Chapter 129

Alexander's POV

Two days ago, I sat by the window of my Colombian villa, watching two children playing in the dusty street below. They were trying to reach a green mango hanging from a tree.

The boy jumped several times, missing it each time, while the girl held her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.

"Youth is wonderful," I smiled, absently reaching for my cigarette pack.

But my fingers only touched an empty box.

Damn it.

The door opened behind me, and Luke entered carrying a plate of freshly cut fruit.

His eyes immediately locked onto the empty cigarette pack in my hand.

Without a word, he snatched it and threw it out the window.

"What are you doing—" I began.

"The doctor said three months. No smoking, no drinking."

I glared at him. "Damn it! Even postpartum women don't suffer this much!"

Luke set the fruit plate on the table beside me. "Vernon is still angry."

"And?" I continued watching the children below.

"Vernon is ambitious. Our plans to return to America might be delayed. He knows you're in Colombia."

My mind processed this information, but my gaze remained fixed on the boy who was still jumping to reach the mango.

That kid, he was truly foolish. Why such effort for just one mango?

I picked up a fruit knife from the tray and swiftly threw it out the window.

The blade perfectly pierced the mango's stem, and the fruit fell heavily to the ground.

The children scattered like startled birds.

Luke sighed, almost inaudibly.

"What else?" I finally turned to face him.

Luke hesitated, as if unsure whether to speak. "The cruise ship successfully returned to port three days ago."

My fingers stopped their restless tapping on the armrest. "And?"

"Miss Smith disembarked secretly seven days ago."

Hearing this, I felt agitated despite the air conditioning in the room.

"She took her passport and documents," Luke continued, "but her phone is unreachable."

"What, are you worried about her?" I asked.

Luke didn't deny it. "What are your thoughts, Mr. Gray?"

I thought of her—stubborn, defiant, always playing with fire—

I smiled involuntarily. "She's very bold, never afraid of death, but..."

Standing up from my chair, I walked toward the door.

Luke quickly followed. "Mr. Gray, you haven't fully recovered yet..."

Now, looking at the bound Scarlett, I gently slid the blade along her exposed neck, applying no pressure, only letting her feel its presence.

"You've gotten darker in just a few days apart," I remarked, examining her skin. "Like a little coal ball."

Seeing her lips tremble slightly, I frowned, tracing her cheekbone with my finger.

"I preferred your previous complexion. This doesn't suit you."

I hooked a wooden chair with my foot and dragged it closer.

Waving my hand in front of Scarlett's eyes and confirming she couldn't see clearly, I couldn't help but smile.

"You're truly bold, daring to come here alone." My hand kneaded her cotton-soft flesh, not roughly, but enough to make her face flush.

Her teeth bit down hard on her lower lip. Even the most chaste woman might not manage an expression like hers at this moment.

I took the opportunity to lift her onto my lap, turned her face, and directly sealed her lips with mine.

Soft and tender, just like before, except...

Too compliant, missing that fierce spirit from before.

But her body was still as enticing as ever, so shy and embarrassed, melting like butter.

She collapsed against me at the slightest touch. The more docile Scarlett seemed in my arms, the more I wanted to hear her cry out from pain.

"Uncomfortable?" I turned her to face me.

With the blindfold still covering her eyes, she looked utterly pitiful.

The more she appeared this way, the more I...

I whispered in her ear, "We've been apart so long. Did you miss me?"

My hand caressed her spine, rubbing inch by inch, moving downward...

"Yes!" she exclaimed, the word bursting out with almost no hesitation.

I naturally didn't believe her.

That little mouth of hers, apart from comforting me normally, only knew how to lie.

Couldn't trust it.

"How much?"

I pressed, my fingers entering her mouth, pressing against the roof.

With her mouth occupied, she could only make muffled sounds.

I couldn't help but laugh heartily.

But I didn't laugh for long, as I noticed the cloth over her eyes had become damp.

Looking so wronged, I directly pulled the cloth from her face.

As soon as I met those misty eyes, I laughed from exasperation.

"I've done much worse to you in bed, and never seen you cry like this. What's wrong? Disappointed I'm not dead?"

Before I finished speaking, Scarlett leaned forward, sealing my lips with hers.

Her soft tongue boldly explored. Between our connected lips, salty tears rolled into my mouth.

I looked at the tears on her face, smiled slightly, then reached out to push her away.

"You stink!" Her white tank top was wrinkled, like pickled vegetables.

"How many days since you've changed clothes?" I continued. She seemed dazed, even her nose tip conveying wronged feelings.

"Don't be so dramatic," I muttered, removing my suit jacket and draping it over her shoulders.

Then I cut the ropes binding her wrists.

She slid off my lap, somewhat unsteady on her feet.

Without warning, she lunged forward, extending her arms to embrace me.

I tensed my body, wanting to mock her sentimentality, but in truth, my chest felt warmth too.

With a cold snort, I pushed her hands away and walked toward the door.

Stepping out of the church, the bright sunlight hurt my eyes.

Luke stood waiting by the black SUV, his eyes widening slightly upon seeing Scarlett. "Miss Smith, it's good to see you!"

Scarlett nodded, but before she could say anything, I kicked the back of the seat hard.

"Get lost!" At these words, Luke promptly disappeared.

As the car door closed, I lazily leaned against the backrest, raising my chin slightly toward her.

The meaning was clear without words.

"We weren't finished earlier," I said, opening the jacket covering her.

In an instant, her naked body was exposed.

"Mr. Gray, let's not," she said, covering her chest with her hands.

I thought to myself, it's not like we haven't made love in a car before.

Raising my hand to support my chin, I smiled. "You came all this way... how can we stop now? Besides, even if I agreed, it wouldn't..."

As I spoke, I pulled her hand downward.