While Eva felt like she was on the verge of exploding at any moment, listening to Sophia's words, she still managed to endure, though rage bubbled fiercely inside her heart, nonetheless.
'Have I ever felt the kind of safety and security that I feel in Christian's presence, with Olivia, my own daughter?'
'No! But you wouldn't understand that, would you?'
She even had some thoughts opposing what Sophia said, but deciding that her words weren't worth replying to, she simply said.
"Sophia, it's my job to decide what's right and what's wrong, do you understand?"
"Most importantly, you care about the measly efforts I spent on making that cheap car, but my emotions are not important?"
"Has spending more time with the damned Parker family lately infected you with their stupidity?"
Interrupting her, Eva continued in a louder tone, even forgetting about the assassin woman who could possibly hear them.
"I don't need a dog that doesn't listen to its owner's orders and tries to act smart on its own, do you understand?"
"I already warned you once before, and once again, I'm warning you."
"Don't act on your own. Don't test my limit."
"Don't even pin your hopes on the fact that I've known you since I was a child."
"There will be no third time, with the consequences of disobeying that, being something you really can't bear."
With a cast-down expression and a whisper-like voice, Sophia said.
But Eva, seemingly displeased with this half-hearted answer, asked again,
"This is the first time, and the last, that I'm defending you in front of Christian. Do you really understand?"
Sophia, compelled to raise her voice, replied more firmly,
Back at the house, Annabelle paced back and forth angrily in front of the door, hesitating about whether she should go out or stay inside. She was debating with herself, that upon seeing him, should she show her displeasure for the scene he had showed outside, or should she let it go?
But, suddenly, the sound of the door unlocking interrupted her thoughts, as with it opening her brother stepped inside .
The moment she saw him, the moment he stood in front of her, all Annabelle's hesitation melted away. Without a second thought, she jumped at him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug, relieved beyond words that things hadn't gone wrong.
Despite his exhaustion, Christian felt rejuvenated by his sister's actions and presence, holding her just as tightly in return.
It was only after some time, when they finally pulled away, that Christian had the mind to take a proper look at her. Noticing her changed attire, it was clear she had been preparing to go outside.
His mind worked quickly, piecing together the likely reason behind this. He didn't know what she thought she could possibly achieve if something had truly gone wrong and she had ventured out this late at night, but thankfully, nothing had. Still, the mere intention behind her actions was something he deeply appreciated.
With the dramatic conversation behind them, where Annabelle had asked him about the exact situation she must have already heard about from Iris, and even nearly demanded he take his clothes off to check for injuries, it had finally come to an end.
Now, Christian lay on his bed, waiting for his sister to come so he could finally get some rest.
So, when the door opened and he thought she had finally arrived, only to see her dressed in a way that suggested she had entirely different intentions, he couldn't help but feel slightly at a loss.
Even though he was a little tired, Christian knew he couldn't refuse the sight in front of him, as coming through the door, was seemingly the seduction incarnation, herself.
Was he really her opponent? Clearly not. So, he surrendered without hesitation, resigning himself to defeat before the battle had even begun.
Christian knew himself all too well, and how he lacked that firm will, to resist his sister, adorned in a transparent, short nightgown and G-string panties that left little to the imagination, exposing her milky white skin and delicate pink buds.
Still, admitting defeat was one thing, but he at least hoped to muster some sort of response.
So, when his sister arrived in front of him, her cheeks slightly flushed, making her appear all the more alluring, he pushed himself up from his laying position, took her hand, and pulled her toward the bed, positioning her beneath him.
Her coquettish scream only stoked the fire within him, burning even more fiercely, and unable to hold back, he finally opened his mouth and with low voice said.
"Are you seducing me right now?"
Annabelle, who had been slightly nervous and embarrassed just moments ago, now felt her competitive spirit flare up at his words. Forgetting her earlier hesitation, she replied provocatively, "Isn't my attire already the answer?"
Then, with an accusing tone, she added, "Besides, are you really the one to say that? You're the one who said we'd continue after you came back, only to not mention a thing when you did."
Looking at those small, pink lips and her mouth, which kept talking without realizing the danger they were inviting, Christian, now feeling like a beast consumed by desire, leaned closer, and in a growling voice, said.
"Are you sure you can handle the consequences, Sis?"
Hearing her challenging tone once again, Christian still tried to think rationally, exhaling a long breath before responding.
"After all the talk about taking things slowly, you show up ? Really?"
Feeling like he had hit her in the most painful place, Annabelle embarrassedly defended herself.
"Well, what can I say, other than that plans are not always made to be followed?"
With her face red from the embarrassment of the bold moves she was making, and her body now burning with arousal at her brother's voice and the hot breath hitting her face, Annabelle raised her head. She met his eyes, which seemed to be intent on devouring her, though somewhat still suppressed, and finally extended her hand, caressing his cheek as she playfully taunted him.
"Actually, why are you holding back now, after throwing me on the bed and jumping at me as if you were going to devour me? Should I make the first move again to help get you in the mood?"