Chapter 73 I Like You
Owen gently laid Cassidy down on the bed after helping her to her room.
He intended to leave right away but couldn't resist taking another look at her face.
Her skin had a radiant glow, likely from all the alcohol she had consumed, giving her a rosy hue all over, especially her beautiful face, which was flushed like a ripe peach.
The mix of alcohol and her natural scent wasn't unpleasant; instead, it acted like an aphrodisiac, tempting Owen to get closer.
Feeling a bit warm, Cassidy raised her hand to tug at her strap.
She was wearing a spaghetti strap dress, and with that tug, a large expanse of her skin was exposed to Owen's view.
Owen shyly turned his head away but couldn't help sneaking another glance.
"So thirsty, water, I need water," Cassidy mumbled, half-conscious.
Owen snapped out of his daze and hurried to find some water.
When he returned with a glass, he realized he didn't know how to help Cassidy drink it.
She couldn't drink lying down, but her clothes were in disarray, and he felt awkward about helping her sit up.
Cassidy, unaware of Owen's dilemma, only knew she was incredibly thirsty and needed water.
Since no one was helping her, she struggled to sit up herself. Just as she managed to sit up, Owen handed her the glass.
"Cassidy, here," he said, his voice a bit hoarse.
Cassidy, still not fully aware, felt the glass in her hand and tried to drink. But in her dazed state, she couldn't aim properly, and water spilled everywhere.
Startled, Owen quickly took the glass from her and helped her drink directly.
Cassidy seemed to misunderstand, thinking someone was trying to take the water away from her. She tightly gripped Owen's hand.
Feeling her touch, Owen froze for a moment, but Cassidy's continued pleas for water snapped him back to reality, and he helped her drink.
As soon as the water touched her lips, Cassidy drank eagerly, finishing the entire glass in one go.
Owen held Cassidy, his gaze drifting to her lips.
Her lips were so soft and inviting that Owen couldn't control himself. He cupped her chin and kissed her.
Cassidy's lips were just as sweet and soft as he had imagined. Owen deepened the kiss, tracing her lips with his tongue.
Cassidy, struggling to breathe, instinctively pushed Owen away.
But Owen ignored her resistance, holding the back of her head and deepening the kiss even more, trying to part her lips with his tongue.
Cassidy felt her breath becoming more labored and, in her discomfort, opened her eyes to see Owen's face.
Suddenly more alert, she pushed Owen away forcefully.
"Owen, what are you doing?" she demanded angrily, wiping her lips.
She knew Owen liked her, but she had never considered having any romantic relationship with him.
To her, Owen was always like a little brother, and she would never allow herself to see him any other way.
Owen, pushed away, looked confused. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but he couldn't control himself.
He had tasted what he had long desired and wanted more.
"Cassidy, I just like you so much. You'll say yes, won't you?"
"I really like you, so much. You'll say yes, you have to."
He repeated the words softly, leaning in to kiss her again.
Cassidy struggled to break free from Owen's hold.
"Owen, let go of me! Let go now!" She shouted at him, but Owen seemed not to hear, pinning her down on the bed.
His cold lips kissed her skin, and he easily removed her clothes, grasping her breast.
It was Owen's first time touching a woman's chest, and it felt so soft, like freshly baked bread, with a faint fragrance.
He couldn't wait to get closer, to kiss, to taste.
Cassidy, seeing this side of Owen for the first time, felt both scared and angry.
When Owen squeezed her breast, Cassidy's expression changed. She angrily pushed Owen away and slapped him hard.
The slap was loud, and Cassidy's hand stung from the impact.
The slap brought Owen to a halt, and he looked up at Cassidy.
"Owen, are you crazy?" Cassidy retreated, grabbing a blanket to cover herself.
"Cassidy," Owen called her name softly, his voice filled with pain. "Why are you rejecting me? You like me too, don't you?"
If she didn't like him, why did she respond to his kiss?
Like?
Cassidy's mind was reeling.
She had just been too shocked to react.
"Owen, I don't like you."
Cassidy had always treated Owen like a brother and didn't want to hurt him.
But she felt it was necessary to make things clear.
"I'm grateful you helped me escape from the Cooper family, but Owen, I've always seen you as a younger brother. I don't have any romantic feelings for you!"
"How can that be?" Owen was deeply hurt, not expecting Cassidy's rejection to be so absolute.
"Cassidy, believe me, I'll be good to you. I'll love you and give you everything you want."
"I really like you."
Cassidy didn't know when Owen had started having feelings for her, but she knew she couldn't accept a romantic relationship with him.
"Owen, listen to me. Your feelings for me aren't real love."
"They are love!" Owen interrupted Cassidy. "I know my feelings. I love you!"
"Cassidy, you're so wonderful. No one could not love you." Owen looked at Cassidy with earnest eyes, not hiding his feelings.
But Cassidy only felt a headache coming on. "Owen, you think you love me because you haven't met many other girls. There are many wonderful girls out there. You can have a happy relationship with one of them and find someone you truly love to spend your life with."
Owen wasn't convinced by Cassidy's words. Instead, he felt even more determined in his feelings for her. "Cassidy, you're the best in my eyes."
Cassidy almost lost her temper but ended up sighing. "Owen, do you really want to be with someone who almost became your sister-in-law?"
Owen froze.