Though Mason Lawson tried to control his heavy breathing, his unsteady steps still betrayed his urgency.

"Little Uncle..."

Anxious and afraid, Eve Vaughn clutched the lapels of his bathrobe and called out to him.

Mason’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He placed her on the bed and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Be good, Evie. I won’t hurt you."

Apprehensively, Eve Vaughn chose to believe him. After all, he had promised he wouldn’t force himself on her when she was unwilling.

The man’s warm palms roamed over her body. Eve Vaughn had never experienced anything like it. It felt as if an electric current was coursing through every nerve, leaving her tingling all over.

The young woman’s body was exquisite—as soft as a spring stream, as smooth as silk. His kisses gradually moved lower, his hand tracing a path down from her slender waist.

Eve Vaughn let out a frightened sob. "Little Uncle, please don’t..."

"Don’t what?"

Mason moved his fingers with a hint of mischief, whispering in her ear, "Trust me, alright?"

Under his gentle coaxing, she gradually relaxed. Faint, rosy marks, like plum blossoms, bloomed upon her fair skin wherever he touched.

A strange and wonderful sensation built up inch by inch, finally crashing over Eve Vaughn’s every nerve like a tidal wave.

She bit her lip, trying to stifle the sound, but a soft, alluring gasp still escaped her. She trembled in his arms like a small boat tossed on stormy seas.

Mason gently stroked her back, his voice laced with a hint of pleasure and intimacy. "Are you alright?"

Eve Vaughn burrowed into his embrace like an ostrich, not daring to look up.

’This is so mortifying,’ she thought. ’Mason only touched me a few times, and I completely lost control.’

Seemingly sensing her vexation, Mason kissed her forehead and chuckled. "This is what couples do. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about."

Still, Eve Vaughn pushed him away in a flurry of shame and indignation, pulling the blanket around her disheveled form. "You’re just twisting my words to bully me, Little Uncle!"

She meant to sound angry, but for some reason, her words came out sounding more like a pout.

Mason replied with a helpless sigh, "If you think this is me bullying you, then next time I’ll have to demonstrate what that *really* looks like, hmm?"

Eve Vaughn said, huffing, "You... Turn around! I... I need to take a shower!"

"Alright."

Afraid of truly angering her, Mason turned his head away.

Like a startled rabbit, Eve Vaughn scrambled off the bed, hastily wrapping herself in the clothes he’d tossed on the floor before scurrying into the bathroom.

A faint, almost imperceptible smirk played on Mason’s lips.

When Eve Vaughn returned from her shower, Mason was already lying in bed, his deep gaze fixed on the ceiling. ’What could he be thinking about?’

Hearing her, Mason pulled back the covers, making room for her.

Sullen, Eve Vaughn thought, ’I practically threw myself at him tonight. I delivered myself right to his door, only to get completely taken advantage of!’

After the lights were out, Mason pulled her into his embrace and said in a low voice, "Starting tomorrow, you’re forbidden from speaking to that kid again. Do you hear me?"

Eve Vaughn said earnestly, "I can turn down his confession, but he’s our class president. He’s always organizing group activities. It’s impossible not to exchange a single word with him."

Mason said coldly, "He won’t be for long."

Eve Vaughn’s heart leaped. ’Could it be? Is Mason going to have Todd Hayes stripped of his position just because of this?’

’Then again,’ she mused, ’being class president at the university is a thankless job. Todd Hayes was pushed into it by the other students anyway.’

’If he gets removed, he’ll finally be able to catch a break.’

Therefore, Eve Vaughn didn’t argue with Mason, nor did she take his words to heart.

It wasn’t until she went to school the next day that Eve Vaughn realized what Todd Hayes was facing was far more serious than just being removed from his position.

A notice regarding Todd Hayes’s disciplinary action was posted on the bulletin board outside their classroom.

The notice stated that during the night’s rest period, Todd Hayes had lit candles below the female dormitory building, thereby harassing a female student. This was a serious violation of school regulations and safety protocols. As a result, his position as class president was revoked, and he was disqualified from all awards, honors, and scholarships for the year. Furthermore, the incident would be entered into his permanent record.

Everyone who saw the notice sympathized with Todd Hayes, and the consensus was that the punishment was far too severe.

After all, guys confessed their feelings at the school all the time. Many had made much bigger scenes than Todd Hayes, yet none had ever been punished for it.

So why was Todd Hayes being punished so harshly? Moreover, having such an "offense" on his permanent record was a devastating blow to a student’s future.

Eve Vaughn knew what was really going on. Mason must have pulled some strings.

’How could an ordinary university student like Todd Hayes possibly be a match for Mason Lawson?’

’I thought I had explained everything clearly when I went to see him last night. I thought he accepted it.’

’Besides, he’d even had his way with me.’

Eve Vaughn had truly believed the matter was settled.

She never expected Mason to be so ruthless.

She looked around the classroom but didn’t see Todd Hayes.

Eve Vaughn lowered her head, a wave of dejection washing over her. She was only just now realizing that in Mason’s eyes, she was just as insignificant as Todd Hayes.

He could decide their fates with a single phone call.

Just then, Aria sighed beside her. "Evie, I just don’t get it. What’s wrong with Todd Hayes? Why won’t you even consider him? He... he’s so pitiful. He gets his heart broken, and now the school punishes him this severely."

Sharon Lowe, who was sitting behind them, must have overheard Aria. For the first time ever, she seemed to agree with her, saying venomously, "Some people are just a jinx. Anyone who gets involved with them has bad luck. Todd Hayes must have been blind to fall for her!"

Eve Vaughn retorted without mercy, "I don’t know why Todd Hayes likes me, either. But I do know that you chased after him for ages last year, and he never even gave you a second glance!" With her embarrassing history exposed, Sharon Lowe immediately clammed up, able to do nothing but glare at Eve Vaughn with hatred.

Sharon had long considered Eve Vaughn a thorn in her side. Unfortunately for her, Eve got good grades and never caused any trouble, so there was never a good reason to get her kicked out of the dorm room.

During class, Eve Vaughn was distracted, constantly thinking about Todd Hayes’s situation.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, she sent a text message to Mason: "Little Uncle, please stop targeting Todd Hayes. So what if he confessed to me yesterday? That’s no reason to destroy his future. Everyone has the right to like whomever they want."

It wasn’t long before Mason’s reply came: "So, you enjoy being admired? Surrounded by all sorts of undesirable suitors?"

Angered, Eve Vaughn’s thumbs flew across the screen: "Todd Hayes is not an undesirable suitor! He’s an excellent person! Please don’t be so extreme. Not everyone is like you, Little Uncle, born into a powerful family, able to destroy a person’s life with a single word!"

A long time passed before Mason replied: "Since you already know that, you should be a good girl and not make me angry. Also, I don’t like this tone you’re using with me. I can’t bring myself to punish you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be merciful to those around you."

Eve Vaughn took a deep breath, feeling for the first time just how terrifying this man could be.