CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 94: SHE LOOKS DOWN ON HIM

"Let someone take you back," Florence Fuller thought of calling Daniel Knight inside.

Luke Gardiner looked at her. Although his eyes were bleary from alcohol, he knew he was sober. He sat up and reached out to grab Florence, but Florence avoided his hand, looking at him in confusion.

His hand missed, and Luke looked at her blankly, "Do you despise me that much?"

"Are you leaving or not?" she asked.

He stood up, a half-smile on his face, "Leave? I haven’t had enough to drink yet."

"Then take your time drinking." Florence didn’t want to waste time with him here and turned to leave.

Seeing her turn away, Luke urgently rushed forward and hugged her from behind, "Don’t go."

The sudden close contact made Florence frown, "Let go."

"Don’t go." He embraced her, the softness of her body and the intoxicating scent tightened the grip of his arms around her.

"Let me go," she said, struggling against his hold. The more she struggled, the tighter Luke’s hold became, until they were pressed closely together, and Florence’s body was completely enveloped by his embrace.

Florence was squeezed so tightly by him that it became uncomfortable.

"Luke Gardiner!" her voice sharpened, "What exactly do you want?"

"Let me hold you for a while." He rubbed his chin against the side of her face, "I really feel awful. Just pity me and let me hold you for a bit."

His voice was hoarse, mixed with pain.

"Go find whoever made you feel awful!" she grabbed Luke’s hand that was wrapped around her waist, "Let go!"

Noticing the depth of Florence’s breathing increasing, Luke slightly loosened his grip. Florence took the opportunity to try to break free from his hold but was quickly pulled back into his arms by him.

He whispered, "Can’t you be a little more patient with me?"

Florence took a deep breath, "Don’t force me to hurt you."

Hearing this, Luke chuckled, "Then hit me. Maybe if you hit me painfully enough, I won’t feel so awful." After saying that, he turned his head and kissed her cheek unguardedly.

Florence slapped him instantly.

A crisp smack echoed.

It was a sharp slap. Luke pressed his tongue against his stinging left cheek, looking at an already somewhat angry Florence.

"You had to get yourself hit, huh?" Florence’s eyes were cold as she looked at him.

"You hit so hard." Luke looked at her, his hand gripping both her wrists, pinning them behind her and hugging her waist with his hand, pressing down on the two hands, "Then I didn’t kiss right just now."

Florence lifted her knee upwards, but Luke blocked it, looking at her deeply, "Mrs. Gardiner, I’ve learned my lesson after taking so many hits from you."

His single leg moved between her legs, the position extremely suggestive. Florence squinted her eyes dangerously, "If you dare make a move, I won’t forgive you."

"Either way, I’m going to get hit." He lowered his head, his nose brushing against her soft cheek, then his lips kissed down, capturing her red lips.

Florence opened her mouth and bit down on the corner of his lips, the taste of blood spreading between them, Luke felt the pain, his eyes darkened as he stared at her, yet he was unwilling to release his grip on her.

Florence turned her face away, her expression turning cold, "Luke Gardiner, have some dignity."

"Do I still have any dignity left with you?" he said, "After all the times you hit me, can’t I get some sweetness in return?"

Florence replied coldly, "Don’t you know why you got hit? Look at what you’re doing now."

"Am I not allowed to hold my own wife?" he asked.

"No!"

"Who is then?" His gaze suddenly turned cold, "That pretty boy? Oh~ no, it’s your first love."

Florence’s eyes narrowed, "Did you dare to investigate me."

"I didn’t investigate you." He lowered his head, leaning in closer.

Florence’s eyes turned cold.

"Anyway, we’re not divorced yet, isn’t what you’re doing not quite right?"

Florence: "Compared to what you’ve done, this is nothing. What, are you going to accuse me of cheating?"

Luke said nothing.

"From the start, our marriage was just a shell." Florence said, "Luke Gardiner, because of you, I was gossiped about in SJ. Did you ever think about all those things you did when you say what I’m doing now isn’t quite right?"

Luke’s eyes flickered slightly, avoiding her gaze, and his grip loosened significantly.

Florence shoved him away. Luke took a few steps back to steady himself, creating distance between them. Florence quietly clenched her fists.

"I...!" he wanted to speak but hesitated, not knowing where to start, nor how to defend himself.

"You’re arrogant and aloof, raised in privilege and luxury since childhood, born to inherit the Gardiner Family. You live recklessly, unrestrained, but you don’t realize you’re a burden to others."

Luke looked at her, "A burden? I may have been a bit wild, but I..."

"It’s because of your wildness!" Florence looked at him, "Old Mr. Gardiner has always been good to you, had high hopes for you. You’re his only grandson, and he loves you dearly. You don’t think you’re burdening others, but do you know how much Old Mr. Gardiner has worried over your issues? All those scandals, those messy things, you have a grand time playing outside, do you not realize your actions impact both the Gardiner Clan and Gardiner Family negatively?"

"You’re already twenty-nine, almost thirty, but you still act like a careless, indulgent person. If you had even a little bit of manners and character, you wouldn’t have left on the wedding day and immediately traveled abroad with another woman. You had your fun with other women abroad, but do you know how much it embarrassed me because of you, and how thoroughly you made the Gardiner Family a joke in SJ City that afternoon? Old Mr. Gardiner, an elder, had to rush around to handle and suppress all the public opinion, apologize to those who attended the wedding, and maintain the Gardiner Clan’s reputation. The Gardiner Clan’s stock even dropped for a few days because of this issue."

"Did you know that? So what even if you found out later? You think everything’s been taken care of, someone will always cover for you, with the Gardiner Clan backing you, you can never really suffer any losses. I seriously look down on you; you’re no different from those spoilt rich kids waiting to live off their family."

Florence recalled what Old Mr. Gardiner once told her.

To have a child, regardless of gender, that will be the heir to the Gardiner Clan. She would then join Gardiner to raise the child and from then on, not have to worry about Luke Gardiner’s affairs.

When he said this, Old Mr. Gardiner had already given up on Luke Gardiner.

Luke stood there, Florence’s words were like a bucket of ice water drenching him completely.

Chilling to the bone.

Invisible shame enveloped him, he saw the contempt and disdain in Florence’s eyes; she truly looked down on him.

Others were drawn to him because of his identity, but Florence, from the start, knowing her, she had always looked down on him.