Chapter 394
2011
These guys weren’t here to chat. If she had to guess, they were probably the clean up crew sent to keep whatever happened inside this lab buried for good.
A fire this big happened, and not a single headline was about it. Someone definitely pulled strings to keep it quiet.
Shermaine placed the sample case in the car, locked the door, then turned and said directly, “Bring it on.”
They exchanged glances, clearly thrown off, thinking, ‘She’s got the face, but not that much brains!
The leader sneered, “You asked for it. Get her!”
It was cold, which was the only reason Shermaine hadn’t tied up her waist–length hair. She had no hair tie with her either, but she did have a ballpoint pen in her pocket.
She lifted both hands to gather her loose strands, then deftly pulled out the pen, twisted her hair into a bun, and secured it in place.
Their target was the car keys in Shermaine’s pocket. Several men rushed at her at once, but in the next instant, the man in front was sent flying by a powerful kick from Shermaine.
That’s when it clicked for them that she wasn’t bluffing, and her confidence had nothing to do with her looks. She knew how to fight, and she was damn good at it.
It didn’t take long before they were outmatched. The leader whipped out his phone to call for backup, but before he could even dial, Shermaine darted over and, with a swift kick, sent his phone flying and the man sprawling to the ground.
As she landed, the ballpoint pen securing her hair flew out, just as a car approached from ahead. The pen clattered to the ground, while the vehicle behind it screeched to a sudden stop.
Shermaine’s gaze flicked toward the sound. She could’ve stayed and finished the fight, no problem. But there was no time to waste–someone inside was infected and needed her help now.
As she was about to get into the car and drive off to pick the injured man up, a man suddenly stepped out of the other car. It was Bruce, the man she had seen on the news that morning. Shermaine’s hand froze on the car door.
Bruce bent down, picked up the ballpoint pen that had rolled away and walked up to her. “Here,” he said, handing it over.
“What are you doing here?” Shermaine asked.
Bruce didn’t bother to hide anything and explained, “The backer of this lab once hired an operative from the Dark Organization. You know her–Kylie.
“Kylie was leading the lab’s ongoing Immortality Project. Ever since she joined, the experiments started going wrong.” He paused briefly before adding, “I’m here to clean up the mess.”
In other words, he was here to clean up Kylie’s mess. Shermaine raised an eyebrow, thinking, ‘Now, that’s a surprise.‘
Bruce had every reason to stay out of this. If this whole thing blew up, no one could pin it on the Dark Organization. He could’ve walked away with clean hands. But instead, he showed up.
And Kylie, that foreigner, had really stirred up a hornet’s nest on their turf.
Shermaine gave a brief nod, then asked, “So what’s the situation now?”
Bruce pursed his lips. “There was a big fire here last night. Many test subjects escaped. I’ve quarantined some, but about ten are still on the loose.”
Among those in quarantine were also the officers who’d gotten hurt in last night’s chaos. Bruce had already locked down the only road into the city, so anyone trying to sneak in would be caught immediately.
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Shenmaine’s expression turned slightly solemn. There were so many people infected, yet they still didn’t have a serum that could cure them.
Shemaine thought. Looks like I’ll have to speed up and develop the serum,‘
Bruce hesitated before delivering the crucial update. “There’s one more thing. A mutated subject made it into the city. I couldn’t bring her back.” This particular failure had weighed heavily on Bruce all day.
The woman carrying the mutated virus–Natalie had gone into hiding. In a sprawling city like Horington, home to over ten million people, tracking her down would be nearly impossible. That was when Shermaine’s expression finally turned serious.
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This wasn’t the right place to talk. After loading the infected patient into her car, Shermaine drove to the quarantine zone with Bruce.
It turned out to be an old clinic on the edge of town. Bruce had it stocked with top–tier medical equipment and supplies, and had even brought in some
of the best doctors and nurses to staff it.
Leaving the patient in Bruce’s care was Shermaine’s way of showing that she trusted him. Shermaine asked, “What did the patient infected with the
mutated virus look like?”
Bruce replied, “There’s a video, but her face isn’t visible.”
Shermaine said, “Let me take a look.”
Bruce pulled out his phone and handed it to Shermaine.
The video was actually surveillance footage from last night. It showed a woman in a white outfit–her hair a tangled mess, her face grimy–ravenously devouring food in the convenience store, as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
Shermaine didn’t recognize Natalie in the footage. She requested, “Send me a copy.”
“I’ll send it to you on WhatsApp. Give me your phone number,” Bruce said.
“Alright,” Shermaine replied.
After exchanging phone numbers, Bruce sent the video and said, “If you get any leads on that woman, contact me. I’ll handle the arrest.”
“Got it,” Shermaine replied. This way, she could focus most of her time on breaking down the virus strain and pushing forward with the development of a
working serum to help stabilize the infected group.
Bruce glanced at his watch. “It’s almost noon. Want to grab lunch together?”
She replied, “Another time.”
“Alright,” Bruce said without pressing further.
It was an overcast day, and a biting wind sent shivers down everyone’s spine. The gloomy weather did nothing to lift anyone’s spirits. Before long, a fine drizzle began to fall.
Shermaine drove off, taking the samples back to her research lab.
Instead of rushing to study the virus, she took out her laptop, powered it on, and launched GPS–an advanced tracking program she seldom used.
It was already geo–locked onto Horington. She uploaded the footage from the convenience store, hit run, then shut the laptop. If the system found a
match, it would ping her phone with a notification.
Time flew by, and a week had passed in the blink of an eye.
The tracking program, GPS, had scanned every surveillance–covered area in the city, yet there was still no sign of Natalie.
Shermaine had been holed up in the lab most of the time. Three days ago, she’d already formulated a prototype serum–one that could suppress the virus, at least temporarily,
It wasn’t a full cure, but it kept the infection under control and delayed symptoms without any side effects.
But what weighed on her mind wasn’t the patients under quarantine–it was the one still missing, the woman with the mutated strain.
Miles away, buried beneath scrap cars in a landfill, there was an old basement no one had set foot in for years. From within, muffled growls echoed now
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Natalie’s lower body was now completely covered in black scales, emitting a putrid, fish–like stench. She jolted awake from a fitful sleep, and upon seeing her grotesque appearance, burst into hysterical screams. “How did I become like this? This is disgusting?”
She looked neither like a human, nor a monster. The thought alone made her sick. She couldn’t accept what she’d become.
Up above, one of the landfill workers suddenly paused, having heard a strange noise. He turned to his colleague and asked, “Hey, did you just hear something?”
“Nope,” the other worker said.
“Sounds like it’s coming from the basement.”
“Really?”
“Let’s go check it out.”
Outside, the rain had started again, soaking everything in a steady drizzle.
Shermaine took off her lab coat and stepped out of the lab.
“We’re getting close,” Shermaine said.
“Glad to hear it,” he said, visibly relieved. Everyone had placed their hopes on Shermaine. The rest of them could only assist where they could, but the real work was hers alone.
The original virus wasn’t all that complex to manage, but the mutated strain inside that one patient changed everything.
Thankfully, the officers who had been injured by her didn’t show signs of mutation. At least, not yet. After all, the virus still had its incubation period. No one could say for sure what might happen down the line.
“Dr. Jean,” a calm voice called out. It was Steve Xavier, the assistant Joshua had sent. Right on cue, he showed up to remind her it was almost lunchtime.
The two picked a random restaurant and were about to order when Bruce called. “Shermaine, you need to come here now. The virus in those police officers seems to have mutated.”
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“I’m on my way.” Shermaine’s gaze dimmed. Her expression made it clear the situation had turned serious. Forget about eating they needed to get over there immediately to see what was wrong.
As Bruce had described, the police officers and ordinary people injured by that woman that night started showing even stranger symptoms–snake–like scales emerged on their skin, their fingernails grew alarmingly long overnight, and their hunger intensified.
While the virus hadn’t damaged their nervous systems or triggered violent outbursts, it had spread to their internal organs, forcing their bodies into
unnatural overdrive.
But the human body had its limits. Push it too far, and it would shatter like an overinflated balloon.
To make things worse, the virus wasn’t just mutating–it was merging with marine DNA, accelerating a primal regression. Bit by bit, they were becoming something else entirely.
Shermaine did the math. Without a serum to cure them, none of them would survive past the three–month mark.
“Doctor, is there still hope for us?” Their voices trembled, and their eyes were wide with panic. No one could accept what was happening to them.
They never could have imagined it, not even in their wildest dreams, that the woman from that night was a monster.
Shermaine reassured them, “There is hope. We’re working urgently to develop a serum. For now, your only task is to stay right here and don’t go anywhere.”
Her words were deeply convincing, and the unease that had been gnawing at them suddenly subsided. Over the past few days, they’d learned more about Shermaine, and they knew she was an exceptional doctor.
“Got it. We promise we won’t go anywhere,” they said in unison. Once they were calm and she’d collected the necessary samples, Shermaine stepped
out of the old clinic.
Beside her, Steve frowned and hesitantly asked, “Dr. Jean, will they eventually turn into zombies, like in those movies?”
The image sent a shiver down his spine. Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle. He thought, ‘What if this was the beginning of the end? The whole world is going to be doomed.‘
Shermaine sighed helplessly, “Seriously? What nonsense are you thinking? You’re a medical student.”
Steve said, “I can’t help thinking about Resident Evil, Dr. Jean. Have you seen it? Honestly, whoever did this to them is just as despicable as the villains in
that movie.”
Steve thought indignantly, ‘We’re all humans. Why do we have to hurt each other? Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of life, so why are some people so obsessed with the idea of being immortal?‘
Shermaine didn’t respond. But now that the higher–ups were involved, those behind this mess were bound to pay the price.
Just then, Bruce cut in, “Have you two eaten yet?”
“Not yet,” Shermaine replied.
Since Steve and Bruce shared the same last name, Steve naturally felt a special closeness to him.
Bruce said, “There’s a great restaurant in town, Let me take you guys there.”
The shop was simple but clean, filled with the comforting smell of broth and spices. As the scent drifted through the air, Shermaine pulled out her phone and clicked on WhatsApp. Then, she sent a quick message to Joshua. [I miss your cooking.]
Meanwhile, at York Group’s headquarters, an executive meeting was in session. At this time, Joshua’s phone buzzed with a special ringtone he had set
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exclusively for Shermaine.
(Message from Baby Sheary!
He picked it up without hesitation. The sharp, commanding look on his face melted in an instant upon reading the text. Even the tension in the room seemed to lift with it.
Joshua: [What would you like to eat, love?]
Shermaine replied with a list of dishes she was craving.
Joshua: [Got it.]
She stared at his reply, puzzled as she thought, ‘Got it? What did he mean by that? It’s not like I can have it now!
Joshua: [What are you up to right now?]
Shermaine might have been craving his cooking, but Joshua was craving her–to hold her close as they slept, to kiss her, to share all the intimate moments only lovers do.
But they were both swamped with work. Shermaine was neck–deep in lab work, and he had a business trip to Neclen first thing tomorrow.
After all, with the year–end approaching, operations were bound to be hectic for such a large conglomerate.
Shermaine: [The virus in those officers injured by that woman has mutated. Came to collect samples. Now, I’m at a restaurant, and I’ll head back after eating.]
The news of the virus mutating was the last thing anyone wanted to hear. With that, their date was postponed once more.
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Chapter 397
Too lazy to type and with her food still not served, Shermaine shot off a video call to Joshua. But the moment his surroundings came into view, she ended the call immediately.
The very next second, Joshua called back. He stood up and told everyone. “Let’s take a ten–minute break.”
Since Shermaine didn’t put her earphones back on, Joshua’s deep, magnetic voice faintly escaped from her phone’s speaker, Bruce glanced up, his expression unreadable, then casually went back to drinking his juice like nothing had happened.
“You can finish your meeting first,” Shermaine said.
“No meeting’s more important than you, Sheary,” Joshua said.
Shermaine smiled slightly. Outside, a light rain pattered against the windows. The restaurant was a little cold, but with that quiet warmth in her eyes,
Shermaine didn’t feel it at all.
Ten minutes later, the food was finally served, and it was worth the wait. Shermaine hung up the video call and finished her food. Once she was done, she headed back to the city and plunged straight back into her lab work.
As evening fell, a helicopter soared over the city skyline of Horington.
Steve received a call and immediately drove over, where the helicopter’s pilot handed him an exquisitely crafted four–tiered lunch box. He had to admit he was practically green with envy.
Steve couldn’t help but think, ‘Seriously, when a filthy–rich guy spoils his wife rotten, it’s just unfair to the rest of us–he flaunts his wealth in the most outrageous way imaginable.’
She returned to the lab, held the lunchbox out with a dramatic flair, and announced, “Dr. Jean, your gourmet delivery from Basterel has arrived!”
Shermaine was taken aback.
Steve said, “Mr. York had this specially flown in by helicopter from Basterel just for you.”
A quiet laugh escaped Shermaine as a smile slowly spread across her face. She thought, ‘Did Joshua really have this specially delivered just because I casually mentioned that I crave his cooking?‘
She opened the lunchbox, and a wave of savory steam drifted up from the still–piping–hot food and soup. One sip of the broth, and her smile deepened- it was unmistakably Joshua’s cooking. That flavor had his signature all over it.
Steve, lucky enough to share the meal, was practically moved to tears. “This is insane. Who is this chef? Everything tastes amazing.”
Shermaine replied casually, “My man made it.”
Steve fell silent. The way long–distance couples flex their love was unbelievable to him.
Three days later, Shermaine’s serum was finally ready. The ordinary infected patients–most of whom had been terminally ill and tricked into becoming test subjects—began to recover once they were treated. But even with their conditions stabilized, they didn’t have long to live.
Meanwhile, those running the operation behind the scenes had already been arrested. Unless something dramatic changed, they were looking at life in prison or the death penalty.
But for patients with mutated strains, the serum was useless. Worse, it triggered severe side effects. They would get waves of unbearable pain that lasted until the serum’s effects wore off. Even the test mice in the lab couldn’t make it.
Just then, Shermaine got a call from General Hospital. To be exact, it was a call from Jameson’s attending doctor. Thanks to the medicine Shermaine had prescribed earlier, Jameson’s condition had improved enough for him to undergo heart surgery finally.
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“Dr. dean, will you be performing the surgery yourself?” the doctor asked.
“Yes,” Shermaine replied. “Have you set the time?”
“When are you available?” asked the doctor.
Shermaine replied, “Tomorrow works for me.”
Jameson was over the moon when he heard Shermaine would be the one in charge of his surgery. With her in charge, the fear of dying no longer weighed so heavily on his mind.
Later that night, a new headline quietly crept into the trending topics. [Horington Dumping Ground Dismemberment Case)
Netizens flooded the comment section quickly. [A dismemberment case? How many died? One or three?]
[I saw the photos and videos from the crime scene. Seriously, I nearly puked my guts out. It’s absolutely horrifying and gory.)
If you’re thinking of watching the footage or looking at the photos, don’t. It’ll haunt your dreams. I’m seriously regretting it.]
[The killer is brutal. I hope the police catch them soon.]
[What’s going on in Horington lately? The whole city’s on edge.]
In the reeking sewer beneath General Hospital, Natalie crept through the filth, staying hidden after committing another murder. She was after the nurse-
the one who had lured her into that cursed lab.
Natalie thought bitterly, ‘It’s all her fault. She’s the reason I became… this. And Jameson, that heartless bastard, treated me so cruelly. I’ll make sure he
dies too.
Early the next morning, Shermaine arrived at the hospital an hour early for her pre–op preparations. The corridors were unusually quiet, with only the
janitorial staff going about their cleaning routines.
Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from one of the upper floors. At that exact moment, Shermaine’s phone blared with an urgent alert. [Target spotted. Target spotted.]
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When Shermaine arrived at the floor where the screams had come from, she was hit by the overwhelming stench of blood.
The only thing she saw was a nurse–her face clawed beyond recognition, with a gaping bite wound at her neck. Blood sprayed in rhythmic bursts from the gaping injury.
Shermaine immediately knelt down to check for signs of life, but it was too late. The nurse was already dead. Her phone was still blaring with the alert from GPS.
She glanced at the screen, and the system had just updated the target’s location. The infected woman was now in the adjacent inpatient building, moving steadily upstairs. Shermaine didn’t know who the next victim might be.
As other medical staff rushed to the scene, Shermaine sprinted toward the inpatient ward.
Meanwhile, in the inpatient ward, Jameson was finally starting to feel better, and his appetite had returned. But with surgery coming up, he wasn’t allowed to eat anything and could only sip some water. Bored, he sat in front of the TV, watching the morning news.
He was already thinking about what came next. ‘After this surgery is done, I should head back to Basterel. I’ve got to patch things up with Shermaine and the rest.
‘As for Jason, I’m done with that ungrateful brat. How dare he call the cops on me? What does Natalie’s disappearance have anything to do with me? What could I possibly do to her when I’m this sick?‘
The more Jameson dwelled on it, the more furious he became. Just as he lifted his glass of water, a stomach–turning stench hit him. He glanced toward the door–and nearly went into cardiac arrest.
There, half–hidden in the corner, stood a shadowy figure. Her long, claw–like nails glistened with fresh blood which was pattering softly onto the floor.
Jameson choked with fear, his voice quivering. “Wh–who… who are you?”
པ པ ག ད
“Jameson, if I can’t live in peace, neither will you!” she snarled. Her voice was rasping and rough, yet it stabbed his eardrums like glass splinters. With that, Natalie cracked her neck and lunged at him at a terrifying speed.
When Shermaine arrived, Jameson was cowering under the bed in terror, while Natalie, with her messy hair, relentlessly pursued him.
Natalie wrenched the hospital bed clean off the ground and hurled it aside with terrifying strength, leaving him with nowhere left to hide.
Jameson was shaking uncontrollably..“I–I’ve never wronged you. Please leave me alone!” Spotting Shermaine, he screamed desperately, “Sheary, quickly save me!”
At the sight of Shermaine, Natalie’s hatred flared into something far stronger than what she felt for Jameson. She thought bitterly, ‘If it weren’t for Shermaine, I wouldn’t be in this mess.‘
With a guttural roar, Natalie shifted her target and lunged straight at Shermaine. Shermaine slammed the door in Natalie’s face hard, trapping her hand between the hinges and causing her to let out a raw, animalistic scream.
The mutated virus may have made her stronger, but it also heightened her sensitivity to pain. And right now, the pain was excruciating.
‘My hand hurts like hell!‘ Natalie thought and flew into a rage. With one furious punch, she smashed the door to splinters. With bloodshot eyes, she shrieked madly, “I’ll kill you!”
But killing Shermaine required more than just shouting.
Even though she seemed a lot more formidable now, she was all brute force and no skill. Hence, she couldn’t even graze the hem of Shermaine’s clothes, let alone get anywhere near her.
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Shermaine, by contrast, stood perfectly still. Her gaze was intense and piercing–like a predator watching its prey make a fatal mistake. With every passing second, the feeling that she was the prey only grew stronger for Natalie.
At that moment, a middle–aged woman stepped out of a nearby ward–and froze in horror at the sight unfolding before her.
Natalie, already agitated, was enraged by the unexpected presence. She lashed out, throwing her claws toward the woman.
“Get down! Don’t let her touch you!” Shermaine shouted.
The woman dropped to the floor, slammed the door shut with a bang, and hastily locked it. After that, she gasped internally, her legs turning to jelly,
Holy shit. That scared the hell out of me. Please stay away from me.
Meanwhile, Shermaine swiftly grabbed a fire hose from the cabinet beside the hallway, looped it into a noose, flung it over Natalie, tightened it, and with a sharp tug, yanked her to the other side.
Just then, Steve burst out of the elevator with some items in his hands and tossed it toward Shermaine. “Dr. Jean, here’s tranquilizer. This stuff can put down an elephant. And here, your gloves.”
Shermaine caught it with perfect precision, slipped on the white gloves without missing a beat, and walked toward Natalie, completely unfazed.
Natalie panicked. She bolted for the window, leapt through it, and in the blink of an eye vanished down a sewer entrance. Once again, she was gone without a trace.
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Shermaine had never looked into the infected woman’s identity before, but today, she seemed oddly familiar.
She ran the woman’s identity through GPS. Just as she had suspected, this woman was none other than the missing Natalie.
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Looking at where she ran off to today, it made perfect sense why GPS hadn’t been able to track her for so long. She’d been hiding out in the sewers all
this time.
The murdered nurse’s body was now in the hospital morgue. Shermaine urged the staff to handle it quickly to prevent any possible viral complications.
“Steve, go buy me a few drones,” Shermaine instructed.
“Roger that,” Steve replied cheerfully.
Jameson was still visibly shaken and hadn’t quite recovered from the morning’s events. But an hour later, he was wheeled into the operating room. Meanwhile, Shermaine remained composed and calm, like nothing had even happened.
Watching her, he couldn’t deny it anymore. He thought, ‘My daughter is stronger than I ever gave her credit for.’
Jason, on the other hand, knew his father was undergoing surgery that day, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. In his mind, the only person who had ever truly loved him was Natalie.
He thought, “She’s my mother. I’m all she has. For Jameson, even without me, he still has Shermaine and Ross.‘
But the longer he went without hearing from Natalie, the more that unease gnawed at him. Something just didn’t sit right with him, and he had a feeling something was about to happen.
Meanwhile, Joshua got a call from Steve. “Mr. York, are you still sending dinner to Dr. Jean tonight?”
“I am,” Joshua said.
“Then, could you bring a drone along as well? Dr. Jean needs it.” Steve started chattering away about everything that happened at the hospital that day.
Listening to Steve’s account, Joshua–who hadn’t smoked in ages–pulled open a drawer and took out a pack of cigarettes. Soon, a glowing ember burned between his fingers while his gaze turned stone–cold, betraying none of his emotion.
Steve exclaimed, “That woman jumped from the eighth floor and walked away without a scratch. Honestly, only Dr. Jean could handle that without even batting an eyelid.”
Joshua was silent the entire time, but he was actually worried sick about Shermaine. He exhaled a slow stream of smoke and asked, “What’s she doing
now?”
“Dr. Jean is in the operating room performing a heart transplant for Jameson,” Steve replied.
Joshua instructed, “Notify me as soon as she’s done.”
“Will do,” Steve said.
As soon as the call ended, Joshua summoned Bradley. “Purchase some drones,” he instructed, then added, “Reschedule my afternoon and evening appointments. I’m going to Horington.”
Bradley had expected this. He knew his boss couldn’t hold back any longer. “I’ll take care of it right away.”
“Okay,” Joshua said.
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Joshua took a couple puffs before stubbing out his cigarette, then typed into the family group chat. [I’m heading to Horington this afternoon Grandma, Mom, anything you want me to bring for Sheary?)
Danielle was the first to see Joshua’s message. After she and Ross reconciled, Janice had added her to the family group chat.
Danielle replied: [Perfect timing. I was just thinking of visiting Sheary too, Count me in. Other than my morning appointments, I don’t have any work arranged for later.]
Ross chimed in: [Count me in]
Janice: [Count me in
Ruth: [Count me in.]
Joshua chuckled at their unanimous response. He thought, ‘Alright then. Let’s all go together. Private jet it is.]
Ross asked Danielle: [You’re done with work?]
Danielle: [Yup.]
Ross: [Come by my office. Let’s grab lunch together.]
Danielle: [Sure thing.]
Danielle returned to her office, took off her white coat, slipped into a plaid blazer, and drove over to Jean Group.
She’d been here before, so when the receptionist spotted her, the receptionist greeted warmly, “Dr. Shelly, are you here for Mr. Jean?”
Danielle nodded.
“You look stunning today, Dr. Shelly,” the receptionist said.
Danielle smiled. “You all look wonderful as well.”
Today, Danielle wore a soft apricot knit dress. After she touched up her lipstick, her usual cold demeanor instantly softened. She took the executive elevator straight to the 30th floor.
Ross‘ assistant greeted her. “Mr. Jean is still in a meeting, Dr. Shelly/ Please have a seat and wait for a moment.”
Danielle went straight to Ross‘ office to wait for him. Shortly after, someone brought in refreshments and coffee. “Thank you,” she said.
“Enjoy, Dr. Shelly,” the staff member replied politely.
The clouds parted, letting soft sunlight stream through the floor–to–ceiling windows. Danielle lay asleep on the sofa with a throw blanket draped over
her.
When Ross returned, his gaze immediately landed on her graceful, alluring figure stretched out on the sofa. He tiptoed over to her, but he was unable to resist the pull she had on him. Before he knew it, he was leaning down, drawn irresistibly toward her soft, inviting lips.
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Breathless, Danielle opened her eyes and smiled as she circled her arms around Ross‘ neck, kissing him back.
Her hand slid down to Ross‘ waist, giving him a playful squeeze through his crisp dress shirt. Ross deepened the kiss, pinning down her wandering hand. “Behave,” he murmured.
“You’re my boyfriend. I get to touch you whenever I want to. Got a problem with that?” she teased, tilting Ross‘ chin playfully.
Danielle adored seeing Ross disoriented with desire because of her. She leaned in, nipped playfully at his lips, her fingers hooking onto his belt. She cooed, “Ross, are you going to stop me?”
His breath grew heavier. “If this gets out of hand… are you gonna take responsibility for it?”
“I’ll take all the responsibility you want me to,” she murmured, stealing another kiss while her hands continued their bold exploration.
Danielle thought, “We’re in his office. With his character, he’d never take things too far here. Besides, it’s broad daylight. Even if I get him all worked up, he’ll just have to restrain himself, right?‘
Emboldened by this thought, Danielle got hooked on teasing him. She kept calling his name in that sweet, honeyed voice of hers, which would melt even the sternest heart.
But the next thing she knew, Ross swept her up off the couch and strode toward his private lounge.
He laid her on the bed, pinned her beneath him and locked their lips together. Unlike the tender, lingering kiss from earlier, this one burned with raw passion. It was fiery, intense, and utterly unrestrained.
This wasn’t what she had in mind. She didn’t think Ross would actually go for it. Her knit dress had already ridden up her thighs. His gaze burned into her, so intense it made her limbs.
Danielle gave him a playful nudge with her foot and teased, “Ross, aren’t we supposed to go out for lunch soon? Are you sure this is the right time for
this?”
Ross‘ voice came out hoarse. “No. Definitely not.”
But-
The curtains remained drawn, casting the lounge in dim light. Danielle clutched Ross‘ shirt, her face burning with shyness as she let out a soft, pleading whimper in her sweet voice.
Danielle lay limp against him, her cheeks flushed a soft rose as her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. Biting her lip, she whispered, “Ross, how’d you
get so bad?”
Ross chuckled, reaching for a tissue to casually wipe his hands. “Dr. Shelly, you’re seriously good at flipping the script.”
Danielle pouted playfully and gave a little huff. “You’ve become such a naughty boy.”
He grinned, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his lap. “Actually, I was thinking about being worse.”
Danielle was speechless, her cheeks burning.
Back in the executive office, the assistants had all returned from their lunch break, chattering away. They were all sure that Ross had slipped out for a lunch date with Danielle.
“Oh my goodness. Don’t you think Mr. Jean and Dr. Shelly are such a perfect match?”
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“Totally: Just like Mr. York and Ms. Jean, they’re the ultimate couple goals.”
streamy love story between the socialites straight out of a drama indeed.”
They were totally obsessed with Ross and Danielle being together.
At around 3PM, Ross calmly escorted Danielle out of the building like nothing had happened. The assistants all stared, exchanging glances thick with gossip.
Danielle, however, made a mental vow to never step into Jean Group again. Ross may look like a gentleman, but deep down, he was pure trouble through and through.
Meanwhile, Joshua returned to Riverswood Villa. The moment he stepped inside, he saw Stephen sitting on the couch, munching on–of all things–fried chicken.
Honestly, Stephen never expected Joshua to return at this hour. He froze mid–bite, blinking in surprise at the incriminating evidence–the fried chicken spread across the table like a damning exhibit in his own personal courtroom.
Joshua remained expressionless. Lately, he’d been staying at Riverswood Villa, but for some inexplicable reason, Stephen had stubbornly insisted on staying with him.
So, for the past while, Stephen had been living there with him. Stephen had no choice but to put on a brave front. “Since you’re back, do you want to join
me for some?”
He thought to himself, a little playfully, ‘This fried chicken is seriously good.‘
Now, Joshua finally understood why Stephen had packed on so much weight in such a short time. It turned out that behind everyone’s back, he’d been stuffing himself with all this junk food.
In Joshua’s mind, Stephen would never be caught dead eating this kind of junk food. “No,” he replied curtly.
“I’m sick of being vegetarian. Just wanted a change.” Stephen was really making up excuses for himself now.
Joshua gave a faint, humorless smile. “Suit yourself. Just make sure you clean up properly when you’re done.”
Stephen promised, “I will.”
With that, Joshua headed to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Stephen was breaking out in a cold sweat. He panicked internally. “Goodness. I almost choked to death. But the food’s just too good. I couldn’t help myself. Ugh.
‘Thank goodness Joshua didn’t say anything. He probably didn’t notice anything, right? Please, I hope he doesn’t get suspicious. Otherwise, I won’t be able to stay here. After all, my job is to stop those people from taking him away.‘
Joshua went upstairs to change, then came back down to make dinner. Since Janice and the others were all going to Horington to meet Shermaine, they agreed to gather at the airport at 5 PM.
Once Joshua finished preparing dinner, he got ready to head out. Stephen looked up and asked, “Where are you going?”
Joshua replied, “Horington”
Without missing a beat, Stephen said, “I’m coming with you.”
Joshua paused for a moment before saying, “Suit yourself.”
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