The man’s broad, long-fingered hand rested on Zoe Lancaster’s lower back, brushing against her waist dimple with a touch that was neither too light nor too heavy. It was the exact spot where her scar lay. Under his caress, which seemed to carry a hint of arousal, waves of numbness washed over her body.
Although they hadn’t crossed any lines, Zoe inexplicably felt as though she were completely naked in his eyes.
Suppressing the unfamiliar flutter in her chest, her voice trembled. "I don’t understand what you mean."
During old Mr. Quincy’s birthday banquet, when they had abandoned themselves to madness, Simon Hawthorne had shown the same fascination with the scar on her lower back. In the heat of passion, he had flipped her over, making her kneel on the bed as he leaned in from behind to kiss the scar. It had felt like the intimacy of true lovers. It was so seductive and alluring that Zoe still couldn’t forget the sensation—so much so that even now, her ears burned and a rosy blush spread across her cheeks.
Simon watched Zoe’s cheeks flush crimson inch by inch. She was as delicate and inviting as a dew-kissed peach blossom, likely having no idea how enticing she looked in this moment. His eyes darkened, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he suppressed his hidden desires. "Mrs. Hawthorne, do you know that your innocent act is entirely unconvincing? If you really don’t understand, then why are you blushing?"
Zoe looked flustered for a moment. "Then what do you want me to do?"
What exactly counted as a begging attitude?
The man unhurriedly lifted her chin, taking his time to admire her shyness. "Those with sincerity don’t need to be taught."
"You..." Zoe hadn’t expected Simon to be so difficult.
And right now, she had absolutely no other options.
At present, she wasn’t sure if someone had maliciously interfered with her situation. Running into Ken Lowell at the company today had forced her to consider certain possibilities. If this was truly Ken’s doing, the company’s investigation results would not be optimistic. She would be completely powerless to handle the consequences. After all, she had been held in the palm of the Hawthorne Family’s hands from the very beginning.
Zoe squeezed her eyes shut, deciding to just risk it all.
Trembling, she stood on her tiptoes and gently wrapped her arms around Simon’s neck. The man’s thin lips were just inches away. They were beautifully shaped, and she found herself momentarily dazed as she stared at them. What was supposed to be a desperate act of begging to please seemed to now hide a bit of her own girlish selfishness.
He was tall. Even though he was currently leaning against the edge of the desk with his legs bent, she still had to tiptoe. Just as she was about to kiss those pale red lips, Simon turned his head slightly.
Her lips landed on his clean jawline instead.
Simon’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. "What are you thinking? My office doesn’t have a lounge. Do you want to do it right here, against the glass walls on all three sides?"
Zoe’s face instantly flushed crimson as she forcefully shoved him away. Meeting the man’s composed gaze, which hid a hint of teasing, her embarrassment turned to fury. "You—you did that on purpose!"
He was deliberately messing with her! She never said she wanted to do that kind of thing with him in his office! This was a workplace! Was she crazy?!
Simon watched the angry woman. She looked exactly like a bristling kitten, her round eyes glaring at him, making him want to bully her even more. He raised his eyelashes. "You were the one who took the initiative, and now you’re turning around and blaming me?
"Zoe, aren’t you being a bit unreasonable?"
Zoe realized profoundly that she had indeed been played by Simon. With his dismissive attitude, he probably never had any intention of helping her to begin with. He just wanted to see her make a fool of herself!
She clenched her fingers. She already had thin skin, and now she had completely lost the courage to continue asking for help. She bit her lip. "It was wishful thinking on my part. Mr. Hawthorne is a busy man, so of course you don’t have time to bother with a nobody like me!"
Not knowing if she was more angry or more saddened by his contempt, Zoe turned to leave, but Simon grabbed her left hand. He looked at her scratched ring finger, took a bandage out from his drawer, and asked, "Aren’t you afraid of getting tetanus?"
Zoe tried to pull away, but he held on tightly. She bit her lip, not expecting him to notice such a small wound. Her feelings grew complicated, but she forced herself to suppress them and not overthink. "I’m not that fragile."
The man lowered his gaze, carefully peeling open the bandage to wrap the thin cut on her finger. Her hand was soft and smooth, her fingers delicate and seemingly boneless, with a faint pink tint at the tips—truly beautiful. He lightly rubbed his thumb against her skin without hurting her. "If you die in the company, we’ll have to pay compensation. Don’t you understand?"
Zoe immediately snapped out of her wandering thoughts. "Don’t worry, Mr. Hawthorne. It won’t be blamed on you." She pulled her hand from his warm, dry palm, turned, and walked away.
Simon didn’t stop her. He remained relaxed, leaning against the edge of the desk, staring thoughtfully toward the door.
After a short while, he raised a hand and touched the spot on his jawline where she had just kissed him. The soft sensation of her delicate lips still seemed to linger. He lowered his eyes. His throat felt dry and tight, so he reached up to loosen his tie before glancing around the office. No one knew what he was thinking.
That was until Linden knocked and entered. "Mr. Hawthorne, Mrs. Hawthorne... seems very angry."
Linden felt that given his boss’s unfeeling personality, if he didn’t mediate, this marriage would fall apart sooner or later. He was just a secretary, yet he had to worry about these domestic matters. Couldn’t they pay him a double salary?
"What did the PR department say?" Simon’s brow furrowed again. He turned around, picked up his coffee, and took a sip. It had already gone cold, icy as it slid down his throat. Normally, he disliked iced coffee and wouldn’t touch it. Today, however, he took a few extra sips.
When Zoe first arrived, Linden had perceptively gathered some firsthand information. "They’ve already launched an investigation. The opposing company is currently furious and wants someone to take the blame. If the investigation results aren’t ideal... Mrs. Hawthorne will have to shoulder the responsibility."
Seeing Simon remain silent, Linden probed cautiously, "Mr. Hawthorne? Mrs. Hawthorne probably won’t be able to bear this injustice..."
Simon returned to his seat behind the desk and opened the pending documents. His voice returned to its usual cold and indifferent tone. "No one can help her shoulder what she must."
Linden’s expression contorted strangely for a moment before he understood Simon’s meaning. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Simon add, "There is a vacancy in the Project Department at headquarters."
Linden instantly grasped the implication. This wasn’t his boss refusing to help. This was his boss trying to keep her close!
Currently suspended pending investigation, Zoe could only wait for an official notice. She no longer considered asking Simon for help. If he wanted to help her, it would only take a single word from him. The fact that he hadn’t given any response by now already made his stance clear.
An uncontrollable ache lingered in Zoe’s chest. She didn’t seek Simon out for three whole days, and Simon hadn’t returned to the Hawthorne Residence either. It was likely due to the increased number of social engagements at the end of the year. Avoiding him made Zoe sigh in relief. Otherwise, she would constantly be reminded of the humiliation she endured in his office.
It was five days before New Year’s Eve—the day of the Little New Year. Everyone in the Hawthorne Family was required to return home for a meal, and Simon was no exception.
Aside from the individual courtyard houses, everyday gatherings at the Hawthorne Residence were held in the main house. Today, the residence was exceptionally lively. Simon’s father, June Hawthorne, had hurried back, alongside Ken Lowell, Cecilia Sloan, Mercy Hawthorne, the couple from the second branch and their son Ryan Hawthorne, as well as the entire third branch of the family.
Zoe wasn’t familiar with the others. In the entire Hawthorne Family, it seemed she had the least presence. Everyone appeared to consciously exclude her as she sat alone in the corner, sipping tea.
That was until Simon finally returned, quite late.
The Hawthorne Family’s focus naturally shifted to him. Simon greeted Mrs. Hawthorne, "Grandma, I had a social engagement. I’m a bit late."
Mrs. Hawthorne chuckled warmly. "Work is important. Don’t worry about it."
Only then did Simon’s gaze fall upon Zoe in the corner. She sat there alone, obedient and silent, unable to blend into the environment. She looked exactly like an abandoned kitten with no one to back her up...
Utterly pitiful.