Chapter 20

Stella's POV

I made my way down the west wing hallway. my heels sinking into the thick carpet.

"Right on time." Lucy's smile was pure sugar as I entered the room. "Come in, come in! I have the most amazing wine."

I studied her practiced movements as she poured two glasses of what appeared to be extremely expensive red wine.

"You said you had information about Adam's brother." I kept my tone neutral, watching her hands carefully.

"Ohyes." She handed me a glass with practiced grace.′′It7quite the story. But first. a toast? To... family secrets."

"You know," she continued, swirling her wine,"it's fascinating how history repeats itself in this family. Accidents, convenient deaths..."

She definitely added something in my glass.

I accepted the glass, raising it to my lips. Then I suddenly paused, looking toward the doorway. "Did you hear something outside?" Lucy's reaction was instantaneous-and telling. She practically jumped, setting her glass down and rushing to check the

hallway. "I don't see anyone..."

Too alert. dear sister. What are you planning?

While she was distracted, I quickly swapped our wine glasses.By the time she returned. I was exactly where she'd left me.wearing my best innocent expression.

Lucy took a deep drink from what she thought was her glass."I have my sources." Her smile turned predatory. "Though I must say, the fire that killed Adam's brother was particularly...tragic."

I felt my head starting to spin. No - not my head. I was pretending my head was spinning.

"You don't look well," Lucy's concern was as fake as her designer bag knockoffs. "Maybe you should lie down?"

I stumbled slightly, grabbing the back of a chair for support. "I feel... strange."

"Oh dear." Lucy's smile widened as she backed toward the door."Maybe you should rest. Don't worry, I'll make sure no one disturbs you." The lock clicked with finality, and I heard her heels clicking away down the hallway. Once her footsteps faded, I straightened up and surveyed the room.

A soft groan from behind an ornate screen caught my attention.I approached cautiously. then had to bite back a laugh. There.passed out cold, was a drunk man.

Oh Lucy. How predictable. Drug me, lock me in with a compromised family member. then "discover" the scandal.Amateur hour.

I checked my phone. No signal- of course. The west wing was notorious for its thick walls. Which meant...

I moved to the window, examining the three-story drop. Below.the Lancaster's prized fountain sparkled in the moonlight. The pool was deep enough, if you knew where to aim.

Well, Stella, time to run.

I kicked off my shoes and climbed onto the window ledge. The cool night air whipped at my dress as I calculated trajectories.

I chose the closest spot to Adam's room to get ouIt of the water.

Being soaking wet made me uncomfortable, so I opened the door and headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower. Who knew when I opened the door- I was so startled my eyes went wide, my mind went blank, and for a moment I forgot how to react.Through the white mist of steam, at eye level I saw the Adam's well-defined, firm chest, and my gaze unconsciously drifted downward-eight-pack abs, sexy Apollo's belt, and further down...

"Like my body?"

Just as his icy voice rang out, a gray towel flew over and covered my eyes.

I suddenly snapped back to reality, blinking dumbly as my thick eyelashes brushed against the towel with a tingling sensation. The scene I had just witnessed still floated in my mind.

Ah... height and that thing really do seem to have a positive correlation.

"You're didn't lock the door," I muttered after coming to my senses.

My voice sounded steady, but only I knew my heart was racing uncontrollably.

The next second, my vision cleared again - Adam now had a towel wrapped around his waist, covering his lower bodly. But his face was terrifyingly dark, like a silent threat, as if one more word of backtalk from me and he would throw me out. I awkwardly rubbed my nose, "I wasn't looking anywhere inappropriate just now."

Obviously no one believed that.

Feeling Adam's chilly gaze, I lowered my head to stare at the patterns on the floor tiles, pondering if I could salvage the situation somehow, when suddenly the man's voice came from above.

"You're my wife, so naturally it wasn't inappropriate looking."

I felt him take a step closer.

Sensing danger, I instinctively wanted to step back.

But before I could, my wrist was firmly grabbed by the man.

Male body temperature was higher than female's, and I felt the scorching heat through the delicate skin of my wrist.

It was especially hot.

"Ada-!" Before I could finish speaking, my palm was already placed on the towel at his waist, with my ring and middle fingers even touching his abs. The sensation at my fingertips was especially sensitive-I could clearly feel his powerful muscle definition and burning body heat.

My nerves tensed up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

I wanted to yank my hand away. but my wrist was firmly locked in his grip with no way to break free!

"You can not only look. but touch as well." Adam said as he watched me open my doe eyes wide like a startled animal.

"No touching, no touching!"

Who wants to touch you!

My head shook like a rattle drum."Y-you let go of mne!"

I struggled hard but unexpectedly slipped-

"Ah-!"

I crashed headfirst into a wall of flesh. To maintain balance.my hands instinctively searched for support, one hand climbing onto the man's broad shoulder, the other grabbing his upper arm.

His skin still had water droplets that hadn't been dried off. Our bodies were pressed together face to face, and I could clearly feel every part of his front..."Is it feel well?" He just stood like a pillar, making no move to help steady me.Without looking up. I could imagine Adam's black face and contemptuous gaze.

"How much longer do you want to touch?" Adam's voice sounded even more impatient.

I cursed internally, wanting to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

I awkwardly withdrew my hands as if electrocuted and stood steadily to the side,'"Y-you told me to touch."

If my voice hadn't been as quiet as a mosquito's and somewhat stuttering,it would have sounded more righteous.

Adam withdrew his gaze, looking me up and down in my soaking wet state, and said with disgust, "Clean yourself up.You're dirty."

Then he walked out of the bathroom.

I locked the bathroom door, leaned against the wall facing up,and sighed in despair.

Why did I rush straight to the bathroom? Even if I was going to the bathroom,why didn't I knock? I finally got myself cleaned up, but when it came time to get dressed, I discovered something even more desperate I hadn't brought any change of clothes!

Well.shit.