Chapter 586

“Her fingers trailed downward, tugging at his collar as she asked curiously, “Percival, can I see your abs?”

“Do you have V-lines?” Odalys’s voice was soft, her gaze brimming with curiosity. A mischievous twinkle lit her eyes, her gaze lingering as if plotting something.

A faint blush spread across Percival’s ears, and he swallowed hard. He hadn’t expected her to become tipsy after just one drink. He thought, It’s a good thing I came tonight. Who knows what would have happened if she got drunk without me around?

“Let’s wait until we’re home,” Percival murmured, his voice hoarse.

He thought, Who could resist her playful request to see my abs? With the woman I care for acting so flirtatiously, I find it hard to maintain my self-control.

“I want to see now,” Odalys murmured, nestling into his arms. Suddenly, her eyes widened. “You’re not hiding a belly, are you? Lost your abs from overeating?”

She giggled and leaned closer, whispering, “So you know, I still have abs. And V-lines.”

Percival’s grip on her tightened. He thought, She’s so light—carrying her is no effort at all—but the journey suddenly feels endless. This troublesome woman is teasing me in my arms. I’m still a normal man, after all. Just because I’ve kept my distance from women all these years doesn’t mean I’ve stopped feeling anything.

Odalys laughed, her imagination running wild. The idea of Percival’s abs disappearing, replaced by a beer belly, was hilarious. She smirked and let out a small laugh.

“I know what’s going on,” she said, grinning. “You’ve got a beer belly now, don’t you? Not as good as me—I’ve still got abs!”

She pressed a hand against her stomach, nodding in satisfaction at its firmness.

When they reached the car, Percival carried her as a bodyguard opened the back door. He settled her gently onto the seat beside him.

The door shut softly, and Odalys immediately leaned closer. Her eyes sparkled as she reached for his belt, her lip caught between her teeth in a playful grin.

“Let’s compare and see who has better abs,” Odalys said, her warm breath a teasing whisper against his ear. Percival’s jaw tightened as he felt the heat of her breath. He grasped the armrest tightly, trying to steady himself.

She grabbed his belt again before he could pull away, tugging at his shirt. With a faint rip, the fabric tore. Percival let out a low, pained groan.

As the shirt parted, revealing his defined abs, Odalys leaned in, her eyes narrowing in exaggerated scrutiny. She lifted a hand, her delicate fingers gently tapping each ridge.

“One, two, three, four, five. Hey, you’ve got more than me,” she murmured, marveling at his well-sculpted form.

She dropped back into her seat, her face suddenly serious, and motioned for him to lean closer. He hesitated briefly before leaning in, his face mere inches from hers.

“Your eyes are beautiful,” she murmured, soft and almost breathless. Odalys looped her arm around his neck, pulling him closer as she examined his features.

Their eyes met, hers wide and captivating, fixed intently on his. For a moment, the air inside the car grew heavy with unspoken tension, a spark crackling between them.

Feeling a sudden warmth rise in her cheeks, Odalys turned her head away, fidgeting to calm the blush spreading across her face. “It’s a little hot in here,” she muttered, flustered.

She rolled down the window. Outside, Freya, Selah, Stellan, and Francis stood nearby. They caught sight of Percival’s torn shirt and his toned physique, causing Freya’s eyes to widen in surprise.

“Let’s hail a taxi,” Selah whispered, quickly pulling Freya away.

Chapter 386

Stellan and Francis turned their heads, feigning blandness as they walked away. "Hey! Where are you going? Are you getting in the car or not?" Odalys called after them. But the group moved even faster, pretending not to hear her.

A headache throbbed. Leaning slightly out the window, Odalys felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

Just then, a bodyguard returned with a small bottle. “Mr. Stewart, the hangover remedy,” he said, handing it to Percival.

“Good,” Percival replied, taking it and shaking out two pills. He offered them to Odalys, but she leaned away, her lips pressed firmly together, her eyes watching him cautiously.

“Come on, just take it,” Percival coaxed gently, his voice softer than usual. A wave of tenderness rose inside him as he looked at her flushed cheeks.

Odalys narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “I just had one drink. You’re not seriously trying to give me antibiotics, are you?”

She quickly raised her hand to block the pills. “I’m not falling for that. I’ve still got all my rubies to protect, you know. Don’t think you can get rid of me before I spend my fortune.”

Pausing, she added, “Besides, once I’ve wrapped things up here, I need to take those rubies back to the mountains for Oliver.”

Then she snapped her head up. “Percival, you’re not a spy, are you? You gave me rubies, but you can’t bear to part with them, so now you’re trying to drug me?”

Percival couldn’t help but laugh, caught between amusement and exasperation. He thought, She’s drunk—so suspicious of everything!

Raising his hands in mock surrender, he placed the pills into her hand. “Take a look for yourself. It’s a hangover remedy. You’ll feel better after taking it.”

“Fine. I’ll trust you this once,” Odalys muttered, tipping the pills into her mouth. She chewed them with loud, crisp crunches as though they were candy.

Leaning her head against the window, she exhaled slowly. She still felt uncomfortable.

Percival sighed and picked up a light blanket, draping it over her shoulders. “Drive us home.”

“Yes, Mr. Stewart.” The driver promptly started the car.

Moments later, a message from Freya popped up on Percival’s phone: [Percival, we’re heading back to the apartment. Take care of Odalys—she doesn’t look quite right. And don’t you dare take advantage of her while she’s vulnerable, or I’ll have to tell Odalys.]

Percival shook his head, typing a brief reply: [Understood.]

The car rolled through the nearly empty streets. With temperatures dropping, few pedestrians were out at this hour, and the quiet, deserted roads made Crownridge feel even colder.

When they returned to Stewart Villa, Odalys pushed the car door open and stumbled toward the stairs. Percival moved to help, but she waved him off, determined to climb independently. He didn’t force the issue, following behind steadily, ready to catch her if she fell.

“I’m not a kid. I won’t fall,” Odalys grumbled.

As she ascended, she glanced at their shadows cast on the ground. Seeing Percival’s outstretched arms behind her, she giggled softly. He’s like a hawk swooping in on its prey, she thought.