Struggling to leave her bed, she attempted to extinguish the incense. However, the effects of the drug left her feeble. In her weakened state, she accidentally turned off the light beside the incense and tumbled onto the knitted carpet beside her bed.
The room plunged into darkness. In the silence, the sound of the doorknob turning broke the stillness.
"Who is there?" Norah asked warily. But in the next moment, she was overwhelmed by the weight of a man.
She instinctively tried to push the man away, but the drug had weakened her. Her awareness slowly slipped away. Before slipping into unconsciousness, she yearned to glimpse the man's visage, but the dim moonlight merely revealed a blurry silhouette.
"Who... are you?" Norah struggled but was swiftly engulfed by the man's passionate kiss, and in no time, she surrendered her senses entirely. Under the influence of the aphrodisiac aroma, she clutched the man's neck and soon found herself adrift in a sea of desire.
The following morning, as Norah awoke, she was alone in the room.
Sitting up, she caught her reflection in the floor mirror. Bruises marked her body, a stark reminder of the previous night's events. It hadn't been a dream.
Firmly, she vowed to uncover who had orchestrated this. Norah's resentment was palpable.
At that moment, she heard sounds outside her door. People seemed to be approaching her room.
Norah's expression hardened. She sensed trouble brewing.
Outside Norah's room, Debby Chase, the fourth child of the Chase family, stood with a crowd of individuals.
Gripping Kristine Chase's arm, she declared earnestly, "Mom, I witnessed that brazen country girl luring a man back to her room. Believe me!"
Kristine said hesitantly, "Remember, she was invited by your grandfather. If you're wrong about this..."
"There's no way this is a mistake!" Impatiently, Debby cut off Kristine. "Furthermore, she's just a country girl who happened to save Grandpa's life. That's why he invited her to stay here. She doesn't deserve the title of a guest. How dare she brazenly seduce a man on her very first day at the Chase family home? Today, I'm leading everyone in exposing her shameful act and booting that audacious woman out of our house!"
Debby commanded the servants behind her, "Break down the door!"
At that moment, the door was swiftly opened.
Norah, dressed in her pajamas, stood before them. Her relaxed demeanor and striking beauty left the servants in awe.
Despite Norah's lack of sophistication, her beauty was undeniable. It was no surprise Debby felt threatened.
"Why is a big crowd gathering so early in the morning?" Norah asked, seeming a bit sleepy as she looked at Debby.
Debby sneered in response, "Stop pretending! We've come to catch you in the act! I'm going to have you removed from the Chase family today, you disgraceful woman!"
With those words, she shoved Norah aside and hurried into the room. In the next instant, her brows furrowed.
There was no one else in the room?
Debby flung open the wardrobe, pulled back the curtains, and found no one. She even lifted the quilt to discover the bedsheet was spotlessly clean and neat.
How could it be possible? Debby had set the aphrodisiac incense in Norah's room and arranged for a man to meet her at midnight. Why was there no one there?
Observing Debby's actions, Norah grasped the situation immediately.
Norah, leaning casually against the doorframe, watched Debby's frantic search. With a mix of laziness and disdain, Norah asked mockingly, "Looking for something, Miss Chase? You seem disappointed."
Debby spun around, scrutinizing Norah. Reluctantly, she had to admit that Norah showed no signs of any recent intimate encounter.
But that aphrodisiac was potent. How could Norah be so composed if she hadn't been with someone?
Unwilling to accept this, Debby ordered the servants, "She must be hiding someone! You all search the room carefully!"
The servants immediately began rummaging through Norah's room, leaving it in disarray.
"Enough!" Suddenly, a furious voice rang out as loud as a bell.
Esther Chase had arrived at the doorway, surveying the chaos with visible anger.
The servants froze in fear and retreated to a corner, dreading the possibility of punishment.
Debby, previously bold and assertive, fell silent. She nervously positioned herself next to Kristine, whispering, "Grandpa..."
Norah, with a slight smirk, addressed Esther with a pointed question. "Mr. Chase, is this customary Chase family hospitality for a guest?"
Esther shot a hostile glare at Debby before turning his gaze to Norah. He said apologetically, "Don't fret, Norah. I'll provide you with an explanation."
Then, in a chilly tone, he shifted his attention to the servants and said, "Inform the entire Chase family to assemble in the living room. Fetch my three grandsons while you're at it."