Rural Belle & Three Heirs

Michael wasn't about to spill the beans to Chloe about Rena being his personal assistant.

"Look, Chloe, don't get the wrong idea. I'm not trying to meddle in your life. I'm just worried about your safety," Michael said, trying to hide his nosiness behind a concerned facade.

Chloe nodded and quickly retreated to her room. As she quietly shut the door, Harry's obnoxious voice continued to reverberate through the hallway, grating her nerves.

"Seriously, what was Grandpa thinking? Getting you guys hitched to her? With looks like that, she has no right to choose among you three. I've seen ugly women, but she's the worst. Grant, I get it now. Anyone with a fiancée like that would need a side chick."

Grant's eyes flickered with irritation as he shot Harry a scornful glance. For a fleeting moment, he considered revealing the hidden truth to everyone that the woman he had kissed so passionately was Chloe. And she wasn't that ugly. No, in fact, she possessed a beauty so captivating, it was nearly impossible to look away.

After the day's events, Chloe decided to unwind. She showered, changed into her cozy pajamas, and applied a soothing face mask before curling up in bed, relishing the comfort of her space.noveldrama

As her body sank into the mattress, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Zara: [Chloe, did Grant give you a hard time when he whisked you away? I'm telling you, if there's another streaking incident, we can't keep watching. The way he looked at you, it was like he wanted to devour you alive.]

Chloe rolled her eyes at Zara's dramatic text. Unperturbed, she replied: [What's there to be afraid of? We were just appreciating some eye candy; we weren't doing anything inappropriate. Why would he want to devour me? Besides, the Davis and Martin family alliance is bound to unravel eventually. I need to scope out a few more fine men to ensure my future happiness, right? Don't let him intimidate you. He's just a control freak.]

Zara was momentarily stunned by Chloe's nonchalance. She had no doubt that Grant genuinely harbored a voracious appetite for Chloe.

With a sense of foreboding, Zara typed back: [You're overthinking it. I just think your future happiness might still be tied to the Martin family.]

Their conversation carried on, light-hearted yet tinged with unspoken concerns, until the peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by a knock on her door.

Grant's voice filtered through the wood, firm yet gentle. "Chloe, you haven't changed your bandage yet. Get up, I'll help you with it."

Before she could respond, Grant had already stepped inside. Panicked, Chloe yanked her blanket up to cover her braless chest, but Grant's eyes had already surveyed her silhouette, the thin fabric of her pajamas accentuating her curves.

As his gaze lingered on her, Chloe couldn't help but sense the undeniable heat emanating from his eyes. Flustered, she tightened her grip on the blanket. In her haste, the face mask slipped off, unveiling her bare, luminous face to Grant.

The illusion of imperfections vanished; her skin was flawlessly smooth, her features exceptionally poised. Her petite face, reminiscent of a delicate doll, with large enchanting eyes, a graceful nose, and lush red lips that seemed to beckon for a kiss, left Grant momentarily breathless. With her hands crossed protectively over her chest, she resembled a scared little bunny.

Grant reached out and grabbed her slender leg. Chloe stammered, "You... you... you..."

The warmth of Grant's hand against her skin sent shivers through her body. Usually composed, she couldn't fathom why she was having such a strong reaction to his touch.

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Grant chuckled softly, seeing her like this. "Sit still, Chloe. Let me check your leg injury. I told you before, your wound hasn't fully healed yet. You shouldn't have gotten it wet while bathing, but now look-you've soaked the bandage."

His words reassured her, causing her to relax somewhat. She sat quietly on the bed, watching Grant re-bandage her leg, her mind in a daze.

After finishing, Grant gently pulled the blanket over her leg. Then, he leaned in close, whispering in her ear, "Remember to put your moles back on. I don't want anyone else to see your true face. Otherwise, I'll get jealous."

With that, he didn't miss the opportunity to plant a light kiss on her cheek before leaving the room.

Chloe was stunned, staring at the closed door. She realized she was beginning to enjoy Grant's teasing more and more. How could she describe it? It was a kind of flirtation that she found herself looking forward to.

The next day, knowing that if she lingered any longer at the mansion, her feelings for Grant might deepen beyond her control, Chloe left early for Quest University, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. Worried that Grant might insist on driving her, she rose at the crack of dawn and called a rideshare to evade him.

Upon arriving at her classroom, she noticed her classmates animatedly discussing the design competition. However, Chloe was in no mood to join them and instead sought a quiet spot to immerse herself in a book.

Her moment of peace was soon interrupted by Philip.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "Chloe, are you free this Saturday?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of excitement. Chloe looked up, thinking for a moment before replying, "I should be. Why? Is there another school event?"

Philip shook his head. "No, it's not a school event. Remember the design we submitted to the Martin Group? They called me yesterday and said there's an award ceremony on Saturday."

"Oh? Did someone from our class win?" Chloe asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

Philip nodded. "Yes, someone did. I was going to ask Rena to go with me, but she has to work on Saturday. How about you come with me? You submitted a design too; if you win, you can take home some prizes."

Chloe couldn't refuse Philip's invitation, her curiosity about her design's performance piqued. Moreover, the Martin Group's design award was a major accolade, far more than just a few token prizes.

After contemplating for a brief second, she agreed, "Alright, let's go together on Saturday. Whoever wins treats the other to a big meal, okay?"

"Deal!" Philip exclaimed, grinning as he high-fived Chloe.

Their plans set, Chloe didn't dwell much on the upcoming event. Little did she know, the award ceremony would mark her with the disgrace of plagiarism, an outcome she never anticipated.