CHAPTER 54: NASTY, SHAMELESS, ROSALIA

Rosalia — POV

My sudden leap knocked breath from my chest, my arms clinging around Cassel’s neck as if my life depended on it.

I felt his whole body stiffen.

I mean... every part of him stiffens.

Heat rushed to my face.

Panic, embarrassment, dread—everything collided inside me at once, but I didn’t dare move.

Right now, I was clinging to him like a koala—arms wrapped around his neck and my legs locked around his waist.

The position was bold, shameless, mortifying—and absolutely necessary.

"R-Rosalia, get down."

Cassel’s voice was deep and rough, carrying a few suppressed emotions.

But I didn’t notice the danger hidden in those words.

He wants me to get down?

And leave that seductive fox to claw her way toward him?

In your dreams.

In the original novel, the heroine Mary at least pretended to be sincere and holy...

—Even though she used Cassel and his strength for her benefit, she never cared about his body. At least not enough to drug him.

But this woman... I recognized her instantly.

Isn’t she the same cannon-fodder girl who dared to fall for the villain Cassel, caused trouble for the heroine, and in the end drugged the villain so she could sleep with him and bear his child?

My stomach twisted at the memory—at the audacity, the gall, the disrespect.

What nerve...

She wants to get pregnant with my beloved villain’s child?

I’ll kill her.

My eyes were glowing with warning and danger as I stared at the frozen woman, who was looking back at me and Cassel.

"Excuse me, you two are...?"

Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of charm—just like her curvy, perfectly shaped body... and that jacket she wore, unbuttoned halfway down her chest.

Why not just take off her clothes entirely?

This slut.

"I’m his wife."

I said as I pinched Cassel’s cheek hard.

"Baby, why did you leave me and come here? I was looking for you. Did you finish your work?"

Cassel stared at me with those dark eyes of his.

Maybe to anyone else his face looked gloomy and frightening, but I didn’t care.

Especially when I noticed the slight redness on his ears.

Is he embarrassed?

Or... angry?

My attention slipped for a second, and I slid a little down Cassel’s body.

That was because I was still a bit weak after sleeping for four days.

"Ah—!"

I cried out in panic, tightening my arms around Cassel’s neck to keep myself steady.

But then I felt something pressing against the inside of my thigh.

That sensation made me freeze completely.

I didn’t know what to do.

I mean, even if I’ve never touched a pig before, I’ve seen one... at least on TV.

"Ah—oh my god!"

Suddenly, I felt my body being lifted high, as if I’d been launched into the air, and I screamed in fright.

Then a sharp voice sounded right beside my ear, close enough that I felt the breath that came with it.

"Don’t move, or—"

Cassel sounded like he was clenching his teeth.

Oh god, I really didn’t mean it.

And because I had done something wrong—because it was my fault—I shut up completely without offering any excuse or defense.

I even pressed my face into Cassel’s neck, hiding as deeply as I could, wishing the earth would open and swallow me from sheer embarrassment.

Cassel was holding me with one arm so high that I was taller than him by a few centimeters. Lowering my head and keeping it tucked into his neck was painful, but I didn’t dare complain.

"I’ll go and call my men to register their abilities and the supplies we brought. Thank you for the assistance."

I heard a deep, respectful male voice respond politely:

"No problem. Thank you for your cooperation."

Then, as Cassel carried me away, I heard the man speak to the woman beside him in a mocking, teasing tone:

"Well, well, even Beauty Queen Emily gets rejected. Hahaha! I can’t believe you tried seducing a married man in front of his wife. Hahaha! I’ll call you the third-party homewrecker from now on."

The woman sputtered behind us, and the sounds of a scuffle echoed faintly as we moved further away.

As their voices faded and the sound of blows rose behind us, guilt finally crept into my heart.

I mean... I can’t believe I fabricated the position of being CEO Cassel Zancroft’s wife.

What a disaster.

What will Cassel say?

And this lie has a very short lifespan, because Cassel is famous and well-known in the business world... I can’t believe there’s anyone who doesn’t know the richest, strongest golden bachelor in the country.

All I could do was shed tears of regret, even though I’m certain that if time reversed... I would still do the same thing.

There’s no way I’d let that vixen get close to Cassel.

God, how pathetic am I... as if Mary’s miserable presence and her endless attempts to get close to Cassel weren’t enough, now another one appears.

All because of this man.

I finally lifted my head and glared at Cassel from above with anger.

If you didn’t parade around with that handsome face and that tall, strong body... and that aura that says:

"I am powerful, wealthy, and handsome—follow me."

Would women be chasing after you like this?

"Why do you seduce everyone you meet?!"

I couldn’t stop myself from shouting out what was in my heart.

Cassel looked at me with a suggestive, mysterious expression.

Then I felt the hand he had on my back slowly slide downward, touching every inch of me in a burning, deliberate way.

Even though I was clothed, it felt as if his hand was moving across my bare skin.

My body trembled and my cheeks flushed as I heard his low, chilling voice:

"Look who’s talking about seduction."

Cassel’s voice was dangerous—threatening.

I even felt the urge to run.

Not that I didn’t try.

But his strong arms held me firmly, and I couldn’t get down even if I wanted to.

"What did you call me earlier?"

I froze completely... trembling even more.

What did I call him?

I called him... husband?

What were you thinking, Rosalia?

Not even "my love" or "darling."

You jumped straight to "husband."

I’m doomed.

I shut my eyes tightly, refusing to face reality.