Chapter 30
Lisbeth had no strength to break free, but she knew if she went with Bentley, she was finished. The lewd intention in his eyes was unmistakable.
She tried to scream, but her throat—likely scorched by the alcohol—produced no sound.
In desperation, she grabbed Bentley's wrist and, meeting his surprised gaze, bit down hard!
"Fuck!" Bentley hissed, the sharp pain causing him to release her.
Lisbeth bit her own lip until it bled, somehow regaining a small burst of energy. She scrambled to her feet and ran.
Her vision kept darkening, making it impossible to see clearly. She only knew she couldn't stop.
She ran straight into the street where a van was speeding toward her. The driver frantically honked, but the staggering figure showed no sign of stopping.
The driver slammed on the brakes, missing her by mere inches.
Lisbeth stumbled and fell to the ground, but to onlookers—especially Bentley—it appeared she'd been hit.
His companion trembled with fear. "Bentley, let's get out of here. If she dies, we're both going to prison."
They had only wanted to have a taste of Lisbeth, not cause a fatality.
Bentley gritted his teeth and fled.
Meanwhile, Leopold and Jake were driving out from the underground parking garage. Neither spoke until Jake noticed a crowd gathering ahead.
"Looks like something happened."
"Ignore it," Leopold replied flatly.
His mind was in turmoil, plagued by the image of Lisbeth walking away. It kept replaying in his head, over and over.
He was so irritated he wanted to crack open his skull and dig the image out.
He must have lost his mind. He took out his phone to call Elora.
As their car passed the crowd, a man in the center lifted Lisbeth into his arms.
She instinctively struggled until a familiar voice reached her.
"It's me."
...Sebastian?
The name floated through Lisbeth's foggy mind. All resistance ceased as she strained to recognize the face before her.
Once confirmed it was his face, she relaxed and lost consciousness.
Sebastian carried her to his car. "To the hospital," he ordered.
Two black sedans passed each other—one heading east, one west—driving toward different fates.
---
Halfway to their destination, Lisbeth regained consciousness, clutching Sebastian's collar tightly.
"Where... are we going?" she managed.
Sebastian wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. "To the hospital. You're not well."
But Lisbeth could already feel strange waves of heat coursing through her body.
She shook her head. "No hospital..."
"Where do you want to go then?"
"Home..."
Sebastian frowned. "But your condition—"
Lisbeth's breathing was labored as she interrupted, "No hospital, please..."
Her mother was at the hospital with Dennis. If she went there, her mother would discover her state.
Her thoughts were chaotic, barely coherent. She completely forgot they could go to a different hospital, but she couldn't articulate this.
Sebastian examined her carefully. She had no visible external injuries or apparent internal trauma, but her face had an unusual flush.
Something was wrong.
She suddenly opened her eyes, though her gaze was unfocused. Her burning hands kept pulling at his shirt.
"So hot... I'm so hot..."
Sebastian's expression darkened. He instructed the driver, "Magnolia Bay."
"Yes, sir."
The car changed direction at the next intersection, taking the left fork.
Sebastian carried Lisbeth into the villa, striding quickly toward the bedroom.
He had intended to place her in the bathroom, but she was far too restless.
In the short distance to the room, she had already pulled off his tie and opened his collar, exposing his collarbone and glimpses of his chest.
He struggled to hold her. "Stay still," he said hoarsely.
But Lisbeth couldn't hear him. She only felt an overwhelming heat that made all other discomforts insignificant.
During her struggles, Sebastian's shirt came undone—or rather, was torn open. The buttons scattered across the floor.
He clenched his jaw. "Lisbeth."
"I feel terrible..."
Her burning cheek rubbed against his neck. Having just come from outside, his skin was cool—exactly what she desperately sought. But the deeper yearning inside her kept growing.
Not enough. Still not enough.
Her hand began sliding lower.
Sebastian groaned and pinned her to the bed.
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"Hot..."
Lisbeth tilted her head up, seeking his lips.
Sebastian closed his eyes, restraining himself. "Hold on. I'll call a doctor—"
As soon as he spoke, Lisbeth latched onto him like a traveler in the desert finally finding water.
Sebastian groaned again.
If he could still resist now, he wouldn't be human.
Burning desire from the woman he loved—no one could withstand this.
He took control, lowering his head to kiss her.
Outside, rain suddenly began to fall. The room darkened, leaving only the sound of their heavy breathing intertwining.
Clothes scattered haphazardly on the floor, much like their entwined fingers. They held each other tightly, intimately connected.
Lisbeth bit her lip. For a brief moment of clarity, she saw who was before her.
Sebastian, sensing her hesitation, summoned tremendous self-control and paused.
"Do you want to continue?"
Lisbeth closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
And so, everything spiraled beyond control.
Darkness fell, then light returned.
Time slipped away silently.
When Lisbeth woke, she found herself alone in the spacious bed, her entire body aching. She looked around in confusion as the wild memories gradually returned.
She sat up, covering her face in dismay. "My God... what have I done?"
That woman who had clung so desperately to Sebastian had really been her.
She was suddenly grateful to wake up alone. She couldn't imagine how awkward it would have been to open her eyes and immediately face Sebastian.
On the nightstand sat a bowl of porridge and a note.
[I have a meeting at the company. Drink the porridge. Stomach medicine is in the drawer. Remember to take it.]
There was no mention of "wait for me to return," which made Lisbeth secretly relieved.
Only then did she notice her gnawing hunger—her stomach was protesting loudly.
After those drinks and the night's physical exertion, she felt she might faint at any moment.
Thankfully, the porridge was still warm. She quickly ate it, finally feeling alive again.
Yesterday's dress was ruined, lying forlornly on the floor. As she worried about having nothing to wear, she noticed a new set of clothes at the foot of the bed—including underwear, perfectly her size.
She didn't need to ask who had prepared them.
Blushing, she got dressed and went downstairs, only to hear the front door opening.
For some reason, she instinctively turned and ran.
After a few steps, she realized how ridiculous she was being.
Why was she hiding?
It felt like the behavior of someone who was cheating.
She froze, caught between retreating and staying, until she heard voices from below.
"Mr. York, are you really not going back? Mrs. Hazel York keeps calling."
"The documents."
Noah handed them over. "Mrs. Hazel York mentioned she arranged a blind date for you with some young lady. Perhaps you should meet her?"
"Do you think that's appropriate right now?" Sebastian countered.
Noah scratched his head. "No, but avoiding her isn't a solution either. I know you're married to Ms. Whitaker now, so why not just tell Mrs. Hazel York?"
Sebastian rubbed his temples. "Dennis's surgery is the priority. Everything else can wait. You know what my mother is like."
If he mentioned the marriage now, Hazel would certainly explode. She had never supported his relationship with Lisbeth.
"Alright. If Mrs. Hazel York calls again, I'll tell her you're in meetings."
"Good."
Sebastian turned to the housekeeper. "Has Lisbeth woken up?"
"I don't think so. Mrs. York hasn't come downstairs."
Lisbeth slowly walked back to the bedroom.
Last night seemed utterly absurd.
So Sebastian had been lying from the beginning. His mother didn't like her at all and opposed any connection between them.
A blind date... Lisbeth sighed softly.
A man like Sebastian deserved someone with an unblemished background and a clean slate—someone worthy of him.
Not someone like her, with her countless complications.
She looked up and caught her reflection—a pale-faced woman with disheveled hair.
Her once-alluring eyes now lacked vitality, appearing dull and lifeless. The scar across her face made her look terrifying, hideous.
She covered her face as tears silently slid down her cheeks.