Celia stepped into her room, took a hot shower, and sat at her vanity, drying her damp hair with a blow dryer.Her heart was all over the place.
All she could think about was what he had said: "You're not escaping tonight."
She had been too occupied with Emily's situation these past few days. Nathaniel had tried to get close to her more than once, but she'd always brushed him off—even choosing to sleep with Emily instead.
They'd been intimate once before, but now that their relationship was "official," this would be the first time again. She felt nervous.Shy.A little scared.
He was pushing her too fast.
She glanced at herself in the mirror. Her usually clear, innocent face was tinged with pink, glowing softly like a cherry blossom just before the rain.
There was one more thing on her mind—Yingying had returned to the capital. Celia no longer lived in Yipinlan Villa, but… she wanted to.Her own little garden studio was right behind it.
But how would it look, asking him for a villa right after they'd gotten together?
Just as her thoughts drifted into uncertainty, the door clicked open.
Nathaniel walked in, freshly showered, dressed in black silk pajamas. He looked effortlessly elegant, yet dangerously charming.
"You—" Celia's heartbeat stuttered. "You already showered?"
"I used the one in the study," he said, voice low as he approached her from behind.
He reached for the blow dryer in her hand. Then, suddenly, he tried to lift her up sideways from the chair.
"Nathaniel Fu!" she cried, gripping the armrests tightly.
Nathaniel froze, then simply turned her chair to face him and caged her in with his arms.Fresh from the shower, his defined features looked even more striking under the soft lights. He smiled lazily."What's wrong? Not planning to go to bed?"
It took Celia a few seconds to register what he meant—and the color drained from her face before rushing back in a wave of heat.
Her jet-black pupils widened in disbelief. Nathaniel's eyes darkened too, amused by her innocent reaction.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.
Celia's cheeks flamed. "Mr. Fu, do other people know how... perverted you really are?"
She'd been fooled by his looks, thinking he was cold and self-restrained. Who would've thought he was this shameless?
Nathaniel chuckled and leaned in to kiss her flushed lips."They don't know, because I only act this way... with you."
Celia's heart thumped harder.
This man really knew how to sweet-talk her.
Then, suddenly, he pressed something into her hand.
"What now?" she asked.
She looked down. It was a sleek black credit card with gold lettering.
As she examined it, he leaned in, brushing kisses along her cheek.
Her skin was soft, porcelain-like—he kissed her again, and again.
"You can use this card however you want," he said softly. "Spend whatever you need."
Celia pushed the card back toward him. "I don't want it."
"Take it, Cici," Nathaniel said, his voice suddenly calm but heavy. "You can love my money, love my power—whatever you want. But don't love me. Do you understand?"
Celia froze.
He stopped kissing her and pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.
"Cici, we have six months together. After that… it's over. Don't forget what this relationship really is."