Chapter 143 He Looked
Down On Her
“Yes, I want him. He treats me better; he’s way better than you in every way. Brian, you mean nothing to me. I’m done holding onto you like a fool.”
Rachel thought she had won that argument, but the satisfaction was short–lived.
She was so furious that the words had just tumbled out.
And then, the regret hit–hard–because Brian wasn’t about to let it slide.
In the car, he came dangerously close to stripping her.
The humiliation was unbearable, but it got worse–he suddenly swung the door open, and there was Ronald, standing right outside.
Rachel’s stomach dropped. Her face went white. “No, please…” she begged, her voice barely above a whisper.
But Brian didn’t care.
He just threw his coat over her and carried her inside like her pleas meant nothing.
Rachel was beyond embarrassed, sinking her face lower and lower as if she could disappear.
But no matter how much she tried to hide, her long legs were still in plain sight, impossible to ignore.
The moment they reached the bathroom, Brian didn’t hesitate and dropped her straight into the bathtub. A second later, water from the showerhead came crashing down, soaking her from head to toe. The icy water made her shiver instantly. She curled into herself, arms wrapped tightly around her body. But gradually, the warmth seeped in, spreading over her body and easing the initial chill.
Heat rushed to her skin, making her look even more delicate.
She didn’t want this–didn’t want to be drenched. She wanted to get up, grab her clothes, and run. But Brian had no intention of letting that happen.
She reached for the edge of the tub, desperate to pull herself up, but just then–Brian stepped in.
Without the slightest pause, he stripped off his soaked shirt and trousers, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Now, in the large tub, they were in the same situation.
The bright lights made everything feel even more exposed, and Rachel immediately turned her back, refusing to
look.
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Chapter 143 He Looked Down On Her
He didn’t push her this time and didn’t say a word.
But then, she felt it. The slick touch of shower gel as he emptied half the bottle onto her. His hands worked the lather over her skin, scrubbing, rubbing, over and over, as if washing her clean of something only he could see.
Rachel had no idea how long this went on or how many times he repeated the same motion.
All she knew was that her skin ached, raw and burning.
But she knew exactly what this was about. He thought she had been intimate with Andres, and that betrayal
ate away at him.
That was why he kept scrubbing, as if he could erase whatever he imagined had happened.
A hollow laugh slipped from her lips as she weakly grasped his wrist. “Just stop. Brian, you don’t trust me, do you? In your mind, I’m already tainted. What’s the point of scrubbing now? A hundred times, a thousand–it won’t change what you think. Stop deceiving yourself.”
But for once, Brian didn’t agree. “No. It’s not that. I don’t think you’re stained. I just don’t want another man’s
scent on you.”
“Is that so?” Rachel let out a small, bitter smile.
Without saying another word, she reached out, wrapped her arms around his neck, and softly pressed her lips against his.
That single moment shattered Brian’s restraint–he instantly went from hesitant to completely taking control.
The heat in the bathroom seemed intensify. The steaming water rushed over them, adding to the tension.
Rachel’s hands tightened around the edge of the tub, her fingers digging in.
Fear took over, making her body tremble uncontrollably.
Noticing her shiver, Brian instantly stopped in his tracks, completely still.
He loosened his grip and slowly pulled away.
Seeing her reluctance, he chose not to push any further. In the end, it was fear that held him back–fear that she might cry, that tears would fill her eyes.
But more than anything, he feared the possibility that she truly despised him, just as she had said earlier.
He had tried to deny it, but deep down, the thought of her pulling away, of seeing pure hatred in her eyes,
terrified him.
So, ultimately, he relented.
He stood up and swiftly wrapped a towel around his waist.
He placed another towel by the tub and said calmly, “Get up and get dressed. I won’t disturb you.”
Rachel stared at him, stunned.
For nearly a whole minute, she just looked at him in silence.
Yet, in that short moment, it felt like her heart had nearly stopped.
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Chapter 143 He Looked Down On Her
A cold chill ran through her, as if she had been thrown into an ice cellar. She shivered, and a bitter laugh slipped from her lips.
How much effort did it take to stop herself from laughing out loud?
He had told her he didn’t despise her. For a brief moment, she had allowed herself to dream, to believe–but reality crushed it instantly. His actions said it all. The fact that he stopped was proof enough.
They had shared intimacy countless times before–he had always been intense, relentless, taking whatever he wanted without hesitation. When had he ever held back at the last moment like this? There could only be one explanation–he looked down on her, saw her as stained. That was why he stopped, why he refused to lay
another hand on her.
She had lost completely–humiliated, crushed beyond repair.
Just look at her now–pathetic, foolish, a joke even to herself.
“Brian!”
As Brian was about to leave, Rachel suddenly called his name. But her voice wasn’t angry or desperate, it was calm and almost emotionless.
“What’s wrong?” He stopped and turned to face her.
Wrapping a towel around herself, Rachel met his gaze and said, “I mean it. I want to cancel the wedding. This isn’t a joke. Since we’ve reached the end, I hope you’ll give it real thought.”
His body tensed up instantly. His expression darkened. “When did you meet him? When did it start?”
The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them. But at the same time, he needed to know.
No wonder she hadn’t even reacted to Tracy. So that was it–she already had someone else. That explained why she never questioned him about Tracy.
Rachel froze for a second, then quickly realized he had gotten the wrong idea.
But at this stage, what did it matter? If he wanted to believe that, let him.
“It’s been some time. We met on a business trip. He treats me well, like a true gentleman. That’s why I don’t want to drag things out with you anymore. I spent ten years chasing after you, and I’m tired. This time, I want to be the one who’s loved, to know what it feels like to be cherished.”
She spoke with such sincerity that Brian had little reason to question her.
Hearing that, a sharp pain tore through his chest, spreading like wildfire, consuming him whole.
“But our wedding has been planned for so long. My grandparents adore you and have been eagerly waiting for it. If we cancel now…”
