Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 153: Honey, Please Pamper Me... (Extra Update)

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Honey, Please Pamper Me... (Extra Update)

Riveria’s winter day, it’s rare to see the sun.

Sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, flooding the villa’s living room, casting warm patches of light on the carpet.

Shane Donovan half-reclined on the sofa, a few of Innovatech Bio’s latest financial reports spread across his lap, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, softening his sharp features and adding a touch of domestic elegance.

Stella Sterling sat cross-legged on the carpet next to him, leaning against his shin, with stacks of case files piled up on the low table before her.

She was frowning as she studied a complex cross-border acquisition contract, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a strand of hair dangling over her shoulder.

The indoor heating was ample, and she was only wearing a soft, cream-colored cashmere sweater with a slightly open neckline, revealing her slender, fair neck.

Shane Donovan’s gaze moved from the tedious numbers to the delicate skin at the back of her neck, his eyes darkening slightly.

He extended a hand, his fingertips gently brushing the nape of her neck.

"Stop it," she said, not even turning to look, swatting away his mischievous hand, "This contract needs feedback by the afternoon."

Shane took off his glasses, setting them aside on the financial reports, and leaned over to wrap his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice slightly hoarse, "Take a break, you haven’t looked at me all morning..."

His warm breath brushed against her earlobe, bringing a tingling sensation.

"Is this contract more pleasing to look at than me?"

"..."

Stella couldn’t help but tilt her head to avoid him, but a blush quietly spread over her ears.

He seemed to take it all in stride, not loosening his grip. Instead, he tightened his hold, hugging her entire body as she sat in his lap, his thin lips grazing the sensitive skin behind her ear, leaving warm breaths, "Sweetheart, indulge me..."

"Shane Donovan!" Stella instantly flared up, spinning around to glare at him in embarrassment, her bright eyes reflecting the sunlight, dazzling.

Seeing her flushed cheeks and the vibrant look in her eyes due to her embarrassment and annoyance, Shane’s laughter deepened.

He lowered his head to give her slightly parted lips a light peck.

"Mm, I’m here." He replied smoothly, as if the one who had been teasing just now wasn’t him.

The kiss, brief as it was, succeeded in making Stella forget to retort, leaving only her heart pounding like a drum.

The sunlight warmly enveloped them both, with an indescribable sense of intimacy in the air.

He looked at her face up close, her long curly lashes, small delicate nose, lips glistening with moisture from the brief kiss.

His Adam’s apple unconsciously moved.

He lowered his head again, this time no longer merely tasting, but gently enveloping her lower lip, kissing her deeply, his tongue patiently tracing her lip shape, coaxing her to open her teeth.

Stella, kissed into a slight daze, her hand unconsciously climbed to his broad shoulders, fingertips touching the firm muscles beneath his shirt.

Amid the confusion of emotions, she felt his scorching palm already exploring from the hem of her cashmere sweater, the calloused pads tracing light circles on the delicate skin of her waist.

A shiver ran down her spine.

"Don’t..." she protested ambiguously, her voice unconvincingly soft, "It’s daytime now..."

"Our ancestors already said, indulge in the daylight..." Shane’s voice was hoarse, his kisses sliding from her lips to her neck side, leaving tiny moist marks.

Stella: "..."

Where on earth did he get such absurd reasoning from!

And just as his kisses trailed down her collarbone—

"Buzz... Buzz..."

Her phone on the low table vibrated at the most inopportune moment.

The intimate atmosphere was instantly shattered.

Stella jolted awake, pushing him away slightly with a flushed face, breathless, "Ph... Phone..."

Shane paused, his forehead against hers, breathing heavily, his deep eyes filled with lingering desire, like a dense ink.

Stella’s cheeks were burning, not daring to meet his gaze, she frantically picked up the phone, saw the caller ID, hastily cleared her throat, and answered.

"Hello, brother?"

On the other end, Aidan Sterling’s deep voice came through, "Mm. Where are you?"

"At... at home."

"Is Shane Donovan there?"

Stella instinctively glanced at the man beside her with a frustrated look, her face growing hotter, quickly pulling her gaze back, "He’s... here too."

"I’m heading back to Crestfall this afternoon," Aidan said succinctly, "Let’s have lunch together."

"Ah? Leaving so soon?" Stella was a bit surprised.

Since Shane Donovan’s ’incident’, her brother had been staying in Riveria all this time, although he never said it out loud, she knew he was worried about her.

"Company matters," Aidan’s tone was flat, "I’ll send you the location."

After hanging up, Stella looked at Shane Donovan, "My brother said to have lunch together, he’s heading back to Crestfall this afternoon."

Shane Donovan raised his eyes, a flash beneath the lens, understanding, "Mm, it’s time to go back."

If they stayed any longer, her overprotective brother might truly dislike everything he saw about him.

Lunch was arranged at an elegant private Jiangnan restaurant. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Aidan arrived slightly earlier, sitting alone by the window with only a glass of water in front of him.

He was wearing a dark grey coat, his figure upright, the severe look in his brows more pronounced than the winter in Riveria, drawing frequent glances from a few ladies at nearby tables.

Seeing Stella and Shane Donovan walk in hand-in-hand, his gaze lingered for a moment on Shane’s hand around Stella’s waist, before moving away expressionlessly.

"Brother." Stella sat opposite him, Shane naturally pulling out her chair before sitting next to her.

"President Sterling." Shane nodded in greeting.

Aidan let out a "Mm" through his nose, which was a response.

The dishes were served one after another, all flavors that Stella liked.

During the meal, Aidan spoke little, only occasionally asking a few questions about Stella’s law firm or advising her to take care of herself, practically ignoring Shane.

Shane didn’t mind, focusing on serving dishes to Stella, peeling shrimp effortlessly, as if he had done it hundreds of times before.

Stella glanced at the heap of food in her bowl, then at her brother’s icy expression, couldn’t help but softly nudge Shane under the table, signaling him to ease up.

Shane raised an eyebrow at her, his eyes holding a teasing glint. Instead of easing up, he added a piece of fish, meticulously deboned, to her bowl.

Aidan took in their small gestures through the corner of his eye, his fingers unconsciously tightened around the water glass, before relaxing again.

Just then, Stella’s phone vibrated in her handbag.

She took it out to see it was Finn Lockwood.

"Hello?"

"Boss!" Finn Lockwood’s voice carried a hint of urgency and excitement, "There’s a situation! A client came to our firm, specifically requesting you to handle a cross-national divorce case!"

Stella frowned slightly, "Cross-national divorce? Is the value significant?"

"Very significant! It involves real estate across Europe and domestic locations, trust funds, and the division of shares in an overseas tech company, incredibly complex! The client seems anxious, saying as long as you’re willing to take it, legal fees won’t be an issue."

Stella pondered for a moment.

"Send me the client’s information first, I’ll head back to the office shortly."

"Got it, boss, sending it over right away!"

After hanging up, Shane Donovan looked up at her with an inquisitive look.

"There’s something at the firm, a cross-national divorce case, the client came directly requesting me." Stella explained briefly, then sat down and opened the email Finn Lockwood had just sent.

Aidan heard this and didn’t react, continuing to leisurely sip his soup, only glancing over nonchalantly...

As the email loaded, the first thing to catch her eye was a scanned copy of the client’s information form.

When Stella’s gaze landed on the "Name" section, her pupils contracted sharply, and her fingers holding the phone tightened instantly—

Elara Forrest.

’Ting’—

The spoon in Aidan’s hand clattered against the rim of the bowl, producing a crisp sound.

He expressionlessly continued to scoop another spoonful of soup, swallowing, his Adam’s apple moving...