Chapter66 You've Overstepped
"Your voice is so hoarse, stop thinking so much." Clifton looked at her slightly swollen lips, his Adam's apple rolling. "Wait here. I'll get you some water."
With that, instead of pulling back the blanket, he simply swung his long legs and got out of bed.
The movement was smooth and fluid, without any hesitation.
Miranda watched his actions, her brain freezing for a second.
Immediately after, as if realizing something, her pupils contracted violently. She was so shocked she didn't even notice the blanket in her hands slipping.
"Your legs! Your legs are healed?"
Last night she thought she was having hallucinations.
She never expected that his legs could actually stand!
Clifton walked to the table and poured a glass of water. Unhurriedly, he turned around. Seeing her so shocked that she didn't even notice the blanket falling from her chest, a teasing smile rippled through his deep dark eyes.
He raised an eyebrow and spoke slowly. "Looking like that, are you not satisfied with last night and want me to do it for real?"
One sentence instantly pulled Miranda's thoughts back to reality.
She abruptly lowered her head, only then realizing she was completely naked. The blanket had long since slipped to her waist, leaving her chest fully exposed.
"Ah!"
Miranda gasped, her cheeks burning hot with a "whoosh." She immediately fumbled to pull the blanket over, wrapping herself tightly from head to toe, leaving only a pair of embarrassed and annoyed eyes showing.
When she woke up and found herself without a stitch of clothing, she had instinctively assumed she'd had relations with the man.
Earlier, she'd been so shocked by his ability to stand that she didn't even react when the blanket fell.
She really didn't do it on purpose.
The smile in Clifton's eyes deepened. He carried the glass of water to the bedside and sat down, bringing the rim to her lips.
Warm, clear water slid down her throat. Miranda drank the entire glass in one go, finally feeling the burning sensation ease somewhat.
But she still hadn't forgotten the huge matter of Clifton's legs being healed.
She just didn't dare ask again.
People who knew too many secrets usually didn't end well. She knew her position in this marriage very clearly.
Clifton seemed to see through her thoughts. He placed the empty glass on the nightstand and spoke calmly. "Remember to keep it secret that my legs aren't injured."
Miranda hadn't expected him to just say it so openly. She was completely stunned and instinctively nodded.
Seeing the unconcealed confusion and slight fear on the woman's face, Clifton proactively explained to prevent her from speculating wildly. "There's a traitor in the family. Grandpa is old. I have to flush out the rats hiding in the shadows."
So that's it.
After hearing this, Miranda instantly understood.
He was using himself as bait to draw out the snake.
She nodded heavily, her tone extremely firm. "I understand. I'll definitely keep it secret!"
After thinking, she couldn't help asking softly. "Does Grandpa know?"
Clifton looked at her deeply.
"In the Prescott family, aside from the loyal butler who's been with me for over ten years," he paused, saying word by word, "you're the only one who knows my secret."
This sentence fell like a stone heavily into Miranda's heart, creating ripple after ripple.
An unprecedented sense of being entrusted with great responsibility instantly enveloped her.
More than ten minutes later, Miranda changed her clothes and followed Clifton downstairs.
Almost as soon as they reached the first floor, she saw the Prescott family doctor already waiting on the living room sofa with his medical kit.
After drawing blood and examining her, the doctor's expression turned grave as he prescribed a full week's worth of medicine, instructing. "Ma'am, the drug you were given has a very complex composition with extremely strong aftereffects. You must take this medicine on time to completely eliminate the drug's effects. Otherwise, it will cause great damage to your body."
Miranda's heart sank again.
After the doctor left, Clifton looked at her, his voice returning to its usual coolness. "Go to the dining room to eat first. I still have some things to discuss with the butler."
"Okay."
Miranda nodded obediently and turned toward the dining room.
Only after her figure completely disappeared from the living room did the warmth on Clifton's face fade entirely, replaced by ice-cold severity.
He looked at the butler beside him, his voice laced with ice. "How's the investigation into yesterday's incident?"
The butler immediately bowed, reporting respectfully. "Sir, we've gotten to the bottom of it. The drug was prepared by Ariana herself. She originally intended to use it on Harrison, planning to drug herself to create a fait accompli. Your wife accidentally drank the wrong glass of juice."
"As for those four men," the butler continued, "they snuck in yesterday hoping to drink some alcohol, entering through the side door of the back garden. After getting drunk, they saw your wife alone and had improper thoughts, verbally harassing her."
"Rest assured, sir. Those men have all been dealt with. They won't be able to speak again."
After listening, Clifton said nothing, his thin lips pressed into a cold, hard line.
A coincidence?
He didn't believe it.
"Continue investigating deeper." Clifton's voice was devoid of any warmth. "Also, that kind of thing could be easily brought into a Prescott banquet. Find out exactly where the security lapse occurred."
"Yes." The butler acknowledged respectfully.
Thinking of the doctor who had just left, the butler hesitated, but couldn't help speaking. "Sir, actually you would be the best antidote for your wife. Why still call a doctor to prescribe those harmful medicines?"
Hearing this, Clifton's mind instantly flashed to last night, to Miranda's vacant, unfocused eyes.
She couldn't recognize him.
She was like a frightened little animal, struggling desperately in his arms, incoherently shouting "get away" and "don't touch me."
At that moment, even if he had actually taken her, she couldn't have resisted. After sobering up, she probably would have even thanked him for relieving the drug's effects.
But meeting those unfocused eyes, Clifton realized for the first time that he simply didn't want to do such a thing when she couldn't recognize him.
His thoughts returned. Clifton slowly raised his eyes, his cold gaze falling on the butler.
"You've overstepped."
Four simple words, yet carrying tremendous weight, instantly causing a layer of cold sweat to break out on the butler's back.
He immediately trembled, quickly bowing his head deeply, his voice filled with alarm. "I'm sorry, sir! I spoke out of turn. I'll go continue investigating yesterday's incident right away!"
After speaking, he waited for Clifton to nod, then didn't dare stay another second and quickly left.