Chapter 56: After Tonight, He Belongs to Rosalind Linden

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: After Tonight, He Belongs to Rosalind Linden

The atmosphere in the cramped space grew heavy.

Claire Kendall’s slender, pale fingers hooked his tie, winding it slowly. Her fingertips feigned a casual brush against his Adam’s apple.

Miles Warren remained expressionless as he pried her smooth, pale fingers off his tie one by one. He wasn’t rough, but his actions were decisive.

He pulled his tie free, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

"I don’t."

"I don’t believe you."

Her four decisive words made Miles Warren laugh in exasperation.

"If you don’t believe me, then why did you ask?"

"Because I want to hear you say it with your own mouth," she leaned in, her warm breath ghosting across his ear. "Tell me you like me, that you love me, that you can’t live without me."

The outer corners of Claire Kendall’s eyes lifted.

"But Dr. Warren, you’re not at all charming when you lie."

Miles Warren ignored her, and the car glided smoothly into Regency Gardens.

At the door to apartment 501, he keyed in the code, pushed the door open, and stepped aside, gesturing for Claire Kendall to enter.

She stood at the door and didn’t move.

Her eyes glistened as she spoke in a deliberate drawl,

"Dr. Warren, it’s so late. Since we’re just friends, it wouldn’t be right for me to come into your apartment, would it?"

’One minute he’s saying he doesn’t like me, the next he’s inviting me up late at night. He can’t even be honest with himself.’

Miles Warren’s voice was laced with resignation.

"You’re overthinking it. I’m letting you in so you can get your things."

"You didn’t get everything when you moved out last time."

A knot of frustration tightened in Claire Kendall’s chest. She shot him a venomous glare and gritted her teeth.

"Then just throw it all out yourself, Dr. Warren!"

"Do it yourself." He turned and walked into the apartment.

Claire Kendall kicked off her high heels, her bare feet landing on the cold floor.

"So what did I leave?"

He was already at the door to the study and answered without turning around.

"Guest bedroom. On the bed. Your underwear."

Claire Kendall was speechless.

’The last time she’d snuck in here to move her things out, she’d been in such a frantic hurry that she’d forgotten these... intimate items.’

On the bed, her lacy underwear was laid out, perfectly neat.

’The way they were placed, it was obvious someone had deliberately gathered them and laid them out like this.’

’His mouth might not be honest, but his body sure is.’

Claire Kendall’s lips curved into a smile. She gathered the two small items and walked straight to the study.

Miles Warren was sitting at his desk, staring at his computer screen. Without looking up, he said in a cold voice,

"If you have your things, then go. Close the door on your way out."

Claire Kendall leaned against the doorframe, watching him.

"Dr. Warren, are you that eager to get rid of me?"

Miles Warren finally looked up. "Is there something else?"

"As a matter of fact, there is."

Claire Kendall walked over to the desk and perched on its edge.

The position perfectly blocked his view of the screen, while also giving her a commanding, top-down view to study his face.

"Dr. Warren," she said, giving the paper bag in her hand a little shake, "did you gather these for me?"

"Mm," came the very quiet reply.

The amusement in Claire Kendall’s eyes deepened.

She leaned forward, closing the distance between them in a suggestive test.

"So, Dr. Warren... do you think they’re nice?"

"Claire Kendall." Miles Warren’s voice was a little hoarse, and his Adam’s apple bobbed. "That’s enough."

"But Dr. Warren, I don’t think it’s nearly enough—Hey, hey, hey—"

Before she could finish, Claire Kendall’s seductive murmur turned into a startled yelp.

Miles Warren had simply lifted her right off the desk.

"Miles, my bag—"

Without a glance, he snatched up the paper bag and tossed her and it out of apartment 501.

SLAM!

The door slammed shut.

Claire Kendall rubbed her arm where he had grabbed it and snorted. "Can’t take the heat."

She stared at the firmly shut door of 501, entirely undiscouraged.

’The more Miles Warren restrained himself, the higher he built his walls...’

’...the more she wanted to see what it would look like when they all came crashing down.’

’When an old house like that catches fire, it’s bound to burn bright.’

「Two days later.」

The first-floor exhibition hall at the Aethel International Center was buzzing with activity.

Claire Kendall’s brand, Moonstone, had been invited to participate in the Innovative Heritage exhibit.

She was focused on a file for a potential collaborator when her gaze drifted to a sign at the second-floor entrance.

International Summit on Cutting-Edge Internal Medicine.

On the guest list, Miles Warren’s name was featured prominently, followed immediately by Rosalind Linden’s.

A flicker in her eyes. Just as she was about to look away, she heard familiar, anxious voices coming from the entrance. A few young interns from Aethel General Hospital were being stopped by security at the turnstiles.

"What are we going to do? We can’t get in without an invitation, and the presentation is about to start."

"You’ve really put Dr. Keller in a bind! Go talk to the event staff, see if they’ll make an exception!"

Claire Kendall walked over, her voice gentle.

"Do you need some help? Are you trying to get something to the second floor?"

Seeing her, the interns looked as if they’d found their savior. They all started talking at once, explaining the situation.

Claire Kendall held out her hand without hesitation. "Give it to me. I’m heading upstairs, I can give it to Dr. Keller."

"Ms. Kendall, thank you so, so much..."

Clutching the flash drive, her lips curved into a faint smile.

’When fate hands you an opportunity like this, it would be rude not to ’accidentally’ run into Dr. Warren.’

Claire Kendall was wearing a qipao made of pink Flowing Light Brocade.

The silk fabric clung to her delicate curves, making her already fair skin seem even more porcelain.

Her long black hair was pinned up carelessly, giving her the look of a peerless beauty from a classical painting, yet she exuded a vibrant, eye-catching aura.

The moment she appeared at the entrance to the lecture hall,

she captured nearly every eye in the room.

"Is she one of the guest speakers?"

"I’ve never seen her. What hospital is she from?"

"She’s too young and pretty to be a doctor, right?"

A low murmur of discussion rippled through the hall.

Claire Kendall paid them no mind.

Her gaze locked onto the two figures standing by the window.

Miles Warren stood with his back to the room. Rosalind Linden was standing very close to him, her eyes red-rimmed as she looked up at him.

After a moment, Miles Warren paused, pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket, and offered it to her.

Claire Kendall, walking on slender heels, faltered for a fraction of a second.

’Didn’t he already reject her? Why is he being so gentle and considerate all of a sudden?’

Claire Kendall pulled her gaze away, her expression serene. With every step a study in graceful allure, she walked toward Jonathan Keller, followed by countless pairs of eyes.

Miles Warren turned, his brow deeply furrowed.

’That pink qipao made her figure all the more bewitching; the fabric could barely contain her curves.’

’Especially when he saw the covetous, appraising looks from the men around them... He couldn’t help but clench his jaw.’

Miles Warren walked straight up to her.

"What are you doing here?"

Claire Kendall slowly lifted her gaze, her tone cool and distant.

"What’s the matter? Did I interrupt you and your fair lady reminiscing, Dr. Warren?"

She moved to walk right past him.

"Besides, Dr. Warren, I didn’t come here for you."

She walked up to Jonathan Keller and handed him the flash drive.

"Dr. Keller, the interns from your department asked me to bring this to you."

Jonathan Keller took it, overjoyed. "Ms. Kendall, you’re an absolute lifesaver."

He blinked pointedly, darting his eyes toward Miles Warren.

’Go on, explain! Console her!’

Miles Warren stood frozen in place, his thin lips pressed into a tight line.

Rosalind Linden watched as Miles Warren actively approached Claire Kendall, her nails digging viciously into her palms.

’That persistent bitch! How dare she dress so provocatively and come here to keep seducing Miles.’

’But it didn’t matter...’

’After tonight, Miles Warren would be hers.’