CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 320: I’LL DO IT MYSELF

In the afternoon, Shannon Quinn went shopping with Erin Bishop. Her belly was getting bigger and she couldn’t fit into her regular clothes anymore.

"Shannon, try this one." Erin picked out a dress for her, joking, "You’re about to have your second child, and I’m still living like a lonely hermit."

Shannon took the clothes from her hand and walked toward the fitting room with a shop assistant while replying to Erin, "I think you’re almost there too."

"Almost my ass, I’m starting to think Zane Rhodes just can’t do it."

Shannon talked to Erin through the fitting room door, "What do you mean?"

"Well, he’s just weird. He buys me breakfast every day, and whenever he has free time, he asks me out for dinner, movies, all kinds of outings. Last time we stayed at a hotel, I didn’t even suggest anything, and he booked two rooms. I just don’t get it. Is he really not into me? It feels like he’s courting me, but very openly, with no substantial progress."

Shannon came out of the fitting room in the new dress, pointed her chin towards the lingerie section of the store with a mischievous grin, and said, "How about some sexy lingerie?"

Erin looked in that direction, "Will that work?"

"Give it a try. It worked wonders with Sutton."

"You tried it?"

"No need to. If I’m just wearing something a bit cooler at home, he can’t handle it and tells me to change right away."

Erin pondered for a couple of seconds, then walked straight towards that section of the store, "I’ll go have a look."

The two of them came out of the store, each carrying several bags.

Erin opened a bag to peek inside, still a bit incredulous that she actually bought it.

"Isn’t this a bit over the top?"

"Rona, that doesn’t sound like you. Just find a moment to test him and figure out what exactly is going on in his mind. If you marry him while things are still unclear, do you really want to live your whole life in confusion?"

Erin took a deep breath; it was time to push Zane, as playing coy didn’t work on him at all.

In the evening, Erin went to a friend’s bar to pick up a bottle of fine red wine. Just as she was about to call Zane, his name popped up on her phone screen.

"Hello."

"There’s a dinner gathering tonight, I can’t have dinner with you."

Erin’s eyes shifted as she asked, "What time does it end?"

"Not sure."

"Come over to my place after, try to be early, I’ll be waiting for you."

Erin didn’t say exactly what she wanted to do and hung up, but she knew Zane would definitely come.

After she got home, she found herself incredibly nervous, looking at the clothes she had bought, suddenly unsure why she was putting herself through this.

She quickly tried on the clothes in her room and even felt embarrassed looking at herself.

The nearly transparent lace strap dress showcased her figure completely. After a moment of hesitation, she quickly took it off, conflicted about what she was going to do later, with the added uncertainty of not knowing how Zane would react.

Even before Zane arrived, she had drunk nearly half a bottle of wine on her own.

A little after seven, Zane messaged her on WeChat saying he was on his way, and Erin sat there holding her wine glass, lost in thought for quite a while.

The alcohol seemed to give her confidence as she downed the wine in her goblet in one gulp, then got up from the sofa and returned to her room to put on the clothes she had taken off earlier.

"Ding-dong—"

Hearing the doorbell, she took a deep breath, casually flicked her long hair, and put on an air of nonchalance as she went to open the door.

She only poked half of her head out to look at him and let him inside.

Zane entered the apartment, familiarly retrieving his slippers from the shoe cabinet. Before changing into them, he noticed Erin in her unconventional outfit, frowned, and asked, "What are you wearing?"

Erin looked down at herself, and putting on a show of not understanding the shock, responded in as ordinary a tone as possible, "It’s just a new nightgown I got while shopping today, doesn’t it look nice?"

"Go change."

Erin raised her eyebrows, feeling that she had achieved a bit of an effect, internally somewhat smug.

Ignoring his order, she turned and walked towards the living room sofa, adding an extra bit of sway to her walk. She sat down, crossing her legs on the coffee table, causing the already short dress to slip further down with her actions.

Zane watched her seductive manner and the outfit that made it seem she was wearing nothing at all, took off his suit jacket, went over to her, and draped it over her shoulders, even fastening the buttons.

The large jacket enveloped Erin’s body. She didn’t stop him from doing so, only pretended to be dissatisfied and said, "What are you doing? It’s so hot!"

"Don’t you consider me a man?"

Upon hearing this, Erin smiled and teasingly toyed with the white button on his shirt with her cherry-colored fingernails, speaking in a softer than usual tone, "Oh, I thought you were a saint, that you didn’t have the emotions and desires of ordinary people."

Zane pried her mischievous hands away, sternly telling her, "Act normal."

"What’s not normal about me?"

"Do you even know what you’re doing right now?"

Erin sat on the sofa, looking with innocent eyes at him, "I’m not doing anything. Oh right, I called you here because I wanted you to have a drink with me. I got a bottle of good wine from a friend."

Watching her pick up the bottle to pour a little wine into a goblet, her slender fingers slightly swirling the deep red wine in the glass, she handed it to his lips, "Try it."

Zane reached out to take the glass, his gaze resting on her rosy cheeks, asking, "How much have you had?"

"Don’t worry, I’m not drunk. Just drink it. What’s a grown man hesitating for?"

Zane looked at her suspiciously, even doubting that there might be something mixed in the wine, but still raised the glass under her watchful eyes.

As he tilted his head back to drink, Erin reached out, her fingertip lightly, teasingly touching his Adam’s apple as it bobbed, and let out a soft laugh.

Zane immediately put the glass down, furrowing his brow unhappily, grabbing her wrist and moving her hand away, staring at her, "You really aren’t drunk?"

Erin let out a low chuckle, her eyes alluring, "You know my tolerance. This little wine is nothing."

"Then are you ready?"

"Hmm?"

"To take responsibility for your sober actions."

Erin paused, then laughed charmingly, secretly gambling in her heart, wondering if he dared to cross the line.

Her small hand landed on his belt, softly saying, "How do you want me to take responsibility, big brother?"

The sweet "big brother" made Zane’s heart burn even more. He suddenly smiled, placed his large hand over her little one, stared deeply into her eyes, his voice hoarse and rich with the fragrance of the wine, and said, "I’ll do it myself."