The General's Wife Wants to Leave-Chapter 180: A view of temptation

There was part of her thinking that it might be another method for him to probe if she was with him during his speech and that she had learned to trust him.

"I am sorry." It was the word that her husband finally said after he stared into her eyes in a daze. His voice was raspy, as if he were trying to suppress something inside him.

And he proved to her once again that he would not hurt her. He was still a man of his words. He respected her, holding himself back from doing more, although she noticed a different glint in his eyes.

It was probably a desire that he told her before—that he had a strong intention to claim her as his real wife. And his heartbeat became a sign of how much he held himself back from forcing himself on her because they would have their marriage consummated only when she was willing and ready. freewebnσvel.cøm

After delivering his apology to her, Joanna felt the pressure on her shoulders, which was lighter compared to before she turned to face him, disappear. It was because her husband straightened his back to now tower over her and then retracted his hands that were still lightly lying on her shoulders.

Without wasting any longer time, with a sliver of relief to see her smile, as if indicating that she was not angry or afraid with what he just did to her, Canillas grabbed Joanna’s hand that was on his chest and led her to walk away, leaving the quiet place where the moonlight was still showering its grace.

On the way back to the main hall where the banquet would be held, only the sound of the clicking shoes echoed through the tranquil air. Compared to when they headed to the secluded and quiet place, they currently walked at a hurried pace, as if they had caught up with the time so that they would arrive there before the banquet began.

Nevertheless, punctuality was not the main subject that played in Canillas’ mind at the moment, as his head was filled with blaming himself for what he just did to his wife.

Was it impulsive? Canillas was not sure if it was an impulsive action. What he remembered was that the view before his eyes was like a magnet that strongly pulled him to feel.

He was stupefied when she asked for his help to fix her dress. When he heard that, something inside him told him that something would go off track. But who else would help her if not him, as he was also to blame for her being in that situation.

Therefore, he took decisive steps toward her direction, confidently reminding himself that everything would go on track, as it was not the first time he laid his fingers on her body.

He had embraced her the whole night in the inn, and he was able to control himself, holding back from doing something that she opposed. But the view that lay before his eyes was really like a temptation.

He was not sure whether it was caused by the atmosphere that surrounded them or what just transpired between them that became like a catalyst to soar his inner desire to indulge deeper with her.

Was it because such an action, where he had to help her fix her attire that adorned her body beautifully, was too intimate to ignore either? Or perhaps he was like walking on the air when she asked for help from him, which meant that his presence had meaning for her, although it could be that she had no choice as no one else but him was with her at that moment.

But it still counted as progress for Canillas, recalling how determined she was, adamantly refusing to get help from him aside from avoiding requesting something from him.

Perhaps she once again listened to him talking to her just now, suggesting what he wanted them to be as a married couple.

What he was sure of was that he could not look away from the smooth, fair skin, along with the scent that drew him closer and closer to it.

He wanted to touch it, feeling it with his fingers and, further than that, with his lips. But he regretted that, as the feeling of her skin still lingered on the part of his body where he had touched it, and if she had not stopped him, he would probably not have stopped there.

It was a relief that she did not act like she previously did. She was calm and even smiled when he asked for forgiveness. She also did what he advised her to do. It was that she had no obligation to serve him because of guilt and compassion.

Once again, she proved to him that he could talk to her, as she never ignored him.

But it was not a complete relief, as she might be afraid of him inwardly and would distance herself from him gradually. She might also think that the words he just said to her were empty and that he was actually an uncultured man like she accused him to be.

What if they were back to their old relationship, where she treated him coldly and rudely? What if she asked for a marriage annulment again?

"Sir Canillas. Can you please walk more slowly?"

The train of Canillas’ chaotic thought ceased when the soft voice echoed in the tranquil corridor, drifting to his ears and filling his entire senses.

Turning around while keeping on walking, Canillas found Joanna breathing heavily while walking like she was almost running, looking like she was being chased by ghosts.

It was then that Canillas realized that he walked with a longer stride, which seemed to be hard for her to follow, making her exert more effort to catch up to him.

Realizing that, Canillas immediately took a halt, and Joanna soon regained her breath.

"I am sorry," Canillas muttered, once again asking for an apology. He then rubbed his face as if trying to clear his mind while waiting for Joanna to steady her breath.

"It is fine," Joanna responded with a smile, her chest heaving up and down.

Surprised by what he just heard, Canillas directed his wandering gaze on Joanna.

Was it really fine for her? He questioned that in his mind while studying her visage, only to find her look serene with no fear on her beautiful face. But Canillas was still not sure of what he was seeing. He was not convinced yet that she was fine.

About twenty seconds later, Joanna, who had regained her breath, grabbed Canillas’ hand that had never let go of hers, which made him furrow his brows.

Without saying anything, as he was wondering what his wife was going to do, he saw her gently loosen the grip of his hand on hers before she was completely free from his hold.

She was not fine, in contrast to what she just said. She was not as calm as she appeared. Canillas turned anxious, as what he worried about would come true: that she would never let him hold her hand again.

The agreement that he had painstakingly erased between them a few moments ago would be revalidated before the old request that she eagerly demanded from him echoed in the air.