Chapter 217: Did Something Happen Last Night?
Lesson? I turned my head to glance at him. “Alright, I’m ready to learn. Carl, please teach me…” Carter’s gaze fixed on me, his eyes shining with a flicker of delight.
“What did you just call me?”
“Carl.”
He wrapped his arms around me, his voice low and filled with excitement. The name seemed to resonate with him, but it was something I had long since forgotten.
Back then, when I saw Anna tumble into the water, I jumped in to grab her hand. It was a busy day, and Anna and I, both small in stature, had managed to slip away from the bodyguards. When Anna fell, I caught her hand, but the current was too strong, and we were too small. Her fingers quickly slipped from my grip, carried away by the rushing water. Then, I struck my head on a rock and lost consciousness. When I came to, I was told that someone from the Boltons had rescued me. Unaware of the secret, I assumed it was Luke who had saved me. After I thanked Luke, he didn’t say anything about the truth, and from that moment on, our families began to interact more often.
At that age, I was carefree, and Jeffrey had taken a liking to me early on, so I frequently visited. One day, I heard the soft sound of a piano coming from the attic, so I climbed the stairs to investigate. There, I saw a striking young boy with pale skin and long, graceful fingers, looking like a character straight out of a fairytale.
“Who are you?”
The music stopped, and the young boy turned to face me. His gaze was naturally distant, and he replied calmly, “Carter Bolton.”
“Are you a member of the Boltons?”
“Kind of.” Despite his icy demeanor, he answered all of my questions. Not knowing who he was, I asked him to teach me how to play the piano.
“Carl, your fingers are so delicate. You play so well. Do you want to become a pianist someday?”
“What did you just call me?”
“Carl. Or should I call you Sir?”
That afternoon, he patiently taught me for hours. As I was about to leave, planning to visit him again soon, Luke discovered what I was up to. He told me that Carter was his uncle, who had a peculiar personality, and insisted that I stay away from him. But I couldn’t understand why, despite Carter being a bit distant, he was actually quite kind. Luke grew furious when he noticed I ignored him right there and then. He forced me to swear that I would only spend time with him from that point forward. At that age, I believed he had saved me, so I simply obeyed his demands without question. Over time, I grew distant from Carter. The name Carl faded away, tucked into the farthest corner of my mind, completely erased. Yet, Carter never forgot the little girl who once called him Carl obediently.
His warm breath against my ear turned scorching, and his voice softened with a coaxing edge, “Darling, say it again.” Confused, I murmured, “Carl… Mm…” This kiss wasn’t hesitant or gentle. It felt like he was unleashing emotions he’d kept buried for a long time. His touch was forceful, as though he intended to consume me entirely. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding me so tightly it was almost unbearable.
“Carl, it hurts… You’re hurting me…” Without realizing it, I frowned.
“I’m sorry, I hurt you.”
Carter loosened his grip on me. “Should I blow on it to make you feel better?”
“Sure, Carl…” But instead of the expected cool breeze, his lips softly touched my forehead, my nose, my lips, my neck, and my collarbone, slowly making their way lower. The strap had slid halfway down, and a chill ran over my chest. Instinctively, I tried to cover myself.
“Darling, I haven’t finished blowing yet,” he said softly, his voice gentle and soothing, urging me to let go. I wasn’t sure if the room was too warm or if the heat from the drink had gotten to me. Carter’s lips brushed against my skin, inch by inch, sending a shiver through me.
Overcome with helplessness, I tilted my head back and whispered, “Carl…” His lips touched an area that had never been explored before, a sensation that was both unfamiliar and terrifying.
“Darling, be good, open up.”
The next morning, daylight streamed in, too bright for my eyes. I instinctively raised my hand to shield them. The dizziness and the lingering effects of the alcohol were unbearable. It felt like trying to lose weight through dieting, knowing you should stay disciplined, yet unable to resist stopping at a barbecue stall for a bite during a late-night jog. The next day, you find yourself dieting even harder, wondering if you’d have the courage to do it again.
“Darling, are you awake?” a man’s soothing voice whispered in my ear. The familiar term caught me off guard, and as I looked into Carter’s eyes, an uneasy feeling washed over me.
“Carter, did something happen last night?”
Carter remarked, “You really need to fix this habit of blacking out. You can’t drink like this when you’re…”
“Alright.”
“But with me here, you can drink as much as you like.” His eyes held an intensity that made me uncomfortable. I couldn’t recall what had happened, but it didn’t take long to notice one undeniable fact—I was naked, pressed closely against him. A faint soreness lingered through my body as I stared at him. “Last night, did we…”
He gently lifted my chin, his dark eyes as deep as shadows. In a raspy voice, he asked, “Do you wish we did or didn’t?”