Chapter 604 Old Acquaintance
After Yancey dropped Anne off at home, Meryl returned to find Chandler. The place was deserted, and Meryl assumed he had left. Just as she was about to call him, she caught sight of Chandler and Rachel together.
Meryl had arrived at the perfect moment, overhearing Chandler’s firm words to Rachel. She was taken aback by his resolve; she hadn’t expected him to stand his ground so strongly.
When Meryl saw Rachel shamelessly trying to inch closer to Chandler, she couldn’t hold back. With a swift motion, she slapped Rachel hard across the face.
Rachel felt the sting radiate through her cheek, leaving her momentarily stunned. She never imagined Meryl would strike her, and with such force. The slap seemed to douse the fire of her earlier excitement, leaving her feeling dazed.
With her eyes red and watery, she glared at Meryl. “What gives you the right to hit me?”
“Cut the crap with your dirty little schemes. Chandler owes your brother a favor, not me. I won’t go easy on you for trying to seduce my man. If I’m not going to hit you, who else should I?” Meryl shot back, her voice sharp and unwavering.
With that, she rushed to Chandler’s side; concern etched across her face. “How are you feeling?” she asked, noticing the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He looked pale, clearly struggling.
Seeing Meryl return, Chandler let out a sigh of relief. He took her hand, surrendering himself to her presence. “Let’s go home,” he murmured.
Meryl nodded, leading the way as they headed out. Rachel watched them leave, frustration boiling within her. She stomped her foot in anger, feeling the weight of her predicament.
She thought, her mind racing with regret, “Chandler will definitely blame me for this. How can we move forward? He’ll always be on guard around me now. Why did Meryl have to show up right then? Everything was going so well, and now it’s all messed up!”
Rachel bit her lip, feeling the restless energy inside her begin to consume her. Desperate to regain control, she dashed to the restroom and splashed cold water on her face, but it did little to quell the turmoil within her. Rachel felt utterly helpless, like she was digging her own grave.
Meanwhile, Felix was wandering around the Paltrow Manor, hoping to catch a glimpse of Meryl. He was feeling a bit let down for not seeing her and was about to head home when suddenly, a woman burst out of the restroom.
Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his waist and stood on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his lips. Felix’s face darkened instantly.
He couldn’t believe it – here he was, minding his own business, and he was being assaulted with a kiss. He nearly kicked the woman away.
“Seriously? I’m the little devil of the Powell family. Everyone knows to steer clear of me. Who does this chick think she is, messing with me like that?” he thought, ready to confront whoever had the audacity.
When he turned to see Rachel, his anger flared. “You bitch! That was my first kiss!” he growled, grabbing her by the neck.
Felix’s grip tightened as he glared at her, his eyes blazing with fury. The air around him seemed to turn icy, and Rachel felt a wave of dread wash over her. At that moment, she sensed the gravity of her situation.
As Rachel struggled to breathe, her adrenaline spiked, and any lingering thrill faded away. “Felix, you… you’re choking me!” she gasped, instinctively clutching her throat.
His gaze turned cold as ice. “So what? You think you can just kiss me and get away with it? You deserve to pay for that one hundred times over!”
Rachel’s heart raced with fear. “What did I even do? I just kissed him! I mean, come on, I’m not hard to look at. Why is he acting like I committed a crime?”
She fought to keep her voice steady. “I’m your fiancée, Felix. You can’t treat me like this. We’re engaged, so a kiss isn’t exactly out of line.”
Felix’s eyes narrowed with disdain. “Are you trying to teach me how to handle my own business?”
The narrow hallway felt suffocating, the silence heavy as he pressed Rachel against the wall, his grip tightening around her neck. Her feet dangled above the ground, her face reddening as the air slipped away from her lungs. Yet, in Felix’s gaze, there was a twisted thrill, a sick excitement that made him feel alive.
Just then, a voice echoed from the end of the corridor. “Felix, are you flirting with your fiancée?”
Felix turned sharply to see his brother, Christopher, approaching. He narrowed his eyes. “What makes you think this is flirting? She’s nothing. She doesn’t deserve my attention.”
Christopher chuckled, a knowing smile on his face, “I just saw what I saw. You two seemed pretty cozy. Should I tell Dad to speed up the wedding plans?”
Felix’s grip on Rachel slackened as he shot a venomous glare at Christopher. “You really love sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, don’t you?”
Christopher raised an eyebrow, unfazed. “Well, you’re my brother, so it’s kind of my job to look out for you. I wouldn’t bother with anyone else.”
With that, Christopher nodded at Rachel. “Ms. Morgan, long time no see.”
Rachel felt a wave of recognition wash over her. She had met Felix and his brothers years ago, but those memories were faded. She recalled that Felix’s older brother was much older than her, while Christopher was closer in age to Felix.
If it weren’t for Christopher’s timely arrival, she might have ended up as nothing more than a ghost in Felix’s grip. She instinctively covered her throat, feeling both grateful and vulnerable, and managed a weak nod in Christopher’s direction.
Felix scoffed, turning on his heel and striding away, leaving Rachel alone in the hallway. As Christopher prepared to leave as well, he paused, casting one last lingering glance at Rachel.
“Ms. Morgan, are you feeling alright? Do you need me to call someone to take you to a hospital?”
Rachel blinked in surprise and quickly shook her head.
Christopher smiled softly, his demeanor warm and inviting, “There’s no need to be so cautious. Felix and I are… well, we’re different. My brother can be a bit clueless. If he’s ever rude or dismissive, just let me know, and I’ll have a word with him.”
Rachel was taken aback by his kindness. It was hard to believe they were brothers, given how different they were. Christopher, with his gold-rimmed glasses and refined air, exuded a calm, collected vibe that Felix lacked entirely.
Just then, the effects of the earlier drug hit Rachel like a wave. Rachel suddenly felt lightheaded, her legs trembling beneath her, and she stumbled.
Christopher quickly reached out to steady her. “Ms. Morgan, be careful!”
“Th… thank you,” she stammered, trying to maintain her composure, but her body betrayed her, craving the support. As she bit her lip, the world around her spun, and before Rachel knew it, she collapsed into Christopher’s arms.
“Ms. Morgan? Rachel? Are you okay? Rachel!”
Christopher gently shook her shoulder, noting the flush on her cheeks and the heat radiating from her body. It was clear she was drugged.