Chapter 23

She saw Samuel sitting on the sofa, his long legs elegantly crossed, exuding a refined and noble aura. He was idly toying with one of Isabella’s hair clips. Hearing the bathroom door open, his cold gaze landed on Isabella, who was dressed only in a bath towel. The towel was small, neither long enough at the top nor bottom, barely concealing her tall, slender frame. Her arms were wrapped around her chest, but it was difficult to fully cover herself.

Samuel’s eyes darkened instantly. Isabella froze, unsure why he had returned so unexpectedly. A light breeze swept through the room, and Isabella felt completely exposed. Her face flushed crimson.

Quickly, she crossed her arms, her voice laced with shyness. “Why didn’t you let me know you were back?” she asked.

Her eyes darted to the pajamas on the bed. To reach them, she would have to walk past Samuel. She silently cursed herself—if only she had brought the pajamas into the bathroom.

In Samuel’s deep eyes, a spark of heat flickered. Her flushed face made her look like a frightened little rabbit. His intense gaze made Isabella’s cheeks burn even hotter. She turned her face away, whispering, “D-don’t look!”

Before their marriage, they had never been close, and even afterward, they had lived apart. This intimate encounter was entirely new to her, and she was overwhelmed.

Without thinking, Isabella dashed toward the bed, eager to grab her pajamas. In her haste, however, she stumbled against a cabinet, losing her balance and falling forward.

“Ah!” Isabella’s face went pale, thinking she was about to fall face-first.

But instantly, a strong arm caught her around the waist, pulling her into Samuel’s chest. The pain she anticipated never came, and she breathed a sigh of relief. But then, to her horror, she realized the towel, her only covering, had fallen off during the fall.

Blood rushed to her face, and her mind went blank. She squeezed her eyes shut, biting her lip in utter embarrassment.

Still holding her, Samuel remained motionless as Isabella suddenly clung to him, her face burning. “Don’t move!” she pleaded. If he moved, her body would be completely exposed.

What she didn’t realize, however, was that sight wasn’t necessary—other senses could be just as vivid. They were so close that her upper body was pressed against his chest, while his hand rested against the curve of her lower back.

Samuel’s throat tightened, his voice hoarse. “Are you sure?”

Isabella’s face paled. She wasn’t sure what he meant. Flustered, she quickly covered his eyes with her hand, her voice panicked. “I don’t care! Just close your eyes! Don’t look at me!”

Though she tried to sound firm, her voice was soft and sweet to Samuel’s ears. He felt the warmth of her hand against his skin, and her scent filled the space between them. Samuel’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he fought to control himself.

He closed his eyes, but the image of her became even clearer. His throat felt dry, but he managed a low, raspy, “Alright.”

Isabella carefully observed Samuel, ensuring his eyes were closed before breathing a sigh of relief. Slowly, she released her hand and dashed to the bed, clutching her pajamas to her chest before darting back into the bathroom as quickly as a frightened rabbit.

Chapter 23

The moment she closed the bathroom door, she pressed her hand against her wildly beating heart. After a while, having calmed herself, Isabella dressed and slowly opened the door. The memory of what had just happened with Samuel flashed in her mind, and her cheeks flushed red again.

She kept her head down, too embarrassed to look at him, but asked softly, “Didn’t you say you’d be back in three days? Why are you back after only two?”

If she had known he would return early, she wouldn’t have showered without her pajamas, and the embarrassing incident could have been avoided.

Samuel’s eyes remained fixed on her with a meaningful gaze. “I finished work early.”

Isabella couldn’t handle his gaze. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and quickly changed the subject. Pointing toward the bathroom, she said, “Oh, you should go take a shower now!”

But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized the implication. She had just showered, and now she was telling Samuel to shower—it felt strangely intimate. Flustered, she quickly added, “Um, where are we sleeping tonight?”

The moment the words escaped her lips, her body tensed. She wished she could smack herself. It sounded like she was too eager.

She kept her head down, avoiding Samuel’s gaze, standing there awkwardly. Samuel’s usually cold eyes softened with amusement, and a playful glint appeared. He couldn’t resist teasing her. In a low voice, he said, “We’re married. How do you think we’ll sleep?”

Isabella froze. He wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t used to this. She bit her lip, her head still down.

Seeing her reaction, Samuel decided not to push her. “I’ll go take a shower,” he said, standing up and heading to the closet for his nightwear before entering the bathroom.

Isabella lay down on the bed, listening to the running water. Her mind was in turmoil, replaying everything. Today had been a disaster. She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten her pajamas. Being nervous was one thing, but tripping and dropping the towel was another. And then she had said those awkward things. She worried that Samuel might think she was overly eager.

Feeling mortified, Isabella pulled the blanket over her head. The embarrassment was almost unbearable.

Time ticked by slowly. Just as Isabella’s mind wandered, the mattress beside her sank. Her entire body stiffened.

Samuel lay down beside her, a faint smile playing on his lips. He pulled back the covers, and Isabella instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, afraid of the sudden light and too embarrassed to face him. The earlier scene still played vividly in her mind. Samuel chuckled softly. “It’s uncomfortable staying buried under the covers. Relax and sleep properly.”

His voice was deep and magnetic, sending a shiver down her spine. It was a simple suggestion, but it made her heart flutter. She mumbled a response, too shy to open her eyes.

Samuel’s smile deepened, but he didn’t press further. He simply turned off the bedside lamp.

Just when Isabella thought she could breathe again, she felt the covers lift, followed by Samuel sliding under them. Her heart raced. With her pulse quickening, Samuel only adjusted the blanket and said softly, “Sleep.”

Isabella’s breath hitched. She doubted she’d sleep at all that night.

After a long silence, Samuel’s deep, calm voice broke through the darkness. “I’ll give you time to get used to this. But I hope it won’t take too long.”

Isabella’s eyelashes fluttered, and she relaxed slightly. At least for tonight, she didn’t have to confront her fears. She knew Samuel was being considerate, and in a soft voice, she whispered, “Thank you.”

But as soon as the words left her lips, she regretted them. Samuel had told her before not to thank him for things like this.

Before she could dwell on it, Isabella felt the mattress shift. Suddenly, she found herself wrapped in Samuel’s arms. She gasped in surprise, “Ah—”

Her startled exclamation was cut short as Samuel’s lips claimed hers in a deep, possessive kiss. Every word was swallowed by that unexpected intimacy.

The final "曲" appears to be a musical note symbol and is unrelated to the text. I have omitted it.