The pleasant scent enveloped her, and she was lost in it, unable to pull herself away.
Just then, Owen's voice came from outside, jolting Nova awake from her dream-like state. Her hand, which had been clutching the other person's collar, instantly let go.
She hurriedly tried to compose herself, attempting to appear calm.
As Owen walked in, the light brightened slightly, and Nova could finally see the situation clearly. She lowered her head, her face flushed red, as if she had done something wrong.
Aiden, on the other hand, remained composed, holding her hand as he strode out.
She obediently let him lead her, but as they reached the brightly lit hallway, she quickly pulled her hand away from his large palm, as if it had burned her. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her heart was pounding in her chest.
Nova snapped out of the chaotic scene, her heart racing. She didn't dare linger and hurriedly turned, her steps frantic as she headed towards the office, trying to escape quickly. Her face was red with embarrassment and nervousness.
Aiden walked with a tall, elegant posture, one hand in his pocket, his deep gaze fixed on Nova's departing figure, a hidden possessiveness surging within him, as if he could devour everything.
Owen, seeing this, cautiously suggested they wait in the car, knowing it was best not to get too close to Nova at the moment to avoid drawing attention.
Aiden nodded slightly and walked towards the car, his expression stern as he signaled his subordinates to thoroughly investigate the matter of the library door being locked. He was clearly furious about someone targeting Nova and was determined to find the culprit, not allowing such a malicious person near her.
Nova rushed back to the office, looking like a startled deer, confused and panicked. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her beautiful eyes were misty with fear.
Her mind was in turmoil, regretting the intimate encounter with Aiden in the library, feeling it was absurd.
In just two days of interacting with Aiden, two kisses had stirred feelings in her heart that she had never experienced before, making her extremely conflicted, constantly blaming herself for being so distracted.
She took a deep breath, trying to appear calm, grabbed her bag, and walked out of the translation department. Just as she was about to contact her friend Uma, she caught a glimpse of a familiar black luxury car at the entrance.
The car window slowly rolled down, and even though the light was dim, she could feel the powerful presence inside. She instantly knew who was in the car.
A bodyguard approached politely, inviting her to the car. Nova frantically waved her hand to refuse, wanting to take a cab home. But after the bodyguard's repeated request, she reluctantly walked towards the car window.
Inside, Aiden slightly raised his head, the light revealing his handsome face, exuding an oppressive aura.
"Come home with me," Aiden said succinctly, his eyes showing a determination that brooked no refusal.
Nova lowered her head and softly declined, "I... want to stay at my friend's place."
However, upon hearing that her luggage had already been sent to Aiden's house, she looked up in shock, her face showing difficulty.
Aiden decisively insisted she stay at his place, got out of the car, and his strong presence made Nova feel pressured. In the end, she reluctantly got into the car.
The car door closed, and in the confined space, Nova's heart was pounding like a drum, her breathing rapid, filled with helplessness.
She turned to look out the window, the scenery flying by, her emotions gradually calming down. Thinking about Aiden's comfortable and spacious home, she sighed inwardly, knowing what she was truly afraid of facing, something she couldn't quite articulate.
Thirty minutes later, the convoy arrived at the villa.
Nova, exhausted, got out of the car and walked into the living room, finding her two suitcases next to the sofa. She sighed helplessly.
Aiden pointed to the room she had stayed in the previous night, indicating she would still stay in that guest room. The bodyguard picked up the suitcases and headed upstairs. Nova tried to stop him but was unsuccessful.
Aiden followed her upstairs, entering the guest room, looking around to see if anything needed to be added. Nova shook her head, softly saying she didn't need anything and suggested he go rest.
"Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?" Aiden asked with concern, his eyes showing a hint of gentleness.
Nova suddenly realized she hadn't eaten much all day but didn't want to trouble Aiden, so she shook her head, saying she wasn't hungry.
Aiden nodded, gave a brief instruction, and then left.
Nova stood there, dazed, only snapping out of it when she heard the door close. She opened her suitcase to organize her clothes, looking at the meticulously arranged items by the housekeeper, and sighed again, accepting the reality of temporarily staying here.
After organizing her clothes, she sat quietly on the bed, her mind in a chaotic mess, with countless thoughts entangled in her head.
After a while, she grabbed her pajamas and walked into the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror, carefully examining herself.
What she saw was a face without makeup, smooth skin like polished jade, with a natural glow.
But Nova felt full of disdain, silently complaining that all the food she had eaten over the years seemed wasted. Almost twenty-four years old, yet her face still carried a youthful look, not matching her age at all.
This frustration made her pay extra attention to her clothing choices, always dressing maturely when going out, trying to compensate for her "shortcomings" in appearance, making herself feel more in line with her age.
After showering, she put on a thin jacket and slowly walked downstairs. As she reached the living room, a pleasant aroma greeted her.
The scent wasn't overpowering like strong food smells but rather fresh and inviting, with delicate hints that tickled her nose, making her stomach growl.
She looked up, her gaze falling on the open kitchen.
Aiden was wearing a black sweater, his sleeves casually rolled up, revealing his strong forearms, focused on cooking noodles. His posture was tall and elegant, seamlessly blending with the homely atmosphere.
The scene was like a beautiful painting, even though it was just a mundane task of cooking noodles, his noble aura was unmistakable, making it hard to look away.
Nova's gaze then fell on the carefully arranged steak, its color enticing, adorned with a broccoli flower, the presentation full of ceremony, like it came from a high-end restaurant.
Watching this, she couldn't help but swallow, her hunger growing stronger.
She quickly walked towards the kitchen, a sweet smile on her face, just about to offer help when she saw Aiden carrying the noodles over, his steps steady.
"It smells so good!" Nova exclaimed, her eyes full of anticipation.
Aiden placed the noodles in front of her. She looked up, her eyes filled with admiration, marveling at his capability.
During the meal, Nova ate with great enjoyment, drinking half the soup and devouring the steak piece by piece, unknowingly eating six or seven pieces, her stomach round and full.
After the meal, Aiden put down his utensils. Nova quickly stood up to clean up but was stopped by his swift grip on her wrist.
His hand was broad and warm, the heat from his palm transferring through her skin, making Nova's heart skip a beat, like a startled deer. She hurriedly pulled her hand back, her cheeks instantly turning red, then quickly went upstairs.
Aiden's phone suddenly rang. His subordinate reported that the person who locked Nova in the library was an intern named Pax, and he had also pulled the circuit breaker.
Aiden's eyes turned cold, filled with anger. He decisively ordered the evidence to be handed over to the translation department, his tone resolute, determined to remove this malicious person from Nova's vicinity.
After handling the matter, he got up to clean the table, his movements swift and efficient, showcasing his usual decisiveness and effectiveness.
Back in her room, Nova leaned against the headboard, reading for a while until sleepiness overcame her, and she soon fell asleep.
In her dreams, she felt a dry thirst, her throat parched, likely from eating too much steak.
She groggily opened her eyes, glancing at her phone to check the time—2 AM.
Feeling unbearably thirsty, she didn't bother putting on a jacket, thinking Aiden must be asleep at this hour.
She quietly pushed open the door, the hallway's wall lights casting a warm, soft glow, creating a cozy and serene atmosphere, like a veil over the night.
She shuffled downstairs in her slippers, went to the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of warm water, drinking it in one gulp. Then she turned and headed back to the stairs, ready to return to her room and continue sleeping.