Chapter 4
Halfway through our lake tour, Charlotte wanted to stop and rest.
She asked me to get some water, so I went.
When I came back, I saw Charlotte holding Edward's hand, talking to him about something I couldn't hear.
She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling.
Edward was facing away from me, so I couldn't see what he looked like.
But I bet he was happy.
My heart twisted with a sour ache, like someone was squeezing it tight.
I stared at them, my nails digging into my palms without me even realizing it.
Suddenly, Charlotte gave Edward's hand a playful tug, and Edward let her, not resisting at all.
Then, side by side, they slipped quietly into the thicket of flowers, vanishing from view.
All that remained was the gentle trembling of the branches, as petals kept falling in a soft, endless rain.
The live comments exploded with excitement.
[Wait, is there actually something a top-tier VIP like me can't see?]
[Outdoor action, huh? This is getting spicy!]
[LOL, the rival girl tried to seduce Edward forever and failed, but the female lead just gave him one look and he lost all self-control.]
[Horny squad, dinner is served!]
I stepped quietly into the bushes.
All I could hear were Charlotte's soft, broken moans.
"Edward, it hurts... Let go... Mm..." Charlotte's voice trembled.
I froze.
[LOL, the supporting girl must be totally dumbfounded. As if she could ever snatch the male lead from our girl. Keep dreaming!]
[Hey, Edward, take it easy! If you make our precious Charlotte cry, you'll have to sweet-talk her later.]
[Sheesh, just how intense are these two getting?]
[Come on, Edward's got the stamina to go a whole night without breaking a sweat.]
[Charlotte's really feasting tonight!]
I tried my best to ignore the comments and was just about to turn away when, out of nowhere, I felt someone shove me hard from behind.
I lost my footing and went crashing straight into the lotus-filled pond beside me.
Panic and suffocation washed over me in an instant.
Struggling to stay afloat, I glimpsed a familiar figure leaping in after me, cutting through the water as he swam toward me.
It was Edward.
But I instantly shoved that thought away.
No way that was Edward.
He'd probably love nothing more than to see me dead.
*****
When I got back that day, I came down with a high fever.
Since it happened while I was out with Charlotte, Bella just sent over some herbal remedies for show, not even bothering to get a doctor for me.
The maids in the courtyard thought I was bad luck and refused to come take care of me.
That night, I was burning up, half-delirious, when I felt a cool hand press against my forehead.
Craving that comfort, I nuzzled my feverish cheek into the touch, clinging to it like I never wanted to let go.
When the hand tried to pull away, I grabbed on desperately, my fingers tracing the veins winding beneath his skin at his wrist.
Those veins pulsed softly against my palm.
It was like they were telling me to come closer, but warning me to stay away at the same time.
Before long, bitter medicine brushed against my lips. I instinctively turned my head away, mumbling, "It's so bitter..."
In the darkness, I thought I heard him let out a helpless little laugh. "So spoiled," he murmured.
Then, his warm lips claimed mine without warning. He cupped my chin, his tongue slipping past my teeth, refusing to let me resist as he coaxed the medicine into my mouth.
When he was done, he lingered, teasing my tongue with a few slow, possessive kisses.
That whole bowl of medicine was fed to me in a way that felt both intimate and endless.
The bitterness made my whole face scrunch up tight.
Well-defined fingers held a piece of malt candy right up to my lips.
My eyes were barely open, but the sweet smell pulled me in, and I let the candy into my mouth.
He watched me with a relaxed, almost smug air, clearly enjoying the look of satisfaction on my face. "Happy now?" he teased.
My mind was hazy, my body felt heavy, like I was drifting in a dream, but that sweetness made me nod before I even realized it.
Cool fingertips gently caressed my cheek.
"But I'm upset," he murmured, voice low. "You always avoid me. It really hurts."
His lips pressed against mine again, teasing me with gentle bites, and then, like a total tease, he used his tongue to steal the candy right out of my mouth.
Annoyed, I leaned in to chase after his lips, determined to snatch my candy back.
His strong arms pulled me close, showering feather-light kisses along my ear, his breath, warm and achingly familiar, tickling my skin.
"Tell me you love me," he whispered, voice slow and tempting, almost pleading. "Miss, just say you love me, will you?"
"Just say the word, and there's nothing I wouldn't give you," he promised.
I must be stuck in some kind of nightmare.
This guy was like a demon. If I actually said it, he'd own my body and soul.
So I kept my mouth shut. There was no way I was saying it.
Just like I thought, seeing how stubbornly I kept my mouth shut, he didn't force me.
I heard him sigh softly right by my ear, and then he nipped at my neck again, sending a shiver down my spine.
"So stubborn," he murmured, half-teasing, half-sulking.