Chapter 120 Chapter 120

Chapter 120 Chapter 120
Abandoning her provocative tone, she turned to Octavio with an affectionate look.
“Go back to your room and sleep. Thank you.”
She turned to go upstairs.
Octavio hugged the rooster, his playful expression giving way to genuine concern as he watched her back.
“Brother...” Octavio murmured softly. “Do you think she's really upset deep down? She was stabbed in the back by her own relatives today.
And it wasn't the first time.”
João didn't answer. His gaze darkened, a deadly storm forming in his pupils as he thought of the Lutz family. Without saying a word, he headed toward her room.
Octavio sighed, turning to run back to his quarters, knowing his older brother would take care of everything.
In the silence of her luxurious bedroom, Katherine crouched on the plush carpet.
In front of her, her eighteen-inch black suitcase lay open. Inside, the padded compartments held a breathtaking sight: dozens of cut glass bottles containing exclusive and indescribable perfumes.
Katherine's thin, pale fingertips slowly slid over the cold surface of each bottle, her eyes overflowing with deep affection.
These were her treasures. Olfactory masterpieces unique in this world, created by her unparalleled genius under the name Josiane.
But the symmetry was broken. Now, one of the padded spaces was empty. The bottle was gone.
She raised an eyebrow, her expression impassive. Trash attracts trash, she thought about Nísia and the ruined formula. She would have to set aside time in her laboratory to create an even better fragrance to compensate for the loss.
With precise movements, she carefully closed the suitcase, turned the complex combination lock, and slid it into a secret compartment under the bed.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Soft but firm knocks echoed on the door.
“Come in.” She sat gracefully on the small velvet sofa, crossing her legs, facing the entrance.
The heavy oak door opened, and the imposing figure of the man blocked the light from the hallway. João stopped at the entrance, his deep, dark, magnetic eyes immediately locking with hers.
He was carrying a crystal glass in his hands.
Closing the door behind him, João walked toward her with the grace of a predatory cat. He sat down in the armchair directly across from Katherine, the space between them suddenly seeming too small.
He placed the glass on the coffee table.
“It's fresh juice. Have some to relax.”
Katherine made no move to take the glass. She held his gaze, her heart beating at a slightly altered rhythm.
“What's the matter?” she asked, her voice soft. “Has something happened?”
João relaxed in the armchair. It was a relaxed posture, but one that exuded absolute dominance. 
He rested his elbow on the arm of the furniture, his long knuckles lightly touching his forehead, and his lips curved into a lazy, irresistibly charming smile.
“Nothing special...” His voice dropped an octave, hoarse and enveloping. “I just wanted to see you a little more before going to sleep.”
Katherine leaned back on the sofa, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. His penetrating gaze seemed to strip her soul bare, leaving her a little uncomfortable and disarmed.
But as much as her logical mind tried to fight the attraction, her heart knew the truth: she didn't dislike it one bit.

She lowered her long lashes, hiding the storm in her eyes. Her slender, pale fingers brushed the icy crystal of the glass, slowly caressing it before bringing it to her lips.
She didn't just take a sip. In an almost impatient movement, Katherine tipped the glass, emptying the juice in one go to hide the nervousness his presence caused her.
She placed the empty glass on the table with a slight click.
“You've seen me. Mission accomplished. Now leave, I'm going to take a shower,” she said, keeping her voice firm and cold.
The man didn't move. He remained silent for a few long, agonizing seconds. And then, suddenly, he stood up.
Over six feet tall, João's tall, imposing body completely enveloped her in his shadow. The sudden proximity caused his scent—an intoxicating blend of sandalwood, cold tobacco, and pure masculinity—to hover around her, suffocating her senses.
Katherine instinctively looked up. João's handsome, sculpted face was inches from hers. His dark, unfathomable eyes analyzed her with such deep interest that she felt as if he were unraveling each of her secrets, stripping her soul bare.
She pulled her head back, sinking into the sofa cushions, trying to avoid the magnetic attraction he exerted.
Without realizing it, she rested her hand on the upholstery to push herself away, but ended up touching his large, warm hand, which was already surrounding her. His skin felt like it was burning.
Katherine's heart, always so cold and controlled, inexplicably skipped a beat. Her breathing became irregular.
Just as she opened her mouth, ready to scold him and tell him to back off, the man leaned in even closer. His face descended, and his warm lips almost brushed her ear.
A deep, hoarse, and absurdly charming voice slowly resonated, sending a shiver straight down her spine:
“Don't worry, my little fox... I won't tell anyone else your secret.”
Katherine held her breath. She narrowed her eyes and turned her face sharply to face him.
It was a mistake.
The movement brought her so close to him that their noses almost touched. She could feel his warm breath on her lips and see her own reflection clearly in the darkness of João's pupils. He completely filled her field of vision, her entire world reduced to that man.
“What are you saying?” she whispered, trying to maintain her facade of ignorance.
João remained silent. The predatory gaze gave way to a soft, intense, and dangerously affectionate light that lingered on her lips for a fraction of a second before returning to his eyes.
Slowly averting that provocative gaze, he murmured with lethal gentleness:
“Good evening, Katherine.”