Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Be Good, Wanwan. Promise Me
When Rhys Hawthorne’s magnetic voice called out "baby," it made Victoria Monroe’s legs go weak.
Victoria Monroe had no resistance against this version of Rhys Hawthorne!
She clutched the collar of his pajamas, her heart trembling, "Enough."
Rhys wasn’t too disappointed; their relationship had progressed faster than he had imagined.
"Alright, it’s already late. You should rest early."
Instead of making another move, Rhys wrapped her waist gently and planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "Good night, baby."
Victoria blushed furiously at his tender use of "baby." She couldn’t believe that a man like him, often seen as unattainable, could utter such terms in bed.
Even someone as experienced as her found herself blushing.
"Sleep," she buried her head like a quail in Rhys’s embrace.
The feeling was too wonderful and surreal. Victoria always thought there was something odd about Rhys, but she couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
With these muddled thoughts, she somehow drifted off to sleep.
Rhys looked at the small woman in his arms, reached out to caress her cheek.
"My dear Victoria, my baby."
He thought he would never have this chance, yet here he was, holding her in his arms today.
Even someone born with everything like him felt fulfilled now, as if he owned the world.
With his warm embrace, Victoria slept soundly.
She slept until the sun was high in the sky, and when she awoke, the man beside her was gone.
The events of last night replayed in her mind, and Victoria covered her cheeks.
Oh my god, she had really kissed Rhys!
Just as she thought this, the man entered through the door, catching her covering her cheeks, looking every bit the bashful maiden.
"Good morning."
Rhys approached her with a spring breeze-like demeanor. Victoria met his smiling eyes and instinctively pulled the covers over her head.
"Last night..." her muffled voice came from under the covers.
Rhys hadn’t expected her to be so shy, he chuckled softly, "Thank you for cooperating with me last night; you made me experience something beautiful again."
His calm demeanor made Victoria seem overly dramatic.
Rhys pulled back the covers, revealing her fluffy little head, looking adorable.
"The weather is nice today. Assistant Woods has chosen a good spot for sea fishing. Want to try it out?"
Victoria’s eyes widened, "Fishing? I’m good at that."
As a child, her family was poor, and she often fished and caught shrimp in the river to improve their situation.
She would dig worms in the hills for bait, hook them onto a bent needle, and tie it to a stick.
Though it was tough, it was also free and joyful, but unfortunately, everyone around her eventually left her.
"Hmm, have breakfast first."
Rhys had arranged everything. Although Victoria missed the sunrise, she was still looking forward to sea fishing.
After a hurried wash-up and breakfast, she quickly found Rhys.
Under the sun, Rhys wore a clean white shirt, casual pants, and sunglasses.
The shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, with the hem hanging freely instead of being tucked into his waistband like before, getting filled with sea breeze.
Even his hair wasn’t deliberately fixed with gel at the back, giving him a very youthful look.
His focus was on the float on the sea, his fair and slender fingers pulling the fishing line; whatever he did, he was especially attractive.
Victoria slowed her steps to avoid disturbing him, yet he still sensed her presence and turned around, "Come here, Victoria."
She saw the parasol and fishing rods already prepared beside him.
There were over ten types of fishing rods; even though she couldn’t recognize the brands, she could tell from their craftsmanship that they were expensive.
Moments like these made her want to compete with these wealthy people!
"So many fishing rods..." she marveled, realizing rich people didn’t play around with sticks like she did.
Rhys bent down to pick a beginner’s rod for her from a row of fishing equipment, "A sea fishing rod with a baitcasting reel will do. Want me to show you how to use it?"
Victoria nodded, "Please do."
"I told you, no need to be polite. Here, hold it this way."
Rhys naturally took her hand, introducing the use of the fishing gear. His voice was pleasant, deep, and melodious, speaking slowly and patiently.
Their physical contact made Victoria a little nervous. She glanced up at him. The man lowered his head, sunglasses hiding his sharp eyes, and his thin lips showed no emotion.
As she continued to daydream, he gently patted the back of her hand, "Try casting it."
With his guidance, Victoria cast the hook onto the sea steadily, a spark of joy lighting her eyes and brows, "Rhys, I’ve done it!"
She was as happy as a child, not noticing Rhys’s slightly lifted corners of his lips, "Yes, our Victoria is really amazing."
Assistant Woods, coming over to bring them drinks, nearly stumbled.
What!
Our Victoria?
No, he thought it would take Rhys, who was always so cool, three or even ten years to catch up with Victoria Monroe.
Little did he know that just one day was all it took for their relationship to develop rapidly.
Turns out, it wasn’t that he didn’t know, but he didn’t want to ruin someone else’s marriage.
Once Victoria regained her freedom, Rhys struck while the iron was hot.
It made sense; having been influenced by his parents’ love since childhood, he inherited his father’s deep affection even without trying.
Only those who are loved know how to love others.
Julian Fordham lost because of his family.
Victoria focused intently on the float, Rhys offered her a drink, "Drink up, Victoria."
"Oh."
Victoria, not turning her head, obediently opened her mouth, letting him place the straw into her mouth, sipping orange juice unconsciously. She had already started getting used to the man’s meticulous care and concern.
She watched the fish while the man watched her.
After a while, Victoria suddenly exclaimed, "Fish, a fish is hooked!"
Only then did Rhys’s gaze shift from her beautiful face to the sea, where the float’s area was churning with water and the fishing rod bent tight under the fish line’s pull.
"It’s a big fish."
Victoria didn’t expect her luck to be this good, catching a big fish right off the bat, which was so strong it seemed it might pull her into the sea.
Her hands nearly lost grip of the rod, and just as it was about to slip, a large hand wrapped around her small hand, steadily imparting the man’s strength.
Rhys stood behind her, almost enveloping her entirely in his arms, his warm breath falling on her ear, "Don’t rush, reel it in slowly. If it tries to run, let it go a little before reeling again. Do this a few times, and it’ll come out when it’s tired."
"Mmm."
The large hand covering hers was warm and powerful, veins bulging, exuding masculinity.
The sandalwood scent unique to him kept coming into her nose, their clothes were thin, making her back sweat from his heat.
They were so close!
But she didn’t have time to care, following his rhythm for a while until the fish tired. With a sudden lift of her hand.
A large sea fish weighing dozens of pounds was hooked, pulling water splashes as it emerged.
Excitedly, she reeled it in, bringing the fish onto the deck.
The fish thrashed about, splashing water all over her face. Victoria was elated, "Rhys, I caught a big fish!"
In her excitement, she wrapped her arms around Rhys’s neck. Rhys held her waist, his eyes beneath his sunglasses filled with affection.
"Yes, our Victoria did great!"
Victoria laughed joyfully, "It wasn’t that great; I mainly succeeded because you helped me."
To her surprise, Rhys suddenly smirked, "Then do I get a reward?"
The sea breeze blew Rhys’s white shirt, revealing his delicate collarbone and fair neck, making him look both sexy and clean.
Victoria felt his gaze burn through even the sunglasses, nervously licking her dry lips and asked, "Wh-what reward?"
Kneeling on the ground collecting fish for the two, Assistant Woods was also curious about Rhys’s request.
Rhys leaned in, whispering something in her ear.
The sea breeze was strong, so Assistant Woods heard not a word.
He only saw Victoria suddenly blush, gently punching Rhys’s chest, "Rhys, you’re so bad!"
Assistant Woods: So, the clown was me all along? Why was he ever worried that Rhys wouldn’t catch up with Victoria in a lifetime?
The two locked gazes, Rhys’s rough fingertips caressed her wrist, his voice sensually captivating, "Sweet Victoria, say yes to me, won’t you?"