Chapter 197

Chapter 197

Returning home just as night was falling, the moment they got out of the car they smelled the aroma of food filling the courtyard. Xanthe, hearing the car engine, emerged from inside and warmly greeted them upon seeing their return.

"Perfect timing! I just finished making dinner. I was about to call and ask when you'd be home."

Eugenie stepped forward and hugged Xanthe. "I should have come back earlier to help. You worked so hard making all these dishes!"

Xanthe laughed cheerfully, not minding at all. "What are you saying? You're my own granddaughter. I'm delighted to cook for you."

The group went inside happily for dinner, then chatted in the courtyard for a while. Eugenie shooed Nicholas off to shower, then took her phone, turned on the flashlight, and went to the car. Following the information she'd found online, she gave the car a detailed inspection.

She found no problems. She'd checked all the details that could potentially affect the car's operation. Though her methods were somewhat crude, the results were good.

As long as this car stayed under her watchful eye, nothing should go wrong.

Eugenie put away her phone with relief and went upstairs. Chase and Xanthe had already returned to their room. The house was quiet.

As she walked back to her room, a handsome man fresh from the bath appeared before her—wrapped in a bath towel, upper body bare.

Nicholas only paused upon seeing her, then greeted her quite casually. "Good evening!"

The water on his body wasn't dried, flowing down along his muscles and finally disappearing into the towel. His abs were well-defined, rising and falling slightly with his breathing. Eugenie couldn't help stealing a few extra glances before quickly turning away.

"Why aren't you wearing clothes?" Recalling what she'd just seen, she accused him without much conviction.

Nicholas caught sight of her reddened ears and curved his lips slightly, taking a step forward to lean near her ear. "Satisfied with your future husband's physique?"

His warm breath brushed against her skin. She felt as if she'd been set on fire, unsure where to put her hands or feet.

Thinking of the abs and pecs she'd just seen, she could only brainwash herself—he was just using his good looks to commit crimes. She absolutely couldn't fall for it.

"It's cool at night. Hurry back and put your clothes on." Eugenie urged him back to his room.

Nicholas extended his damp arm forward, placing it before her. "Can't wear them. I haven't dried off yet."

"Then hurry and use a towel to dry off."

The next second, a towel appeared before her, his voice somewhat provocative. "The towel's here. How about you help me dry off?"

This behavior of his made it hard not to suspect he was deliberately seducing her. Eugenie suppressed her shyness and turned around, meeting his eyes filled with amusement.

"Grandpa and Grandma are downstairs and won't come up. If you love being naked so much, go ahead and drop the towel—let it dry naturally."

Eugenie was just joking, thinking he wouldn't be so bold. Who knew Nicholas would actually consider it for a few seconds before agreeing? "You've got a point. Anyway, we're so familiar with each other. If you don't mind, I certainly have no objection."

With that, he reached for the towel. Seeing him getting serious, Eugenie pressed her hand against the back of his. "Are you crazy?"

"Isn't this what Genie wants to see? I'm very generous with my people. Look all you want, touch all you want—it's up to you." As he spoke, Nicholas grasped her hand in return and pressed it against his abs, his eyes intent as he observed her reaction.

Under her palm were warm, defined muscles. Eugenie pinched with her fingers—the feel was unexpectedly good, very elastic.

Nicholas guided her hand inch by inch across them. Watching her blood-red ears and unblinking eyes, just as he was planning the next step, the hand beneath his palm suddenly slipped away.

Eugenie withdrew with restraint, pulling him toward the room. Nicholas thought things would naturally progress from here, but the next second, he saw her close the door.

"When men are out and about, they need to protect themselves. Hurry and put your clothes on. Don't catch a cold."

Nicholas stood stunned in the room for several minutes, beginning to doubt his own charm. After changing clothes and coming out, his hand was about to knock on the door when he heard movement inside.

When footsteps approached the door, he reacted quickly and returned to his room, leaving the door slightly ajar.

Eugenie opened her door with clothes in hand, poking her head out cautiously. Seeing no one in the hallway, she walked toward the bathroom, her muttering unceasing. "Nicholas, that male vixen, nearly made me lose control just now. I'll take a shower to cool down."

Nicholas heard this clearly. The smile at the corner of his mouth only grew. So it wasn't indifference—she was also very satisfied with his physique.

Concluding that she was also moved, he closed the door contentedly and returned to bed, ears perked for sounds at the door. Unfortunately, he never waited for her to push the door open and enter.

Over the next few days, Nicholas seized every opportunity to test her, watching her shy reactions appear again and again, gradually confirming her feelings.

Just as he was confidently preparing to find a place to plan another confession, his trusted assistant planted in the company called him.

Eugenie was returning from the vegetable field with Xanthe. Before she could even set down the basket hanging from her arm, she saw Nicholas on the phone, his expression growing increasingly grim.

She had a bad feeling. First putting the basket in the small kitchen, she jogged to his side. Before she could speak, she heard him reply to the other end, "Got it. I'll come back."

If he went back, he'd have to use the car. Once the car was driven back, it couldn't stay with him every moment. If someone tampered with it, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Just thinking of this possibility already made Eugenie extremely uneasy.

After he hung up, she reached out and grasped his wrist. "You're leaving?"

Nicholas nodded gravely. "My informant in the company sent word. My second uncle has been privately instigating shareholders to join forces and seize my shares. I have to go back."

The situation did seem urgent, but Eugenie still held onto a thread of hope. "Can you not go? Or delay a few days before going back—is that impossible?"

Her thinking was that as long as they got past the day of the car accident, maybe they could avoid it.

Nicholas didn't understand why she wouldn't let him leave, but his assistant had just said he needed to return in person, so the matter must be significant. "Genie, don't worry. I'll go and come right back. When I return, we'll still go out and have fun."

Eugenie was nearly frantic with worry but didn't know how to explain. Thinking of her previous explanation, she could only do the same now. "Nicholas, I'm worried something will happen to you—do you understand? I had a dream last night that you got into a car accident while driving. The serious kind that could kill someone. The dreams I've had before all came true. You know that, right?"

Seeing her so flustered she could barely speak coherently, Nicholas smiled and stepped forward to embrace her, holding her tightly. "I'm extremely resilient. Even the Grim Reaper wouldn't dare take me. Don't be afraid. It was just a dream."

Eugenie's heart was desperately anxious. How could she make him believe this wasn't just a dream?

"Just listen to me this once, okay?"