CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: DEADLY TEMPTATION

Victoria Monroe was awakened by the warm sunshine, and she lazily stretched.

Perhaps it was because she only slept two hours the previous night, after falling asleep last night, she did not wake up once.

The sun warmed her up, and ever since discovering Julian Fordham’s betrayal, her entire body felt like it had fallen into an ice cellar.

But now, she could feel a bit of warmth.

In Portoros, it’s like spring all year, even the sunshine is particularly gentle.

Victoria opened Moments and saw the October photos Julian Fordham posted early that morning.

He changed his profile picture; Rachel Hayes no longer appeared in his list of likes.

As if she never existed.

But Victoria knew that the thorn had already been lodged in the softest part of her heart.

The TV was broadcasting the news, "Rhys Hawthorne, the third young master of the Hawthorne Family, secured another billion-dollar deal, adding to the Hawthorne Group’s brilliance!"

The sound of water rushing in the bathroom drowned out the TV, Victoria washed her face and did a simple skincare routine.

Victoria had transformed from her previous lifeless demeanor, she smiled at herself in the mirror: "Victoria Monroe, let’s start anew."

She took a shower, wrapped herself in a bathrobe, and called to have the housekeeper take her clothes for cleaning.

The housekeeper soon arrived, bringing several small carts of meals and even women’s clothing.

Clearly, this wasn’t room service, Rhys Hawthorne had brought the most famous dishes in Portoros right to her table.

Today, her appetite was much better, perhaps because it was intriguing, she savored every dish carefully.

Rhys Hawthorne arrived earlier than she expected, when he knocked on the door, she thought it was the housekeeper again, so she opened the door directly.

Standing at the door was a tall man, his suit draped over his arm, and the white shirt he wore was buttoned up to the end, lending him an air of majesty compared to last night’s fatigue.

She had only just showered, and her soft hair draped over the white bathrobe, loosely tied at the waist, slightly exposing her chest.

His gaze lingered on her chest for just a moment before moving away, as she had just eaten a creamy dessert and hadn’t wiped her mouth, the corner of her pink lips retained a trace of cream.

Deadly temptation.

The man’s gaze was deep and fatal.

"Sorry, I forgot to remind you."

He turned gentlemanly, leaving her with the view of his strong and broad back.

Victoria said, "Give me ten minutes."

Ten minutes later, she opened the door again, having changed into the white cheongsam with purple flowers that the housekeeper brought, the skirt adorned with a large iris pattern.

"Rhys Hawthorne, I’m ready."

He turned around, his gaze swept over her perfect figure, as always, radiant and ravishing.

Victoria walked while pinning up her hair, "Thanks for the food you brought, it was quite delicious, worthy of its century-old reputation, though there was too much for me to finish."

Knowing she liked cheongsams, Julian Fordham had bought her many jade hairpins, and at home, she usually used a hairpin to pin up her hair.

She casually took a clean chopstick and inserted it into her dark hair to secure it.

Rhys Hawthorne could only see the woman’s graceful silhouette under the sunlight, her every move exuding femininity.

The raised arm was not only slender but astonishingly fair.

Though seemingly delicate, she could gallop on horseback, effortlessly guiding the reins around, the contrast stark.

Rhys Hawthorne’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his eyes shifting to the food on the table, his voice calm: "I’m here to take you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"The director."

The director was from "Minister," and during her years away from the industry, she didn’t know the director was ill.

Rhys Hawthorne said nothing more, taking Victoria Monroe to the hospital.

Looking at the emaciated old man, Victoria couldn’t help but tear up, how could this happen in just three years?

Serena Shepherd glanced at the couple standing side by side, a hint of gratification flashing across her aged face.

She pulled out a script, "When ’Minister’ was a hit, I wrote a sequel. Who would’ve thought you’d quit for a man, and now you regret it, don’t you?"

She sighed, "Girl, I’ve seen too many like you, women must never lose themselves for a man. Men may like you for a moment, but it cannot last a lifetime, perhaps what he loved was that radiant you. When you lay down your arms and become ordinary, how long will his affection last? A woman’s youth only lasts a few years, once it’s gone, there’s no room for regret."

"This is the sequel of ’Minister.’ If you’re willing to continue this story, it’d fulfill both the fans’ and my regret."

Victoria stayed with the director in the hospital that afternoon, and when she left, she took the custom-written script the director had made for her.

With the hit "Minister" and the sequel backed by the director, as long as Rhys Hawthorne agreed, she could make a comeback!

But Rhys Hawthorne hadn’t yet given her an answer, leaving her anxious.

She stepped into the elevator, and Rhys pressed the button for the top floor.

Bewildered, she followed him upstairs, where a helicopter awaited on the helipad.

He stepped aboard, and Victoria watched him with wary eyes, "Where are we going?"

The man was tall, the light on the top floor wasn’t strong, as he stood at the entrance, his handsome features shadowed, she could only see his sharp jawline.

His hanging wrist revealed a corner of black prayer beads.

At this moment, he resembled a deity gazing upon the world, his eyes lowered as he looked at the woman on the ground.

The night breeze blew, swaying Victoria’s skirt, revealing her long and slender legs.

She stretched her neck, her black bright eyes wary of him, like a stubborn deer, constantly vigilant.

In the darkness, his voice was cool and icy, "Taking you to the true summit..."

He paused, his tone softening, "To see the night view."

The helicopter traversed Portoros’s bustling areas, the meeting point of two rivers, with skyscrapers scattered beautifully, the lights behind them like stars in a galaxy.

On the river, the ships lined up, and a bright light suddenly illuminated the entire sky.

Soon after, fireworks of various colors spread across the sky, like a painter using fireworks as pigments, painting a breathtaking depiction of a thousand miles of rivers and mountains in the night.

So beautiful!

For the first time, Victoria realized fireworks were not just splendid, but grand and magnificent.

She pressed against the window, marveling, "Rhys Hawthorne, look!"

He leaned over, one hand resting on the glass.

The sandalwood scent belonging to him seemed to envelop her from all directions.

His breath landed by her ear, "Yeah."

That low voice exploded by her ear, wrapped in the unfamiliar man’s scent, she instinctively retreated.

Her soft body bumped into the man’s firm chest.

She unexpectedly turned her head, almost brushing her red lips against his ear.

In the narrow space, his breath fell on her neck, so shallow, yet so scorching...