<h4>Chapter 347: Seduction</h4>


    Ignoring Adam, Melody grabbed a ss of water and slowly limped towards the couch, sitting directly across from him.


    She had already tried one approach with him previously and it had not worked. So, it was time for the second. As she caught him ncing at her from the corner of his eye, Melody silently cursed herself for her earlier miscalction.


    She had chosen to act weak and vulnerable, hoping it would y to Adam’s instincts-after all, Mnie was strong and independent, so the opposite should have triggered his protective nature. But now, it was clear. Adam wasn’t drawn to Mnie in the first ce and they were only together due to a contract. That meant he was likely interested in a different kind of woman altogether which left her only a few options...


    Melody shifted in her seat, letting her spine lengthen and her posture settle into something morenguid and deliberate, exposing the length of her thigh. Since, she didn’t need to y the meek girl anymore and being aggressive like Mnie not work, it was time to use the third approach. Men like him were used to women throaing themselves at him. Wasn’t that why he also looked down on Mnie? Because she had also probably tried to seduce him?


    A smile graced her face as she ced the cold water on herp, letting the little condensation drops, slide down her thigh as she smiled with a thought, "<i>Fine.</i><i>Let’s see if you’re more responsive to ice than to fire."</i>


    She took a slow sip of water, and moved to check her phone, before cing the ss back...But she didn’t stop, instead she let her fingers trail along the rim, idly, as though she were lost in thought. But she wasn’t.


    "I expected more from you, Adam Collins," she said softly, just enough bite in her tone to make the words sound like a challenge rather than aint.


    Adam didn’t move or even respond to her. But she was unconcerned, as she continued," Most men, when they’re forced into a marriage they don’t want-at least try to pretend. You don’t even do that. It’s impressive, really." She tilted her head, studying him openly now. "Almost as if you’re afraid pretending might turn into wanting."


    Still, no response.


    Melody gave a faint, almost amused breath through her nose. She wasn’t expecting much of a reaction.What she wanted was a flicker. The shift. Any sign that her words would find purchase beneath that cool exterior.


    Still nothing.


    Fine.


    She adjusted her leg slightly, the cool condensation from the ss still beading along her thigh. She let her finger sweep the droplets absently, her nails grazing skin but she knew that Adam’s eyes had definitely caught the movement of her fingers making way for his imagination.


    When she finally spoke again, her voice had lost all softness.


    "Did you really think every woman would fall for you?", she asked, lips curling into a smirk. "Is that why you’re so confident? So arrogant? Because women throw themselves at you, and you think that makes you special? The only reason I depended on you in the hospital was because I was hurt. But I suppose you convinced yourself that I wanted you. But you thought that too long and started believing it. Next time yoy better not try and take that tone with me, the kind you took in the bedroom just now..."


    "You’ve forgotten that this contract marriage benefits you more than me so the breaking up of this one would make you lose more! Well, here’s something new for you- I’m not interested. Not in you. Not in your contract. Not in your cold little games."


    A beat.


    "I wonder if that bruises your pride. Knowing someone like me can sit across from you, say that... and still feel absolutely nothing."


    She leaned back with deliberate ease, as if to punctuate her dismissal. That did it.


    The shift was sudden. Adam moved. Before Melody could process it, he was in front of her, crouched slightly, one hand around her throat. It wasn’t squeezing but the way his fingers tightened around her, gave her a thrill. A reaction like this was perfect. So, the best way to handle Adamw as to target his vanity as a man.


    He brought his face close to her and she liked the quiet control there. So alluring... She smiled up at him, making sure to smirkly taunt at him.


    His eyes were unreadable but then he closed a bit of distance between them and spoke hoarsely," You talk too much,"


    Melody’s lips parted, whether to speak or in anticipation of something else, she didn’t know. Her body stayed perfectly still, unsure if she was being warned or seduced.


    He leaned in just a fraction closer, his lips hovering over hers. She could feel his breath now, and she was sure he might kiss her.


    ***


    Unknown to Melody, there was something else on his mind. It was not kissing her but killing her. Just by iming that she was not attracted to him and trying to ckmail him with the contract, she had squashed thest hope that he was mistaken about her identity.


    He looked at his fingers around her throat and had to quash the urge to squeeze the life out of her. He stared at her. She had no idea. No idea how close she was to being annihted by him.


    This one... this creature in front of him thought she could poke at him, harm someone he love and walk away unburned?


    His thumb pressed harder against her jaw and knew she believed she was in control.


    Then, disgust flickered in his eyes.


    Without another word, he shoved her face to the side and stood, dismissing her, walking away from her. For now, he needed to use her to find out where his Mnie was, so he could only spare her.


    As he walked away, Melody, however, seemed to have no idea that she had barely escaped death. Instead, she was gloating as she sipped from her ss of water, thinking that she had found his weakness...