[Scene:] The Thorne Estate Tearoom. The Matriarch's Fury and the Desperate Kiss.
Alistair Thorne finally let go of Eleanor Vance.
He stepped back, his eyes chillingly composed, as if the bruising, desperate contact had been merely a necessary move to ensure the "functional integrity" of his contracted tool.
Eleanor, however, was in turmoil. Her lips were tender, tasting the faint bitterness of the tea she had spat out, but dominated by the dangerous heat of his breath. Every cell in her body screamed—she had crossed a line.
"You—" The Matriarch, Lady Thorne, trembled. "Alistair! What was the meaning of that?! Have you forgotten Clause Seven: The Taboo?"
Alistair was expressionless. He didn't look at his grandmother, instead sweeping his gaze over Eleanor with an air of absolute disdain, like a master examining a flawed machine.
[The Fallout of the Forbidden Kiss]
"I have not forgotten," Alistair's voice was frighteningly steady. "I merely ensured that my property was not compromised by the poison you offered. The contract forbids her from developing feelings, not me from ensuring the survival of my investment."
This glacial explanation—he saved her not out of care, but because she was worth ten billion—extinguished the terrifying hope that had flared in Eleanor's heart.
"Eleanor," Alistair turned to her, his tone an unforgiving judgment. "Your pathetic reaction caused the Matriarch to question your loyalty. If you cannot endure such a small test, you are unfit for the Inheritance."
He shifted all the blame for his own contract breach onto her shoulders.
[The Matriarch's Fury and Judgment]
"Eleanor Vance, you are dismissed." The Matriarch's voice was sharp. "Alistair, your reckless display will be reviewed as a direct challenge to the family council."
The Matriarch left. Eleanor felt the invisible pressure crushing her. She was terrified by the temperature of Alistair's mouth—the heat in that kiss felt devastatingly real.
"You violated the contract, Tutor," Eleanor managed, her voice raw.
[Eleanor's First Loss of Control]
Alistair slowly walked toward her, his shadow engulfing her.
"Did I?" He smirked, the danger in his eyes intensifying. "Then why don't you report me to the legal team? If you report my breach, you can terminate this agreement immediately and walk free."
Eleanor looked up, her eyes blazing. Reporting him meant freedom. She could walk away. But she couldn't.
She was losing control. Her voice held a suppressed, raw desire: "I won't report you, Tutor. Because I haven't won yet."
[Alistair's Counter-Attack and Emotional Punishment]
Alistair raised his hand, touching her lips again. This time, he simply used his thumb to viciously wipe away the lingering moisture.
"Then continue your performance, Eleanor." He used cold, absolute indifference to punish his own momentary lapse.
"From today on, your Tutor will subject you to maximum intensity training. I will ensure your heart is as cold as your ambition. Because the moment you lose control, you will not only lose ten billion, you will lose your most precious possession."
(Author's Note):
Chapter three is the beginning of the contract collapse! Alistair saves Eleanor with a forbidden kiss but denies any affection with the cruelest words—a classic "emotional gaslighting" technique. Note Eleanor's first moment of true panic and her dual greed for both Alistair and the victory.
By: KHChing