Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Holly Sinclair Torments Vivian Linton
"Help me... help me..."
She desperately clutched his shirt, shrinking into his arms with all her might.
It was as if his embrace was the safest fortress, a place where she could no longer be harmed.
"Don’t be afraid. It’s alright now."
Gently patting her trembling shoulders, he coaxed her in a low voice.
A tub full of hot water warmed both their bodies.
Finally, Holly Sinclair stopped trembling.
The color slowly returned to her pale face.
Tristan Sterling gazed at the little woman who was gradually quieting down in his arms. Feeling her delicate curves, a heat rose through him.
Her crying had left the tip of her nose a rosy pink, making her look both pitiable and adorable.
Unable to restrain himself, he lowered his head and gave her a tentative kiss.
She flinched.
But she didn’t struggle.
Tristan Sterling’s mind began to race with desire.
She hadn’t rejected him.
To him, her lack of refusal was an invitation.
Tristan Sterling shifted, turning with Holly Sinclair in his arms and sitting down in the tub.
He then settled her on his lap, facing him.
The man’s large hand cradled the back of her head as he kissed her impatiently.
Holly Sinclair’s mind was still foggy.
She only felt that this embrace was warm and secure, making her want to draw closer instinctively.
Her compliance left Tristan Sterling very satisfied.
The kiss grew more feverish.
Kissing in the water was a unique sensation.
Tristan Sterling was aroused.
He cupped her face with both hands, savoring her sweetness.
The wicked fire he had suppressed for so long raged within him like a charging army.
He couldn’t hold back any longer!
After a quick rinse, he carried her back to the bedroom.
The moment she was thrown onto the bed, Holly Sinclair’s muddled mind cleared.
The man’s face was inches from hers.
Reacting on instinct, Holly Sinclair grabbed a pillow and slammed it into him.
Caught completely off guard, Tristan Sterling’s head was knocked to the side.
It wasn’t very damaging, but it was extremely insulting.
"Tristan Sterling, what do you think you’re doing?!"
Holly Sinclair roared.
Then she realized with a shock that neither of them was wearing a stitch of clothing.
She frantically pulled a thin blanket around herself, her chest heaving with rage.
Interrupted at such a critical moment, Tristan Sterling’s face was as black as coal.
"What do you think?"
The man stood by the bed, staring at her grimly as he ground out the question.
’He was already like this, and she was still asking what he wanted to do?’
’Wasn’t his "reaction" obvious enough?!’
He even gave a vicious thrust of his hips.
"You—"
Holly Sinclair sharply averted her gaze.
Her face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
He reached for her.
"Don’t touch me!"
She reacted violently, shrinking back to refuse his touch.
Tristan Sterling was furious.
Kneeling on the edge of the bed with one knee, he seized her jaw, hissing coldly, "Holly Sinclair, don’t be ungrateful!"
His patience had its limits.
"Don’t touch me! You make me sick!" she shrieked, violently batting his hand away.
"What did you say?"
The man’s dark eyes narrowed, his handsome face terrifyingly grim.
His tall frame emanated a frighteningly hostile aura that sent a chill down one’s spine.
"Tristan Sterling, you disgust me!"
Fearless, Holly Sinclair stubbornly lifted her chin and met his furious gaze.
’He was touching her with the same hands that had touched Vivian Linton. It was disgusting.’
’He was kissing her with the same lips that had kissed Vivian Linton. It was even more disgusting.’
’The very sight of him made her sick now!’
"Say that again!" The cold words shot from between his clenched teeth.
"You make me si—"
Before Holly Sinclair could finish, Tristan Sterling’s phone suddenly rang.
It shattered the tense atmosphere.
Tristan Sterling answered it—
"Speak!"
The man was full of rage, his voice laced with gunpowder.
"Tris-Tristan..."
The delicate voice on the other end was clearly startled.
It was Vivian Linton.
"What is it?" A little of the anger faded from Tristan Sterling’s face, but his tone was still harsh.
"Tristan, the thunder is so loud, and I’m so scared. Can you come and stay with me?" Vivian Linton begged softly, her voice tinged with tears.
Tristan Sterling didn’t speak, just glared coldly at Holly Sinclair on the bed.
Holly Sinclair heard it too, and a scornful smile touched her lips.
"And... my foot hurts a lot too..." When the man didn’t respond, Vivian Linton began to sob quietly, her voice full of grievance.
"I’ll be right there."
Tristan Sterling hung up and turned to enter the walk-in closet.
Holly Sinclair’s sneer deepened.
Soon, Tristan Sterling was dressed.
BANG!
He slammed the door and left.
Listening to the man’s heavy footsteps thudding down the stairs, Holly Sinclair felt as if all her strength had been instantly drained away, and she collapsed onto the bed.
A lump formed in her throat, and the corners of her eyes grew damp.
...
「The next day.」
Tristan Sterling did not return all night.
The rain had been too heavy last night, so Holly Sinclair couldn’t get a car and had to stay over.
She slept in a side bedroom.
When she woke up in the morning, she gave a self-deprecating smile.
’She really had worried for nothing.’
’Mr. Sterling had spent the entire night wrapped up with his "white moonlight," yet she had actually been worried he would rush back to force himself on her.’
Holly Sinclair felt utterly ridiculous.
After calling for a car, she went downstairs.
As she passed the garage, a flashy red sports car drove out.
Holly Sinclair was startled, thinking it was Tristan Sterling.
But when she looked closely, the man in the driver’s seat wasn’t him.
It was one of his good friends, Caleb Sutton.
The infamous playboy of Mistcroft.
"Where are you headed, Miss Sinclair? Need a ride?"
Caleb Sutton stopped the car and leaned his head out the window. He pushed his sunglasses down, revealing a pair of charming, almond-shaped eyes, and asked with a grin.
"No need," Holly Sinclair refused.
From now on, she wanted nothing to do with anyone associated with Tristan Sterling.
"This car, your Tristan lost it to me."
Seeing her expressionless, unhappy face, Caleb Sutton quickly explained.
Holly Sinclair didn’t say a word.
’It has nothing to do with me!’
"The night before last, we were playing cards all night. Your man’s luck wasn’t so good."
Caleb Sutton said tactfully.
To be precise, it wasn’t that his luck was bad, but that Mr. Sterling was sexually frustrated and blowing off steam by throwing money around.
Holly Sinclair hadn’t been paying attention at first.
But then something felt off. "The night before last?" she asked.
"Yep."
"All night?"
"Yep."
Watching Caleb Sutton nod seriously, Holly Sinclair fell silent.
’If Tristan Sterling was playing cards all night with Caleb Sutton and the others the night before last, then doesn’t that mean he and Vivian Linton...’
’Didn’t sleep together?’
...
「Vervain Studio.」
Holly Sinclair’s face was murderous as she rolled up her sleeves and marched toward the restoration room.
"Well, well~ Look at Miss Sinclair, so capable she didn’t even need a locksmith to get in herse—AH!"
Zack, completely unaware of the danger, was still smirking triumphantly, her words dripping with scorn.
Holly Sinclair strode forward and grabbed a handful of her hair.
She gave it a vicious tug.
Caught off guard, Zack shrieked and fell to the ground.
Holly Sinclair tightened her grip on the woman’s hair and began dragging her toward the restroom.
"Ah... what are you doing... Let go of me, ahh..."
Zack screamed repeatedly, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain. It felt like her entire scalp was about to be torn off.
To ease the pain, she could only follow Holly Sinclair’s pull, scrambling and crawling after her like a pathetic dog.
Once inside the restroom, Holly Sinclair flung Zack aside forcefully.
Zack was thrown against the wall, then bounced off it, landing sprawled on her back.
She lay on the floor, gasping for breath.
Such a huge commotion startled everyone in the studio.
Everyone crowded around.
"Heavens! Holly Sinclair, what are you doing?!"
Vivian Linton was the first to arrive, crying out in shock.
Holly Sinclair let out a cold laugh.
’Perfect timing!’
She spun around, grabbed a handful of Vivian Linton’s hair, and yanked hard.
