Chapter 3

Scarlett POV

Alexander was reclining on the hospital bed, wearing a patient gown, with sunlight streaming through the hospital window onto him.

His eyelashes cast shadows on his face, and the sunlight passed over his deep eye sockets and high-bridged nose, highlighting his lips, which looked very soft.

With his head lowered, he had a somewhat vulnerable appearance.

"Could you peel an apple for me, Scarlett? The doctor says I need to keep up my strength," his voice sounded very weak.

I hesitated for a moment. Today, I was wearing only a sleeveless dress that accentuated my full breasts and easily defined waist. The slit of the dress extended up to the upper part of my thigh.

I could feel his gaze moving from my chin downward, gliding over my slender neck and collar, including my long legs.

"You're not that weak, Mr. Grey," I tried to keep my voice steady.

The corner of his mouth curled into a smile: "After last night's... exertion, I might be."

He was threatening me with this matter again.

I'd had enough, but after this morning's conversation, it was better not to anger him. Otherwise, he might not be punished, but I would certainly be thrown out of the Grey house.

I could only do as he said. When I approached him to hand him the apple, the scent of his body awakened memories of that night. Stop thinking about that night, I commanded myself.

But the thoughts involuntarily surged in my mind: his hands, his lips, his...

"Feed me," Alexander interrupted my dangerous thoughts, commanding.

His gaze swept over my entire body, stopping at my face.

"You can sit here." He patted the edge of the bed.

"There's no need, I can..."

"This is not a request." The playfulness in his voice disappeared.

I carefully sat down on the edge of the bed.

He suddenly wrapped one arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

Through the thin fabric, I could feel the high temperature of his palm. Upon closer inspection, his features were even more striking—those long black eyelashes, the sharp angles of his face.

"Are you already missing last night?" His breath wafted softly past my ear. "You've been staring at my lips."

I was about to speak when a knock at the door startled me.

"Mr. Grey? May I come in?"

"Don't let him in yet, let go of me!" If someone discovered us in this position, I would be finished.

Alexander's smile turned wicked. "Beg me."

"What?"

"Beg me nicely, and I'll help you." His fingers roamed over my buttocks.

"Please," I said through gritted teeth.

He used his free hand to lift the blanket, and I glared at him.

At that moment, the sound of the doorknob turning came; the person outside must have been tired of waiting for a response and decided to enter directly.

I had no choice but to dive under the lifted blanket.

"Come in," Alexander called calmly.

Through the blanket, I heard the doctor's muffled voice: "Mr. Grey, after the IV is finished, you'll be free to go. However, please try to avoid excessive fatigue in the future."

Ah! I nearly cried out, as Alex's hand rested atop my head, caressing me like a docile pet, while his other hand slid down the side of my neck, lingering momentarily at my collarbone.

Then his large hand moved downward without hesitation, reaching the fullness of my chest, giving a gentle pinch at the peak.

"Mmm!" The sensation sent a tremor through my body.

Feeling my response, his palm continued its journey downward, finally stopping at my inner thigh, his rough fingers barely—yet tantalizingly—grazing against the tender skin.

I could only desperately cover my mouth, trying my hardest not to make a sound.

"Oh, Richard Grey told me that Miss Smith was left to take care of you. Isn't she here?"

"She went out to do something for me," Alexander replied smoothly. "She'll be back soon."

I should find an excuse to leave early, I thought desperately.

I should have waited until he was discharged from the hospital, then come back to pick him up, so I wouldn't have put myself in such an awkward situation.

All the way from the hospital, I was on edge because Alexander was sitting right beside me, like a ticking time bomb.

At that moment, the car's Bluetooth system suddenly lit up, showing an incoming call from "George Harper."

My heartbeat faltered. "Hello, Mr. Harper."

"Scarlett, how is your father? If there's anything I can help with..."

I hurriedly interrupted him: "Thank you, Mr. Harper, but I can handle the current situation."

George Harper was the heir to the Harper Group, my boss, and the object of my secret affection for the past two years.

But he was engaged to Sandra Blair, and had no real power in the family business, which meant he couldn't help the Smith family repay their debts.

After I ended the call, Alexander casually remarked: "You seem quite close to George."

"He's my boss. He called because I took the day off."

"Such a detailed explanation." Alexander's voice carried mockery. "This only makes people more suspicious of your relationship."

I bit my lip in frustration, not wanting to speak with him anymore.

No matter how I explained, he would find fault. My hands tightened on the steering wheel; we were almost at the Grey house.

"Mr. Grey," I said cautiously, "I need to stop by the office. Mr. Harper has some urgent documents for me to handle."

Alexander let out a derisive laugh: "Doesn't George have other secretaries? You're on leave, and he still specifically needs you?"

I cursed him silently. Of course I brought this up because I didn't want to continue staying with him.

I would do anything to escape Alexander's suffocating presence.

"This matter is quite urgent, and I've been handling it from the beginning..." I forced myself to sound convincing.

"But I can take you home first."

"No need," his gaze predatorily fixed on me. "If you're in such a hurry, I can go to the company with you."

My heart sank. The thought of Alexander appearing at my workplace filled me with dread.

Seeing no reaction from me, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "What's wrong? Unless... you're not going to the office? But to meet someone else?"

Now I had no choice but to take him with me, so I resignedly drove the car toward the Harper Group building.

When we arrived, the underground parking garage was unusually quiet, but Alexander showed no intention of getting out.

"Mr. Grey," I tried to keep my voice steady, "we've arrived. Would you like to wait in the car or...?"

"Help me unfasten my seatbelt. I seem to have lost my strength."

My expression grew somewhat exasperated. He had such strength when trapping me in the hospital, but now he was pretending to be helpless?

"If you don't help me, then I think I'll have to go upstairs with you," he continued smoothly.

"I need careful attention."

I gritted my teeth and leaned over to unfasten his seatbelt.

His hand shot out suddenly, gripping my waist tightly, with such force it was suffocating.

"You know," his breath wafted softly past my ear, "you look even more tempting in the daylight."

Before I could react, he kissed me.

I struggled violently, but it was like fighting with a robot. I thought painfully that I had been played by this bastard.

The kiss deepened, and his hands wandered over my body.

Using all my strength, I finally pushed him away and hurriedly ran out of the car—only to freeze in horror.

George was standing less than ten feet away from me, and in the dimly lit parking garage, his expression was inscrutable.