CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: HE IS NO GENTLEMAN

The moist, rosy lips touched the man’s palm, which burned like fire.

The man moved swiftly, humbling himself to squat down, his trousers creasing deeply, his strong physique making him seem like he was diving into the wardrobe in his crouched position.

He just slipped inside, the tension of the movement pulling his shirt tight across his shoulders, highlighting the sheer power of his build.

The hanging suits were pulled down by the force, fluttering down in such a way that they almost covered everything.

Only the woman’s white legs intertwined with the man’s dark trousers were exposed.

The skirt hem piled and slipped down, gathering at the tops of her thighs.

In the stifling darkness, heat surged, almost suffocating.

Annelise found herself in a disheveled position, her entire body pinned against the wardrobe wall.

The man’s cold and fierce hand clasped her neck, forcing her to look up, directly into his dark eyes.

A mocking sneer appeared at Elias Warner’s lips as his cold, sharp gaze pierced like an icy spear, "I thought what it was, but there’s a woman hiding in the wardrobe!"

He was half-naked, his upper body exposed, and in the enclosed space, his long legs were kneeling on either side of her body.

His spine was like a drawn bow, his front muscles hard as stone, Annelise was embarrassed, never expecting to be discovered by Elias Warner.

Of course, who was he?

The top pilot of the former air force special forces, unparalleled in both flying speed and perception.

No movement or noise escaped his notice.

Earlier, hearing his footsteps, there was nowhere to hide, and she didn’t even know why but ended up hiding in the closet.

Hoping to avoid any mishap, she never expected him to come straight to the dressing room to undress.

The closet door was transparent glass, even with the overlapping suits in front, just with a glance, she could see him.

Seeing him and seeing him undress in front of her were two utterly different impacts.

When he took off his shirt, she could still clench her fists and grit her teeth.

But when he moved to take off his pants, Annelise panicked and gave herself away.

Feeling ashamed, dizzy even, now she couldn’t breathe, unable to speak with Elias Warner’s grip on her neck.

She raised her hand in a futile attempt to push him away, realizing upon touch that he was like a mountain, unmovable.

This was the Warner Family’s residence, with Renee Perry just downstairs.

If Renee discovered she hadn’t left and was in a wardrobe with Elias Warner like this...

The tension, the thrill, made her toes involuntarily curl.

Elias Warner’s dark eyes shot with a dangerous surge, unable to conceal its ferocious intensity, "Didn’t you escape last night? How come after just a day, you’ve secretly come here on your own? Miss Winter, in these years, have you taken a liking to sneakiness?"

Suddenly thinking of something, Elias Warner hinted with intent, "Oh, haven’t you played this trick before? Did you think I’d be as easy to fool as before?"

Whenever she beckoned, he’d rush over eagerly.

Annelise felt a dull ache in her heart, understanding all too well what he meant.

In the past, to pursue this stubborn stone of a man, she indeed threw away all pride!

She dared not look down, only daring to stare at his face.

Annelise tried to pry his restraining hand open, striving to keep her rationality, "I didn’t come secretly! Ms. Warner invited me."

"Oh, I almost forgot, Miss Winter is still my mother’s goddaughter."

Elias Warner responded unhurriedly, exuding extreme indifference, "Since you’ve come home, why don’t you show yourself openly? What’s with hiding in the wardrobe? Planning to peep?"

Annelise felt dizzy, her face flushed as she mumbled hoarsely, "Who wants to peep? Clearly, you said... there was nothing in the trash can."

Unwilling to tolerate further mockery, Annelise fell silent.

No matter what he thought, having been caught red-handed, any further denial was futile.

Elias Warner’s expression remained unchanged, "Yesterday’s trash, Mama Carter has long thrown it out!"

Where else could she rummage for trash?

She had an ominous feeling, sensing Renee could come upstairs at any moment.

Reaching out to drag him away, but his body was so solid, she couldn’t budge him.

In her fluster, her hand clawed chaotically, nails digging into his beautiful back muscles, "You get out first! What if Ms. Warner sees us..."

Breathing intertwining.

Being discovered seemed like an utterly shaming event.

Because her arms clung around, the man not only didn’t retreat but was pulled even lower.

His arms propped against the wall, inch by inch, like reinforced steel that couldn’t be pried apart.

His pupils were as dark as ink.

Pale lips brushed past her hair, and a sudden agitation arose in his heart.

With a cold laugh, Elias Warner mocked, "Afraid of being seen by my mom? Then who gave you the guts to walk through my door?"

The words had barely fallen.

Faint footsteps halted by the door.

Then came the knocking.

"Elias! Are you showering? Can Mom come in?!" Renee had come upstairs.

Annelise’s face turned pale, and in her panic, scratched marks onto the man’s back.

Unable to push him away, "Ms. Warner is here! Let me go!"

Cornered in the room, where could she escape?

With thoughts stirring, a wicked idea flared like a raging fire.

To outsiders, Elias Warner was admired as noble and dignified, with a clear, unapproachable grace, a prestigious upbringing, a gentleman like snow on a high mountain.

But only he knew he was never a gentleman.

He wanted to throw her onto the bed!

Elias Warner suddenly exerted force, grabbing her by the hips, "Hold on tight."

As they exited the wardrobe, he walked out of the closet, carrying her.

Annelise was startled, instinctively clinging to his waist due to her long-time experience with pole dancing, afraid to fall.

In that manner, she was dragged up.

Upon leaving the closet, the knocking grew louder.

Urgent, as though it would burst through the door any second.

Annelise couldn’t fathom his intent, pounding on his chest, the posture between them too ambiguous, with him shirtless, her skirt tangled messily around her waist.

He had such strength, lifting her single-handedly without breaking a sweat.

Arm strength concealed as if mountains.

"Put me down!" Annelise glared with reddened eyes, an explicit threat, like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

Seeing the man about to carry her to bed, Annelise’s heart almost stopped.

The doorknob turned, seemingly about to open in the next moment.

Before the next moment arrived, Elias Warner quickly carried Annelise and slipped into the bathroom.

The bathroom door was locked from the inside.

With a loud splash, the shower was turned on.

At the same time, receiving no response, Renee opened the door and entered on her own.

Trailing behind was Mama Carter with a bowl of soup.

Renee felt something was off, gracefully wandering around, hearing the sound of running water from the bathroom.

"Mama Carter, set the soup down and continue with your tasks. I’ll wait for Elias to finish his shower and watch him drink it."

"Yes, madam."

After Mama Carter left, Renee idly glanced around, spotting her son’s flight case awkwardly lying on the floor.

This flight case had been knocked over during the chaos when Elias Warner carried Annelise out earlier.

"Meow..."

An elegant cat with a finely lifted tail dashed past the closet, vanishing quickly again.

"Oh my, Cici, don’t make trouble, you’ve been naughty again, your brother might get mad later."

This room’s closet was semi-open, Renee walked over to take a look.

Not only was her son’s flight case lying on the floor, but the suits inside the wardrobe were also strewn everywhere.