Belated Moonlight: He Regretted Only After I Left-Chapter 160: I’m Seducing You

The words fell, leaving the entire arena in deathly silence.

Even the air seemed to freeze.

Grace Quinn was in such pain that her face was devoid of color, yet she still tightly covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Shane Donovan didn’t spare her another glance, wrapping his arm around Stella Sterling, turning to leave.

The crowd automatically parted ways, no one daring to obstruct them.

Only when the black Bentley Mulsanne disappeared around the corner did the frozen air seem to start flowing again.

Grace’s knees weakened, and she collapsed to the ground, belatedly bursting into tears and sobs, unsure if it was from fear or pain.

Jasper Hawthorne stared at the direction where the car disappeared, his face ashen, his eyes filled only with endless humiliation and defeat.

Only today did he finally understand why he ultimately fell short compared to Shane Donovan...

...

Inside the Bentley, the heat was turned on high.

Stella leaned against the comfortable seat back, a faint stinging sensation to the side of her neck causing her to frown slightly.

Shane reached out, his fingertips gently brushing the red mark on her neck, his cautious touches in stark contrast to his previous imposing demeanor.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, his voice low and raspy.

Stella shook her head, "It’s okay, just a scratch."

His eyes darkened slightly, without further words, he took out the spare medical kit from the car fridge, retrieving antiseptic swabs and ointment.

"Don’t move." He commanded, his tone carrying a hint of tenderness.

Stella obediently raised her head, dutifully exposing her neck.

He leaned closer, his clear scent enveloping her.

The swab soaked in cool antiseptic gently wiped the wound, causing a subtle sting, soon to be covered by cool ointment.

His actions were extremely focused, as if tending to a rare treasure.

Stella could clearly see his lowered eyelashes, long and casting a small shadow below the eyes, along with the cinnabar mole close at hand.

"How did you happen to come by?" She asked softly, breaking the car’s serene silence.

Shane didn’t stop applying the ointment, casually replied, "Called you but you didn’t answer, Finn Lockwood mentioned you were meeting a client nearby."

He paused, lifting his gaze to look at her, "Seems like I arrived just in time."

"Nothing really, I can handle it." She waved her hand, "I even slapped Grace Quinn pretty hard!"

Shane’s lips curved slightly, he took her hand, his fingertips gently caressing, "Yes, my wife is the best."

"..."

Why does it feel like this wasn’t actually a compliment?

"In the future, when faced with such matters, you don’t need to handle it personally, dirtying your hands..."

He looked at her, deep in thought, "Should I arrange a personal bodyguard for you?"

Stella looked amused, "Why would a lawyer need a bodyguard, it’s not like I’m fighting people every day."

Shane kept hold of her hand, didn’t insist, "Alright, we can discuss this later."

His palm was broad, able to fully envelop her hand, the padding of his fingers slightly calloused as they grazed the skin on the back of her hand.

Stella replied "Mm," reversing her hand to interlock their fingers.

"By the way, I chatted with Uncle Sterling a few days ago, heard that recently he seems particularly interested in the newly planned plot of land in Esterlyn?"

Stella raised her eyes to look at him, somewhat surprised, "My dad? He talked to you about that?"

Currently, The Sterling Group was still under her father’s, Theodore Sterling, management, business matters he rarely discussed with others, even her brother Aidan Sterling, who was making waves in the venture capital industry, rarely heard mention of such things.

It seems her father was satisfied with Shane Donovan as a future son-in-law...

"Yeah, I happened to run into him at Crestfall a few days ago, we talked for a bit."

Shane frowned slightly, "That plot has good prospects but the bidding parties are complex, the waters run deep. Innovatech previously evaluated, risks are considerable. I’ve cautioned Uncle Sterling, investments need caution, leverage shouldn’t be too high."

He turned his head, calmly looking at Stella, "But Uncle Sterling seems confident, already invested substantial preliminary capital, and rumor has it... he mobilized some overseas relationship financing."

Stella slightly furrowed her brows, her father, having navigated the business world for many years, has his judgment, she seldom intervenes.

But Shane Donovan deliberately bringing this up now, made her feel an inexplicable slight unease.

"My dad should have a handle on it, right?" Stella pursed her lips, "So what now? Should I mention it to my brother?"

Shane noticed her brows tightly knit, chuckled softly, "Alright, don’t worry, perhaps I’m overthinking it. I’ll have someone keep an eye on movements over there."

He reached out, tucking a rebellious strand of hair behind her ear, the gesture gentle and lingering, "What would you like for dinner? Shall I cook at home or shall we eat out?"

The topic shifted naturally.

"Let’s eat out then."

"Sure, I’ll follow my wife’s lead."

"..."

...

Meanwhile, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, in suite 1808.

Heavy curtains blocked out the external sunshine, leaving only a warm wall lamp casting an ambiguous glow on the luxurious carpet.

Aidan Sterling stood in the middle of the suite’s living room, posture tall like a pine, incongruous with the romantic environment.

He wore a well-tailored black coat, still on, with his brows furrowed, eyes sweeping sharply over the woman sitting on the sofa.

Elara Forrest only wore a silk camisole slip dress, the wine-red fabric accentuating her snowy complexion, the hem barely covering her thighs, revealing two fair, straight long legs.

She seemed to have just showered, wet curls lazily draped over her shoulders, a few strands sticking to her neck, meandering into the subtly revealed valley.

Seeing Aidan enter, her red lips curved into a smile.

She set down her crossed legs, barefoot, stepping onto the soft carpet, walking towards him, each step wafting a fragrant breeze.

"You’re here." Her voice bore a husky tone like just waking from sleep, soft and sweet, like a hook, "I knew you would come."

Aidan’s jawline tightened, his hands hanging by his sides silently clenched into fists.

He watched her approach, the air around her full of allure, his heart felt gripped by an invisible hand, pained and sore.

This, compared to the girl he remembered, wearing a white dress, blushing when she smiled, was starkly different.

Elara came to stand before him, her fingertips, through the thin shirt fabric, lightly poked at his hard chest...

Aidan abruptly caught her mischievous wrist, so forcefully it made her furrow her delicate brows.

"Elara Forrest!" He almost spat her name through gritted teeth, eyes raging with suppressed anger, "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Her wrist, aching from the grasp, instead, she laughed with unrestrained delight, her eyes swirling with charm.

"Can’t you see what I’m trying to do?" She leaned in close, her red lips almost grazing his chin, her breath warm, "Aidan... I’m seducing you."

Aidan seemed to hear the world’s biggest joke, the corner of his mouth twisting into a cold curve.

He closed his eyes, restraining the sour and angry tide rising in his chest, his voice hoarse, "Since I’m here, whatever you want, as long as I can, I’ll give it to you. Money? Resources? Or help getting rid of The Capet Family’s entanglement? Tell me...I’ll help you."

He paused, each word seemed dredged up with difficulty from deep within his throat, "You... need not debase yourself like this."