Eric watched Ella wrinkle her nose, finding her genuine expression amusing. This was the real Ella, the one he rarely saw.
At Ella’s coming-of-age banquet, she had been so composed and wary of him, lacking the innocence of a typical teenager, instead resembling a woman weathered by life’s storms.
Ella kicked off her shoes and opened the closet, only to find it filled with n’s clothes.
"There aren’t any won’s clothes. Are you expecting to wear yours?"
Ella frowned, her tone unexpectedly more relaxed than usual, as if she had known Eric for a long ti.
"Just wear my pajamas for now. In half an hour, soone will bring you so won’s clothes," Eric said with a light laugh. He walked over, drew back the curtains, and lazily sat down, pouring himself a glass of red wine.
Ella glanced at the large double bed, noting the gray sheets, reflecting Eric’s preference for simple, understated colors. For so reason, her face felt hot after just a glance.
Eric noticed the hint of embarrassnt and confusion in her eyes, chuckling as he teased, "What’s on your mind? Thinking of sothing inappropriate?"
"I am not! Eric, can you stop being so lewd?"
Ella shot him a glare before grabbing a set of his pajamas and slipping into the bathroom.
In the spacious bathroom, Ella ran the warm water and placed the pajamas on the counter, feeling a bit uneasy. Taking a bath here while Eric waited outside felt incredibly intimate.
To outsiders, it must look like Eric had brought her here for... well, sothing suggestive.
The more she thought about it, the redder her face beca. She hurriedly finished her bath and put on Eric’s oversized silk pajamas.
The silk pajamas were light and long, draping over her petite fra, giving her a surprisingly elegant look.
Ella opened the bathroom door and walked out with her head down, her slightly damp hair cascading over her shoulders, adding a youthful charm.
Her slender figure was hidden beneath the loose pajamas, but it only highlighted her delicate face.
Eric’s eyes lit up, a faint smile playing on his lips. Ella walked to the vanity, catching sight of her flushed cheeks in the mirror.
Eric stood and approached her from behind.
Ella’s heart raced as she pretended to calmly pick up a brush and smooth her hair.
Eric’s hands encircled her waist, his warm breath tickling her ear.
"Do you like it here, sweetheart?"
"Yes, I do."
Ella put down the brush and nudged him, "Let go, don’t hold like this!"
"I won’t touch you," Eric laughed softly. "But I do want to kiss you!"
Before she could respond, his hot, damp lips were on her earlobe.
Ella trembled, struggling to breathe.
His kisses trailed from her earlobe down to her nape, lingering passionately.
Ella felt lost, but rembering a secret, she closed her eyes and trembled.
Eric’s kisses grew more urgent, his breath heavy. Ella’s unease grew.
Suddenly, she was lifted off her feet and thrown onto the large bed.
The bed was so soft that it didn’t hurt, instead filling her with an inexplicable excitent.
Ella let out a startled cry as Eric pinned her down, flipping her over to face him.
Eric gazed intently at Ella, her eyes wide with panic and unwillingness.
Eric’s desire cooled instantly, seeing her distress.
Eric had only ever had one girlfriend, soone he t abroad. He had never been interested in any other won who threw themselves at him, and he certainly never forced himself on anyone he found attractive.
"If you don’t want this... just pretend I was out of my mind," Eric said, getting up and striding towards the bathroom.
Ella lay there, stunned. Eric had seed so overwheld with desire, yet he had suddenly left her alone. He had always said he wouldn’t touch her unless she was willing.
Taking a deep breath, Ella marveled at Eric’s self-control. Any other man might have forced her by now.
Five minutes later, Eric erged from the bathroom, his hair slightly damp. Ella instinctively lowered her head.
"What’s wrong? Feeling guilty? Did you sneak a drink of my wine?" Eric joked, sitting lazily beside her.
Ella shot him a glare. "I did not drink your wine!"
"So, what do you want to eat? I forgot that soone already had her fill," Eric teased, laughing. "Dinner alone is pretty tasteless."
"I... I’ll join you for a bit," Ella said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "You haven’t eaten yet?"
"Of course not! I don’t have as much free ti as you," Eric chuckled, dialing for room service to order dinner for two.
Soon, a delivery of won’s clothing arrived—at least a dozen outfits, more than Ella could sort through. She eventually chose the most conservative option: a light green silk dress, along with a perfectly fitting bra.
"By the way, I have so good news for you."
They sat at the dining table, and once the server had left, Eric’s deanor turned serious.
"What good news?"
"My team discovered that your mother was forced to marry Robert by your grandmother’s family. At that ti, Robert was just an ordinary man," Eric said, his eyes fixed on Ella’s.
"Your mother passed away when you were three. So, you don’t rember her at all, do you?"
Ella, still processing the shock, nodded. "No, I don’t rember her. Robert never kept any pictures of her. But people say I look like her."
"My team also found evidence that your mother was pregnant when she married Robert. We found dical records and even spoke to the doctor who treated her back then. Although she’s retired, she rembers your mother vividly because she was the most beautiful patient she ever had."
Ella stared at Eric in disbelief. "So, you’re saying... my mother might have been waiting for soone to marry her, but he never showed up, so she had to marry Robert?"
"Possibly. Your mother was pregnant, having a child out of wedlock would have brought scorn and ridicule. She likely married Robert to protect her child from being ostracized. Yet, she severed ties with her family," Eric explained, laying out the entire past.
Ella was left speechless, grappling with the revelations.
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