Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Victoria Monroe Disappears
Rhys Hawthorne wasn’t holding Victoria Monroe for the first time, and although she was a bit shy, it felt much more natural than before.
Victoria Monroe crossed her hands to hug his neck, and she couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person Rhys Hawthorne, such a perfect and reliable man, who never mentioned any women, would like?
Victoria Monroe couldn’t even imagine what Rhys Hawthorne’s other half would be like.
In her mind, she fantasized about a petite and cute girl, a mature and glamorous lady, a cold and distant muse, all seemed fitting for him.
While she was lost in thought, Rhys Hawthorne had already laid her on the bed.
The man’s hands moved slowly from her calf upward, making Victoria Monroe suddenly snap back to reality, only to find his palms smeared with ointment, massaging her leg joints.
The bath towel barely covered the base of her thigh, any slight movement and it would expose her.
"Rhys, let me do it myself."
"You’re not as skilled as I am." Rhys’s strength was just right, neither too light nor too heavy, even inducing a sense of comfort.
"Your joint coldness is quite severe, you need to apply ointment every few days, otherwise as your condition worsens, it’ll ache and itch during the rainy season in the second half of your life."
He wasn’t exaggerating, Victoria had seen many women like this in the slums, often complaining about bodily pain.
Either due to postpartum issues or catching a cold in their youth.
Victoria Monroe stopped talking, the man’s hands gently kneading her skin, gradually creating an unusual feeling.
She’s different from Rhys Hawthorne, given her extensive experience with Julian Fordham.
All of it was under urgent circumstances, and over time she had returned to calm, naturally developing desires.
"Stop... Stop massaging." She hurriedly called out.
Rhys Hawthorne raised his head, meeting Victoria Monroe’s glistening eyes and flushed cheeks.
He realized today what it meant to have skin like cream and eyes like stars.
This unfamiliar Victoria Monroe was inexplicably alluring.
Like a soft, glutinous candy, tempting him to taste.
"What’s wrong?" Rhys felt that her presence made his heart itch, without delving deeper.
"I’m a bit tired and want to sleep for a while, could you leave for a moment?"
Victoria Monroe acted coquettishly, both gentle and seductively.
Rhys Hawthorne slowly rose and removed his hand from her knee.
He always acted meticulously, scooped another spoonful from the medicine box into his palm, emulsified it, and applied it to her elbow, his expression serious: "Bear with me a moment longer."
Victoria Monroe closed her eyes, refusing to entertain any wicked thoughts.
She wasn’t an innocent maiden anymore, her body was naturally sensitive.
Initially wary and cautious of Rhys Hawthorne, over time, even she didn’t realize her body had accepted him, developing inappropriate emotions during their physical contact.
She wished she could slap herself, how could she fantasize about Rhys Hawthorne, this aloof Buddha?
He was even two years younger than her, was she some kind of beast?
Victoria Monroe silently recited the Heart Sutra in her mind.
Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
Rhys Hawthorne’s hand slowly spread from her elbow to Victoria Monroe’s shoulder, his warm fingertips inadvertently brushing over her neck and the soft spot below her collarbone.
Everywhere were her most sensitive places, causing her to abruptly open her eyes and grab Rhys Hawthorne’s wrist.
Rhys Hawthorne looked at her, puzzled, "What’s the matter? Are you uncomfortable? Did I hurt you?"
His face was righteous, yet the words he spoke unwittingly leading one’s mind astray.
Victoria Monroe sometimes really wished she could purify her mind full of impure thoughts.
Considering the playful times she’d had with Julian Fordham in the past, now divorced, facing a man who might never have even held a woman’s hand.
Victoria Monroe felt sinful like a devil, every glance at Rhys Hawthorne seemed to taint him.
"No pain, I’m just tired."
"Alright, I’ll finish quickly..."
Victoria Monroe raised her hand to cover his lips, "Enough, no more talking."
The woman’s strong aroma of shower gel wafted into his nose.
In order to massage her better, he was side-sitting near her, the two were very close, Victoria Monroe actively covering his lips, almost completely leaning into his embrace.
In the air, an amorous atmosphere was brewing.
Rhys Hawthorne’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, he exerted effort to control the inexplicable emotions in his mind, his thin lips lightly exhaling against her delicate skin: "Alright, won’t speak."
Victoria Monroe only felt her palms hot and itchy, quickly letting go and pushing Rhys Hawthorne’s body away.
"I’m fine now, please go out."
Rhys Hawthorne noticed the difference in Victoria Monroe compared to before, not pressing further.
"Rest well."
He packed up and left the room, as the door closed, he seemed to have realized something.
Rhys Hawthorne had massaged Victoria Monroe several times before, previous intimate contacts her body was accustomed to his touch.
When her body automatically shielded danger, accepting him, it triggered instinctual desire.
Nothing to do with love, humans are high-level beings after all.
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many pursuing thrilling brief flings, one-night stands were abundant.
The greatest difference between humans and animals is the ability to control desires, Rhys Hawthorne wasn’t keen on such matters, his indifference was chilling.
Earlier when approaching Victoria Monroe, all he thought was holding her, getting closer to her.
She was in his heart a pure goddess, never daring to desecrate her.
Yet at this moment, some inappropriate thoughts rose within him.
Wanting to hold her, wanting to see the scar on her waist left from filming.
More so wanting to taste her, to see if she was as sweet as imagined.
He loosened his collar, "No rush, there’s time ahead."
Seeing him leave, Victoria Monroe finally let out a breath of relief.
He probably didn’t notice anything amiss with her.
Victoria Monroe was a bit helpless, with Julian Fordham, this aspect was never empty.
Over the past month of pregnancy, too many things have happened, leaving no time to indulge in such affairs.
But what about the future?
The hormonal changes during pregnancy, significant increases in estrogen and progesterone, lead to marked changes in desire.
It’s a bodily instinct, nothing shameful about it.
Once she has the baby, how would she spend the long years that follow?
Victoria Monroe frowned deeply, divorce was fine, but she had become a solitary elder.
Because of this, Victoria Monroe was embarrassed to even see Rhys Hawthorne, deliberately avoiding dinner with him in the evening.
Her mind was all about tomorrow, once aboard the ship, she wouldn’t have to see him, thus avoiding awkwardness.
Early in the morning, Victoria Monroe took her grandmother for a check-up.
Unexpectedly, Rhys Hawthorne was there too, their eyes met, and Victoria Monroe’s face flushed red, hurriedly greeted him briefly before pushing her grandmother for the check-up.
Rhys Hawthorne seemed calm, but really his heart was racing.
If she has such emotions, is it that she no longer sees him as a younger brother? At least, she began viewing him as a man.
Assistant Woods felt Rhys Hawthorne was behaving oddly today, almost like flowers blooming all over him.
Rhys Hawthorne remained silent, simply reveling in joy.
Seeing Assistant Woods staring at him, he coughed slightly: "Just those few cars added to the nursing home, who are they?"
"Oh, they are here for a performance at the nursing home, to enrich the lives of the elderly, programs are organized at intervals, boss, today..." Assistant Woods curiously surveyed him.
"Don’t look at me with that expression."
"No, but last night with Ms. Monroe...?"
"No!" Rhys Hawthorne quickly responded, exuding an air of protest.
Assistant Woods seemed to have discovered a new continent. In the past, he wouldn’t dare to tease Rhys Hawthorne like this, now the atmosphere was brimming with gossip between the two.
Until a group of performers hurriedly entered, it seemed one had fallen ill while preparing.
Soon after, assistants and staff hastily pushed the performer away.
Rhys Hawthorne waited by the door for a while, "Go check, is the check-up time too long? It was just some routine tests."
"Yes, boss, haven’t seen Ms. Monroe for a while, missing her?" Assistant Woods continued teasing.
Rhys Hawthorne cast a cold glance, Assistant Woods quickly ran off.
Seems like such a Mr. Hawthorne wasn’t bad, finally showing some humanity.
Moments later, Assistant Woods rushed over, his face bearing concern: "Boss, there’s trouble, Grandma and Ms. Monroe are missing!"