Chapter 74

Chapter 74

James's POV

"How do you want me to rub your belly?" I asked again, watching her stunned expression. She clearly hadn't expected me to actually help her with it.

Before Ella could react, my hand was already covering her lower abdomen, though separated by a layer of clothing.

Ella's face instantly showed shock.

I looked at what she was wearing and couldn't help saying, "Ella, you're wearing so much, how am I supposed to rub it?"

Her breathing stopped for a moment.

I knew she had deliberately put on thick clothes to guard against me.

With such thick fabric in the way, I really couldn't do much.

I looked up at her and commanded, "Lift your clothes yourself."

After a long while, she slowly pulled up the hem of her shirt.

Then my palm pressed against her lower abdomen, and I could feel the warmth of her skin.

I gently rubbed her belly and asked, "Like this?"

At that moment, I saw her face turn red.

Ella said softly, "You can... press a bit harder."

Hearing this, I applied a bit more pressure and asked again, "Like this?"

She seemed to be enduring the pain, and after a moment of silence, she said, "Can you move a little to the left?"

I did as she asked and moved my hand to the left.

She blushed again and said quietly, "A bit... lower."

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Ella, you're really not shy about it, so many requests."

Her face showed helplessness and grievance, but she was the one who said how to rub it to ease the pain.

I let out a breath and still moved my palm down a bit, rubbing gently in circles, asking, "Does it feel any better?"

She quickly nodded.

It seemed to have some effect. Before I knew it, she had fallen asleep.

I pulled down her shirt hem to cover her belly, then pulled the blanket over her and turned off the wall lamp.

I picked up my phone to check the time—it was already past 4 AM.

I got up and went to the balcony, closed the door, and sent Kai a message telling him to bring the medicine in the morning.

I leaned against the balcony railing, lost in thought until dawn.

Ella had been tortured by menstrual cramps last night and slept straight through until noon the next day.

When she woke up, I had already changed clothes and was sitting on the living room sofa.

"You're awake?" I glanced at her.

She nodded, "Yes."

From the corner of her eye, she noticed the large bag of painkillers next to me.

I asked, "Does your stomach still hurt?"

She quickly shook her head, saying it didn't hurt anymore.

Seeing her condition was much better than last night, I knew she wasn't lying.

I said, "Go wash up first, then I'll take you to eat."

Ella took her clothes and headed to the bathroom.

After she finished washing up and came out in fresh clothes, I saw her with her hair down, searching around the bedside for a while, then rummaging through her suitcase, looking for something.

I got up and walked over, asking, "What are you looking for?"

She blurted out, "My hair tie seems to be missing."

As she spoke, her eyes kept searching the floor.

I raised my hand and opened my palm—the hair tie was right there.

She stared at the hair tie, puzzled, "How did it end up with you?"

I sighed helplessly, "Ella, you're so scatterbrained, are you going to lose yourself next time?"

She took the hair tie and messily tied up her hair. I walked to the door where Kai was already standing.

Just as I was about to leave, my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen—it was Daniel calling.

I looked at Kai and said, "You take Ella to eat first."

I sat back down on the sofa and answered the call.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang, and a clear female voice came from outside, "Room service."

I got up and walked to the door, opened it, and a hotel staff member with cleaning supplies walked in.

I didn't even look at the staff member, just held my phone and went back to sit on the sofa, continuing the call.

"The place you suggested, I don't think it's suitable for discussing business."

The places Daniel had suggested before were either horse racing clubs or private clubs—I wasn't satisfied with any of them.

"Then where do you want to go?" Daniel asked.

Holding my phone, I thought for a moment and asked, "What's the most fun place in Esmere City?"

Daniel paused, probably thinking that the places he just mentioned were exactly where men like to go.

I continued, "Is there any place girls like to go?"

Daniel was silent for a moment, probably not expecting me to ask this.

Finally, we settled on a location for the business discussion.

"I'll be there in an hour." With that, I hung up.

As soon as I looked up, I felt the light in front of me being blocked.

A woman in a hotel uniform was standing in front of me. Only then did I see clearly—it was Emily, the staff member who had brought Ella sanitary pads last night.

Emily spoke with a radiant smile, her voice dripping with honey, "Mr. Smith."

I put my phone aside and glanced at the door. I hadn't closed it after opening it earlier, but now the door was somehow closed.

Emily stood there, twisting her slender waist.

When she came to deliver things last night, she had seen Ella in the room, sitting on the wrinkled bed with messy hair. Combined with the fact that she bought sanitary pads for herself, she had already guessed what had happened in the room.

She probably thought I needed some other "sexual services" right now, so she waited outside until Ella left, then came in pretending to do room service, wanting something to happen between us.

Emily showed no hesitation at all, directly kneeling in front of me, her hand reaching for my belt.

I immediately moved aside, then, without mercy, kicked her hard.

Emily went flying like a ragdoll, getting kicked several feet across.

I only have the appearance of an elegant gentleman on the surface.

For a long time, I've been fighting my way through the mafia world, my hands long stained with blood.

The heart in my chest has long become ruthless.

If I hadn't met Ella, I probably would never have believed until death that my right hand, which has been stained with killing for years and is skilled at holding guns, would also gently rub her belly when she has menstrual cramps.

Emily lay on the ground, grimacing in pain.

I got up, walked over to her in a few steps, extended my foot, and mercilessly stomped hard on her hand.

The sound of bones breaking echoed clearly in the room.

It was this shameless, dirty hand that had just reached over trying to touch my belt.

You should know, even my Ella hasn't touched my belt yet.

Emily let out a painful scream. She clutched the hand whose bones I had crushed, constantly begging for mercy, "Please, let me go."

I looked down at Emily from above, coldly warning her, "Don't think all men are as pathetic as you imagine, ready for you to seduce at will."

As soon as I finished speaking, I lifted my foot in disgust.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief, broke free from under my foot, and stumbled toward the door.

I stood there, watching her disappear, filled with disgust.

In my heart, Ella is one of a kind. Anyone who tries to destroy this purity will face my severe punishment.

I absolutely will not allow anyone, in any way, to defile the special love between Ella and me—not even the slightest offense is acceptable.