Dn''s coolposure seemed to rub off on ra, who initially felt awkward but soon found herself settling down. Maybe her figure didn''t really catch his eye, or perhaps he just wasn''t interested in women. The thought brought her somefort.


    The hot spring was just too rxing, and she wasn''t in a hurry to leave. She leaned back, letting out a contented sigh. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside, and Aiden''s voice followed.


    "Boss, we''ve got intel. Micheal sent the hitmen from South Ashford."


    Michael? Wasn''t that Simon''s dad?


    ra instinctively ducked deeper into the water, hoping to stay out of Aiden''s sight. After all, they weren''t exactly on good terms.


    Aiden approached the pool''s edge, speaking with respect, "Michael''s left traces everywhere with his sloppy actions. Should we hit back?"


    ra, submerged, could barely make out their conversation, but she saw Aiden standing by the pool through the water''s distortion. There was no way she could surface now. Wearing Dn''s bathrobe and sharing a hot spring with him would surely make Aiden suspect she was up to no good. It would look like she was trying to seduce Dn. That was a misunderstanding she definitely didn''t need. Dn''s gaze drifted downward, noticing a figure trying to stay hidden beneath the water''s rippling surface. Luckily, Aiden couldn''t see from his angle.


    "No," Dn said, lowering his eyshes. If Michael had any sense, he wouldn''t have let Ada, the mistress, take over, nor would Simon even exist.


    Aiden was about to leave when Dn asked, "Is everything sorted with South Ashford?"


    Aiden was a bit taken aback; hadn''t they wrapped that up beforeing here? South Ashford didn''t have much to offer, while North Ashford had hot springs, uniquendscapes, and a prominent tform beside the highest cliff for taking in the mountain views-a spot really worth developing.


    Though puzzled, Aiden dutifully replied, "Yeah, South Ashford just has two attractions, but they were sold to local farmers ages ago. Now, with the development buzz, they''re jacking up the prices to ten million."


    Farmers demanding ten million was beyond audacious; it was downright ludicrous. Where did they get the nerve?


    ra started to feel like she might run out of air. She randomly touched something and squeezed it. Dn''s eyshes fluttered slightly, and he told Aiden, "You can go now."


    Aiden, still unsure why, left anyway. Once he was gone, Dn turned his head, looking a bit ufortable. Once Aiden was gone, ra shot up from the water, gasping for air. She nced down to what she''s holding, feeling her entire body flush.


    Dn didn''t look at her, but his voice sounded rough. “Can you let go now?"


    ra wished she could just disappear. "I''m sorry," she muttered, trying to make things right.


    But ra hadn''t expected to touch his coc. She thought Dn would stay unaffected, but underwater, she had clearly felt it stirring. His breathing had be noticeably quicker.


    ra quickly reached for the pool''s edge to climb out, but her nervousness and fever made her hands weak. Dn wrapped an arm around her waist, and they both tumbled back into the water with a loud ssh.


    His voice was in her ear, "What''s the rush?"


    She was still in his bathrobe and so close to him, so it was hard not to think of other things. ra tried to push away to put some distance between them, but touching his warm skin felt like she was crossing a line.


    Dn watched her hand against his chest, and something dark flickered in his eyes. The air was thick with tension.


    ra could feel something pressing against her. It was impossible to ignore through the thin robe. Dn was tall, and holding her like this made her feel small.


    In that moment, ra realized that despite Dn''sposed exterior, he was still


    a man with desires. His reaction proved he was very capable.


    She had a feeling that if she moved again, things could escte quickly. So, she froze, staying perfectly still.


    Dn''s grip on her waist tightened slightly as he leaned forward, his chin resting on her shoulder. His voice softened. "Don''t move."


    ra felt enveloped by his presence-a blend of dominance, gentleness, aloofness, and strength. Theseplex emotions wove together like a, keeping her firmly in ce.