Chapter 30
Chapter 30
The crowd erupted in soft cheers; after all, Isabella rarely played games like this with them.
Given this rare opportunity, they were naturally eager to give Isabella a hard time.
"Isabella, hurry up! Truth or dare?"
The group playing the game was known for their wild antics, and Isabella was certainly not brave enough to choose dare in front of them.
Otherwise, who knows, they might actually make her kiss Christopher.
"Truth," she said.
The group exchanged glances, and the most mischievous colleague looked at Isabella and asked, "Isabella, how far have you and Benjamin gotten?"
Her question was subtle, but it was essentially asking if they had slept together.
Everyone present, except for Ryan and Chloe who vaguely knew about the history between Christopher and Isabella, was unaware of the situation.
Curious eyes naturally fell on Isabella.
Christopher's gaze also drifted lightly towards Isabella, carrying a chill.
Isabella's grip on her dress tightened as she took a deep breath, trying to appear calm. "Benjamin and I haven't started anything yet."
"What?"
The crowd was shocked; they thought the two were already together.
"So, what stage are you two at?" Someone persisted, thinking for a moment before asking, "Isabella, is he your first love?"
Technically, Isabella didn't have to answer this question since the previous one had already been asked.
But she felt Christopher's gaze lingering on her.
Isabella's grip on her dress tightened again, and she forced a smile, nodding.
The surrounding crowd erupted in a commotion.
However, Christopher's expression turned cold, his jawline tightened.
His icy eyes locked onto Isabella, his Adam's apple moving twice without making a sound, only the sudden drop in temperature around him revealing his rising anger.
Isabella ignored his reaction, the polite smile on her face fading, leaving only a subtle hint of detachment.
She had no interest in continuing the game, standing up and walking steadily towards the nearby barbecue grill, her dress brushing lightly against the ground, isolating herself from the suppressed atmosphere behind her.
Isabella spent the afternoon barbecuing and cutting fruit with her colleagues, keeping herself busy.
Thus, she avoided Christopher.
In the evening, after dinner, everyone returned to the hotel to get ready for the hot springs.
Isabella and Chloe were sharing a room, but Chloe came back feeling unwell. Isabella was waiting outside for her.
After a while, Chloe emerged with a look of distress. "Isabella, I don't think I can go to the hot springs. My period just started."
Isabella knew Chloe suffered particularly during her period. Seeing her pale face, Isabella helped her to the bed. "I'll stay and take care of you."
"No, don't worry about it. I'll be fine after taking some painkillers," Chloe said, feeling regretful for not timing her period better and not wanting Isabella to miss out on the rare company outing.
"Isabella, go have fun. Don't worry about me."
Isabella looked at Chloe with concern, but Chloe shook her head.
Eventually, Isabella waited until Chloe had taken her medication and lay down before leaving the room.
She was late and couldn't find her colleagues, so she decided to follow the signs in the hot spring hotel and found a secluded hot spring to relax in.
Isabella was exhausted from the day, and the hot spring's temperature was perfect. After soaking for a few minutes, she closed her eyes, letting the warmth soothe her.
Then she heard someone entering the water.
Since the hot springs were open to all guests, it wasn't unusual to have company.
But this person slowly approached Isabella, and suddenly, he tightly embraced her.
The familiar scent of cedarwood filled her senses, and Isabella's eyelashes fluttered. The warm water rippled with the man's movements, pressing her body against a solid, heated frame.
Her pores tightened instantly, and her impending scream was gently muffled by a hand over her lips.
"Shh, it's me," Christopher's deep voice mixed with the steam, whispering in her ear with a deliberately suppressed hoarseness.
Christopher's dark eyes fell on Isabella's profile, a sly curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
He held Isabella's chin with one hand and kissed her cheek. "Did I scare you?"
The dominant male pheromones invaded her senses, causing Isabella's spine to stiffen.
She reached out to push Christopher, but the warm water made her efforts weak.
Frustrated, she said, "Christopher, stop this."
"What?" Christopher laughed softly, his thumb harshly rubbing against Isabella's delicate skin.
When he looked up again, the warmth in his eyes had vanished, replaced by anger threatening to break free.
"Isabella, is he really your first love?" His voice was cold, each word dripping with fury. "Were the nights we spent together fake? Or do I need to remind you by having you beneath me right now?"
Isabella's heart sank; these were memories she least wanted to revisit.
After all, she was merely a fleeting amusement for Christopher.
In reality, she was probably just a bedmate, hardly qualifying as a first love.
Isabella retreated half a step under his pressure, meeting his fiery gaze with a detached tone. "I was just stating the facts, Mr. Harrison. There's no need for this."
"Facts?" Christopher scoffed, lunging forward to grab her wrist with a force that nearly crushed her bones. "Let me help you remember."
Christopher pulled Isabella close and kissed her, his practiced tongue parting her lips, intertwining with hers, his hands roaming over her soft skin.
Isabella's breathing became rapid, her face flushed.
She tried to push Christopher away, but he easily pinned her hands, forcing her to wrap her arms around his waist.
Having soaked in the hot spring for a while, Isabella felt dizzy after the intense kiss and eventually fainted in Christopher's arms.
Christopher wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her out of the water.
Looking down at Isabella, now lying obediently in his arms, he finally saw her without the fierce resistance.
"If only you could always be this compliant," he murmured, kissing her forehead softly.