In the Andrews Manor, a barefoot Charlotte Gill was walking up to the third floor.
Only one bedroom was on the third floor, and it occupied the whole floor. It was soundproof—no matter how loud the noise was in the middle of the night, it would not disturb anyone else.
Pushing open the bedroom door, she heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.
She swept her apathetic eyes over the wedding photos hanging on the wall of the bedroom, her gaze unreadable.
The man was handsome and the woman was beautiful, and judging from their appearance alone, they were a match made in heaven.
The sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped, indicating that the person was coming out.
Quickly, she lifted the silk quilt on the bed and got into it.
Out walked the man with his lower body wrapped in a bath towel as he was drying his hair. His strong torso was out in the open.
As soon as he looked up, one would understand why he was called the archetypal homme fatale: His golden ratio face was a work of art.
Seeing that there was another person on the bed, he paused for a moment, then walked over with a sullen face and flung open the quilt.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the tutor Miss Gill. I don't remember signing up for a class in bed." He smirked.
The room temperature was very low, which was the habit of the owner.
Without the quilt covering her, Charlotte subconsciously hugged her arms, looking pitiful.
"Mr. Andrews, are you getting married?" she asked, sotto voce.
News of the marriage between the Andrews and Stuart families had spread throughout the whole of Lindesby City. She had even met his fiancee once at dinnertime.
She knew better than to ask a question to which she already had an answer.
The man, well aware of what kind of trick she was playing, smirked sarcastically and let her question hang.
The few seconds of anticipating for the man's unforthcoming response was the longest she had ever experienced. Getting out of bed, her feet touching the cold floor, she walked over and hugged him.
She pressed her face against his bare chest, closed her eyes, and carefully felt his heartbeat.
"You said it before—when I'm with you, I can be like a child forever."
Her voice was soft, like a light feather, stirring hearts.
It was two years ago that she applied for a private tutoring job.
Her preppy and sophisticated style, coupled with her extremely pure face, made her look clean and imbued her with a halo of moral goodness.
It was true that he had personally taught her a "lesson in bed" and molded her to the way he liked.
As taciturn as he normally is, the man allowed her to hug him.
Feeling cold, Charlotte hugged him even tighter.
She looked up at him, her clear eyes glinting with a hint of pleading. "Please don't marry her. Can you do that for me?"
Darren Andrews finally lowered his head and cast his indifferent eyes over her.
The face that came into view was fair and soft. Her eyes were innocent, but her hands were wandering up to his waist.
He smirked. "Who will I marry if not her? You?"
"Darren." She touched his Adam's apple with her fingertips, like the maneater that she was. "Don't you want me?"
She stood on tiptoe and kissed his Adam's apple.
"I know you don't want me... but, I want you."
The corners of her mouth were slightly raised, like a quietly blooming poppy flower, bewitching whoever laid eyes on it.
And her white and soft hands were slowly unloosening the bath towel around his waist...
His Adam's apple bobbed and vibrated with a guttural voice: "You asked for it!"
He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, picked her up, and threw her on the bed. Then, he leaned forward.
......
It was June.
Outside the window, the thunder was rolling and the rain was pouring.
Charlotte had not done it for half a year, and the man on her made things worse by being a beast he always was in bed. After being tortured for two hours, she lay on the bed exhausted.
"Now get out." Darren's voice was as cold as an ice knife. "I'm sure you know what will happen if you're found out."
Charlotte hugged the blanket and bit her lips hard.
Half a year ago, in order to break off their ambiguous relationship, she had done something stupid to offend him.
And now she wanted him back. How naïve of her to think that he would come back to her, wagging his tail.
However, there was still a long way to go.
She would make him accept her again.
Charlotte was well aware of Darren's stubborn character. Although she felt sore all over, she managed to get up and put on her clothes before leaving.
As soon as she came to the second floor, the housekeeper saw her and immediately stepped forward and said, "Miss Gill, I'm afraid that the rain isn't going let up anytime soon. Madam Andrews would like it if you could stay the night. The guest room is ready. It's the same room as before."
It was not the first time for Charlotte to stay overnight. Not feeling well, she nodded in agreement.
The thunderstorm was getting louder and louder.
She lay on the bed in the guest room, feeling dizzy. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
But she didn't sleep well.
The next day.
By the time Charlotte got up, the Andrews family was already having breakfast in the dining room.
She went downstairs and greeted Madam Andrews first. Then, she sat down beside her student, Marnie.
She didn't even look at Darren, who was sitting opposite her.
The Andrews family's breakfast was sumptuous—French, English, you name it.
However, Charlotte had been tortured so badly last night that she felt sore all over her body. Right now, she had no appetite and was only drinking a cup of Darjeeling tea with milk and honey to go through the motions of breakfasting.
Seeing that she didn't eat much, Madam Andrews picked up a piece of Swiss brioche and put it on her plate. "Eat more, Miss Gill."
Charlotte thanked her in a hurry and began to eat slowly. She was so well-behaved and gentle.
Madam Andrews was a kind old lady whose eyes narrowed into crescents when she smiled. "Look at you. You're the same size as our little Marnie. You're still growing. You should eat more."
Marnie couldn't help laughing. "Nana, Miss Gill is in her twenties. She's about to graduate with her master's degree. She can't 'grow' anymore, Nana."
Charlotte may be her tutor, but she had a good relationship with her and didn't have to be so uptight with her words.
"Oh. Miss Gill is in her twenties?" Madam Andrews looked at her carefully. "Have you a boyfriend?"
Charlotte paused and replied obediently, "No, Madam."
Madam Andrews's face was full of love. She continued to ask a few more questions, all of which Charlotte patiently answered.
Madam Andrews nodded with satisfaction. She turned to look at the silent Darren and said, "How about your bosom buddies, Darren? It's high time they put their youthful indiscretion behind them and find a proper girl to settle down with. I think Miss Gill is a well-educated lady. She's well-behaved and gentle and has high educational attainment to boot, all of which befit a lady. Why don't you introduce them to her?"
