Chapter 50
Shawn’s eyes darkened. He frowned at Lindsey. “So you’re afraid of me?”
Lindsey shook her head quickly, plastering on a winning smile. “No, not at all. What I mean is, you’re just as powerful as the big bad villain,” she said, trying to appease him.
The answer seemed to satisfy Shawn. A smirk played on his lips as he leaned down and scooped Lindsey into his arms again.
“Wh–what are you doing?” Lindsey asked, her voice trembling.
“Taking a shower,” Shawn replied without changing expression.
“But didn’t you already take one?” Lindsey asked, panic creeping into her tone.
“Giving you one,” Shawn explained, glancing at Lindsey’s stained skirt. It was dried now but still looked dirty. Lindsey felt a bit embarrassed and quieted down.
Once the bathtub was filled, Shawn stood motionless in the bathroom. Lindsey looked at him. “Shawn, could you please step out for a moment?” ‘How am I supposed to wash with him standing there?‘ Lindsey thought.
Shawn hesitated. “Let me help you. Your foot isn’t exactly convenient for moving around.”
Lindsey nearly slipped, catching herself before falling into the tub. She wondered how Shawn could say such things so casually.
“No need. It’s just one foot. Besides… we should keep our distance,” Lindsey said, forcing a stiff smile.
Shawn chuckled. “Keep our distance? We’ve already shared the most intimate moments, haven’t we?”
Lindsey’s face flared red at that reminder. “W–well, that was an accident.”
Hopping on one foot, Lindsey tried to push Shawn toward the door. But she lost her balance, grabbing onto Shawn’s robe tie in her panic. They both tumbled to the ground.
Lindsey wished she could dig a hole and disappear. She poked Shawn. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Shawn gritted out.
“Then get up,” Lindsey urged. When Shawn didn’t move, she pushed him again. “Shawn, can you please stand up?”
Shawn’s voice was hoarse. “Are you sure?” Lindsey nodded vigorously, feeling the strangeness of the situation.
Shawn got up, and then came Lindsey’s ear–piercing scream. “Ah! How come you’re not wearing anything underneath.”
Lindsey regretted pulling Shawn’s robe tie, which caused it to open. Now, she saw something indescribable. Worse, Shawn seemed very much aroused.
Covering her face, Lindsey peeked through her fingers. “Shawn, you really are impressive,” she muttered under her breath.
Shawn had been holding back, but hearing Lindsey’s admiring words, he couldn’t contain himself anymore. He pulled her close, kissing her fiercely, and they both fell into the tub, water splashing everywhere.
The bath left Lindsey feeling more than uncomfortable. Despite her fierce resistance preventing anything from happening, the encounter with Shawn made her heart race.
Exiting the bathroom, Lindsey took out her phone and opened the ride–hailing app. Shawn watched her. “What are you doing?”
“Calling a cab to go home.”
Shawn took her phone away. “No need. Stay here tonight. Keep me company.”
The last two words were spoken softly, almost seductively. Lindsey found herself agreeing against her better judgment. “Okay,” she said, mesmerized by Shawn’s voice.
Seeing Shawn’s victorious smile, Lindsey shook her head, bewildered. “Who am I? Where am I? What did I just say?” she muttered, rubbing her temples.
After a moment, Lindsey came to a frightening conclusion. ‘In front of Shawn, my brain is nothing but decoration!‘ she thought.
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2:09 PM
Chapter 50
Lying in bed, Lindsey reflected on herself. She thought, ‘Am I crushing on him? In a full–blown romance? Or just in an ambiguous phase?‘ She admitted that their pretend relationship was becoming real for her.
Shawn stretched out his long arm and pulled Lindsey into his embrace. He rested his chin on top of her head and nuzzled her. Lindsey’s thoughts were in turmoil as she drifted off to sleep at some point.
The next morning, Lindsey found most of the swelling in her ankle gone, allowing her to walk with effort. Downstairs, she saw Quinci standing in the living room alone, head bowed.
Quinci’s eyes welled up as soon as she saw Shawn. “Mr. Ludwig, I really didn’t mean to. If you must take revenge for Ms. Riley, then punish me.”
‘The Lane family is influential in Jovencia; Shawn wouldn’t dare do anything serious to me because of our families‘ relationship,’ Quinci thought. She was putting on a show, giving Shawn an out if he needed one.
Shawn helped Lindsey sit on the sofa before turning to Quinci. “Punishment is necessary,” he said flatly.
He instructed Phillip behind him, “Prepare two buckets of water.”
Quinci’s eyes widened in shock when she realized Shawn was serious. For a woman like Lindsey, he would really punish me?‘ she thought.
“Mr. Ludwig, the water is ready,” Phillip announced.
“Pour it,” Shawn ordered coldly.
Before Quinci could react, Phillip doused her with both buckets. Quinci had chosen a low–cut pink dress specially for this meeting, looking particularly pitiful. Now soaked, she resembled a drowned rat, revealing much more than intended and looking utterly disheveled.
Clenching her fists in anger, Quinci protested. “Yesterday, you only asked for an apology. Isn’t this going back on your word, Mr. Ludwig?” She thought, ‘Lindsey must have told Shawn something.
Shawn didn’t even glance at her, instead playing with Lindsey’s hair. “Yesterday, an apology was enough. Today, there’s interest to pay. Just like a loan from the bank,” he explained, chuckling at the feel of her hair.
“Phillip, show her out.”
Panicked, Quinci glanced down at her wet dress. ‘I can’t be seen like this!‘ she thought. “Mr. Ludwig, can you lend me a jacket?” she pleaded.
“No. Phillip, show her out.” Shawn’s tone turned cold and impatient.
Quinci was practically ushered out by Phillip, stomping her feet in frustration. ‘I’ll remember this, Lindsey, she thought, fuming over the humiliation.
Lindsey was a bit curious. “Shawn, why did you believe me so much yesterday? Weren’t you worried that what Quinci said might be true?”
Shawn looked down at her, his gaze softening as he reached up to ruffle her hair. It felt pretty good.
He smiled. “You’re my girlfriend, of course, I believe you. Besides, I have eyes; I can see for myself. I’m not the kind of person who just listens to others without thinking.”
