Chapter 20 Don't Flatter Yourself
Grace recognized this condition.
Max had experienced similar symptoms when he was younger—it seemed to be hereditary.
The onset mechanism of this condition was dangerous.
Rapid breathing that prevented proper air exchange could lead to fainting or shock in severe cases.
Grace approached Alexander. "Alexander?"
Alexander was completely unaware of who was beside him. His heart felt as if something was blocking it tightly, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid, his entire body rigid as he curled into a ball.
He could barely breathe.
He painfully tore at his tie, ripping it apart and pulling buttons from his shirt.
Without time to think, Grace gripped his shoulders and placed both hands on his chest, performing several rounds of compressions.
Alexander furrowed his brows. In his hazy vision, he could see Grace's blurred face and hear her urgent but distant voice calling, "Alexander... Alexander!"
Alexander weakly closed his eyes as his breathing actually stopped.
Grace panicked. She cupped his jaw with one hand, lifting it, while her other hand supported the back of his neck. She leaned down and pressed her lips to his cold ones, providing him with a steady stream of oxygen.
Grace alternated between mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.
Gradually, normal color returned to Alexander's face as he slowly regained consciousness.
He opened his eyes to see Grace's delicate face inches away, her lips pressed against his—soft and warm. Instinctively, he pushed her away.
Grace fell backward onto the floor, caught off guard.
Seeing that he had awakened, her tension finally eased.
Alexander slowly sat up from the floor, steadying his breathing. His fingers touched his lips, which seemed to still retain the warmth of hers. He frowned and scrutinized her deeply.
Grace felt her scalp tingle under his stare. "Why are you glaring at me like that?"
Alexander said, "Who gave you permission to touch my lips?"
Grace was stunned, her expression torn between crying and laughing. "I saw you having an attack."
Alexander replied, "So you took advantage of my condition to harass me?"
Grace found him utterly unreasonable. "Alexander, I was giving you emergency treatment. Otherwise, you would have died in this study tonight."
Alexander said, "Are you cursing me?"
Grace scoffed. "Alexander, are you still a virgin or something? Do you understand the difference between mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and kissing?"
Alexander's expression darkened several shades.
"Then let me teach you today what mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is versus what kissing is." Grace suddenly moved closer, wrapping her arm around the back of his neck and kissing him again.
Alexander was somewhat taken aback—he didn't even close his eyes, just stared in bewilderment at the woman before him.
At close range, Grace had flawless skin without a visible pore, pale and delicate as snow, with shimmering eyes, a straight nose, and eyelashes that brushed against his face with a tickling sensation that seemed to graze his very soul.
His heart actually skipped several beats.
He had always thought he wasn't the type of man to be moved by beauty—no matter how attractive a woman was, she wouldn't necessarily stir his heart.
Yet at this moment, his heart was pounding.
After a long moment, Grace finally pulled her lips away, and she too seemed dazed and regretful.
What was she doing?
How could she do such a thing to him?
Grace's face flushed red. Looking up, she saw his eyes filled with mocking appraisal. She bit her lip and wiped roughly with the back of her hand, glaring back at him. "I was just trying to teach you the difference between mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and kissing!"
Alexander smiled mockingly. "Should I thank you for the lesson then?"
Grace was stunned for a few seconds, then the man suddenly stood and forcefully pinned her to the floor.
His long fingers traced across her shoulder, then Alexander gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
"Grace, you're tempting me to commit a crime." Alexander's intense gaze fell on her face, slowly moving downward until it reached her collarbone.
She was an extremely sensitive person—once she blushed, her entire body would flush pink, even her ears and collarbone, making her particularly alluring.
Alexander narrowed his eyes. "Do you think I'm not a normal man? Do you think I won't lose control? That I won't do anything to you?"
Grace tried to push him away, but the man's body was so heavy that no matter how hard she pushed, he remained immovable. "What are you trying to do?"
Alexander leaned down, his devastatingly handsome face drawing closer.
Only a cramped distance remained between their two faces.
She could even feel that the limited air she could breathe contained only his warm breath.
Only then did Grace notice that the man's lips were sharply defined yet sculpted like a blade. They said men with such thin lips were utterly cold-hearted, but they were impossibly sexy.
He possessed an intoxicating masculine aura that enveloped her completely.
Any woman would find it difficult not to be moved by such a man.
Grace felt her heartbeat accelerating, nervously clenching her fists.
But Alexander laughed. "What are you flattering yourself about? Do you think I'd be interested in a woman who's been touched by other men?"
Grace froze instantly.
Alexander continued, "I'm a germaphobe. I have no interest in you. Don't think I'm the type of man who can't control his desires, so don't play these hard-to-get games with me."
With that, he released her.
Grace sat up from the floor with a pale face, the man's harsh words still echoing in her ears.
A woman who's been touched by other men.
What did he take her for?
So he truly believed she was the kind of woman who would have affairs with other men even after marriage.
Alexander didn't doubt at all that Max was his son—not even the slightest suspicion.
Grace knew that his lack of suspicion was good for her, advantageous even, but her heart felt uncomfortable.
She didn't want to be seen so cheaply by him, yet she couldn't actually tell him Max's true parentage.
He seemed to be a particularly stone-hearted man—there was no guarantee he would accept her just for Max's sake.
Grace said nothing and left the study.
Alexander rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat of a headache.
He knew that what she had done was mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He understood it was one of the emergency treatments for hyperventilation syndrome, but he wasn't accustomed to such intimacy with women and instinctively resisted it.
How did she know the emergency treatment for hyperventilation syndrome?
Alexander frowned suspiciously.
In the bedroom.
Alexander showered, changed into pajamas, and lay down on the bed.
He put on an oxygen mask and breathed slowly from the pure oxygen supply. Outside the window, dawn was already breaking.
Alexander sent Jeremy a text: [Cancel tomorrow's morning meeting.]
...
Grace spent a week recovering at Hayes Manor.
It was obvious that Liam was very happy—he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the time spent with her.
Max, however, was single-mindedly eager to go home.
After a week, her injuries had initially healed.
When Alexander returned from the company, a servant reported, "Mr. Hayes, Ms. Foster wants to leave."
Alexander said, "Arrange a car to take her home."
The servant's expression looked troubled, as if wanting to say something but hesitating.
Alexander asked, "What is it?"
The servant said carefully, "Ms. Foster wants to leave, and Mr. Liam Hayes is very unhappy."