Chapter 38 A Quiet Omen
Evelyn blinked hard, swallowing as she slowly shifted to the other side of the bed.
"Erhm... nothing."
Roman dropped the towel he'd been using to dry his hair and immediately caught her ankle, keeping her still. In one swift motion, he yanked her back toward him.
"Ah—" she let out a soft yelp, feeling her heart about to burst from the unexpected pull.
He half-leaned over the bed, his hands on either side of her, caging her in completely.
"Wh—what are you doing?" Evelyn asked, flustered as he leaned even closer.
"I thought by now you'd get used to me, but you keep shying away. I'm afraid I won't be able to get what I want if this continues," Roman whispered seductively, his warm breath fanning across her face.
"W-what do you want?" Evelyn asked, suddenly feeling hot and unable to form her words properly.
"You," he whispered. "I thought I made that clear from the beginning." He raised his hand to gently stroke her face, then slowly trailed it down to her chest.
"I want every part of you. I don't want you shying away from my advances. I enjoy being intimate with you, and I'd enjoy it even more if you became proactive. I need you to want me the way I want you..."
He leaned closer, his mouth near her ear as he whispered in his deep, seductive voice, "At every moment, every day." He bit her ear gently, chewing on it softly.
Evelyn flinched at the sensation, swallowing hard. She could no longer maintain eye contact with him as breathing became difficult. Her face was now red from the heat.
"Lyn," he breathed softly. "Look at me. I hope during our honeymoon we'll be able to spice up our married life."
"I-it's a contract marriage. You're not supposed to overwhelm me with your wants or desires," Evelyn retorted weakly.
Roman let out a soft laugh. "Overwhelm? I know you desire me the way I desire you. You're just too... cute to admit it." He brought her hands to his bare chest, making her caress it softly. "And I don't want that."
"Wh-who... who..." Evelyn stuttered, staring at her hand on his hot chest.
Roman raised his eyebrows mockingly, waiting for her to speak.
Seeing his mocking expression, Evelyn felt ashamed. She refused to believe what he said. "Who desires you! Shameless," she retorted, trying to pull her hand back from his hot grip.
Roman smiled. "If I don't become shameless, how else am I going to woo my wife? I guess this is the price I have to pay for marrying you before courting you." In one unexpected motion, he flipped their positions so Evelyn was on top of him.
"Roman!" Evelyn screamed in fright at the unexpected flip.
Roman just smiled as he held her waist, caressing her back. "I want you to..." At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.
Evelyn jolted at the knock
Roman hissed in irritation, his jaw tightening. He was thinking today might not be great for him, as his chances of advancing their relationship kept getting interrupted.
Evelyn wanted to get off him, feeling uncomfortable with him pressing against her through his towel. Heat was starting to pool in her lower abdomen, and she was trying to run from these intense feelings, not wanting to get her hopes too high in this relationship.
But Roman refused to let go, holding her waist down and making her press against him even tighter. She gasped softly, shocked by the sensation.
"Who's there?!" Roman asked irritably.
Mrs. Chen's voice sounded from outside. "Young Master, the old master—your father—is here."
Roman frowned slightly and immediately got out of bed with furrowed brows. "Coming!"
He went to their wardrobe and within minutes emerged dressed in casual wear.
Evelyn remained lying on the bed, dazed, her heart still thumping fast.
Before Roman left, he returned to her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, trailing kisses down before stopping at her lips, lingering there before pulling away.
"Be right back, hmm," he said, walking toward the door.
Evelyn finally broke from her daze and quickly sat up. "I'm coming with you. I need to greet Grand..." She paused, confused about how to address him.
They went downstairs together.
Alexander stood in the living room with his walking stick for support, his hand trembled slightly. His other hand behind his back.
"Father," Roman called to him.
He turned to look at them.
"Father," Evelyn said with a bow. After deliberation, she decided to stick with "Father" since she'd married his son, not his grandson.
Alexander looked at them with a smile. "Evelyn, dear, how are you, child? I hope your husband is treating you well? How is my grandchild doing?" He searched her face for any reluctant expression, then looked down at her stomach, still smiling.
Evelyn smiled and said, "I'm fine, Father, and Roman takes very good care of me. The baby is also fine"
"Good, good, good," he said, nodding in satisfaction. He turned to look at her again with a melancholic smile.
Evelyn stood uncomfortably, sensing something off about the old man today. He kept smiling at her without saying much. He wasn't acting energetic like the grandfather she'd known, and above all, his eyes... were bloodshot.
She turned to look at Roman to see if he was noticing the changes too.
Sensing her gaze, Roman looked at her, his brows furrowed. The atmosphere felt eerily suffocating.
Alexander finally turned away from her. "Roman! Walk with me, will you?" he said, still with that slight smile as he turned to walk outside.
Roman nodded softly. "Okay." He turned to Evelyn, ruffling her hair. "Wait for me."
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The father and son walked gently through the wide, spacious garden.
Alexander was the first to break the silence. "I know what you're thinking," he said softly, looking ahead. "Yes, I told you to lay low for now and let your elder brother handle the company. When you came to see me that evening, I also told you to leave the country with Evelyn, and that It's better for us not to see each other right now."
He breathed heavily. "But there's something important I want to tell you about Evelyn. I have a feeling I might never be able to say it again. I sense something bigger is coming, and it's coming fast. And this old man... might not be able to handle it." He stopped walking and turned to look at Roman seriously.
Roman's expression grew tense as he studied his father's face, seeing the genuine fear and urgency in the old man's bloodshot eyes.