The cold water crashed down on him, extinguished the fire burned inside him. It took him a long time to finally regained control his self.
When he came to, he ran a towel through his wet hair. His anger still burned in his chest.
What had Willow done to him? He could barely control the wild desires in his head. How could only one touch from her make him lose control like that?
The next morning, Willow woke up early. She looked fresh-faced and had just finished dressing when a soft knock sounded on her bedroom door.
She rushed to open the door and found the butler standing outside.
He nodded respectfully and said, "Mrs. Stuart, breakfast is ready. When you're ready, please feel free to go to the dining room and have breakfast." He spoke politely.
Willow nodded and said, "Very well, thank you."
As she closed the door, her mind drifted back to last night's events. She had to clear up all the misunderstandings that had occurred between her and Rainer. Breakfast was the perfect time to apologize.
But when she arrived at the dining room, she found the table set with sumptuous dishes; however, there was no sign of Rainer.
She hesitated, staring at the untouched plates.
The butler noticed her and asked, "Mrs. Stuart, is something wrong? Are the dishes are not fit with your taste?" The butler's voice was warm.
Willow quickly shook her head. "No, that's not it. The food looks amazing."
After a moment, she took a breath and asked, "Did Rainer skip his breakfast?"
The butler sighed with a hint of helplessness in his tone. "He's been working in the study since last night. None of us dared to disturb him."
Willow blinked and looked up to find the butler watching her with a hopeful smile.
Since the house staff couldn't persuade Rainer, the butler hoped that maybe she could. As his wife, their relationship should be more than that.
The butler concerned his health gnawed at her. Breakfast was important; it set the tone for the rest of the day.
"I'll talk to him," Willow muttered.
The butler's face brightened with relief. "That's great! Once he realizes how much you care, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
She hesitated, her brow furrowed. Would he, though?
After his sudden change in demeanor lastl night, she wasn't sure. Was the butler just being polite?
Nevertheless, she needed to apologize, and this was the perfect opportunity. Maybe preparing something for him to eat would ease the tension.
"May I use the kitchen?" she asked, nodding toward him.
The butler blinked in surprise before quickly nodding. "Of course. You are the lady of this house. Let us know if you need anything."
She gave a warm smile. "Thank you. I would like to make something for my husband. Let me take care of it."
....
Meanwhile, in his study, Rainer was middle in meeting.
Although he was sitting in his wheelchair, he was as ruthless and stern as ever, keeping everyone alert and focused.
His long fingers tapped lightly on the table in a rhythmic pattern that seemed to carry weight in the room.
"Mr. Stuart, that land on the outskirts of the city was hard-won. Its value has increased to the billions. If you give it to Mr. Humphrey just like that, you will incur a huge loss."
The subordinate sounded cautious as he carefully gauged Rainer's expression.
He stopped knocking. His tone remained calm yet firm. "A bet is a bet. It is my honor and commitment..."
He had made a bet with Collin and lost. It was as simple as that. After all, it was just a piece of land. Handing it over to Collin did not matter to him.
His subordinate's eyes widened in disbelief. His Master was ruthless in business. But did he really bet?
And lost?
He's face remained cold and expressionless. He noted the astonishment on the faces of his subordinates.
Over the years, he had cultivated an invincible nature, never faltering in any endeavor he undertook. This time, however, Willow had been his unexpected downfall.
Because of her, he lost a patch of land worth billions of dollars.
Even the slightest contact with her would destroy his self-discipline, which he had cultivated for so long.
It was becoming increasingly clear that distancing himself from her could be the wisest decision.
Immersed in contemplation, Rainer's face showed an inscrutability expression.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through his quiet study. Disturbed by the sound, he furrowed his brow and called out in a cold tone, "Who's there?!"
Any interruption during his his work time was unforgivable.
A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by Willow's soft voice answering from the other side. "It's me. I heard you haven't eaten since last night.So, I've brought you something. Do you mind, if I come inside?"
Why had she come?
Rainer's deep-set eyes narrowed slightly, and suspicion clouded his features. A smirk tinged with mockery played on his lips.
What was she up to this time?
A low, mocking laugh rumbled from his throat. He turned his attention to the screen. He addressed his subordinates with a casual command: "Let's put the the meeting on hold."
His subordinates, who had been in the room just moments before, looked stunned after hearing his's command.
Their boss doesn't like to be interrupted while working. But today, he finds himself breaking his own rules - for the wife he married in the most unlikely of ways.
Their curiosity piqued, they wonder what was about to unfold .
But they aware that their boss wouldn't allow them to stay as onlookers. Stopping the meeting was certainly his method of ensuring that the conversation remained private.
"Yes, Mr. Stuart." they replied, their voices formal.
Quietly, Rainer closed his laptop, the click echoing softly in the quiet room.
He paused for a moment, his expression unreadable, before saying, "come in!"