Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 249: You Didnโt Stay Up All Night, Did You?
Natalie Vaughn didnโt chat with Phoebe Quinn for long; after hanging up, she started thinking about what happened at the party. ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ธ๐๐๐.๐๐๐
Come to think of it, it was really her lack of vigilance. She clearly sensed something was wrong before entering the restroom, yet she still chose to go inside.
Of course, she also didnโt expect Serena Blackwood to be bold enough to make a direct move at the party.
When Zane Thorne came up, he saw Natalie Vaughn looking tense and furrowing her brows.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Iโm thinking about how Serena Blackwood set me up; I was really too stupid."
Zane put down the bowl of soup he was holding, sat on the edge of the bed, and his expression was unreadable; he asked in a low voice.
"Tell me, why did you go in when you knew there was something weird about the restroom?"
When Felix Langdon and the others passed by, they all sensed something was off. He didnโt believe Natalie Vaughn wouldnโt know.
"Well, my clothes were dirty."
"Are your clothes more important, or is your safety more important?"
Natalie fell silent; she couldnโt very well explain that she was so engrossed in imagining how Zane would look at the party that she just wanted to clean up quickly and go out to meet him. That would just make her seem too eager and excitable.
"I really didnโt expect this to be one of Serena Blackwoodโs tricks. You canโt just assume everything strange is about you, can you?"
If she hadnโt been in a hurry, she would definitely have called for staff to wait until everything was normal.
Seeing Zaneโs expression getting darker, Natalie stopped explaining and quickly admitted her mistake.
"I really shouldnโt have let my guard down just because I know a little self-defense or fallen for a drug trap again."
Speaking of which, both times Natalie faced danger in her life, it involved drugs.
Thinking about it, Natalie frowned, actually starting to reflect on herself. Sheโs always considered herself smart, but having fallen for drug traps twice, sheโs starting to wonder if maybe sheโs a bit of an idiot.
If she was truly smart, why couldnโt she be smart from the start? Why did she have to suffer first to start thinking straight and leave clues for others?
Suddenly, Natalie grabbed Zaneโs hand, pressing it against her face.
"Why donโt you just slap me? I really do feel quite stupid."
Zane: ...
Can Natalie be blamed for this? Not really.
Serena Blackwood came to the party mainly to hit on Liam Archer and didnโt expect Natalie to be there, let alone that Liam would take an interest in Natalie. Everything Serena planned was spur of the moment; otherwise, it wouldnโt have so many loopholes, making it so easy for them to uncover.
Natalie said it right: why would she suspect something strange had anything to do with her?
The world doesnโt revolve around one person. For her to sense something was wrong as soon as she entered the restroom was already very perceptive.
"You did nothing wrong."
Zane picked up the soup, scooped a spoonful, and brought it to Natalieโs lips.
"Itโs my fault."
Natalie was bewildered as she swallowed the soup.
"What does this have to do with you?"
"Letting her attend the party was my fault."
Back then, to protect Serena Blackwood, Old Master Blackwood had to swallow his pride and go to the Vaughn Family to apologize. Zane thought that the pressure on the Blackwood Familyโs business during that time shouldโve taught them a lesson. He didnโt expect heโd overestimated their intelligence, and theyโd let Serena attend such a party.
Natalie swallowed another spoonful of soup.
"I heard from Yana that she looked really pitiful. When you guys went in, she was tied to the bed and being whipped."
Zane raised his eyes to look at Natalie.
"What do you want to ask?"
"Why would Serena, knowing that guy was a pervert, suggest a threesome with him? Is she just too naive or too foolish? How could she have thought she could escape?"
"Liam Archer once pursued Serena for a while. Back then, Serena had just returned to the Blackwood Family and had won an award, so she didnโt care for him. And after she heard about his kinks, she stayed far away."
"And now sheโs come back to Liam because she has no choice?"
"Yeah."
Natalie clicked her tongue, thinking Serena brought all this upon herself, a typical example of wicked deeds being punished. What was the point of causing trouble on set back then, leading to this mess now? Sheโs lost her chance at being a famous actress, and everything in the entertainment world is gone.
All ruined.
"At the party, the one who hit on you came with Liam, and Serena interrupted Liam halfway."
Natalie thought for a while before she remembered the man who overestimated himself.
"Seems itโs a mix of good and bad sorts."
Halfway through the bowl, Natalie couldnโt drink any more soup. Zane then withdrew his hand and casually took a napkin to wipe her mouth.
"In the future, if you want to go to a party, just ask me to accompany you."
Natalie pouted.
"You were supposed to attend this party too, but you happened to be on a business trip."
Hearing this, Zane raised an eyebrow at her.
"Did you go entirely for me?"
"...not entirely."
The man let out a sound through his nose.
"Caleb was there, wasnโt he?"
"..."
"I didnโt even know my wife could mix drinks. It was all wasted on Theo."
"..."
"He drank and didnโt do anything but get drunk. Letting him accompany you ended up in such a situation."
Natalie: ...
"You canโt just have an issue with Theo over everything. What did he do wrong? I chose to sit in the corner, and he got drunk because my cocktails were good. If you want to blame someone, blame me."
Zane looked deeply at Natalie, frowning slightly.
"Youโre quite protective of him."
"Heโs just a kid. Why bother with him? Donโt always be so harsh."
"Hmm, my wife makes cocktails, and I donโt get any, while he does. Sure, I wonโt hold it against him."
Natalie: ...
"How about I mix some for you next time?"
Only then did Zane relent, his expression finally easing, and the corners of his mouth no longer pressed so tightly.
Seeing the exhaustion in his eyes, a thought suddenly popped into Natalieโs mind.
"Did you not sleep at all last night?"
After saying that, Natalie frowned, recalling how when she woke up, Zane was already sitting by the bed, and there was no warmth where he couldโve slept beside her.
Zane climbed into bed and pulled Natalie into his arms.
"How about now we sleep for a bit?"
Natalie felt a pang of heartache. Over the past few days, Zane had been busy with business trips, working almost non-stop. After getting off the plane, he rushed directly to the party venue and then encountered all this drama. All night, he had been taking care of her; how could his body withstand it?
Wrapping her arms around his waist, Natalie nuzzled against him.
"Why didnโt you sleep?"
"I couldnโt fall asleep just now."
He was afraid sheโd suddenly wake up, afraid sheโd have nightmares. Even though he knew that she could sleep soundly after being given a sedative, he still worried about even the smallest chance.
Natalie snuggled closer, having heard from Yana earlier that there was a bloodstain in the hotel corridor. When Zane saw it, his eyes were bloodshot, and he exuded a deep, violent aura she had never seen before.
She didnโt know what Zane felt when he saw that bloodstain. She only knew that when she once had a nightmare about Zane, she didnโt sleep well for several nights.
Thinking about it, Natalie nuzzled him like a kitten.
"Iโm alright, really. Letโs have a nice sleep and go teach them a lesson when we wake up."
