Chapter 5 THE REJECTION

He looked up and asked again, "What about your answer, Miss Cooper?"

"I still refuse," she replied, staring directly at him, each word deliberate.

Charles narrowed his eyes, fixating on her without saying a word, as if he was trying to see right through her.

After a long silence without hearing his voice, Maya glanced up in surprise, only to find herself lost in the depths of his inscrutable gaze, her heart racing wildly.

The tense silence hung between them, and suddenly, Charles spoke, his deep voice carrying an undeniable certainty: "Your refusal must have something to do with that night."

Maya's face turned pale in an instant. She felt a sense of wariness toward the man before her; he was like an elegant leopard seemingly casual, yet capable of delivering a fatal blow. But that night was an undeniable fact. She didn't back down; instead, she nodded. "I have something to say about that night."

Charles fixed his gaze on her. "I genuinely meant well when I suggested the idea of repairing your hymen, but clearly, you misunderstood."

Anger surged to Maya's head, and she gritted her teeth, whispering fiercely, "I wish Mr. Darwin would completely forget about that night! Whether you meant well or not!"

"I've already forgotten; the one who actually cares is you, Miss Cooper, that's all." His gaze was sharp as an arrow, constantly observing her expressions.

She averted her eyes from his penetrating stare and retorted, "No!"

"Since you don't care, what's the harm in being Ethan's tutor?" he raised an eyebrow, pushing closer with each word.

Her irritation and frustration were finally provoked, and she sprang up from her seat with a hint of defiance. "No, No! I won't do it, Mr. Darwin, do you understand what I said?" Her cheeks flushed, and her big, bright eyes sparkled with determination.

Charles seemed momentarily captivated by her gaze; the light in his eyes flickered, and his lips curled slightly as he gently reminded her, "It seems you are getting a bit worked up."

"And so what if I am? I won't be Ethan's tutor, no matter what! I have classes this afternoon, so Mr. Darwin, feel free to do as you please!" With that, she grabbed her bag and headed toward the door of the private room.

Just as she took a couple of steps, the door swung open, and Ethan walked in. Charles raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Ethan. He spoke smoothly, "Since Miss Cooper doesn't agree to be your tutor, it's best not to push her too hard. By the way, have Driver Max take her back to school."

Ethan furrowed his brows deeply, fixing his gaze on Maya. "Why didn't you agree?"

"I have too much to do and no time to be a tutor," she replied apologetically, looking at him. She then swerved him and left the restaurant.

Charles, tall and composed, stood up and headed for the exit, only to find Ethan still rooted in a spot. He raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you coming?"

"Charles, believe it or not, I can make her agree." Ethan snapped back to reality, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"I have too much to do too, no time for that." Clearly, Charles wasn't interested in Ethan's words. He glanced at his watch and got into his Bentley.

Meanwhile, Maya returned to school, and as soon as she entered her office, the principal called for her. He bombarded her with pointless questions, all revolving around Mr. Darwin-what happened, what's going on, and so on.

Sitting there, Maya tried to feign interest while feeling drowsy, and she even had to suppress a loud growl from her stomach. She hadn't had a chance to eat her spaghetti at noon, and now her stomach was growling with hunger.

As she was leaving, the principal kept reminding her to make sure to focus on the studies of the young master, Ethan Darwin. Maya was taken aback by how much flattery the principal was dishing out; she felt like he was beyond salvation.

However, over the next few days in class, she noticed that the seat by the window in the last row was always empty, which belonged to Ethan. She tried calling him, but each time she was met with a sweet voice reminding her that the line was busy and to please try again later.

If it happened once or twice, it would be normal, but every time meant something was wrong. He was clearly avoiding her. He was already 18 yet he still acted like a petulant child when he threw a tantrum.

She understood why he was behaving this way; it was simply because she hadn't agreed to be his tutor. With a helpless sigh, she pulled out the student list and began searching for his home address. With the final exams just three days away, he had to come to school to take them.

After noting the address on her phone, she hailed a taxi and told the driver, "Take me to Springs Garden Residence."

The taxi driver glanced at her a couple of times and smiled, "Miss, are you living there? I hear the houses there are quite expensive."

"It's not that," she replied. "I'm just going to meet someone." She had heard that the Springs Garden Residence had very high property prices, but she had never been there before. It was her first visit.

Half an hour later, the taxi stopped in front of the residence. The air was indeed fresh, and the environment was beautifully maintained. As she walked through the community, a faint floral scent filled the air. Following the address, she made her way to Building Three and paused in front of the door.

To her surprise, the door was slightly open, leaving a small gap. After checking the address several times, she reached out and pushed the door open, stepping inside. However, she barely took a few steps forward before she froze like a statue, her feet seemingly nailed to the floor.

The erotic sounds clearly reached her ears. A woman's voice was sultry and seductive, mingling with a man's, sending shivers down her spine. She realized what was happening in the room.

They were definitely in the middle of something...erotic!

In an instant, all the blood rushed to her head. Her lips felt parched, and her cheeks flushed a vibrant red, as if they were about to bleed.

What... what is going on here...?

She snapped back to reality, feeling completely lost. She didn't even know where to put her hands and feet, her mind a blank slate. The only thought racing through her head was to get out of there fast!

But as she turned to leave, she failed to notice the trash can at her feet. With a loud crash, it toppled over, creating a ruckus. Her face turned pale, and she froze in the spot.

Just then, Ethan's voice cut through the air. "Hey, is something making noise?"

"If you can't keep it quiet, then just get the hell out." Charles' tone came suddenly, low and heavy.