After dinner, Nelissa spent the night in the same guest room as before. As usual, she locked the door before getting into the shower.
Though Nelissa knew Edward had the keys to every room in the house, she was worried that he would barge in on her naked, and the locked door would at least buy her some time to put her clothes on.
Edward was a two-faced man. He was a devoted, chivalrous gentleman on one side and a downright, perverted jerk on the other.
Nelissa hurriedly scrubbed her body down in the shower; she didn't dare take her time like before. She put on the bathrobe and exited the shower with her hair dripping wet.
To her dismay, Edward was lying in her bed in a pair of black pajamas. He held the necklace chain he gave Nelissa in his fingers and rolled it back and forth.
He looked like he was deep in thought.
Nelissa stiffened her chest and held her breath.
She assumed that Edward would just enter, leave a fresh change of clothes for her and leave, just like last time.
"Didn't I tell you to keep this on you at all times? Why did you take it off?" Edward said without even turning to look at her and his eyes fixated on the ring.
"I don't really feel comfortable having it on when I'm in the shower," Nelissa replied. In hindsight, that seemed like a pretty good excuse.
She originally planned to intentionally leave it inside the room after she left as a means of returning it back to him.
She assumed that someone as prideful as Edward couldn't possibly give her the ring again for a second time.
Ah, how plans fell apart! She had to go through all that trouble just to return a ring to him.
Edward got up and ambled towards Nelissa. He reached for her chin and pulled her face closer, then said, "Women have always thrown themselves at me, but you are the only exception. You are an interesting woman indeed."
Nelissa didn't know to feel complimented or mocked by his statement.
However, Edward wasn't making it up. Judging on how handsome and powerful he was, he was easily the prince charming every other woman in Haleston City dreamed of.
Nelissa wasn't one of them; maybe that was why Edward took an interest in her?
Or maybe Edward was warning her? Maybe he was getting tired of her shenanigans?
Edward then took the ring chain and wrapped it around Nelissa's neck, securing it.
Edward was extremely tall. He was at least 6 feet 1 inches tall; he was really well-built and muscular.
He towered over Nelissa and could get a bird's eyes view of her ample bosoms.
At that moment, he knew that he was just one light-tug away from revealing Nelissa's magnificent, naked body.
"You are such a sensitive woman. You must be really inexperienced on the bed, huh?" Edward then bent down and murmured into her ears.
His warm breath felt like ants crawling on her skin and sending goosebumps to every crevice on her body.
Nelissa suddenly felt it; she prayed to every deity she knew for strength to endure it but it was all for naught.
She felt weak at her knees and started trembling upon the penetrative gaze of Edward. His fingers brushed against her skin and they left a trail of burning sensation that couldn't be extinguished.
She had never felt that way before; granted she was inexperienced in sensual relationships as well.
Nelissa tucked her face away and saw a set of clothes on the bed. She then tried to change the subject.
"Did you bring those clothes for me?"
Edward caught on to what she was doing.
"That's not the point. Right now, I want a goodnight kiss from you. Will you fulfil my wishes?"
Edward rubbed her cheeks with the back of his palm. He was teasing and flirting with her.
Nelissa was presented with a decision; Edward had loaned her with three hundred thousand dollars, secured her a huge project and even improved the relations she had with Marcel and her clients.
Maybe a kiss wasn't too much to ask for?
Nelissa tiptoed and kissed Edward on the edge of his lips, and whispered, "Good night."
Edward growled softly in return, "Good night."
The next morning at eight, Eliza was already at the villa.
Nelissa washed up and changed; she realized that Edward had a specific taste in women's outfits.
He particularly liked outfits with a more feminine touch of spring.
The dress that he got for Nelissa was very bubbly and joyous. It was also from the same brand that she used to wear.
She put it on and felt that it would be really unfitting for someone wearing like that to be taking the bus.
Nelissa then went downstairs and saw that Eliza was making breakfast. Eliza clearly wasn't expecting a female guest in the villa.
She paused for a while, smiled and asked, "Good morning miss. What would you like to have for breakfast?"
"I'll have anything Edward is having." Nelissa smiled politely in return.
She wasn't picky unlike that rich, snobby Edward.
When breakfast was almost done, Nelissa thought of waking Edward up; but wait, that went really badly before!
She stopped in her tracks and decided that she was going to set the table ready for breakfast instead.
Edward got up early that morning. He knew that Nelissa complained about his grouchy morning habits.
He walked down the stairs and saw Nelissa setting up the table. She was very meticulous and particular, as if she was the mistress of the villa.
Neilssa felt an uncomfortable gaze down her neck; she turned around and saw Edward!
Well anyway, Edward joined the table and they had a pleasant breakfast together. An hour later, Edward sent Nelissa home.
It was about ten in the morning when she reached her condominium. Jolene and the twins had already left hours ago.
She stared at the cheque Edward gave her and rang Jolene up. She wanted to take the day off.
At St. Richard Health Center, Nelissa arrived at Mary's ward. Zayden was there too.
Zayden was in a fine suit. He stood by Mary's bedside with his arms crossed. He was expecting Nelissa.
"I know that you would show up today. Do you have the money?" Zayden immediately asked.
Nelissa replied, "From today onwards, I will take care of her. I hope that both you and Susan will leave us alone. You are just outsiders anyway."
"Outsiders?" Zayden scoffed.
At that time, the nurses were going to help Mary with some physiotherapy. They entered the ward and noticed the commotion.
"Mr. Lowe, do we still need to massage the patient today?" they asked cautiously.
"Yes!" Zayden remarked and brushed past Nelissa as he headed for the door.
"You, outside now," he said sternly to Nelissa.
The nurses were by Mary's side and Nelissa knew that she was in good hands. She left the ward with Zayden and went up to the top floor in the elevator.
They were alone on the rooftop. The warm, inviting sun couldn't mask the cold, merciless glare from Zayden.
"Where did you get the money from? Was it from Edward? I knew it! You were the woman that left with Edward last night!" Zayden yelled out.
"Five hundred thousand for a night?! I have to say you really know how to oversell yourself," Zayden continued.
Nelissa's eyebrow twitched and she replied with a slight hint of suppressed rage, "Mr. Lowe, please mind your words. You don't have a say to how I do things."
Zayden was appalled. "Nelissa, did you think it was worth it to turn to Edward just to get back at me? I can give you whatever he gave too!"
Zayden was extremely frustrated.
"I'm sure that you are clear of the fact that once you apologize and come back to me, I will love you just like I did before," he added.
Love her? Did forcing her to sign a bunch of contracts and documents count towards loving her?!
Nelissa was unfazed. She glared at Zayden with fury. "You were the one that betrayed me, you were the one that forced me into this, you don't deserve to say that you love me!"
Nelissa yelled uncontrollably, "I fell in love with you before because I thought that you were somewhat capable! But now, you don't even measure up to Edward Hales one bit!"
Zayden tucked his hands into his pockets. He took a deep breath, widened his eyes and remarked, "Do you really think that you can seek eternal refuge in Edward?"
Nelissa was puzzled. Zayden then added, "Let me tell you, Edward and Sean are best friends. They have been close friends for as long as I can remember!"
Nelissa's jaw dropped in disbelief!
Zayden continued hurling his assaults, "Edward will marry Sean's sister sooner or later, and if Edward finds out that you were the girl that Sean locked up, how would he react to that?"
"Where is Sean now?" Nelissa quickly asked. She didn't expect that Edward, Sophie and Sean had such a peculiar relationship with each other.
The Quest family were a very tolerant bunch in the past. Even though Nelissa was also part of the social elite in the city, Mary never allowed her to get tainted by the dirty politics and scheming of the circle.
Hence, she never knew that Sean was such a scary and influential figure in Haleston City. Of course, she didn't know about Edward and Sean's friendship too.
Zayden shook his head and answered, "He is abroad now. That's why you have been so lucky now. But, it's just a matter of time before he finds you if you keep lurking around Edward."
Nelissa frowned. Back then, she only escaped captivity because Zayden infiltrated the Bailey family and rescued her.
After that, she was sent overseas for protection and returned only a month later.
That was also the reason why Mary adopted Susan as Nelissa's doppelganger. That was the only thing they could do against the overwhelming might of the Bailey family!
"Do you think he still remembers me?" Nelissa was terrified of Sean.
"Did you know that after you left the country, Edward spent the entire month turning the city upside down to look for you?" Zayden then added, "Sean isn't going to let you off the hook, so won't Edward!"