Chapter b67 /b

bChapter /bb67 /b

It was the first time a man had wiped the corner of her mouth, and it made her feel off. She couldn’t quite exin what felt wrongb, /bbut everything about it just didn’t sit right. And she couldn’t believe she hadn’t pulled away immediately. She could’ve, but she hadn’t, which wasn’t good.

She might not have been in a rtionship before, but she knew well enough that wiping the corner of someone’s mouth was something bonly /bba /bboyfriend would do. But they were an engaged couple in name.

Shermaine subtly shifted to the side, her expression neutral. “Thanks.”

Joshua withdrew his hand, and perhaps realizing she was ufortable with his subconscious move, he paused for a moment and said bin /bba /blow voiceb, /b“Sorry, that was inappropriate.”

Shermaine pouted slightly and said, “It’s okay.” Then, remembering that Joshua was a wealthy, generous businessman, she smiled and added, b“/bI’m pretty versatite. If you have any professional problemster, feel free toe to me. I’ll igive /iyou a discount.”

Joshua chuckled. “Are you really that strapped for cash?”

“Yeah, I am,” Shermaine replied. She had been financially strapped even before he gave her that ridiculously expensive car, but now that she needed to give him a gift in return, her situation was even worse.

She couldn’t help but regret her past indifference toward money

now.

nd not having saved up a little nest egg. The good thing was, it wasn’t too fate to start

Joshua had more than enough money. But he knew that she’d never ept even if he offered some to Shermaine. Without dwelling on it, he said, “Alright, I’lle to you if I need help.”

Shermaine smiled.

Joshua probably never imagined he’d wipe a girl’s mouth, let alone do it iso /inaturally. He saw his constant attention to Shermain, both in private and bin /bpublic, as merely fulfilling his duty–after all, they were engaged.

When his fingertip brushed against her lips, they felt soft and smooth, like jelly–surprisingly pleasant to the touch.

Shermaine’s eyesnded on the smear of cream on his long, slender finger with well–defined joints. The fact that the cream came from the corner of her mouth made her ears burn a little. She handed him a tissue, saying, “Wipe your hand.”

Joshua took the tissue and asked, “Does this bother you?”

Shermaine replied, “Not really. I get why we have to put on a show for others, but when it’s just us, it’s unnecessary.”

Joshua looked at her closely, his gaze deep. “I told iyou/i, we don’t have to keep our distance like this.”

Shermaine picked up her dessert and sat back on the floor. “If I wanted to keep my distance, I wouldn’t let you stay in my room. Besidesb, /bthis bisn’t /babout being distant or not.”

To put it bluntly, she didn’t want to have much to do with her fiancé, in name only. But Joshua, who was known for keeping his distance from women, seemed unusually familiar with her. It looked like he was seeing her in a whole new light.

Since Shermaine had made her stance clear, Joshua naturally respected her wishes. “It won’t happen again.”

Shermaine nodded.

Joshua was a man of principle. He always kept his word. If he said it wouldn’t happen again, then it wouldn’t.

But Shermaine never expected that Joshua, with his strong sense of principle, wouldter break his promise and btry /bbto /bbget /bbmore /bintimate with her,pletely losing all sense of boundaries/

After bfinishing /bher dessert, Shermaine picked up King Tiki and started taking it apart again. As bexpected/bb, /bafter it fell into bthe /bfish bpond/bb, /bbmany /bbparts /bve damagedb, /bband /bsome still had water inside. But the chip wasn’tpletely

ly ruined–it could be repaired, though bit /bbwouldn’t /bbbe /bquick.

bShe /bcarefully disassembled the robot vacuum,ying the parts out on the table. Then she wiped off the water with tissues and used ba /bbhairdryer /bto dry them thoroughly. “You cane pick it up tomorrow night.“.

Joshua nced at his watch and nodded. “Alright.”

b“/bI’ll walk you out,” Shermaine offered.

b“/bNo need,” Joshua replied. Then, as if remembering something, he pulled out his phone. “I need to take a picture.b” /b

Shermaine raised an eyebrow, immediately guessing the reason. ‘Mr. Owen York is really pulling out all the stops, but whateverb, /bshe thought.

Shermaine looked stunning, even just sitting there. Joshua casually snapped a photo, but with the perfect angle and lighting, the shot turned out incredibly artistic. Afterward, he packed up the dessert box and said, “I’m heading out.”

Shermaine stood up and started looking for her shoes.

Even though Joshua had said not to bother, Shermaine thought it would be better

bto /bsee

him off. After all, she considered herself ba /bpolite person.

Just as Joshua opened the door, he saw the gentle and refined Ross standing outside, staring at him with sharp eyes.

‘What’s with that look? Does he think I’m here to steal Shermaine or something?‘ Joshua thought. ‘Do I look like the type who would do thatb?/b”

Ross seemed to realize his overly defensive gaze and quickly adjusted his expression. Clearing his throat, he asked, b“/bJoshua, it’s sote. What are byou /bdoing here with my sister?”

Joshua replied calmly, “My grandfather asked me to deliver some dessert to Shermaine.”

“How thoughtful of you,” Ross said.

Joshua remained indifferent. “Let’s skip the formalities.”

Ross chuckled lightly. After years of knowing each other, they didn’t need to be that formal. Stillb, /bthe thought of Joshua bas /bhis sister’s fiancé left him feeling annoyed.

The marriage arrangement with the York family had been set by Ross’s grandfatherb, /bso the Jeans had no choice but to go along with it. But if Shermaine wanted to break it off, Ross would support her.

Unfortunately, too much had happened while Ross was away on business. Shermaine and Joshua had crossed paths and struck some sort of deal, and now their rtionship was tooplicated to untangle easily.

Just then, Shermaine stepped out after finding her shoes and putting them on. When she saw Rossb, /bshe greeted him.

Ross immediately ruffled her hair lovingly. ‘My sister iis /iso sweet and adorable,‘ he thought.

Ross and Shermaine were close and affectionate, despite having been separated for over a decade. In contrast, Shermaine was always bdistant /bwith Joshua, who felt ba /bfaint sense of frustration about it.

‘Her brother can ruffle her hair all he wants, but I wipe her mouth once and get treated like a stranger. How’s that fair? Joshua thought, swallowing hard and looking away.

The night was heavy and still.

After seeing Joshua off, Shermaine made her way back to her room. As she was heading upstairsbi, /i/bshe ran into Wendelyning bdown/b.

Wendelyn immediately clenched her fist, her eyes shing with hatred.

b58/bb% /b

Shermaine raised an eyebrow but wasn’t nning on acknowledging her. Just as she was about to walk past, Wendelyn grabbed her wrist, her nails digging in, causing a sharp pain. “Shermaine, you’re so annoying,” she spat.

Shermaine shot her a cold,manding look. “Let go.”