CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: THEIR FIRST TIME TOGETHER

This is indeed the first time he’s returned home since coming back to the country. A few days ago, he received news of his grandmother’s illness as soon as he landed, and he didn’t enter the house when he came back yesterday.

Five years have passed. This home hasn’t changed much, but it seems less lively.

Elias Warner prepared to take a shower and change into his captain’s uniform, then head straight to the airport.

He was appointed in an emergency, parachuting into the job from abroad.

Many procedures haven’t been completed yet, but because Warner Airlines is currently run by the Warner family, everything is just a formality.

But the necessary procedures cannot be omitted.

Downstairs, watching Elias Warner’s tall and straight back leaving, a trace of worry and heartache appeared on Renee Perry’s elegant and noble face.

She stroked the cat’s head with her fingers, lazily leaning on the leather sofa, "Everyone said he should stop flying now that he’s back, just take over the entire airline group. But he insists on going to the frontline..."

Next to her, Mama Carter advised, "We should be happy that the young master is back, madam. Besides, our young master always has his own thoughts. His dream was to be an air force pilot, and now he’s willing to retire and return for the family, it’s already a compromise for him. Madam, just let him be."

Renee Perry sighed, holding her forehead; how could she not understand these reasons.

If it weren’t for that ill-fated relationship five years ago, her son, who had never suffered hardship, wouldn’t have gone to that dangerous and difficult place and would not have lost contact with the family for five full years.

"Forget it, let him be."

Suddenly, something clicked inside her.

Renee Perry sharply lifted her gaze, her eyes scanning the massive floor-to-ceiling window behind her, "Has Annelise Winter left?"

They must not meet in this house.

It would be quite troublesome then.

Mama Carter remained expressionless, nodding in agreement, "She left, she left. I just saw her, she went out through the back door."

"That’s good."

...

The reason Annelise Winter didn’t leave directly through the back door was entirely because of what Elias Warner said last night.

He said he threw the Peace Lock into the trash can in his room at the old house.

Since it was a rare visit, how could she miss it?

So, holding onto a slim hope, Annelise wanted to search for it.

As soon as Annelise stepped onto the second floor, it felt like her heart was plunged into concentrated sulfuric acid.

So sour and swollen.

This territory she hadn’t set foot in for five years, the memories of the past surged like a tide.

But she didn’t have much time and couldn’t afford to think about it.

The entire second floor used to be Elias Warner’s domain. Later, when Annelise moved in, she turned the best east-facing study next to his bedroom into her room.

After Annelise moved out, it was changed back.

Elias Warner’s bedroom was at the end of the corridor. When she was little, Annelise always liked to sneak in unnoticed through the small door on the balcony.

It was also here, on that night unknown to anyone, on Elias Warner’s bed.

That year, she was just twenty when she suddenly found out she wasn’t a daughter of the Winter Family, utterly embarrassed and almost sent back to her biological parents’ old home in the south.

Over a thousand kilometers away.

Elias Warner took leave overnight and flew back from the air base to bring her back!

In the past, he always had extreme self-control no matter how she teased him.

That night, suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, he fiercely and dominantly claimed her, intertwining his fingers deeply with hers, manipulating her neck as if he wanted to swallow her whole!

Later, the night surged on.

The adults were still outside celebrating the New Year, unable to find them.

But he just pressed her on the bed, breathing taut, threatening intensely.

"Will you dare to run again?"

"You must not leave!"

Later, he soothed her emotions, kissed away her delicate tears, and irresistibly entered her body.

That year, she was twenty, and he was twenty-three.

They were absurdly reckless the entire night!

On the bed, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, at the bathroom sink, even in the bathtub, their memories lingered everywhere.

Such youthful recklessness, how could they be so bold, desperate enough to ignore so many adults downstairs.

The emotions were so intense they wished to engrave each other into their very bones.

Annelise took a deep breath, not daring to delay too long, closed the door, and glanced at the trash can.

The trash can was clean, with nothing inside.

She then went to the bathroom, which was also spotless.

Hope was dashed, but Annelise couldn’t reconcile with this; she thought maybe Elias Warner didn’t throw it away but placed the Peace Lock somewhere.

Nightstand, under the pillow, desk, wardrobe...

Nothing.

Annelise half-leaned against the counter in the dressing room, cold sweat pouring out, her breathing in disarray, feeling a bit dizzy and faint, probably due to the fever subsiding after taking medicine in the morning.

Annelise took a deep breath, unwilling to give up just like that.

But suddenly, she heard the sound of the room door opening, and her already difficult breathing instantly halted.

Annelise’s gaze suddenly focused outside the dressing room.

The steady footsteps, along with the sound of a rolling flight case, steadily approached her position.

Elias Warner returned to the room, and after a quick glance around in the dark, he headed straight to the dressing room.

He didn’t have much time today, as this was his first time flying domestically since returning to the country, and it was still a fifteen-hour single-way intercontinental flight.

Placing the flight case at the door, he stepped into the dressing room.

The dressing room was large, wardrobes covered the walls, and in the middle were a counter and display case; as he stepped in, the spotlight lit up, the glass showcase glimmering.

Elias Warner stood still in front of a wardrobe, leisurely removed his watch and cufflinks, and with swift fingers, pulled off his tie from one side.

Next was unbuttoning the white shirt from top to bottom.

Revealing a physique full of sexual tension, from the sensuous honey-colored chest, past the distinct abs to the enticing contours that led further down.

Though his appearance was cold and ascetic, hiding under the clothes was a wild, unrestrained force that drove people insane.

The hands that flew planes, nails neatly trimmed, palms with a matte-like textured feel, unseen.

The next moment, he hooked his fingers on the belt buckle, and with a snap, the trousers loosened.

Elias Warner nonchalantly pulled out his belt and then unzipped his pants.

Suddenly, there was a brief rustling sound in his ears.

Like something was startled.

The sound seemed like an illusion, disappearing quickly.

Elias Warner’s thick dark eyebrows furrowed in concentration, his cold gaze lingering on the wardrobe in front of him.

The trousers draped low, loosely hanging on his powerful narrow waist, the light and shadow enveloping his lean figure, the neck beneath the sexy Adam’s apple elongated and beautiful, further down crafted across his broad, strong, upright shoulders and back.

He paused for a moment.

Then he directly reached out and opened the cabinet door; an entire wall of neatly lined suits, all had been high-end or out-season pieces sent by luxury brands.

Even though he hadn’t been back for five years.

Strangely, though no wind blew in, the clothes seemed to sway slightly.

As if accidentally touched, creating ripples.

Underneath the cloth, inadvertently exposed were curled up white toes, revealing an unseen secret.

Elias Warner’s gaze suddenly deepened.

He dangerously narrowed his eyes.

He casually ran his fingers through the selection, fingertips brushing lightly over various fabrics.

That patch of white toes, as if startled, suddenly retracted.

In the next moment.

The man’s fiery, domineering palm tightly clamped onto that slender white ankle.

His cool brows remained unmoved, with great strength, pulling out the slender white leg.

"Ah!"

A stifled, suppressed scream just escaped, only to be covered by the man’s large hand.