Chapter 156 Stitches in Time.


    She red fiercely at Felix, her eyes seemingly shouting. "If you can''t speak well, don''t open your mouth and save yourself the embarrassment."


    Yet Felix appeared oblivious, his expression calm, his tone indifferent as he continued, “I''m punishing you to redo the embroidery; if you don''t finish, you won''t leave the Brooker''s Vi"


    Lauren was stunned, looking up at Felix with eyes misty with tears, bright yet pitiful. Such a gaze slightly heated Felix; he loosened his dark-patterned tie, his Adam''s apple rolling under the ck silk in a dangerously alluring curve.


    Kate caught on, her heart bursting with glee. "That little rascal finally got smart, knowing how to keep Laurie here with this trick," she thought, not wasting her efforts.


    Though the reasoning was far-fetched, Felix was never one to reason.


    He addressed Lauren, "How does that sound, Ms. Bet?"


    This ''punishment'' was hardly a punishment for Lauren. At the Brooker''s Vi, she was well-fed, well-attended, with arge, well-lit bedroom and her own embroidery room to herself.


    She was never disturbed while working, and the entire household respected her. It was the life she had always dreamed of.


    "Okay," she responded softly, her voice slightly husky, with a hint of barely noticeable delight.


    Felix''s lips curved slightly, a subtle eyebrow raise revealing his inner glee. "The girl is as gullible as ever"


    He squinted at Lauren, his gaze devouring her as if to consume her entirely, while Kate watched, inwardly clicking her


    tongue.


    No one knew better than she the kind of man her grandson was. In front of Felix, the sly old fox, Lauren was as innocent as amb-likely to bepletely taken advantage of, yet still thinking of Felix as a kind-hearted man.


    After exchanging a few pleasantries, Felix was whisked away by a group of suit- d men to discuss some arcane business


    matters.


    Kate looked at Lauren with a fondness, "Laurie, you must be hungry after the long day. Go have something to eat, talk to whoever you like, ignore those you don''t. Just follow your heart."


    "And, no alcohol," she added with a tone like she was reminding her most cherished granddaughter, warm and full of


    affection.


    Lauren nodded obediently, grabbed a juice, and slowly walked to the balcony.


    The night had already fallen; the dark sky was like a vast sheet of ck silk, heavily draped overhead, sparsely dotted with


    dim stars.


    The night breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, lightly brushed her hair. She stood there quietly, as if merging with the tranquil night, her weariness and worries gradually dissipating.


    Still, her head buzzed persistently, like a hive of activity inside.


    It was a constant ringing in her ears, ever since she had been brutally beaten by Casey and his cohorts, causing her hearing to deteriorate.


    After finishing her juice, she pulled up a chair and sat down, her arms weakly resting on the balcony railing, her head leaning


    on her arms.


    A wave of fatigue swept over her, and she slowly closed her eyes, soon slipping into a light sleep


    After some time, Felix finished his socializing and nced back unintentionally, spotting the curled-up figure on the balcony.


    The dim light cast on her, outlining her slender silhouette. Felix''s gaze softened immediately, and he walked towards her uncontrobly.


    Chapter 156 Stitches in Time


    Finished


    Her cheeks were slightly reddened from lying down for so long, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if even in her sleep she was not at peace.


    Felix took off his jacket and draped it over Lauren. Then, he gently leaned down, lifted her horizontally, his actions tender as if afraid to wake her.


    Lauren stirred lightly in her sleep, as if feeling the warmth, and snuggled closer into his arms.


    Watching her like this, Felix''s lips involuntarily lifted into a smile.


    Josh, seeing this, sported a gossipden grin. "Mr. Brooker, you seem to be caring more and more for Ms. Bet. Do you like her?"


    Felix paused, looking at Josh''s grinning face, "Your bonus this month, gone."


    Josh''s smile vanished instantly, his face turning sour, "Why?"


    "Because, you talk too much."


    JJosh couldn''t believe it. Mr. Brooker had to be so authoritarian,


    Quickly catching up to Felix, Josh rubbed his hands together, looking ingratiating. "Uh, Mr. Brooker, could you maybe reimburse me for my socks?"


    Felix, recalling Keh''s embarrassing moment with the smelly socks, a hint of amusement appeared in his stern eyes, feeling particrly pleased.