
"As long as it is within the law," Victoria was always bold, showing no hesitation.
She trusted her own chess skills, hoping to use this opportunity to completely escape his entanglement.
"Alright," Eugene agreed readily.
Stars and positions interlaced on the board.
The two were exceptionally focused, treating this match with the seriousness of an international competition.
One piece at a time, each step cautiously taken.
Reaching the middle phase, Eugene’s black pieces cut off her newly formed dragon, Victoria suddenly realized she was caught in a series of ko fights, her nose started to sweat.
She habitually bit her lower lip, an action that caused Eugene’s Adam’s apple to roll and the black piece in his fingertips heated up with body warmth.
"Want to concede?" His eyes were gentle, seemingly unwilling to see her discouraged by losing yet had to ruthlessly win against her.
Victoria held onto the white piece, hesitating to place it, suddenly noticing the danger hidden in the board’s lower right corner.
Eugene’s right hand stayed hovering by the board’s edge.
She finally saw clearly the chain trap from the thirtieth move, her back drenched in cold sweat.
"I lost." She reached to scatter the board but Eugene grabbed her wrist.
"Remember the stakes?" He eyes curved, hinting at a smile.
Victoria’s eyelashes trembled slightly, "Go ahead."
"Stay here tonight." Eugene’s fingers suddenly tightened.
Victoria jerked her hand away, the pieces spilled onto the floor: "We just live on different levels, alone both male and female, your motives aren’t pure."
"As a husband for two years, holding a legal marriage certificate, I never forced you, and now you’re afraid my motives aren’t pure?" Eugene furrowed his brows, his tone filled with disappointment.
Victoria was overwhelmed with guilt, truly judging him with a petty mind.
He’s always been mature and respectful toward women.
"Best two out of three, I want to continue..." Victoria wanted another win to offset this stake.
Eugene seemed to see through her thoughts, shook his head while smiling faintly.
Victoria bent down to pick up the fallen pieces, placing them on the board, her tone softened by a few degrees, "Can I change the request?"