Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Wanwan, You Have to Take Responsibility for Me
This scenario was something Victoria Monroe never even dreamed of; it was simply too absurd!
Upon waking up, she found herself in bed with Rhys Hawthorne. What’s more, she had partial memories of unbuttoning Rhys’s shirt. Rhys had tried to stop her, but she insisted, and he let her continue.
She had not only touched his chest but also rubbed her face against his neck, cheeks, and even wrapped her legs around his waist to sleep through the night.
As their eyes met, there was a hint of drowsy confusion in Rhys’s eyes.
He looked younger than his actual age, like a clean-cut college student.
With his black hair resting on his fair cheek, without the usual aloofness, it was a sight she had never seen before.
Very pure and tender, like the light cream inside a puff pastry, aromatic yet not cloying.
Victoria was shocked by what she, a seasoned driver, had done to Rhys!
Besides touching his abs, what else had she done?
Oh heavens? Just kill her already.
Her lifetime reputation was ruined in an instant.
Thinking of her odd habits with Julian Fordham, could she have done the same to Rhys last night? She was utterly ashamed, wishing she could just vanish into the sea.
When Rhys had just woken up, his heart panicked for a moment, thinking he should leave early and not let her find out what happened last night.
How did he fall asleep?
After experiencing many ups and downs, Rhys quickly regained composure.
He thought Victoria would slap him, accuse him of taking advantage of her, calling him a rogue.
Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Rhys swallowed the words "I can be responsible for you," choosing to watch quietly.
Seeing Victoria’s guilt-ridden and remorseful look, "Rhys, I’m sorry, I was out of my senses last night, what did I do to you?"
Rhys sat up, the cold air entering as he moved, sending shivers down Victoria’s spine.
Only then did she realize that aside from the clothes on her back, she was completely naked.
Sitting up in bed, Rhys was nothing like his usual dignified self. His hair was slightly messy, his chest largely exposed, revealing a jade-like quality.
What should’ve been a perfect work of art bore a long scar and a bullet hole.
The bullet hole was near his heart, suggesting he had once been close to death!
Victoria was momentarily dazed, then realized she was staring at Rhys inappropriately, directing her gaze to his calm, handsome face.
Rhys’s dark eyes were calm as he explained, "After I saved you from the sea, you developed a fever. Considering your wish to keep this child, I didn’t dare use medication. When you said you were cold, I planned to warm you with my body but didn’t expect you would..."
He deliberately paused here, seeing Victoria’s face go pale.
"Your body was burning up, so you took off our clothes and embraced me. I thought about leaving, but you wouldn’t allow it."
Rhys added calmly, "Luckily, you only removed my clothes, leaving me with my pants."
Victoria’s face went from white to red, feeling utterly embarrassed, "Sorry, I was out of my mind then."
Previously when she got sick, she would be incredibly clingy, but she had forgotten she had already divorced Julian Fordham, and the man beside her was Rhys.
In this to and fro, Rhys understood Victoria’s intentions, slowly buttoning his shirt while his gaze remained fixed on her face, exuding intense pressure.
"You’re the first woman to take off my clothes."
Victoria’s hand clutched the blanket against her chest until it crumpled. She carefully said, "So, sorry."
Rhys’s eyes casually swept across her face as he continued, "And the first woman to touch my body."
Victoria was so embarrassed that her ears turned bright red, feeling as if she were being left alone by a teacher during a parent-teacher conference. What’s the difference?
"Sorry."
She felt almost like a scoundrel who had hurt an innocent girl.
Rhys noticed her guilty reluctance to meet his gaze, only focusing on the small woman watching his hands button his shirt.
In business negotiations, this was a big taboo—showing one’s trump card before even starting.
It had to be said, Julian Fordham had genuinely made her "naively sweet" during the years she lived with him.
As a child, she could persuade him to sell cashmere scarves to get chocolate in return, continuously emphasizing that saving him had its rewards.
But now, she was so simple that she was easily manipulated.
Businessmen are known to seize every advantage when you’re vulnerable.
Rhys suddenly leaned closer to Victoria, exerting an overwhelming male presence.
Victoria had to look up at him, feeling as if she had nothing to lose, "What... what do you want to do? I’ve already done it."
As their eyes met, Rhys’s gaze was deep and dark, like a well with no visible light. It inexplicably made Victoria feel guilty.
Rhys’s thin lips spoke lightly, "Victoria, you need to take responsibility for me."
"Ah?" Victoria blinked her big eyes, clearly not expecting him to make such a proposal.
She stammered, "How, how to be responsible?"
For a moment, she was unclear about Rhys’s intentions, wondering what kind of responsibility he meant.
After all, those words were usually spoken by men to women, but now the situation was reversed, leaving her to think she was overthinking it.
Unexpectedly, Rhys added, "You’ve not only seen my body but touched it too; only my wife can share a bed with me, so Victoria..."
He leaned in to whisper near Victoria’s ear, "You must take literal responsibility for me."
Victoria was utterly flustered; it truly was the literal meaning.
"Rhys, I, I just got divorced and am pregnant with Julian Fordham’s child; don’t joke like that."
Rhys met her eyes full of panic. The plot this morning had also disrupted his plans.
No one knew what the future held, but he felt this was the closest opportunity he might have with Victoria.
If he let go, there would never be a better chance than today!
He concealed his feelings, afraid to scare Victoria away.
Rhys remained as composed as ever, "I know today’s society is filled with messy relationships, but the Hawthorne Family is different. From a young age, I’ve been taught to remain faithful; my father is a role model, treating my mother with such dedication over the years. Therefore, I’ve always been cautious about relationships, never acting recklessly. Last night was an honest encounter; I’m sorry, I can’t pretend nothing happened."
Victoria met the man’s deep and determined eyes, hearing her frantic heartbeat, "Rhys, you..."
"Victoria, my family wishes for me to bring a girlfriend home soon; otherwise, I’ll have to go down the path of arranged marriages. The woman who answered my phone last time is among the candidates for such an arrangement, but I only see her as a sister. Inflicting this on someone would ruin their life."
Victoria’s mind was in a jumble. How did they get talking about his family matters?
"You’re saying?"
"Victoria, I wish to bring you back to the Hawthorne Family, to introduce you to my family."