Quiana Sutton's eyes opened a bit, looking at Durrell Landon who was close by, and she suddenly smiled, "Mr. Landon, have you forgotten that we're preparing for a divorce?"
There was no need for her to be jealous.
She laughed openly, truly without a hint of jealousy, her eyes misty yet carrying an alluring charm.
He tightened his grip slightly. He admired her calmness and composure, but at this moment, he also resented them. She was so unrelenting.
She mercilessly saw through his thoughts, mercilessly told him there was no affection between them.
Her chin hurt a bit from his grip; she wanted to push his hand away but realized she was too drunk, and her movements became sluggish.
She didn't want to go against her own body, and finally spoke softly, "It hurts—"
As soon as her voice fell.
Her lips were blocked.
She wanted to say it was a kiss, but it was hard to call it that. It was more like a punishment, devoid of any tenderness or affection.
Even so, their panting still spread in the air, creating an unstoppable aura of ambiguity.
Already drunk, she was even more stunned, every nerve in her body awakened, yet forgetting what to do next.
At this moment, from not far away came a teasing voice, "Doing this kind of thing in the living room doesn't seem very proper."
Durrell Landon and Quiana Sutton sobered up instantly, Durrell ended the kiss, but he didn't immediately let go, just looked down at her.
Quiana always felt that at this moment, the way Durrell looked at her was different from the way he looked at her when he first woke up from the hospital.
It seemed she had also seen it in Durrell before he lost his memory.
Like a calm sea filled with energy, ready to stir up towering waves at the appropriate moment.
Unreasonably, she sensed a hint of danger in that gaze.
She felt she truly drank too much to utter such words to Durrell.
She urgently wanted to put some distance between them.
Softly, she repeated, "It hurts—"
Durrell finally released his hand.
The moment he released her, Quiana immediately rolled off the sofa.
Turning her head, she saw Oliver Gale not far away, watching them with an entertained expression.
"Both of you seem to be in high spirits. I still suggest going to the room would be better."
Durrell slightly adjusted his clothes and looked at Oliver calmly, "The Imperial View Manor is mine. Even if I really want to do something in the living room, the one who should avoid it is you."
Oliver almost slipped, unsure if it was his illusion, but he felt that Durrell might actually mean it. If he hadn't appeared, perhaps they really would have...
He cleared his throat, "Durrell, your body hasn't fully recovered yet. I still don't recommend such intense activities."
Durrell gave him a sidelong glance but said nothing.
At this moment, his heart was filled with conflict.
Just now, he just wanted to punish her a little, but he didn't expect that upon touching her lips, his greed wanted more. His body moved faster than his thoughts, and he not only wanted her but was filled with possession and destruction, ruthless yet yearning.
This feeling was utterly unfamiliar to him, but he was also very clear that he could not allow anyone to appear who would surpass his own rationality.
Quiana did not enter the master bedroom but found a guest room, and Durrell saw it but didn't stop her.
This evening, it was indeed not suitable for them to sleep in the same room.
It was the first time Oliver had seen Durrell seemingly unable to control his emotions. You have to know, he was best at hiding his emotions, and his eyes were full of curiosity:
"Durrell, what were you two just talking about?"
Durrell replied blandly, "Nothing much."
The turbulence on his face had already returned to calm, but the sea within his heart was still surging.
He kept replaying Quiana's earlier words in his mind—
Do you like Evelyn Windsor because she meets your standards, or do you like her because she happens to fit them, or if another woman fit your standards, would you like her instead?
It was the first time someone had seen through his thoughts.
*
Quiana found a guest room that wasn't as comfortable as the master bedroom, but it sufficed for her.
She took a cold shower in the bathroom, the icy water droplets falling from her head, causing a shiver, and her rationality returned instantly.
After showering, she stepped out of the bathroom, her hair still wet, and received a few messages from Alexander Skylane.
[Little Qiana, my flight is tomorrow afternoon, remember to pick me up, okay?]
[If you don't come to pick me up, I'll tell your uncle.]
…
After reading, Quiana tossed the phone aside. This guy actually dared to use her uncle against her. She didn't care about anyone else, but her uncle held a significant place in her heart.
Disdainfully, she typed out:
[I'll come to pick you up, provided you can shake off those paparazzi yourself.]
Alexander cheerfully sent a blowing kiss emoticon, followed by a sorry emoji.
Quiana waited five minutes, but Alexander was still typing. She started to get annoyed.
[What exactly are you trying to say? Don't be so wishy-washy; are you a man or not?]
Alexander seemed a bit offended by these words, [Do I need to prove whether I'm a man to you?]
She mercilessly replied:
[Scram... If you don't say anything, I'm going to sleep.]
Seeing she was a bit angry, Alexander hurriedly replied, [Wait, don't, I haven't finished talking.]
[I broke one of your jade pieces, don't be mad.]
Quiana suddenly had a bad premonition, [What jade piece did you break?]
[It was that woman, Charlotte Sutton, who took the jade your mother gave you at her banquet to show off. I got angry and smashed it.]
[I really didn't mean it, please don't be mad. When I see you, I'll let you hit or scold me as you please.]
Alexander held his phone with anxiety, and after a long while, he finally saw Quiana's reply.
[If it's broken, it's broken. It's not like it was some expensive jade.]
Alexander knew in his heart that while it wasn't some precious jade, it was still a gift from Quiana's mother before she passed, something unique to Quiana in value. If it weren't for Charlotte going too far, he wouldn't have lost his temper and smashed it.
Due to Simon Storm's relationship, he had heard of the matters regarding the Sutton family. When Quiana's mother gave birth to her, she suffered a massive hemorrhage, nearly dying. Although she was saved, her health deteriorated year by year. She passed away before Quiana turned five.
When she was ten, both she and her brother were kidnapped. Her brother, to save her, was fatally shot in the heart by the kidnappers and died on the spot. On the way back home after rescuing her, her father was killed in a car accident, but she survived.
The Sutton family patriarch lost both his most proud son and grandson in one day, and only she survived. When she returned to the Sutton Estate, he nearly strangled her.