Chapter 20: The One Who Stirred His Heart

Almost reflexively, Vivian stepped out of the bathroom.

As Brevard's voice echoed from the phone, the sound of running water in the bathroom ceased.

It turned out Ethan had dialed Brevard before he even entered the bathroom, and the call had just been picked up.

The call was on speaker, and Brevard's voice filled the room, "What's the matter, Mr. Benton? Calling me at this late hour, are you done playing with your little simpleton?"

Ethan's voice was filled with restraint and irritation, "Get over here now, someone dosed me!"

"Ah? Drugged? What kind of drug? The 'love potion' kind?" Brevard sounded dumbfounded.

Ethan had no time for his banter, "Yes! So haul your ass over here right this minute!"

"Alright, alright, I'm on my way. If it's too hard to bear, take a cold shower to cool your jets. Hang tight, I'm coming right over!"

The call ended abruptly, and the sound of running water started up again.

Vivian knew that Ethan was drawing a cold bath.

But taking a cold bath in this kind of weather would be so uncomfortable.

Especially with such a drastic shift from hot to cold, this extreme temperature change and stimulation... it could easily be detrimental, right?

Could it be that Brevard is a quack?

There was clearly a more direct and effective method... A smirk hung on Vivian's lips as she stepped back into the bathroom.

This time, she walked straight through the glass door.

"How did you get in here?" Ethan tensed when he saw Vivian enter, "Get out."

Vivian widened her eyes at Ethan, feigning innocence, "Mr. Handsome, why are you still wearing your pants in the shower? And why isn't there any steam coming from your water?"

"Get out!" He had barely managed to push her away when she moved closer again, "Didn't anyone teach you not to barge in while someone is showering?"

"No one has," Vivian shook her head innocently, "When my grandma and I used to bathe at the public bathhouse, there were lots of people. She even helped scrub my back. Mr. Handsome, do you want me to help you?"

While speaking, Vivian had already moved closer.

"Ah! The water is so cold! You'll catch a cold bathing like this. Vivian can get some warm water for Mr. Handsome."

Pretending to be flustered, Vivian clumsily unhooked the shower head and started dousing Ethan.

The warm water made Ethan feel comfortable, but at the same time the drug's effects surged once more.

His muscles tensed again, the beautiful texture under his skin catching Vivian's eye.

She really wanted to touch him, those eight-pack abs.

"Mr. Handsome, let Vivian scrub your back for you."

But the moment her hand grazed Ethan's shoulder, his once-proud self-control vanished in an instant.

"little simpleton!" He held back, his teeth gritted as he gripped her wrist, his voice burning like fire, "I don't need a scrub, I'm just not feeling well, get it?"

"Where are you feeling unwell, Mr. Handsome? Vivian can help you."

"You want to help me?" Ethan furrowed his brows deeply, "If I want consumed you tonight, would you still not be scared?"

"How so?" Vivian asked curiously, "Like how we were kissing earlier in the room?"

As she spoke, she held Ethan's head and nibbled on his lips.

Ethan's heart was pounding like a war drum, he was reaching his limit, about to burst, "Are you really not scared?"

"Of course not. Vivian is a brave girl. I'm not even afraid of monsters. If Mr. Handsome is scared, Vivian will protect him." Funny, it's still up in the air who's going to be the one consumed tonight.

Ethan was nearing his breaking point, every drop of blood in his body screaming to embrace the woman before him, "Then do you know where the monster hides?"

Vivian shook her head, her gaze subtly drifting to his suit pants.

This man... was so full of desire.

"I'm not sure. Where could it be! Watch as Vivian helps Mr. Handsome tame the monster!"

Vivian's last words completely ignited Ethan. His blood boiled as he stepped out from the cold water, showing no mercy as he pinned the little woman in front of him against the wall.

"Little simpleton, you said it yourself! Then you go ahead and tame it!"

By the time Brevard rushed over, Ethan had nearly devoured Vivian.

The scene was so crazy. Brevard couldn't bear to look.

Neither Ethan nor Vivian expected Brevard to arrive so quickly.

Brevard hadn't expected to stumble upon such a scene, especially given he was coincidentally near the mansion today.

After the injection, Ethan noticeably cooled down, but his mind was still a whirlpool of relentless memories, replaying the passionate encounters that had just unfolded. Torn clothes, rough finger and kiss marks, and the naive simpleton's futile attempts to push him away...

She even cried during their first attempt. Her tears flowed continuously, like a never-ending stream.

And the sweet nonsense he had whispered to coax her, now was echoing in his ears like a broken record.

He rested his hands on his forehead, unable to snap out of the vivid recollection.

"Ethan? Are you okay?" Brevard tried patting Ethan's shoulder gently.

"How is she?" Ethan finally spoke, his first words being about Vivian.

"She's asleep now. She's delicate. The bruises look harsh, but they'll fade in a few days. But Ethan," Brevard began to chide, "Didn't I tell you I was on my way and asked you to wait for me? How could you... be so rough with her? She's just..."

"Enough!" Ethan interrupted. "It's my fault. I have a question I need to ask you."

"What?"

"Actually, it's not just today. Before today, I've also had such thoughts about her. But we both know she's a simpleton with the mental age of a five or six-year-old. Am I a pervert for this?"

Brevard struggled for words, "Honestly, if it were anyone else, I'd definitely call them a pervert. But you... you've said you've been celibate for a year now, so I suppose there's some justification."

"Do I need to see a psychiatrist?"

"You could, but I have another suggestion that might be more effective."

"Go ahead."

"Find yourself a normal woman."

"I'm not interested!"

"Don't be like that. When you said before you weren't interested in women, everyone assumed you had some kind of problem. But then Sophia Harrison appeared, and you quickly felt something, didn't you?

“Wasn't the reason you chose the Swain family's daughter for marriage because her eyes resembled Sophia? You could always find another one like her."

Sophia? Indeed, she was the only woman who had ever made his heart flutter.

Even now, thinking back, he felt something different stirring within him...