"Elias Hawthorne, you know that’s not what I meant. The most important issue right now isn’t the kids, it’s Nathan Lawrence. Are you really sure you can accept that Raina North once had a relationship with such a man and even had three children with him?"
At the mere thought of that man, Raina felt physically sick. She said, "Are you sure you’ll never feel disgusted lying next to me in bed?"
Elias Hawthorne’s face darkened, his expression turning grim. "Raina, who gave you permission to talk about yourself like that!"
"Such domineering words sound moving indeed, but you haven’t answered my question. I asked if you really feel disgusted." Raina looked up and asked Elias word by word, "Tell me, do you mind or don’t you?"
Elias was silent for a moment and then said, "I do mind."
Raina’s expression didn’t change, but the look of ridicule in her eyes grew stronger.
It was expected that Elias would mind. There was no need to even pretend to be surprised.
After all, no man would truly not care.
Especially a man like Elias Hawthorne, born into such prestigious and noble status, bound to care even more.
But no matter how clearly or thoroughly she thought it through, actually hearing Elias say it brought a tearing pain to her heart.
Raina took a deep breath. "President Hawthorne, I suppose we’ve reached an understanding this time. Now, kindly take your son and leave promptly." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel⸺fire.net
"Can you hear me out?" Elias gripped Raina’s wrist, pulling her over. His large hand rested on her shoulder, his eyes lowered as he gazed at her. "I do care a lot, but only about why that man wasn’t me, why I didn’t meet you sooner back then."
"But I’m also deeply grateful, because the heavens eventually allowed me to meet you."
Raina was stunned, never expecting such words to come from a man like Elias Hawthorne.
Raina sneered, "Do you really think saying sweet words would make me believe? Would I, Raina..." So easy to fool?
But the rest of her sentence went unsaid.
Elias leaned in and kissed her.
Raina was dazed, her face full of shock.
Elias looked at Raina’s surprised expression, his Adam’s apple moving uncomfortably, and said, "Raina, you probably don’t know how enticing you look when you gaze at me like that."
He leaned in, his breath hot, and in the depths of his dark eyes seemed to burn two fires, as if they could scorch a person.
"Really want to devour you whole."
Raina was taken aback; when she realized the implication in Elias’s words, her cheeks flushed instantly.
"Shh." Elias placed his slightly calloused fingertip on Raina’s lips. "Don’t speak, don’t provoke me any further, or I really won’t be able to control myself."
When did she ever provoke this guy!
Raina raised her hand to swat Elias’s hand away, took two steps back to distance herself from him, and said sternly with a cold and unyielding face, "Elias Hawthorne, please have some respect. If you lay a hand on me again, don’t blame me for being impolite."
Elias looked quite satisfied. "Good, you’ve finally called me by my name." After a pause, he added, "Had I known this would get you to behave, I wouldn’t have let it drag on for so long."
The tone was somewhat regretful.
As if remembering something, Elias arched his eyebrows and said, "Raina, be honest. Were you intentionally trying to anger me with this approach, hoping I’d kiss you? Right, that’s surely it. But there’s really no need to go through all that. Just say the word and I’ll gladly fulfill your need."