CHAPTER 99: CHAPTER 99: EUGENE VAUGHN’S TWELVE-YEAR CRUSH

Victoria panicked.

The man’s gentle kiss turned fiery and intense, as if he wanted to consume her with desire.

If she didn’t struggle now, she wouldn’t have a chance later.

Victoria turned her head to avoid his kiss, and angrily shouted, "Eugene, I don’t want it."

Eugene was slightly breathless, took a deep breath, his voice heavy: "Doesn’t it hurt you even a little bit?"

Victoria’s body had long been trembling with a soft void, not uncomfortable, but hard to endure.

"I’m not uncomfortable."

Eugene suppressed the wild desire raging within him with inhuman willpower, released her, and propped his hands on the bed.

Victoria immediately moved away from his lap and retreated a few steps.

Eugene got up to take clothes from the wardrobe, "You should sleep early."

Victoria understood what he meant, if she didn’t want a second round, she shouldn’t arouse his desire again, sleeping early would be safe.

Eugene went into the bathroom, and Victoria hurriedly climbed into bed, covering herself with the blanket.

She turned off the lights.

Wanting to fall asleep quickly.

But the more she wanted to sleep, the less she could fall asleep.

After a long time, Victoria heard the bathroom door open, her body tensed even more, pretending to be asleep without moving.

Light footsteps approached her.

A burst of shower fragrance mingled into her breaths.

Her pillow was slowly pressed down, surrounded by a warmth.

This warmth lingered on her face for a long time, she tried to keep an even breath, not daring to open her eyes.

Suddenly, something pressed down on her, her heart beating violently, nervously gripping the sheets tightly.

In the next second, she felt the man’s hot breath on her cheeks, and her forehead was kissed gently.

All the blood in her body was boiling, almost unable to maintain the pretense anymore, her heart continuously beating wildly.

Being secretly kissed on the forehead while she was pretending to be asleep, this shock exceeded her imagination, piercing deep into her soul.

If he knew she was pretending to sleep, Eugene’s tactics were indeed formidable.

But what if he didn’t know?

She couldn’t believe Eugene was actually secretly kissing her?

The man’s stealthy kiss was light, gentle, and brief.

Victoria felt the man leave, his light footsteps walking away.

There was no movement on the bed.

After a long time, Victoria secretly opened her eyes, her gaze just landing on the balcony.

The curtain was half-pushed open, the bright moonlight streaming into the room, the man stood in the night’s shade, gazing at the night sky outside.

His silhouette against the hazy moonlight resembled a dark, brooding youth in an oil painting, enveloped in an indescribable melancholy.

Just like that, she watched Eugene’s back, while Eugene watched the moonlight.

The long night was filled with countless thoughts.

——

The next morning, when Victoria woke up, Eugene was already not in the room.

She felt the side of the bed, as if there was no trace of him having slept.

Victoria got up, washed up, changed her clothes, and went out.

The living room was very lively.

Many people from The Rhodes Family had come, everyone was joyful and beaming.

Grandmother was particularly busy, entertaining relatives from The Rhodes Family, too occupied to pay attention to anyone else.

Uncle and Aunt were happily chatting with Tiffany Rhodes’ parents.

Grandmother and countless relatives were busying themselves with traditional rituals with The Rhodes Family’s relatives.

In the corner, Jenny Vaughn, Vivian Miller, and two young women whom Victoria didn’t know were looking at the wedding and travel albums, seemingly determined to finalize all wedding details, including the honeymoon location, today.

Victoria felt she couldn’t help, so she went to the kitchen for breakfast, then headed outside to the garden to find Eugene.

Outside the sunny villa.

Beside the garden was an artificial stream, filled with many colorful koi, surrounded by lush greenery and blooming flowers.

Eugene and Tiffany were gathered by the stream, chatting leisurely.

Eugene saw Victoria walking over, his lips slightly curved with a gentle gaze, softly asking, "Why not sleep a little longer?"

"I’ve slept enough."

"Did you have breakfast?"

"I did."

Tiffany was startled upon seeing Victoria, nervously looking at Eugene, awkward and embarrassed, "Who is she?"

Eugene countered, "My wife, didn’t you meet her before?"

"I did," but Tiffany didn’t know Victoria was his wife, having said many things she shouldn’t have, Tiffany awkwardly greeted Victoria politely, "Hello, sister-in-law."

"Hello," Victoria responded calmly.

Tiffany looked at Eugene guiltily, one hand pressing on his shoulder, leaning in to apologize softly in his ear: "Brother, I’m really sorry, I didn’t know she was your wife before, and said many things I shouldn’t have in front of her."

Eugene’s face darkened, frowning at him.

Tiffany was filled with remorse, "I spilled everything about your high school to college crush."

Eugene gripped his arm tightly, the force increasing bit by bit, his pupils trembled: Had Victoria learned about his twelve-year crush on her?

Tiffany wore a sheepish expression, forcing a smile while pushing Eugene’s hand away, saying, "Next time, next time I will definitely make amends, I’ll go check if Jenny has chosen her wedding."

Tiffany fled hastily.

Victoria maintained a facade of magnanimity, smiling at him.

Eugene was extraordinarily uneasy, his eyes evading, his ears flushed red, nervously turning around.

He clutched the wooden railing, slightly parted his lips to take deep breaths, radiating an unfathomable tension, appearing especially restrained.

It was Victoria’s first time seeing Eugene react this way, she stood beside him, quietly watching the koi in the stream.

Speaking of his first love, Victoria felt envious, inevitably tinged with a bit of bitterness.

The warm morning light bathed them, a gentle breeze blowing, the air infused with the scent of flowers, exceptionally refreshing.

This tranquility lasted for a while, Eugene’s gentle voice like a spring breeze, whispered, "You know?"

Victoria responded, "Yes."

Eugene turned his head to look at her, his burning deep eyes faintly hopeful, "How do you feel?"

Victoria felt bitter inside.

Why ask her how she feels?

In today’s society, who hasn’t had a few romantic histories? Besides, that was his first love, it was already in the past.

She couldn’t possibly tell him honestly that she envied and felt bitter about that girl.

Victoria feigned generosity, falsely saying, "I don’t feel anything."

Eugene’s eyes were full of disappointment, his gaze shifting from her face, looking ahead, gripping the railing unconsciously with force, taking a heavy breath.

A heavy cold pressure emanated around him.

Felt very hurt and painful.

Suddenly, Victoria’s phone buzzed twice.

She looked down, took it out, and opened it.

It was a voice message from Angela Austin.

She pressed it to her ear to listen.

Angela said, "Victoria, today two women came to the research institute to cause trouble for you again, they seem to be fans of your sister-in-law. Also, there’s good news to tell you, your sister-in-law’s account has been suspended, really great news!"

At the same time, Eugene murmured bitterly, "Indeed, people who like you abound, whether with or without me, it won’t make a difference. A person like me, insignificant and trivial, what difference would it make to you?"

Victoria finished listening to the voice message, looked at Eugene puzzled, "What did you say?"