Chapter 185

Chapter 185

The scorching kiss fell like raindrops, catching her completely off guard. Even breathing became difficult. Elizabeth's resisting hands were easily caught and pinned above her head.

She desperately wanted to bite him, but he took advantage of the opening. A large hand firmly gripped her jaw, preventing her mouth from closing, making it impossible to bite down.

He plundered her breath and warmth, only reluctantly releasing her after a moment.

Looking at Elizabeth's eyes glistening with moisture, no longer distant or resistant as before, a faint, shallow smile flickered in his eyes. "See? Your body is familiar with me."

Elizabeth's gaze was hazy. She looked up at the ceiling, feeling no pleasure whatsoever—only anger. Her body always surrendered one step before her heart.

But she didn't want it to be this way.

Her gaze slowly fell on Cornelius's face. Once she stopped struggling, her body became soft and warm. The force restraining her hands above her head also loosened considerably.

She raised her upper body slightly, moving closer to his lips.

Cornelius didn't move or draw near. He simply watched her approach.

Until Elizabeth bit down hard on his lip. She quickly broke the skin, tasting blood.

Cornelius grunted in pain. One hand pressed against her shoulder, reflexively wanting to push her away. But the moment he touched her, he pulled her even tighter into his embrace.

It was a venting, tearing bite.

His lips eventually went numb. Only then did Elizabeth release him, the corner of her mouth still stained with his blood. She said coldly, "Your body is pretty honest too."

Cornelius chuckled softly, gripping her chin and studying her face carefully. Charming, alluring—every inch of her matched his heart's image of a lover.

However, that mouth was truly unforgiving.

He said in a low voice, "Why did you go see Ethan?"

Elizabeth burst out laughing. The louder she laughed, as if she'd heard the world's biggest joke.

Cornelius watched her quietly until her laughter gradually subsided before asking, "What's so funny?"

"You." Elizabeth didn't waste energy struggling. She relaxed herself, lying on the comfortable bed, looking up at that face, saying mercilessly, "I'm laughing at how hypocritical you are."

Cornelius's expression was blank.

Elizabeth didn't care if he'd get angry. "You obviously care so much that I went to see Ethan, yet in front of them you had to say you believe me. Right here..."

She tapped Cornelius's chest with her finger. "You must be furious inside."

Cornelius immediately stood up, standing by the bed, looking down at Elizabeth. He casually brushed the spot she'd touched on his chest, saying coldly, "You're far too confident."

Elizabeth sat up, lazily looking up at him. "My confidence comes from your behavior. If you didn't care, why did you kiss me just now?"

Her question was direct.

Cornelius met her gaze, then for the first time looked away awkwardly, his voice carrying a hint of mockery. "It was just a kiss. What does that prove?"

"Is that so?" Elizabeth stood up, grabbing Cornelius by the collar and rising on her tiptoes, gradually drawing closer.

She could feel the man before her stiffen, but he didn't dodge. He just stared blankly as she approached.

Both their heartbeats were rapidly accelerating.

The atmosphere around them seemed to slowly heat up, becoming thick and ambiguous.

But just as she was about to touch him, she couldn't get any closer—because Cornelius's hand pressed against Elizabeth's shoulder.

Elizabeth maintained that position, her gaze falling on his nose.

Cornelius slowly pushed her away. His fingers brushed slowly across her cheek. He bent down, but not to kiss her. Instead, he leaned close to Elizabeth's ear, saying in a low voice, "I kiss you just to see you unwilling yet unable to resist."

Elizabeth's expression turned cold. She shot back, "Right back at you."

The door was suddenly pushed open.

"Cornelius, please don't blame Beth. She must have been misunderstood..."

Angelina and Ethan stood in the doorway. Angelina's words cut off mid-sentence when she saw the two in an intimate embrace. She couldn't get out another word.

Ethan, however, chuckled lightly. "Looks like we're interrupting."

But if you looked closely, you'd see Ethan's eyes were full of mockery.

Elizabeth wanted to step back, but Cornelius hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. The two were suddenly pressed intimately together, as if all their previous confrontation didn't exist.

Elizabeth instinctively struggled, but Cornelius held her tightly.

Cornelius said coolly, "Go tell Uncle Isaac we're staying for dinner today. As for everything else, don't bring it up again. Otherwise, I'll take her to see Grandma. I'm sure Grandma would be happy to have dinner with us."

Angelina and Ethan exchanged glances.

Everyone knew this was a naked threat. Isaac did hold the power in this house, but he still couldn't compare to Hazel.

Today's setup only worked because Hazel was in the hospital, allowing Isaac to call the shots at home.

Angelina acted as if she hadn't seen their intimacy, smiling as she said, "He won't. He just said that since you've chosen to believe Elizabeth, he naturally won't say anything. After all, this is between you as husband and wife."

Cornelius walked out with Elizabeth in his arms, brushing past Ethan and Angelina.

Elizabeth tried to struggle, but Cornelius said in her ear, "In this place, I'm the only one who can protect you. If you don't want Uncle Isaac making trouble for you, you'd better stop struggling."

The truth was harsh, but accurate.

Elizabeth wasn't ungrateful. So she took a deep breath, a faint smile on her lips, and took Cornelius's arm, likewise lowering her voice. "Then I really should thank you."

"You're welcome." Cornelius actually responded.

Elizabeth was so angry she wanted to sneer. "Don't forget—the only reason I'm even here is because of you."

If he'd agreed to divorce, she would have escaped from the Habsburg family wolf den long ago!

Cornelius led her down the stairs, even reaching out to steady her, like a good husband worried she might fall. "Then I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. Divorce is impossible."

Elizabeth glared at him furiously.

Cornelius just smiled, looking completely composed. "After all, where would I find a second wife this good?"

In the living room, Isaac watched him standing at the bottom of the stairs, reaching out to fix Elizabeth's hair like a considerate husband.

Isaac's chest ached with anger. With a dark expression, he said, "It's time for dinner."

Only then did Cornelius lead Elizabeth toward the dining room. Angelina and Ethan followed behind them, watching the couple's display of affection the entire way.

Ethan turned his head away, his expression icy.

But Angelina said softly, "Looks like you failed."

Ethan said coolly, "Don't forget—this was your plan. Failure only means your plan wasn't very good."

He'd been against it from the start.

Angelina countered, "Then why did you cooperate with me?"

"Because I was bored."

After speaking, Ethan walked over and sat on Cornelius's other side. Angelina paused mid-step, only able to choose the seat across from the three of them.

The moment she sat down, Isaac looked at Cornelius and Elizabeth and spoke. "When are you two planning to file for divorce?"