Just a little bit more, and their lips would have touched. An electric current seemed to flow from the man's sharp lips, rushing towards her with an intense heat through the air.
The air current seemed to swirl like flames, so scorching that it was almost suffocating...
Charlotte Miller closed her eyes, not daring to meet Atlas Hallow's gaze, avoiding his deep and night-like eyes beneath those dense lashes, because the obsidian-like glint inside them nearly hypnotized her.
The air was thick with a desire that couldn't be dissolved, something Charlotte had never experienced. In the three years she spent in the United States, she only commuted between school and her studio, with the only male around her being Ethan Baird. She had never been so close to a man before, and her heart was almost jumping out of her chest.
This is how things are in the world. Heaven grants you an exceptional talent and insight in one aspect but makes you lose another.
Charlotte was naturally afraid of men.
She couldn't quite explain why, but her mother mentioned that after recovering from a high fever during her childhood, her temperament changed considerably, and she disliked being in close contact with any males, which has been the reason she never dated.
But it seemed Atlas Hallow was different.
His scent was pleasing to her, clearly not causing much discomfort. In fact, ever since their wedding night, she had been on edge. When he said he would sleep in the study, she sighed in relief. Now, just as he was about to approach her, someone pushed the door open, which again gave her a sense of relief.
"Am I interrupting you? I see it's dinner time, and you're still not downstairs. I guess newlyweds can't wait at all? Charlotte, don't you know the Hallow Family rules after marrying in? Meal times must be adhered to, not a second late. Even Atlas must comply, no exceptions," said a slender figure standing outside. It was Ava Walker who had returned, now wearing a smoky gray gown and exuding a rich fragrance that wafted in through the open door, tingling Charlotte's nose.
She was not familiar with or fond of perfumes, so she just lowered her head and kept silent.
Playing the weak is the simplest act; just don't speak.
"There is another rule in the Hallow Family: no one enters my room without permission," Atlas Hallow had not released Charlotte, holding her waist with one hand while gently pinching her delicate, fair chin with the other. His voice was soft but carried enough authority, making even the lightest words seem heavy and impactful.
"Atlas, I didn't break any rules. I haven't stepped into your room," Ava laughed lightly, lifting her long leg to show she was still standing outside.
This was clearly pushing boundaries or perhaps a twist of logic. Charlotte silently watched Atlas's face darken slowly, "From now on, you can't come up to this floor..."
He never haggled with others. If a rule was made and still allowed loopholes, he would close all possible gaps without leaving any slit.
"Let's eat." Atlas took Charlotte's hand, ready to go downstairs for dinner, leaving Ava standing at his bedroom door.
As Charlotte left, she felt Ava's gaze, sharp as a knife, slice across her back, an overwhelming murderous aura pouring over her.
The meal was relatively calm. The Hallow Family was always like this; the two elders seldom spoke. Charlotte didn't eat much, having some soup, planning to wait for the elders to finish before going upstairs—she still possessed basic manners.
But after finishing the soup, Charlotte felt uncomfortable, her stomach sinking, feeling nauseous as if she wanted to vomit. Was the soup not fresh?
Her stomach twisted with pain, and she clenched her fist, trying to endure the discomfort. All her reactions were caught by Atlas's eyes.
"What's wrong?" Atlas watched as Charlotte's face turned from moist and delicate white to a deathly pallor with no color, tiny beads of sweat emerging from her forehead, her lips losing their original redness.
"This soup..." Charlotte pointed to the empty soup bowl, feeling her mouth start to go numb.
Atlas's expression was anxious. He picked up Charlotte and told Butler Kent, "No one touches this bowl," then dashed out as fast as lightning.
"How could this happen?" Flix Hallow stood up, pointing to the bowl Charlotte drank from, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he sternly asked, "Who did this...?"
For a moment, everyone at the table went silent. This was the first time something like this happened in the Hallow Family.
The night wind rustled the flowers and trees, casting enchanting shadows on the windows, making everything appear illusory and unreal...