The fla wavered unsteadily as Ethan Sterling brought it slowly to his lips, lighting the cigarette clamped between his teeth.
Pretty slick with the lighter.
Seraphina Redgrave sat by the window, contemplating in silence.
Ethan took a drag, his expression seed sowhat irritable, but the smoke softened it.
He looked up, noticing Seraphina watching him.
"What’s up?"
"Nothing, just thinking that the way you are now, girls would probably find you quite attractive."
Seraphina spoke with a blank expression.
With Ethan’s face and his lancholic way of lighting up, he didn’t need his wealth to attract swarms of young won.
Upon hearing her words, Ethan paused in his smoking, then glanced at Seraphina.
He took another deep drag, slowly exhaled, the thick smoke enveloping him, softening the sharpness in his features.
He smoked without pause, one drag after another, at an unusual pace.
Seraphina looked at the cloud of smoke that seed never to dissipate, puzzled.
"What are you doing?"
Is he really that troubled?
Ethan looked up, gazing at Seraphina, and slowly said, "Soothing a wild rose."
Seraphina was montarily stunned.
Why soothe her?
Wait a minute, when did I beco a wild rose?
Seraphina was speechless but didn’t want to argue childishly with him.
Ethan, with a cigarette clamped in his lips, filled the room with the sll of smoke, his face becoming so obscured it was no longer discernible.
"Dropped you off at The College of Arts, then ended up reading at The Law School for a day?" Ethan crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and looked up at Seraphina, his gaze fluctuating.
Ethan truly seed to have a comprehensive understanding of what she’d been up to.
Seraphina acknowledged with a sound, not seeing any reason to hide it.
"You’re planning to tackle the laws of A Country, reform a restricted area?" Ethan’s eyes were full of disdain, "You seem smart, but the stuff in your head is incredibly naive."
Revenge against the Redgrave Family, establishing a foothold in A Country, reforming restricted areas, those were Seraphina’s dreams.
Seraphina knitted her brows, her voice calm yet resolute, "I may not have the ability now, but that might change."
"Think what you want."
Ethan couldn’t be bothered with Seraphina’s wild ideas, "When I’m with you, just don’t be thinking all this nonsense."
He wasn’t without things to do, so when he wasn’t by Seraphina’s side, she could keep herself busy.
Not wanting to discuss it further with Ethan, Seraphina shifted the topic, looking at him chain-smoking, "Did you dream sothing frightening tonight?"
Seraphina assud Ethan wouldn’t discuss his personal matters, that once he vented and left her room, he could then rest.
Unexpectedly, Ethan took a drag and said in a deep voice, "Dreamt about the day my sister died."
She hadn’t truly ant to ask...
Seraphina wanted to steer away from the topic, but found herself unable to abruptly stop, so she continued with difficulty, "Your sister was good to you?"
Even after so many years since her passing, her image still lingered post-midnight dreams, as if he sought soone to replace her.
At this, Ethan curled his lips in a slight sneer, looking out the window, "In Hibiscus Garden, I was held against garbage cans, slapped, doused in cold water in winter, had my leg broken, and even hung up and beaten... yet I still wanted to stay."
Because it was where he stayed with his sister, until the day she died, they lived there together.
Seraphina sat by the window, lips pursed.
Seraphina always knew Ethan had a tough past, just not that tough.
She wasn’t good at consoling others, nor did she want to console Ethan, but now that the topic reached this point, saying nothing seed weird.
"How about..." Seraphina glanced at the half pack of cigarettes left in Ethan’s hand, "I join you for one?"
After saying this, Seraphina moved to take a cigarette, only for Ethan to brush her hand away.
Ethan looked at Seraphina with a face full of helplessness, his tone carrying a hint of amusent, "Understand your position, we aren’t brothers."
Considering sharing a cigarette, what was she thinking?
Seraphina would rather be Ethan’s brother.
Seraphina stood dumbfounded, until Ethan suddenly pulled her onto his lap.
Ethan, with a cigarette in his mouth, looked at her deeply, removing the cigarette as he gazed at Seraphina, "Want to try?"
Seraphina knew he was up to no good, ready to shake her head, when Ethan extinguished his cigarette and pulled her in for a kiss.
He transferred the smoke from his mouth to Seraphina.
Totally unprepared, the nicotine tasted bitter and harsh, making her want to cough, but Ethan sealed her mouth.
He covered Seraphina’s lips tightly, the bitter taste of smoke spreading between their lips, enticing Seraphina to drown with him.
Seraphina didn’t realize kissing could involve so many chaotic actions; she wanted to escape, but Ethan held her firmly, immobilizing her.
Completely softened, she rested against Ethan’s shoulder, peering into his deep-set eyes.
In high school, she read romance novels, where male leads were almost saint-like, devoid of desire.
Ethan was different; his deep-seated desire was engraved in his bones.
The kiss grew deeper and changed in nature.
Her shirt buttons were undone, revealing her fair arms, held tightly within Ethan’s embrace.
Seraphina struggled to push Ethan away, but only felt his burning heat, knowing if she didn’t stop now, it would be impossible to stop, "It’s that ti, that ti of the month."
At her words, Ethan looked up, devouring her with his eyes, but finally released her, burying his nose in her freshly washed, fragrant hair, calming his breath: "I have to go to A Country tomorrow, back in seven days, no matter if it’s your ti or sothing else, I’ll have you."
Going to A Country.
Finally leaving.
She had seen Ethan’s schedule, naturally she knew he was going to A Country.
Upon hearing it, she feigned surprise, "You’re going to A Country?"
Ethan glanced at Seraphina, "Yeah, planning to run?"
"I can’t run away."
To run and not ntion it.
"Aware of your limits, huh," Ethan stroked Seraphina’s hair, his voice low, "Stay well in Hibiscus Garden, I don’t want to do anything to you."
Even now, he spared Seraphina.
This hadn’t happened before.
Smiling, Seraphina spoke, "It’s late, let’s rest."
"Alright."
Having talked so much, Ethan’s hostility dissipated, so he picked up Seraphina and tossed her onto the bed, climbing on top.
Entangled.
Close your eyes.
Seraphina was speechless.
The next day, Seraphina’s whole body ached, but Ethan was already in the dining room, looking like he had a great night’s sleep.
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