CHAPTER 12: CHAPTER 12: KISSED

I was startled, "What’s going on? Don’t worry."

"Crystal Dawson and Henry Preston are about to start a fight, you better get here quick, I’ve already sent you the address, hurry up, hurry up!" Leah Lane hastily hung up after speaking.

I was filled with shock. How could Crystal Dawson and Henry Preston get into a conflict? Besides, even with Henry Preston’s bad temper, he wouldn’t hit a woman, right?

There was no time to think about it in detail. I casually changed into an outfit and rushed out the door.

By the time I arrived at the bar, Henry Preston and Crystal Dawson had already been advised to move to a private room, otherwise, with their status, it would definitely make headlines again.

Seeing me arrive, Leah Lane quickly pulled me to sit next to Crystal. Crystal was still fuming, her large eyes glaring sideways at Henry as if he was her sworn enemy.

Of course, Henry was even angrier, sitting on the other side with an extremely low pressure surrounding him. Next to him, Silas Lockwood looked like a terrified eunuch, glancing between Henry and me.

"Sis, I’m really sorry, your friend must have misunderstood. Actually, those girls were called over by me, and they have nothing to do with Brother Henry..." Silas, four years younger than Henry, called me "Sis" for the first time.

"Bullshit, that girl’s breast was almost touching your Brother Henry’s face, practically feeding him, and you say there’s nothing going on?" Crystal shouted angrily, pointing at Silas.

Silas almost burst into tears. It was his first time facing a tigress head-on, terrifying to the extreme.

Henry’s cold black eyes swept over Crystal, then landed on me, seemingly waiting for my response.

I pretended not to notice his gaze, only comforting Crystal, "Crystal, don’t worry. You’re overthinking it. Those women must have been invited by Silas. Henry isn’t into large-chested women."

Anyone who didn’t know would think Crystal had suffered her husband’s betrayal.

The room fell into silence.

"Zoe, are you serious?" Crystal and Leah exchanged a glance, looking at me in surprise.

They knew about Henry and I preparing for a divorce, but never expected I could be more composed than anyone else right now.

Even Crystal couldn’t help but scold Henry tonight, and I’ve loved him for years, yet my heart is like still water.

"Of course I’m serious. Alright, let’s go. Let’s drink a bit before going back. It’s on me." I grabbed Crystal with one hand and Leah with the other, standing up without letting my gaze fall on Henry for even a second.

"Brother Henry, they left, and Sis—" Silas was obviously bewildered and reminded Henry dumbfoundedly.

"What Sis? Is she worthy?" Henry’s cold voice was filled with rage, echoing clearly in my ears as the private room door closed.

It felt like a needle pricked my heart, causing a bit of pain, yet it’s bearable.

I am unworthy; this "Sis" title should be left for Azure Vaughn.

After finding some empty seats, Crystal, Leah, and I started drinking. Leah just returned to City A today after finishing a commercial performance. Crystal had invited her out for a drink, unexpectedly running into Henry drinking with some women, causing her to confront him for me. If not for being a woman, she might have been beaten today.

Crystal kept asking me, "Zoe, have you really let Henry go completely?"

I nodded. I’m sure of this.

"Alright, I admire your spirit, letting go of a ten-year relationship just like that!" Crystal raised a glass and downed it in one gulp.

"You’re a real man!" Leah toasted me as well.

We were drinking happily when Leah received a call from her boyfriend checking in. Among the four of us, her love life was the smoothest. Her boyfriend was about her age, and they had met each other’s parents, progressing to discussing marriage.

Leah, ever obedient to her significant other, quickly got up to bid us farewell, "Girls, my pup is waiting at home for me to feed him, so I’m heading out first!"

"Damn, you’re going back to breastfeed him?" Crystal teased Leah on purpose.

"You rogue!" Leah laughed and cursed, then swiftly disappeared.

Once Leah left, I paid the bill, and Crystal and I went our separate ways.

Back at Maplewood Gardens, I smelled the alcohol on myself and prepared to take a shower. Just as I entered the bathroom, a wave of steamy scented mist hit my face, and a figure emerged from the mist, bare-chested, with a black bath towel wrapped around his waist. His tall and well-proportioned, strong physique was perfectly revealed.

Like seeing a ghost, I watched Henry appear before me, my gaze uncontrollably sweeping over him.

Pathetic as it might sound, after five years of marriage, this was the first time I saw him so uncovered.

"This is my bathroom." After a few seconds of silence, I reminded Henry.

After marrying, I stayed in the master bedroom while he slept haphazardly in the guest room or study. This bathroom belonged to the master bedroom.

"Any objections?" Henry dried his hair, his tone calm.

"I have no objections. With a body like yours, I’m not at a loss." I spoke the truth; even if Henry were penniless, with his good looks, he’d be a lady-killer.

Henry gave me a long look and suddenly stepped closer to me, prompting me to retreat two steps.

By now, the mist in the bathroom had dissipated, and I could see Henry’s fine chest muscles, tight and perfectly proportioned, with distinct clavicles that made one tempted to touch them.

But I had to restrain myself.

"Enough, I need a shower too. Please step out." I turned sideways, giving Henry room to leave.

The next second, a hand supported the back of my head, and my entire body was pulled up onto my toes. Henry leaned in without blinking and kissed my lips, with a faint mint scent transferring into my mouth.

Too shocked, I froze, making no motions.

Seeing my lack of response, Henry deepened the kiss. His kissing skills were without a doubt great, while I was a novice, left letting him control the rhythm.

A man’s body temperature is always warmer, and soon I was uncomfortably hot and sweaty, with the bathroom atmosphere growing increasingly steamy. Initially intending to push Henry away, he instead caught my hands, raising them above my head, making the position even more intimate.

Why not go along with it? Fulfilling a past life’s wish in this one wouldn’t be a loss, seeing as Henry wasn’t idle before meeting Azure, sleeping with me, his legitimate wife, is both sensible and reasonable.

With a shifting heart, I reluctantly closed my eyes, attempting to match his movements. An inappropriate feeling was beginning to stir.

Just as things were spiraling out of control, Henry abruptly stopped, releasing me, and the desire in his eyes ebbed away like the tide.