Chapter 236
“Logan…”
Lucia reached out to him, but Logan deftly sidestepped her touch and silently followed the other two out the door.
He paused on the front steps, watching as the car disappeared down the driveway, its taillights fading into the night. He didn’t move. Something about the moment left him frozen, unable to snap back into himself.
Lucia stood beside him, her eyes locked on the retreating vehicle. Her rage simmered just beneath the surface, but by the time she turned to Logan, her expression had morphed into one of gentle concern.
“Audrey’s young. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. I’ll talk to her.”
Logan glanced at her, the flicker of a thought passing through his eyes, but he said nothing. He turned and went back inside.
Panic surged in Lucia’s chest, and she quickly followed him. “Logan, I just learned a new massage technique,” she said, forcing a lightness into her tone. “Let me try it on you?”
In the car, Yann reached over and handed Audrey a leather folder.
“A little something for you.”
She blinked in surprise, then hesitantly took it. He nudged it toward her again until she opened
Inside was a deed to Winifred Manor.
- it.
She stared at it. “What is this supposed to mean?”
“It means it’s yours.”
Yann lounged back in his seat, one arm draped behind her, casually twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. His eyes were warm, filled with a quiet indulgence that made it hard to breathe.
Audrey stared at the deed, then tucked it back into the folder and shoved it against his chest.
“You did something, didn’t you?”
She could tell from the moment she met Logan that he didn’t like her. If he didn’t throw her out on the spot, it was only out of respect for Yann. A gift like this was definitely not his idea.
The manor wasn’t as large as Hillcrest Gardens, but its location was prime.
More importantly, it was the Winifred family’s old house. It carried a different kind of weight.
She jabbed her elbow into Yann’s ribs. He laughed and pulled her close.
“It was part of the divorce deal between my parents,” he said lightly. “He agreed the house would go to my future wife.”
“And he’s not worried I’ll run off with the property and disappear?”
Yann chuckled, deep in his chest. “If he’d refused, I would’ve handed you shares in the company instead.”
She tilted her head, studying him. “And you’re not scared I’ll do it?”
“Terrified,” he said without missing a beat. He kissed her forehead, his voice dropping to a murmur. “Which is why you have to be nice to me. I’m very
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emotionally fragile.”
Then he kissed her again, her brows, her nose, each touch slower and softer than the last.
Audrey’s breathing quickened. He always knew how to unravel her without even trying.
Then, lips brushing against her ear, he whispered in a breathy murmur, “I’ve made my decision.”
She blinked. “What?”
Her brain scrambled to catch up. Then she shoved his face away, flustered.
“Just this once.”
“Yeah, right.”
He always said that. And every time, it turned into anything but.
Men were natural liats, especially in bed. Nothing they said in that moment should ever
be
believed.
When they arrived at Hillcrest Gardens, Ted stepped forward. “Mr. Quentin would I like to have dinner with you. He said you could pick the time.”
“You call him back. I’ll head upstairs.” Audrey took the folder and went ahead.
While Yann was on the phone, Ted hovered near him, looking like he had something to say but never quite managing to speak.
Upstairs, Audrey showered, changed into her loungewear, and curled up on the bed. She opened the folder again, flipping through the purchase contract for Winifred Manor.
The title was still under Logan and Amelia’s names. Any transfer would require them both present or a formal power of attorney.
Before she could read further, the folder was plucked from her hands. She looked up to find Yann standing at the foot of the bed, grinning like a kid with a
surprise.
She sighed, already dreading what he was holding behind his back.
This time, it was a fluffy white lingerie set, complete with a tail.
Sometimes, waiting passively for him to pounce wasn’t the best move. Better to seize control of the situation before he wore her down completely.
Audrey launched herself into his arms. The impact made him stumble backward a few steps before catching his balance.
Before he could recover, she was already kissing him hard, her hands yanking at his shirt like she meant to tear it off.
Yann didn’t seern to mind. He wrapped an arm around her waist, gently steering her toward the bed while being careful not to let her get hurt.
His shirt slid down his shoulders, revealing the sharp lines of his body. He raised his arms to help her, a smirk playing on his lips.
With a swift move, Audrey straddled him and pinned him down.
Then, in one clean motion, she flipped his wrists together and looped his shirt sleeves around them, knotting them tight.
“All done.” She patted her hands like she’d just finished a chore and stood up, smug with triumph.
Yann didn’t resist. He stayed on his side, watching her with eyes full of warmth and quiet indulgence, clearly amused by the little show she was putting
- on.
Audrey turned the lock on the bedroom door, picked up the discarded costume from the floor, and sauntered into the walk–in closet.
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“Sweetheart…” Her voice floated out a few seconds later.”
She peeked around the doorframe, one arm braced against it, giving him a playful wink.
Then slowly, she extended one leg into view.
Her ankle was wrapped in a band of fluffy white fur, her skin smooth against the soft material,
“Open your eyes,” she said with a wink. “There’s no way you’re not completely obsessed with me right now.”
In a flash, she reappeared at the foot of the bed, this time fully dressed in a ridiculous yet oddly charming bunny outfit, complete with ears perched on her head.
She struck a pose, all exaggerated curves and flirty expressions.
“Look at me. Your sweet, innocent little bunny. You seriously don’t like this?”
Because Yann was tied up and couldn’t fight back, Audrey let herself go all in. She teased him with reckless abandon, each bold move egging her on to the next. The power was addictive.
With one final spin, she threw herself onto the bed beside him and lifted his chin with a single finger,
If you behave,” she whispered, lips inches from his, “I’ll make sure you’re very, very happy… Ah!”
Yann flipped her in an instant, pinning her beneath him. His eyes burned, dark and deep, lips curling with hunger.
“Wait.” Audrey panicked, trying to crawl back. “I tied that knot! How the hell did you…”
She froze, realizing he was the one who taught her how to tie it.
He had agreed on how many rounds, but he never said anything about how long they’d last.
By the time he was finished, she was a mess. Her throat was raw from moaning, her limbs too weak to fight him off even if she wanted to. Clinging to his shoulders, she gasped for mercy. “Yann, please! Can we stop now?”
“What was that? What do you call me?”
“Yann!”
“My love!” By the time the words left her lips, they’d been reduced to fragments, crushed by rhythm and breath.
She wasn’t even sure if she passed out from pleasure or sheer exhaustion. Right before her consciousness slipped, she could’ve sworn he bit her shoulder.
When Audrey opened her eyes the next morning, she was alone.
The massive bed stretched empty beside her. Sunlight was already pouring in through the gaps in the curtains. Judging by the light, it way past morning.
She scrambled to her feet and rushed into the bathroom.
After a quick shower, she threw on clothes, grabbed her things, and hurried downstairs, only to nearly collapse when her knees buckled halfway down.
“Good morning, Mrs. Winifred,” one of the housekeepers greeted her with a respectful smile, “Breakfast is ready.”
“I’m skipping it,” Audrey muttered, patting her sore thighs. “I’ve got things to do.”
“There’s no rush.” Emilia stood from the sofa, hands clasped in front of her, wearing a knowing smile. “Mr. Winifred said not to wake you. I pushed the schedule back to give you time to rest.”
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Audrey let out a breath of relief. Trust Yann to go to work fresh as ever while she could barely walk. Unfair didn’t even begin to cover it.
“Give me a second.” She jogged back upstairs, grabbed the deed to the manor and handed it to Emilia when she returned. “I want to transfer this into my name. If the current owners don’t show up in person, do we need a power of attorney?”
Emilia took one look and nodded, utterly relaxed. “Leave it to me.”
After breakfast, a chauffeur, arranged by Yann, picked Audrey up. Emilia joined her as they headed to a hotel where a private meeting had been
scheduled.
Inside the conference room, several former celebrities were already seated, once popular, now forgotten. Alongside them sat a representative from
StrideVestment.
“Still not here?” one of the actresses, Ruby Cole, snapped, impatience thick in her voice. “Are they screwing with us or what? I’ve got a livestream tonight I don’t have time to sit around all day!”
