?Chapter 1697:


    “From now on, you’ll do as I say. And… aboutst night, no more seducing and sleeping with me, got it? Want to bet?”


    Rhys’ expression hardly changed as he gazed intently at Harlee. After a moment, he conceded, touching his nose.


    “No bet.”


    The risk of losing was too high.


    Harlee noticed his subtle gesture, her smile broadening as she leaned back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She had anticipated his refusal, yet she was set on making this wager.


    Harlee looked at Rhys, lowered her gaze, and calmly finished her breakfast. Standing, she walked over to him, leaned down, and her eyshes fluttered as she gently lifted his chin. Her smile was seductive, her gaze captivating.


    Rhys swallowed hard, his gaze intensifying.


    Harlee’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she traced her finger across his lips, leaning in close.


    “I’m betting on a month.”


    Straightening, she waved her hand dismissively.


    “I’m meeting Elva. I’m off.”


    Rhys, familiar with his wife’s decisive nature, knew arguing was futile. As Harlee reached the doorway, she paused, turned back to Rhys, and said, “If it takes them more than a month, you win.”


    Rhys was about to rise but her words stopped him, his eyes softening with love and a touch of resignation. Harlee was confident that Aldrich and Alina would be officially together within a month. Herment was merely a cue for him to uphold the bet.


    Get thetest gα?ησν???s


    His gaze deepened, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation.


    “Lee, can we reconsider the terms?”


    “I find this bet rather intriguing.”


    Harlee smirked, turned, and exited the vi without a backward nce. If she didn’t keep this charming man in check, Felix would surely suffer from his antics once they returned home!


    At Uwhor University, beneath the women’s dorm, Elva slipped on a jacket and texted Harlee.


    “The whole campus is buzzing about you and N. How about we postpone our meeting until tomorrow? I’ve got a lecture today, anyway.”


    Elva watched the students hurrying by and sighed quietly to herself. She suspected N had informants at the university because shortly after she made ns to meet Harlee for lunch, an unexpected mandate required all biology students to attend a lecture under threat of severe penalties.


    Elva tightened her fist as she listened to the whispers of passersby. What abuse? It was N who had been petty, scheming against Harlee, leading to her public humiliation. How could anyone call that abuse? Now, the situation was being blown up into a political controversy between Mogluylia and Mechuique? Mechuique seemed petty. Yes, Mogluylia’s rising influence had surpassed Mechuique’s. Mechuique’s tendency to escte minor incidents into international crises only highlighted its pettiness. Muttering under her breath, Elva was distracted as Harlee’s car pulled up in front of her.


    As Harlee stepped out, the students heading to the lecture halted and stared. The air was thick with tension.


    Just yesterday, Mechuique’s major online tforms were abuzz with discussions about N’s forced submission. Netizens quickly brought up Celine’s kneeling, prompting heated spection over Harlee’s background. Mechuique people were eager to uncover the source of her boldness. Harlee’s arrival turned heads, but she seemed unaffected by the attention. She parked her car, stepped out, and walked toward Elva. As Harlee approached, the crowd instinctively stepped back.


    In Mogluylia, Harlee was known as a figure not to mess with. While Uwhor University’s students might criticize her online, none would dare confront her in person.


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