Chapter b30 /b

“Don’t bworry/b, Samantha. Rachel was just busy earlier. She said shell drink itter,” said Williamb, /bquickly trying to calm her

down.

Samantha’s voice immediately softened, turning yful as she replied, “You’re just saying that. I didn’t see Rachel drink it! William, you’ve got to help me exin. I can be a bit awkward sometimes and might upset people without meaning to.”

Rachel’s skin crawled at Samantha’s sweet, almost flirtatious tone. At this momentb, /bshe almost wished her hearing had never returned, if only to spare herself from listening to Samantha flirting with William.

“Don’t worry, Rachel won’t be mad. She’s not the type to hold a grudge. I know her well,” Williamn replied.

“Then, make her drink the coffee!” Samantha’s voice was so bright and cheerful, like a little girl asking for something, making it hard to resist.

William held the coffee out in front of Rachel and leaned it closer to her lips. “You heard her–she’s apologizing sincerely. Surely you won’t hold a grudge against a youngdy who queued for two hours despite her injured leg?”

Rachel’s brow furrowed. She had no desire to prolong this farce with Samantha.

Through gritted teeth, she hissed, “I said my stomach hurts.”

“She waited in line for two hours. This is her sincere gesture. If you refuse, she’ll overthink it and lose sleep from guilt tonight.”

William’s grip on the coffee cup didn’t waver, still hovering at her lips. His stance was

Rachel suddenly felt as if he was rubbing salt into her wounds. But it didn’t

unmistakably clear.

even hurt anymoreb; /bshe was just numb.

Her lips pressed into a tight line as she shot William a frigid re. Then, in one swift motion, she snatched the coffee from his hand and drained it in front of them both.

“Happy now?”

William reached out to pat her head in that infuriatingly cating bway/b. “Don’t be angry. Next time, if you don’t want it, I won’t

humor Samantha a little?” let her bring it to you. But you’re the wife of Lewis Enterprise’s boss, after all. Can’t

Rachel’s breath caught, but she didn’t argue. She turned and climbed into bed, pulling the covers around her. “I’m tired; I want to rest. Can you close the door behind you?”

“Sure. I’ll be back after my video conference,” William replied.

He had already ended the video call with Samantha.

d too

Rachel’s grip tightened around the nket. Her shoulders shook as she fought to hold it together. The coffee had v well. Her stomach burned, a sharp, fiery pain spreading through her. But it wasn’t just the coffee that hurt. It was that William

knew about her sensitive stomach, knew coffee would make her feel and still made her drink it.

All because of Samantha’s two–hour wait for it.

If Rachel didn’t drink it, it would’ve been treated like some unforgivable sin. To make matters worse, her stomach medicine had run out. She had no choice but to endure the pain, only finding slight relief by 5am, when exhaustion finally dragged her into a fitful sleep..

Yet the moment she drifted off, William, freshly finished with work, slid close. His cold hand pressed against her waist as he leaned in, lips brushing her ear.

“Rachel… can we?”

The icy touch sent a shudder through her, reigniting the difort she had just barely pushed down. She shoved him away, bher /bbody instinctively curling in on itself.

But William was oblivious to her distress. bHe /bonly dipped his head lower, nipping at her earlobe.