"I remember you mentioning you have a girlfriend you've been with for years. The one I saw today must be her. Don't worry, she's fine. My driver did brake suddenly."
Steven let out a breath. "Yeah, she's my girlfriend. Thanks for letting me know, Gerald. Let's grab a meal another day."
Gerald rubbed his nose. "We haven't hung out in ages. Sure, let's catch up soon."
After hanging up, Steven called Rex. "I can't make it tonight."
Rex sounded surprised. "What's up? Something came up? You promised."
"Yeah, something urgent came up," Steven replied. "I'll buy you a drink another time."
"Alright," Rex said. "Deal."
Steven drove straight to Josephine's place. When he got downstairs, he called Laura, but Josephine answered.
"Josephine? Where's Laura?"
"She's in the shower. Can you call back later?"
"Tell her to come downstairs after her shower. I'm downstairs."
"Why are you here?" Josephine asked, confused. "Didn't she say she was staying over?"
"I need to talk to her."
"Do you want to come up?"
"No, I'll wait in the car. Just tell her to come down after her shower. And make sure she dries her hair."
"Okay."
When Laura came out, she was still drying her hair. She looked at Josephine and said, "Next time, I'll bring more pajamas."
Josephine said, "Hurry up and dry your hair, then go downstairs."
"What's going on?"
"Steven's here, downstairs."
"Is he crazy?"
"He said he needs to talk."
"What could he possibly want to talk about?" Laura said, picking up her phone. "I'll ask him."
"Seriously, he's already here. Just go down and see him. Why ask?"
"I already said I was staying here. Why did he come?" Laura said as she dialed. "Why are you here again?"
"I need to talk to you," Steven said. "Are you done showering? Make sure to dry your hair before coming down."
Laura said, "I don't feel like moving, and I don't want to dry my hair. You should go back. I'll be back tomorrow."
"It's important," Steven said gently. "Please, dry your hair. I'll wait for you. It's really important."
"What's so urgent?"
Steven held back his frustration. "Do you want me to come up and drag you down?"
Laura snorted, "You wouldn't dare!"
"Wouldn't dare?" Steven's voice turned cold. "Then don't bother coming down."
"Fine..."
Before Laura could finish, Steven said, "Just tell me about the car accident tonight."
Laura was stunned.
Steven continued, "Tell me, and you don't have to come down."
"How did you know?" Laura glanced at Josephine. "Did you tell him?"
Josephine looked confused. "What?"
Laura realized it couldn't have been Josephine. She shook her head. "Nothing."
She then said to Steven, "I'll come down now."
Laura knew Steven was angry. If she didn't go down, he'd be hard to calm.
Steven said coldly, "Dry your hair!"
Laura laughed. "Got it, babe. See you in a bit!"
"Flattery won't work!" Steven hung up, his heart softening. But thinking about Laura's car accident and her attempt to hide it from him made him angry.
Upstairs, Josephine asked, "What's going on?"
"Steven found out about the car accident," Laura said, drying her hair. "Strange, who told him?"
Josephine was puzzled. "It couldn't be. I didn't tell anyone."
"Yeah," Laura said. "Did he have someone follow me? No, if he did, he would've known right away."
"Stop overthinking. Just dry your hair and go down. Talk to him properly, okay?"
"Even though it was a car accident, nothing serious happened," Laura sighed. "I guess I'll go back with him."
After waiting for more than ten minutes, Laura dutifully dried her hair and came down. If she hadn't, Steven would be even angrier. Laura knew this wasn't the time to provoke him.
When she came down, Steven was leaning against his car.
Laura stopped a short distance away. Looking at him like this, she thought she had made a good choice with Steven. Tall, handsome, and a bit of a domineering CEO, yet completely devoted to her.
"Aren't you coming over?" Steven looked at her, his voice a bit cold.
Laura ran over and jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist.
Steven caught her and lifted her up. "Have you thought about what to say?"
Laura said, "How did you find out?"
Steven kept a stern face. "How I found out is none of your business. Just tell me!"
Laura had no choice but to kiss him and explain what happened. "It was really nothing, just a sudden brake and a light bump with another car."
"A light bump? Just a sudden brake?" Steven raised his hand and gave her a light slap. "Do you realize if it had been more serious, you could've been hurt, or even worse..."
"I know!" Laura quickly hugged him. "I'll be more careful in the future!"
Steven remained furious. "You had a crash and kept it from me! You got into an accident and still drove! Your bravery knows no bounds!"
"We're fine, and it was indeed the car in front that suddenly braked. I've been driving for so many years; I know to be careful. I'm sorry, it won't happen again."
"Laura Collins!" Steven rarely called her like that. Usually, it meant he was really angry.
Laura snapped, "I've said sorry and owned up to it. What else do you need?"
"You think admitting you were wrong is enough? Is that how you show remorse?"
Laura tried to get down from him. "Let's talk in the car, or we'll disturb the neighbors."
Steven carried her to the back seat.
"It was my bad. I shouldn't have sped, and I shouldn't have kept it from you. Is that okay?"
Seeing her more serious attitude, Steven wasn't as angry.
Laura asked again, "How did you find out?"
Steven said, "It was a coincidence. The owner of the car you rear-ended is someone I know."
Laura made an "oh" sound.
Steven knocked her on the head. "Oh what? Remember this lesson! And no matter what happens in the future, call me first, got it?"
Laura, feeling guilty, obediently said, "Got it."
Steven added, "That car owner is also a friend of mine. Let's grab a meal together next time."
Laura knew Steven was being possessive again. He enjoyed introducing Laura to his friends, proudly displaying her as his girlfriend. Eventually, Laura became acquainted with almost all of his friends. Steven had no more chances to show off. Now, he probably found an old friend he hadn't seen in years.
Laura could only say, "Got it."
Steven hugged her. "You know how to be punished for your mistake, right?"
Laura glared at him. "You still want to punish me?"
"Otherwise, you won't learn."
"Then how do you want to punish me?"
Steven whispered something in her ear.
Laura immediately tried to get up.
Steven held her waist. "Let's start."
Then, the luxury car swayed for a long time in the deep night.