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Reborn for revenge-my husband is mine - Chapter 9


Chapter 9

 That was the dream I had last night

Sigourney's voice was cool, clipped. The reminder hit its mark.
Savannah's smile froze in place, her eyes briefly widening in disbelief.
She hadn't expected this.
The always gentle, always supportive Sigourney... had suddenly turned sharp, unyielding.
"And as for the internship position..."
Sigourney turned her gaze to Savannah and gave a faint, mocking smile.
"Weren't you the one who proudly declared you'd start your own business? That you wouldn't rely on family connections to rise to the top? What happened to all that bravado?"
Back when Savannah had just graduated, her mother, Jennifer, had been ready to beg Mark-the chairman of Nichols Corporation and also Sigourney's father-for a junior position for her daughter.
But Savannah had been dating her ex-boyfriend then-a conman with no real prospects.
Blinded by charm and empty promises, she'd poured a fortune into starting a fashion business with him.
It didn't take long for the venture to crash and burn.
And now, with that painful lesson behind her, Savannah was desperate to cling to an easier life. To beg Emma for a way back into the security and prestige of Nichols Corporation.
But she was too late.
As Sigourney brought up the past, Savannah clenched her jaw, forcing a brittle smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"That was just youthful recklessness, sister," Savannah replied with a feigned softness. "Now I'm clear-headed. I want to support you in growing the family corporation, to bring honor to the Nichols name."
Sigourney let out a quiet scoff. Beautiful words, she thought-too bad they were empty.
"But Savannah," she said coldly, "our company currently isn't hiring any interns or new staff. So coming to my mom won't get you anywhere."
"And more importantly, a child born to a mistress has no claim to the family fortune, let alone the qualifications to inherit the corporation. Stop wasting your time."
Her words sliced through all pretense, laying bare Savannah's true intentions. There was no sugarcoating, no diplomacy. 
Just brutal honesty.
Savannah's jaw tightened, though she struggled to keep her tone sweet.
"Sister, why are you being so cruel to me? Weren't we always close?"
Sigourney frowned, visibly irritated by the cloying tone.
She replied lazily, voice laced with disdain,
"When I still had a shred of respect for you, I might've entertained that nonsense. But now? Save it. Go beg your mother, Jennifer, instead."
With that, Sigourney shot Savannah a sharp glare.
Savannah's face twisted in fury. She snapped that Sigourney was heartless before storming off, indignant and unwilling to accept the rejection.
Only then did Emma speak, her expression tinged with surprise.
"Why the sudden change?" she asked. 
"Weren't you always like a fool-always defending Savannah?"
Sigourney gave a faint, dry smile.
"Of course, I'm smarter now. I'm not fooled by that harmless facade anymore."
Emma let out a subtle sigh of relief. She began gently but firmly reminding Sigourney once again-
never to engage, never to agree to anything Savannah asked for.
"Especially when it comes to your husband, Theodore," Emma said, her tone serious. 
"I can see it clearly-Savannah is always trying to drive a wedge between you two. So be careful."
Sigourney nodded repeatedly, her expression solemn.
She had been given a second chance-there was no way she'd stumble into the same traps again.
Now that it was just the two of them, Sigourney finally allowed her guard to drop.
She trembled slightly, taking a deep breath to steady herself before she began telling Emma everything.
Everything that had happened in her past life.
How Savannah had deceived her into divorcing Theodore.
How she and Emma were eventually framed, betrayed, and met a tragic end.
How Savannah had stolen the inheritance and claimed everything that once belonged to Sigourney.
By the time she finished recounting it all, her shoulders were still trembling.
She shut her eyes tightly, trying to calm the storm within, before finally turning her head toward Emma and whispering,
"That was the dream I had last night, Mommy. But... it felt so real. I can't help but feel like it was a warning-a message from the future, telling me to be more careful this time."
Emma's expression turned solemn as she listened. The moment she heard that Sigourney had been imprisoned and tortured by Savannah, forced to sign away her inheritance just to save someone else, she trembled in disbelief, her entire being shaken by the horror of it all.
When Sigourney finished recounting everything, Emma pulled her gently into a tender embrace. Her soft voice flowed like a balm, slowly soothing Sigourney's fragile heart.
"It's alright, darling. It was only a dream. Reality is still kind and intact."
"Don't worry, love. I'm here with you-I won't let any of that ever happen."
Sigourney didn't return from the Nichols estate until late in the evening. Knowing Theodore would finish work around the same time, she reluctantly bid Emma farewell.
"Come back and visit often, alright?"
Sigourney nodded, giving the house one last lingering glance before finally taking her leave.
At the Twilight Manor,
Sigourney changed out of her clothes and settled onto the sofa, leisurely nibbling on the fruits Aunt Miller had thoughtfully prepared. She watched TV with a relaxed air, and before long, Theodore stepped through the door.
"You're home? Was work busy today?"
Hearing his familiar voice, Sigourney immediately turned her head, blinking up at him as she asked. Theodore, still distracted by what had happened the day before, merely mumbled that it hadn't been too hectic and made to head upstairs.
But Sigourney quickly rose and darted after him, stepping in front to block his way. Her lips jutted out in a sulky pout.
"You just got back and didn't even spare me a glance-not even a smile?"
She lowered her gaze, biting her lip in grievance.
"You're my husband, you know. Why are you treating me like a stranger?"








Chapter 10: I want her to lose everything

The sight of her looking so pitiful tugged at Theodore's heart. He paused, then bent down slightly, his eyes meeting the soft, petulant face before him. Just like that, his heart softened.
"I'm sorry. Work wasn't too demanding today-nothing too tiring either."
He added, more gently this time,
"How was your day?"
Theodore patiently answered Sigourney's question once more, his tone noticeably softer this time. Pleased by his response, Sigourney smiled sweetly, her lips curling into a satisfied arc.
"I went to the Nichols estate to visit my mom. She told me that next time, we should come together to see her," she said with a bright, cheerful lilt.
Until now, the two of them had never once returned to the Nichols estate together. Not because Theodore was unwilling, but rather, back then, considering the nature of their relationship, such a thing had been impossible. Now, with Sigourney bringing it up on her own, Theodore readily agreed. He even said he'd remind his assistant to arrange a suitable time.
Sigourney followed Theodore upstairs, her voice bubbling with barely contained excitement.
"Oh right-has Sutton found anything about what happened at the hotel that day? I was a victim too, wasn't I?"
She brought it up of her own accord, prompting Theodore to nod thoughtfully.
"The results are in. Do you have a moment to talk in private?"
His voice was calm as he tilted his head slightly, seeking her consent. Sigourney nodded without hesitation-of course, she had time to spare.
Theodore led her into his study. From the document folder in his hand, he pulled out a stack of photos and reports.
"Sutton has uncovered everything. That day, it was Savannah who orchestrated the whole thing. She drugged our drinks to stage a scene of infidelity."
Theodore let out a cold snort.
"She even deliberately dressed provocatively and tried to climb into bed with me," Theodore continued, his voice tinged with disdain. "She was the one who paid the hotel staff to lead you into another man's room, hoping you'd have a one-night stand. The goal was simple-eradicate your reputation."
At those words, a shiver ran down Sigourney's spine. But despite the chill, she still asked in a daze, her voice uncertain.
"But didn't she give me a vial of something... she told me to put it-"
Theodore turned his head slightly, his gaze resting on her with quiet clarity. He understood what she was trying to say. Calmly, he laid everything bare.
"What she gave you was just vitamins. She was afraid that out of guilt, you wouldn't go through with drugging my drink, and that would ruin her entire plan."
"So she did it herself-and climbed into my bed in the presidential suite."
Sigourney felt a tremor pass through her bones as if a gust of cold wind had swept over her. Savannah's scheming sent goosebumps crawling across her skin. And yet, once upon a time, she had foolishly trusted that woman-believing Savannah was the only one who truly stood by her, defended her, and genuinely wanted her to be happy.
Now, that illusion shattered, Sigourney's expression hardened.
"What do you want to do about all this?" she asked, her tone quieter now but laced with iron beneath the surface.
Theodore had, of course, already devised a plan. But he wanted to hear Sigourney's thoughts first.
She fell silent momentarily, her hands unconsciously tightening around her arms.
There was no way she'd let Savannah off easily. No more second chances.
She was going to make Savannah lose everything.
"I want to know how I can strip Savannah of all the privileges she enjoys as a lady of the Nichols family," Sigourney said, her voice firm, eyes blazing with a quiet fury. 
"I want her to lose everything-to become just an ordinary person, with no title, no power."
At first, Theodore had been worried-concerned that, like before, Sigourney might still try to defend Savannah out of old affection. But hearing her resolute words, he finally exhaled in relief. He gave a small nod.
"That's entirely possible," he replied calmly. 
"To revoke Savannah's status, we just need to amplify everything-blow it out of proportion until the fallout is so great that no one can cover for her anymore."
Theodore gently explained his plan to Sigourney - every calculated step to strip Savannah of her inheritance.
Sigourney's eyes gleamed with admiration; there was no denying it - his plan was brilliant.
"Thank you, darling. I'm so lucky to have you," she said with heartfelt gratitude.
"If it weren't for you, I honestly wouldn't know how to properly punish Savannah. I was so blind before."
Excitement sparkled in her voice. From the moment she heard Theodore lay out the plan, she was certain - they would succeed. Revenge was within reach.
She tilted her head, eyes lingering on Theodore, and for a moment, she found herself utterly captivated.
His hair shimmered faintly beneath the warm light, and every angle of his face seemed to strike her anew - sharp, elegant, and unexpectedly enchanting.
And then, without meaning to, without quite thinking,
She leaned in,
Wrapped her arms gently around his waist,
And pressed a slow, deliberate kiss to his lips - soft lips meeting the cool curve of his mouth.
Theodore stood frozen, caught so off guard he forgot to react.
"Thank you, my husband," she murmured, lowering her gaze with a touch of embarrassment. 
"Consider that my most sincere token of gratitude."
He said nothing, but inside, his heart was thundering.
For the first time ever, Sigourney had reached for him on her own.








Chapter 11: Love and Scandal

Theodore's efficiency had always been something that left people in awe.
By the very next morning,
The front pages of every major newspaper in the country were plastered with headlines screaming the same sensational message:
"Savannah - The Second Miss of the Nichols Family, a Cruel Schemer?"
"Love Triangle Exposed: Savannah Caught in Bed with Her Sister's Husband - Theodore?"
"Theodore, Savannah, and Sigourney: In This Twisted Triangle, Who Will He Choose?"
The content was scandalous, addictive, and massively clicked.
After all, this wasn't just tabloid gossip-
These were heirs to one of the country's most powerful families. The public couldn't get enough.
Meanwhile, Sigourney was jolted awake by the shrill ringing of her phone.
The caller ID flashed her father's name-Mark.
Sigourney yawned, collected herself, and calmly answered the call.
"Sigourney, did you do this?"
Mark's voice was sharp, cutting straight to the point.
"How could you pull a stunt like that?"
"Did you even think about Savannah? How do you expect people to see her now?"
He immediately launched into scolding, pinning all the blame on her.
But this wasn't the same Sigourney as before.
After everything that had happened in her previous life, her mind was far more composed.
She wasn't shaken by her father's stern tone.
In fact-
She found it almost laughable.
With a shrug, she replied, her tone casual:
"What are you talking about, Dad? What's going on online?"
Mark, enraged by her indifference, grew even more furious.
"Don't play innocent-I know this is your doing, Sigourney. What do you want?"
Without a shred of evidence, Mark had already launched his accusations.
Was this the attitude a father should have? Was it appropriate?
Sigourney found it laughable, but she had no intention of revealing her true thoughts for now. She clicked her tongue, her voice laced with unmistakable irritation.
"Dad, there are things we need to set straight."
"First, I have no idea what happened to Savannah. And if something did happen, it's likely the result of her ownmisdeeds."
"Second, I had absolutely nothing to do with any of this. You shouldn't be so quick to blame me without proof. Besides, Savannah and I have always had a decent relationship-what reason would I possibly have to hurt her?"
She spoke as if worn down as if pleading her case in helpless desperation-enough to make Mark's certainty begin to waver.
"And more than that, you rushed to defend her and chastise me right away. Do you even consider me your daughter anymore?"
Sigourney bit her lip, feigning a fragile sob, as though overwhelmed by grief. The sudden vulnerability in her tone stirred a pang of guilt in Mark's chest.
"Sigourney, I..."
But of course, Sigourney had no interest in hearing his hollow apologies. She went on, sounding pitiful and resigned.
"It's fine, Dad. You don't have to explain. I know where your heart lies-you've made it clear who you're protecting."
"Whatever I do, no matter what, the moment something goes wrong with Savannah, your instinct is always to blame me, isn't it?"
"There's really nothing left for me to explain anymore..."
Sigourney said a few words, pretending to be deeply hurt, then lazily ended the call.
Mark's sudden phone call had caught her off guard-but all it really did was force her to confront the truth a little sooner.
If the bond between her and Mark as father and daughter was so fragile...
Then fine. Let him wait.
Wait until the day he can no longer shield his precious little girl.
Let's see what he chooses then.
...
That afternoon,
Wanting to show her gratitude to Theodore, Sigourney had taken the initiative to step into the kitchen and help Aunt Miller prepare dinner.
"These days, things between you and Theodore seem to be going so well-it puts my heart at ease."
"You don't know this, but back when you were insisting on getting a divorce, Theodore used to shut himself in the study all night."
Aunt Miller spoke with a sigh as she sliced tomatoes, a trace of sadness in her voice.
"He never said anything, but I believe he loves you deeply. That's why I hope you won't be swayed by Savannah's advice..."
She paused, pressing her lips together. Only when she saw no change in Sigourney's expression did she continue, more cautiously.
"I know she's your sister-but not by blood. You can't expect her to truly have your best interests at heart."
"And... forgive me for speaking ill of her, but I feel like I ought to warn you."
Miller said softly,
"I don't think she's a good person."
Of course, Sigourney knew all of this.
She was simply regretting how late she had come to realize it.
She smiled faintly, gently stirring the pot on the stove, and replied softly,
"I know, Aunt. Thanks for the reminder."
"I was foolish before. From now on, I'll live well with Theodore."
"And I won't do anything reckless anymore."
Hearing those words, Aunt Miller finally allowed herself a hint of relief and nodded.
Some things, after all, didn't need to be said aloud.
That evening, when Theodore returned home from work,
he was visibly taken aback to find Sigourney looking so soft and serene in the living room.
She was curled up lazily, knees drawn to her chest as she leaned into the plush sofa, watching a light-hearted variety show.
When she saw him, her eyes lifted into a gentle, faint smile.
"You're back? Was work tiring?" she asked in a low, tender tone.
The sudden gentleness in her voice still caught Theodore off guard.
He cleared his throat awkwardly, casually loosening the collar of his shirt as he replied,
"Not really. Do you have something you want to talk about?"
Normally, Sigourney avoided contact with Theodore as much as possible, often locking herself away in her room and only emerging at mealtimes.
And whenever she waited for him like this,
it usually meant one thing.
She wanted to talk about the divorce.
Seeing the less-than-cheerful look on Theodore's face, Sigourney rose from the sofa, stretched her arms languidly, and let out a soft chuckle.
"Nothing in particular. I just wanted to wait for you to come home."
"I made some dessert. Would you like to try it?"
Ordinarily, Theodore wasn't fond of sweets.
But faced with her uncharacteristic gentleness, he found himself nodding-almost as if under a spell-and followed her into the kitchen.
Sigourney plated a slice of cheesecake along with a few butter cookies, arranging them neatly on a small dish. She even poured him a glass of fruit tea and set it carefully on the dining table.
Aunt Miller glanced at Theodore, now obediently seated at the table, and smiled in quiet satisfaction.
Then, feigning some task in the garden, she slipped outside to leave the two of them some space.
Theodore took slow, deliberate bites and, with polite grace, offered a compliment.
Sigourney rested her chin in her hand, quietly watching him eat, which made him slightly self-conscious.
"Thank you for helping me," she said softly.
"That news... it was really effective."
She paused thoughtfully for a moment before offering her gratitude again, this time more sincerely.
Theodore nodded.
To him, it had been nothing-a simple favor that hadn't cost much effort.
He finished the last bite of his dessert, took a sip of the fruit tea,
then picked up a napkin and gracefully dabbed his lips before tilting his head to look at her.
"Is there something else you want to say?"
Theodore knew Sigourney all too well. If she had simply come to express her gratitude, she wouldn’t be sitting here so obediently, waiting for him like this.
And reality proved him right. The moment she heard his voice, a flicker of surprise crossed Sigourney’s face, only to be quickly masked by composure.
She stole a glance at him, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“I have something I’d like to discuss with you... if that’s alright.”
Sigourney hesitated — after all, she had already asked Theodore for help several times recently. Considering her erratic attitude toward their marriage in the past, not to mention the foolish things she had done to him, he had every reason to leave her be.
Yet Theodore remained gentle.
“Alright. Go ahead.”
“So long as it’s not about divorce... you can ask me anything.”
His voice caught slightly at the mention of that word — divorce.
Before Sigourney could even begin to decipher the emotion hidden behind his brief pause, a languid, flirtatious female voice floated in from the living room.









Chapter 12: Seduce 

"Sigourney, why haven't you come looking for me these past few days?"
"I texted you, but you didn't reply."
With a languid grace, Savannah sauntered into the kitchen, her lips pouting in a mock display of cuteness. Puffing her cheeks, she cast a playful glance at Sigourney, feigning a pouty grievance, her voice laced with a coquettish lilt.
Sigourney's mood soured in an instant. She frowned, arms crossed, watching Savannah's performance with growing disdain.
Of course, she wasn't the only one irritated.
"Oh? Brother-in-law is home too? What a coincidence."
Pretending she'd only just noticed Theodore's presence, Savannah covered her lips with a dainty hand and offered a graceful, affected smile. She moved closer to the dining table, her long strides causing the hem of her already scandalously short skirt to rise even higher, nearly revealing the full length of her slender, alluring legs.
Theodore, out of consideration for Sigourney, held his temper-but couldn't be bothered to respond to Savannah.
And the more Sigourney watched, the more repulsed she became. Her voice turned icy.
"This is his home. If my husband isn't here, then where else would he be?"
"And more importantly, what are you doing here? Who gave you the right to enter our house without permission?"
Sigourney narrowed her eyes at Savannah, only to see her smiling serenely, swinging the handbag on her wrist with a casual elegance.
"Oh, I just baked some sweets and thought I'd bring them over for you and brother-in-law. I hope you'll both enjoy them."
As she spoke, Savannah cast a glance at Theodore, one she believed to be the perfect mix of innocent and seduction. She offered a bashful smile.
Sigourney scoffed.
Bringing over sweets, was it?
Looking like that?
She was clearly here to seduce her husband-nothing more.
Savannah wasn't even bothering to conceal her intentions anymore. She wore a flimsy, spaghetti-strap dress so sheer that the neckline dipped scandalously low, exposing the upper curves of her generous chest. 
To make matters worse, the bust was made not of silk like the rest of the garment, but of a delicate lace that barely hid anything at all, allowing a tantalizing glimpse of skin beneath.
The dress was outrageously short, revealing the full length of her slender legs. And with the briskness of her steps, her thighs were left entirely exposed-as though she wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Sigourney had no desire to say anything else. Her voice was cool, almost bored, as she spoke.
"Just leave it on the table."
Savannah replied with an obedient "Okay," and offered a demure smile. Then, clutching the bag of pastries in her hand, she walked toward Theodore.
And then-
She pretended to lose her footing, stumbling forward with perfect precision,
right in the direction where Theodore was seated.
One outstretched arm from him would be enough to catch her smooth, slender waist.
To complete the performance, Savannah even let out a delicate gasp-"Ah!"-and squeezed her eyes shut as she fell, her body swaying gracefully like a willow in the wind.
"..."
However, what awaited her was not Theodore's warm, protective arms...
but the cold floor.
"Ouch..."
This time, the cry of pain was all real.
Because Savannah fell flat onto the floor, her leg slammed hard against the edge of the table, leaving a swollen, reddened bruise-she looked utterly miserable.
Her entire body hit the ground with a loud thud, loud enough that even Sigourney, who was standing nearby, instinctively furrowed her brows.
As for the bag of pastries-
naturally,
it had fallen and scattered across the floor. Even the box, once carefully sealed, had burst open.
Crumbs littered in every direction.
There was no need to describe further-anyone could imagine just how pitiful Savannah must have looked in that moment.
And Theodore? He had swiftly sidestepped her fall,
simply standing there, watching her with a wary gaze.
Not the slightest intention of offering a helping hand.
Perhaps even Savannah felt a twinge of embarrassment.
She blinked pitifully, stretched her arms toward Theodore, and bit her lip in a coquettish pout.
"Brother-in-law, I fell really hard. Could you help me up?"
Her voice trembled with a pitiful sob.
But if she thought this display would win Theodore's sympathy, she was sorely mistaken.
He let out a cold scoff, clearly unimpressed, pretending not to hear a word she said.
Worse still, he walked past her without so much as a glance, stopping only to speak to Sigourney.
"There's something I need to take care of-I'll head upstairs first," he said flatly.
And just like that, he vanished, swift and emotionless as the wind.
"..."
Savannah's humiliation deepened.
Left with no other choice, she awkwardly got to her feet, brushing dust from her arms with a miserable expression.
Seeing Theodore gone, Sigourney had no intention of lingering either.
She softly called Aunt Miller into the room, asked her to clean up the mess scattered across the floor, and then turned to Savannah.
"As you can see, Theodore doesn't welcome your visits here."
"As his wife, I'd rather not let him feel irritated. So from now on, I suggest you don't come over uninvited."
In the past, foolishly trusting Savannah, Sigourney had registered her fingerprint into the smart lock-
which led to today's unwelcome surprise.
Now, her voice turned cool as she instructed Aunt Miller to delete Savannah's fingerprint from the system.
At that very moment, Savannah's gasp of disbelief rang out behind her.
"Sigourney, why have you been treating me so coldly lately? Did I do something wrong?"
"We're sisters, aren't we? Please don't be like this..."
Savannah spoke softly, remembering the real reason she'd come today.
"Also, the media has suddenly started attacking me-could you help me handle it?"
She still believed Sigourney was the same foolish girl from before, so she began pouring out how the scandal had affected her.
She thought Sigourney would comfort her as usual. But to her surprise, Sigourney simply responded with an indifferent "Oh," showing no reaction at all.
"My dear sister, help me, please," Savannah coaxed, lowering her voice, trying to act sweet as she always did to melt Sigourney's heart.
She was about to continue her plea when Sigourney cut her off, her voice cold and detached.
"We're not real sisters, Savannah. From now on, let's keep our distance."
"You know, my husband doesn't like it when I get too close to you. And as a good wife, I should respect his wishes."
"As for your problems-handle them yourself. After all, it's not like the reports are false, are they?"
Sigourney gave a nonchalant shrug, then turned and headed upstairs.
Before leaving, she didn't forget to call out to Aunt Miller.
"Please see our guest out. As you can see, she's clearly not welcome in this house."
Just as Savannah made a move to chase after Sigourney, Aunt Miller swiftly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
Savannah clenched her fists, clearly displeased, but with no other choice, she stormed out in frustration.
Before leaving, she shot a venomous glare up the staircase.
She would not let this go.
Sigourney wouldn't get to bask in her triumph for long.
...
As for Sigourney,
She wasn’t exactly free, yet she still found herself standing before Theodore’s door, hoping to resume the conversation they’d left unfinished.
Dealing with Savannah had drained her more than she’d expected.
After a moment’s thought, Sigourney knocked.
She rapped gently on the door a few times—
No response.
“…”
Was he upset with her? Refusing to speak?
Or… had something happened?
Worry crept in. 
She knocked again, this time a little firmer.
Still no sound from within.
“Theodore?”
“May I come in?”
Only silence greeted her.
After waiting a few more seconds, Sigourney softly whispered an apology for the intrusion and gently pushed the door open.
The room was tidy.
Empty.
Utterly quiet.
Only the soft glow beneath the bathroom door gave any sign of life, casting the faint silhouette of a tall, well-built figure inside.
Relieved to confirm he was alright, Sigourney let out a quiet breath.
She turned on her heel, intending to leave as quietly as she came—
—but just then, the bathroom door swung open.
And Theodore stepped out.
Had he been wearing more, it might’ve ended there.
But no—he was casually draped in nothing but a towel slung low across his hips,
leaving the entirety of his upper body exposed.
“…”
Sigourney froze.
Broad shoulders.
Toned chest and chiseled abs on sun-kissed skin—
Strong, masculine legs.
Her gaze traveled upward, meeting damp, tousled hair still glistening with water.
Droplets slid down the angles of his handsome face,
traced the line of his pronounced collarbone,
and meandered over the ridges of his defined torso—
before vanishing beneath the pristine white towel,
making the view feel all the more tempting.
Sigourney’s throat went dry.
Her tongue pressed to the roof of her mouth as she swallowed—
unconsciously.






Chapter 13: The Unexpected Embrace

Her face flushed an unusual shade of red, the color blooming to the tips of her ears.
"Sigourney, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?"
Theodore, naturally, had no idea what was truly troubling her. He assumed she might be sick, his tone tinged with vague concern as he towel-dried his hair and took a few steps closer to her.
But in her current state, his approach only served to heighten the tension in the air.
The sight of his toned muscles, those chiseled abs glistening slightly with the leftover droplets of water, nearly made her nose bleed.
"No, I'm fine," she stammered.
"I-I didn't realize you were in the shower just now. I came in without knocking. I'm sorry."
Worried that lingering any longer might lead to an even more mortifying situation, Sigourney began to backpedal, her words rushed and disjointed.
"I actually have something to do, so I'll be heading out now."
"There was something I wanted to talk to you about, but... it can wait."
She gave an awkward smile and waved her hand as she turned to leave at lightning speed, determined to escape before Theodore could say another word.
Unfortunately,
In her haste,
She tripped over the leg of the table-
and tumbled forward.
The sudden loss of balance sent a jolt of panic through her. She didn't even have time to cry out.
Eyes squeezed shut, she braced herself for the inevitable pain.
Yet, the sharp pain she had braced herself for... never came.
Instead, what greeted her was the warmth of Theodore's embrace.
They were so close-so close that Sigourney could feel the heat of his skin pressed against hers, could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoing through his chest.
And then there was that scent-fresh, clean, the faint trace of peppermint body wash lingering in the air. It wrapped around her senses, pulling her in, and leaving her light-headed.
Why had she never noticed how irresistible Theodore was before?
"Are you alright, Sigourney?"
The concern in Theodore's voice was low and husky, rough with worry, and laced with something that made her heart stutter.
Sigourney's lashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes, her petite frame curled up in his arms. The sound of his voice, that gravelly baritone-soothing yet magnetic-sent a shiver down her spine.
She wet her lips, struggling to resist the impulse to reach out and touch the firm muscles of his abdomen. Slowly, she tilted her head, casting him a soft, grateful glance.
"Thanks... for catching me," she murmured shyly, lowering her gaze.
Inside, she was berating herself for being so clumsy, but Theodore only saw the faint blush dusting her cheeks-delicate and lovely, untouched by makeup yet effortlessly beautiful.
Her pink lips were pressed into a tight line, her clear, honest eyes unable to meet his, with how close they were.
Sigourney gently pushed against his chest, her hand trembling slightly as it met the bare warmth of his skin. She tilted her body back, putting a bit of distance between them-just enough to break the magnetic pull of his nearness.
But once again, he stepped closer, gently placing a hand on Sigourney's shoulder.
"Careful. There's a cabinet behind you."
Theodore was worried she might bump into the table again, so he instinctively reached out to steady her.
That simple gesture brought them even closer-too close.
The proximity sent Sigourney into a small panic. Flustered, she instinctively began to squirm, attempting to wriggle out of his arms.
Amid the awkward struggle,
-inevitably-
the towel wrapped loosely around Theodore's waist slipped.
"..."
Sigourney's eyes, as if by instinct, followed the movement-
and landed on something she definitely shouldn't have seen.
"..."
In all honesty, if she could dig a hole and bury herself in it at this very moment, she would've done so without hesitation.
This situation...
had far surpassed anything she could've imagined.
She wished-desperately-that temporary blindness had taken her just seconds ago. At least then she wouldn't have to deal with the excruciating embarrassment now.
Tilting her head back, she squeezed her eyes shut, raising both hands in surrender.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!"
"I didn't see anything!"
She shook her head furiously, as though that could erase the image from her mind.
She didn't dare look at Theodore's expression-
Instead, she turned on her heel and bolted,
faster than the wind.
"..."
By the time Theodore even processed what had just happened,
all he could see was-
the wide open door,
and a room now completely empty.
Theodore shook his head with a helpless smile.
Truth be told,
Sigourney's reaction just now-so innocent, so adorably flustered-had nearly pushed him past the edge of restraint.
The fact that she had run off so quickly might actually have been a blessing.
Because if she had stayed even a second longer,
he wasn't entirely sure he could've held himself back from doing something more intimate-
something that might've scared her.
...
A few days later,
of course,
Sigourney-still mortified beyond belief-went out of her way to avoid Theodore at all costs.
Like tonight, for instance.
Even though the workday had long ended, she remained at the company, pretending to be buried in tasks.
She tapped away on her computer until the sky outside had grown dark, only stopping when her stomach gave a small growl of protest.
Glancing at the time, she estimated Theodore had probably already eaten dinner and would be resting at home by now.
Only then did she gather her things and head out.
Driving along the main road, she instinctively turned on the radio to catch the evening finance and business news.
And as fate would have it-
Theodore's name came up again, this time spoken in a soft, pleasant voice by the anchor.
The content was nothing new: praise for Theodore's sharp business acumen, hailing him as a young and gifted entrepreneur, the brilliant leader of a major corporation who had achieved incredible success...
The same accolades are repeated over and over again in countless news segments.
Sigourney let out a soft yawn, her thoughts drifting back to that awkward moment a few days ago. Absentmindedly, she reached out to switch off the news broadcast, wanting to focus on the road.
But the instant her hand left the steering wheel-
Bang.
A jarring impact struck the rear of her car, throwing her body forward with such force that her chest slammed painfully against the wheel.
"Ouch..."
For a few seconds, her mind blanked out from the shock, only for the sharp ache to return, radiating through her ribs and drawing a tight frown to her face.
She tilted her head, peering into the rearview mirror. A black car had come to a stop just behind her.
That was the culprit.
Thankfully, the street at this hour was nearly deserted-no other cars in sight. Had traffic been heavier, the situation might've escalated into a real mess.
Suppressing her frustration, Sigourney exhaled and stepped out of the vehicle, cast a glance at the rear of her car-
Not too bad. The back was slightly dented, but it would still take time to fix.
Just as she was inspecting the damage,
the driver of the black car hurriedly stepped out as well,
making his way toward her with a genuine air of apology.
He bowed his head slightly and spoke in earnest,
"I'm truly sorry. I was in a rush and ended up driving faster than I should have. I didn't mean to hit your car."
“I’ll cover all the repair costs for your car.
Could you leave me a way to contact you?”
The man’s voice was sincere enough, echoing gently in the air.
Sigourney lazily tilted her head to glance at him.
He had striking blond hair and a rather handsome face.
But those slightly upturned eyes gave off a flirtatious gleam,
And his thin lips always seemed to be curled in a half-smile—
The kind that made him look anything but serious.
Something about his face felt familiar,
Though she couldn’t quite place his name at the moment.
She vaguely recalled that he was the CEO of a sizable corporation—
One that had once competed with Theodore’s corporation.
Shrugging off the thought, she waved her hand lazily.
“There’s no need. I can handle it myself.”
“Let’s just say it’s my unlucky day.”
Her tone was indifferent, her words casual.
Calling the police would be a hassle.
Exchanging contact information with this man,
Waiting for the repair shop to send the invoice,
Then chasing him down for reimbursement—
It's all far too bothersome.
She would rather just pay for it and be done.
Sigourney’s gentle, almost careless tone made the man tilt his head slightly.
It was only then that he truly looked at her.
His eyes narrowed, there was a flicker of surprise behind his gaze.
“Are you… Sigourney?”

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