Chapter 37

Melissa was feeling very confident. "Don't worry, I have read many romance novels. I know best how to get married couples to make up." Taylor felt that Melissa was a little too confident.

In the room, Lawrence stood next to the bed, and a gentle mound rested on the bed, emitting a pleasant fragrance. She liked sleeping on her stomach, and he noticed her alluring figure. His chest felt heavy as he struggled to breathe.

He instinctively reached up and loosened his tie. The luxurious shirt underneath was slightly tightening against his muscles. He thought she came to the hotel to draw but was confused to find that there was no computer in the room.

Lawrence lay down beside the petite woman. This was the first time he held her while sleeping.

Before, they would sit on the sofa in the bedroom. Their relationship was guided by emotions and restrained by propriety. Unexpectedly soft, his fingers came across something. He picked it up and realized it was the tail on her clothes, there were even ears on the hat.

Lawrence lifted the blanket and finally observed her attire. His gaze abruptly intensified and wondered what this signified. His mind became inundated with an unexplained fervor, surging into his chest and coursing through his limbs. Something was amiss. Lawrence's throat bobbed, and he promptly recalled the soup Taylor had served him. How perceptive he was. Almost instantly, he deduced who was behind this mischief.

A headache struck, but his gaze only grew hotter. He pressed his brow and lowered his head, sealing the woman's lips with his thin ones, he kissed her gently and forcefully. Winnie was awakened by the kiss. When she struggled to breathe, she vaguely pushed against what she thought was a hard wall.

Suddenly becoming slightly more awake, she widened her watery eyes and saw a dark shadow above her.

"Who are you?"

"It's me," The man whispered in a low and hoarse voice.

"Mr. Rodriguez... What are you doing?" Winnie, finally registering his kiss, suddenly remembered the woman's phone call, as well as the woman in his car. Her face grew cold, and she forcefully pushed him away.

Thinking that she was frightened, the man grabbed her delicate wrist and chuckled in a low and hoarse voice. "You dress like this and invite me to this hotel. What do you think I would do?"

Winnie frowned in displeasure. "What do you mean I invited you? It was you who asked me to bring you something. Let's put that aside for now. First, get up."

"What if I say no?"

He pressed her down. Winnie couldn't breathe, she felt his abnormal body temperature and the powerful muscles."What's wrong with you?"

"Feel my forehead." The man took her hand. Winnie placed her hand on his forehead and was shocked by how hot it was.

He braced himself with his arm, his dark eyes smoldering with concealed intensity as he fixed his gaze on her. "Mom deceived me into drinking the soup. I also had some alcohol at the reception. What should we do?"

He leaned down and took a deep breath in her ear. Winnie was taken aback. It seemed it would be the same as the night they first met. She furrowed her brows and pushed him away, wanting to get her first aid kit, only to realize that she wasn't at home.

Winnie said in a serious tone, "You go take a shower first. I'll think of a solution."

"What solution?" He enveloped her slender waist with his long arms, burying his head in her petite shoulder and muffling his voice. "Let's do it. It's been a few months, right?"

"What are you thinking?!" Winnie realized what he was thinking and scolded him angrily.

The man smirked wickedly. "Legitimate rights, I'll take you to the bathroom, hmm?" With a loud bang, Winnie almost slapped him across the jaw in anger.

The man swiftly dodged, and under his mask, his face instantly darkened. He grabbed her hand. "Do you know what you're doing, Winnie?" His voice was cold, deep, arrogant, and hoarse.

Winnie looked at the perfect profile of this man, and her anger erupted. "Do you even know what you're doing, Mr. Rodriguez? You got drunk and brought me here, claiming that you were drugged. Weren't you just 'resting' in another woman's room yesterday afternoon?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" His angry expression was too frightening. His face instantly became sharp and powerful, causing Winnie to shrink and not dare to move her little fists.

The man's eyes were cold, and there was exhaustion on his handsome face. After fooling around with her yesterday morning, he went to the branch office in the city in the afternoon to handle business. He had been working non-stop until today. When she came here wearing this attire, he naturally thought she was there to accompany him. He became confused about what was this heartless girl causing a fuss about.

He didn't entertain any objections and lifted the woman, settling her on the sofa. His large hand gently pinched her chin, secured her waist, and kissed her once more. After consuming alcohol and soup, rationality was scarce. His husky voice enticed, "The terms of the marriage agreement are explicit. You must fulfill them. Just see it as helping me once, hmm?"

Winnie awkwardly dodged his advances, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the woman he spoke to on the phone yesterday. He had engaged in casual relationships or possibly had a girlfriend, without deeming it necessary to explain anything to her. She couldn't believe the audacity for him to simply turn around and flirt with her again and use the agreement to exert pressure. What a truly despicable man.

Winnie's breathing turned colder. She pushed away his sturdy body and said in annoyance, "If you need help, go find other women! I won't let you play around for free, Mr. Rodriguez."

"What did you say?" The man suddenly released her and grabbed her hand.

Winnie looked up and lightly mocked. "Girlfriend, lover, you have plenty of them, right? Just because you have some money, you think you can trample on other people's lives, as you please. I only sold my womb to you for a year, but I didn't sell myself to you. After a year, we will go our separate ways. With that said, I have the right to refuse your advances. Many women would satisfy you with this kind of obligation. If you only want to have sex, don't come to me."

As her words dropped, an unusual silence descended. The man's anger created a chilling atmosphere. He gazed at her determined little face, his voice carrying a forced smile as he assertively lifted her chin. "Do you believe any woman can come to my bed? What do you take me for?"

He stood up, coldly let go of her hand, and sarcastically lowered his head. "You speak so high and mighty, how did you get in my car in the first place? Back then, you would do anything for your goals. Now you come, and talk to me about shame. Winnie, if we're talking about being unworthy, you are the most unworthy of my bed."

When he left, he kicked the table over fiercely, causing Winnie to hide on the sofa, wide-eyed. The man's knees and pants were torn, and Winnie curled up her small hand. He slammed the door and left Winnie. With her cherry lips pursed tightly, and her mind buzzing, it took a while before she saw the glass table stained with blood. 'Did he hurt his knee?' she wondered. Her brows furrowing, her heart beating faster, and her mood chaotic. Winnie was then driven back to the villa by the driver and didn't see the man.

Melissa recognized her wrongdoing, avoided eye contact as she revealed the truth to Winnie, urging her not to be angry as it was all her fault. Winnie finally grasped the situation that Melissa had once again deceived her and her son. Winnie forced a bitter smile, acknowledging that the root cause wasn't solely Melissa.

For several consecutive days, Winnie didn't see the man return. This time, he was truly angry and showed no concern for her. But she didn't feel that she had done anything wrong. It would have been better to clarify things earlier for both of them.

However, her mood became more depressed. She forcibly ignored the feeling of loss in her heart, mustered up her spirits to sketch. Furthermore, in order not to worry Melissa, she had to go to Olivia's house again. Olivia occasionally called Victoria over to cheer her up. The two of them made her happy and Winnie's design sketch was completed as scheduled.

On October 10th, the preliminary round of the jewelry design competition was held at the exhibition hall set up by Imperial.