CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30: CAN YOU SOOTHE ME?

Chloe Preston looked up, her gaze meeting the man’s deep eyes. Donovan Xavier reached out to smooth her messy hair. "Were you scared?"

"Does your grandfather hate me?" Chloe asked, gently pursing her lips.

"He likes you."

She clearly didn’t believe him. "You’re just humoring me, aren’t you?"

Donovan leaned closer, his lips curling into a smile. His voice was a deep, amused rumble. "I’m not humoring you. The old man even told us to... take precautions."

Chloe blushed, still finding it hard to believe. "Really? He’d say something like that?"

Donovan pressed his forehead against hers. "Of course. He was much wilder than us when he was young!"

Suddenly, a phone on the table began to ring. Chloe reached for it, glanced at the screen, and answered. "Hello... Two days from now? Alright, I have it down." She spoke a few more hurried words before quickly hanging up.

The next moment, Donovan leaned over and pinned her beneath him, his presence overbearing and tyrannical. "Whose call was that? You seem pretty happy about it."

For once, Chloe didn’t struggle. She lifted her delicate, fair hands and wrapped them around his neck. "Just a friend."

"A man or a woman?"

"A man."

Anger flared in Donovan instantly, and his expression darkened. "Chloe Preston, you are forbidden from contacting him again!"

Chloe kept her arms hooked around his neck, a captivating smile in her eyes. "Mr. Xavier, why are you so domineering? We’re just good friends, that’s all."

Why does this man get so angry whenever another man is around me?

"I don’t believe in ’good friends’," Donovan retorted. "There’s no such thing as a pure friendship between a man and a woman. The only man in your life is me!"

Chloe just said, "Oh."

Donovan’s gaze drifted down to the bright red bedsheets beneath them. "This color..."

"You don’t like it?" Chloe asked, pursing her lips gently.

"It’s not that I don’t like it," he said. "It’s very bright. Did you pick it out?"

Chloe shook her head. "Housekeeper Wallace did. She... she said it was festive."

Donovan nodded, his nose brushing against hers as he laughed in a low voice. "Festive is good. I’m happy you’ve moved in. Housekeeper Wallace did a good job. I’ll give her a raise."

He tilted his head, his voice deep, husky, and alluring. "This color... it’s perfect for..."

Before he could finish, Chloe hit his chest with a soft punch. "Behave yourself!"

Donovan’s eyebrows quirked, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I’m not behaving. What are you going to do about it? You hurt me. Here, rub it better."

As he spoke, he took one of her small, cool hands and placed it on his chest.

Chloe immediately snatched her hand back, pulled the covers over her head, and burrowed underneath. "I’m tired. I’m going to sleep. You should leave."

Donovan’s eyes narrowed.

「That afternoon.」

In the study, Donovan Xavier was lounging in a leather executive chair. He wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, and his black shirt sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing taut, powerful forearms. He held a document, flipping through it carefully, his eyes focused and free of distractions. He projected an air of cool, ascetic restraint.

Chloe Preston was forced to sit on his powerful thighs. She felt completely out of place and a little helpless. "Can you... can you let me down?"

This man! Why won’t he let me go even when he’s working?

Donovan glanced down at her, his sexy Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he answered in all seriousness, "No. Work is dull and tedious. Having you here puts me in a good mood."

Chloe was speechless.

Suddenly, a soft knock sounded at the door. Hearing it, Chloe immediately tried to get off his lap.

Donovan’s brow furrowed, and he gave her lower back a light pat. "I told you not to move." Then, he called out, "Come in."

CLICK—

The door opened.

Chloe immediately buried her face in his chest, feeling shy.

When Housekeeper Wallace entered and saw the scene, she immediately turned away. "Sir, should... should I come back later?"

"Just say what you came for," Donovan said.

"The Old Master sent something over. He said it’s for Miss Quinn."

At her words, Chloe froze for a moment. For me?

The next second, Housekeeper Wallace walked in with a case in her hand and placed it on the desk.

Donovan looked down at the woman beside him. "It’s for you. Open it and see?"

Chloe nodded and opened the box. Inside was an array of precious jewels: pigeon’s blood rubies, sapphires, a large Imperial Green jade Maitreya Buddha, and a golden phoenix crown crafted by the masters of The Eight Paragons of Stonewynn. Among them, a hundred-plus-carat emerald necklace was the most striking, clearly worth a fortune.

Standing to the side, Housekeeper Wallace spoke again. "Sir, the Old Master didn’t just send these. He also gifted Miss Quinn three courtyard estates in the Su-style garden design."

"The Old Master said these are just modest tokens. When you officially bring Miss Quinn to the old family residence, he will prepare another, grander welcoming gift."

Donovan nodded, motioning for Housekeeper Wallace to leave. He looked down at the woman in his arms. "Do you like them?"

Chloe was completely stunned. She looked up at him. "Why would your grandfather suddenly give me so many things?"

Donovan thought for a few seconds. "Probably because you’re the first woman I’ve ever brought to The Xavier Residence."

He then reached into the box, took out the emerald necklace, and went to put it on her.

Seeing this, Chloe immediately raised a hand to stop him. "No, this is too valuable. I can’t accept it."

But Donovan insisted on fastening it around her neck. "It’s fine. He gave it to you, so it’s yours. Our Chloe deserves to wear the most expensive and the best. It’s beautiful."

Hearing him call her "Chloe," she lowered her gaze, her cheeks turning slightly red. I really love it when he calls me that.

The next moment, Donovan cupped her chin with one hand, lowered his head, and kissed her.

Chloe could only accept it.

A long time passed before he finally released her. "I have to go back to Southel tonight. You be good and wait for me here."

"What?" Chloe’s brow furrowed at his words.

Donovan explained in his deep voice, "It’s a mission. The chief asked me to go back and help out."

"Really?" Chloe asked, skeptical. She crossed her arms and looked up at him.

Donovan leaned in, pressing his forehead lightly against hers, a smile playing on his lips. "Chloe Preston, I wouldn’t stoop to lying to you."