Chapter 7 I Thought I Had The Right

Joshua lowered his head and drew closer to her lips. Although they hadn't yet kissed, their breaths were already intertwined. He whispered softly in her ear, "Do you feel uncomfortable in your dress?"

Lyla felt a bit nervous and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The label is still on."

Joshua tightened his arm around her waist and Lyla immediately felt the pressure of a piece of paper against her skin. She paused and then responded, "Fortunately, the label is on the inside, or it would be embarrassing."

"May I take it off for you?"

Before Lyla could respond, Joshua had already unzipped her dress and slipped his cold hand inside.

Lyla shied away from his touch, feeling a bit uncomfortable. However, before she could say anything, Joshua fiercely bit her lip and gave her a passionate kiss.

She wondered if all men behaved the same way in bed.

Usually, Joshua was gentle and refined, resembling more of a well-read professor than a businessman. However, in bed, he was as rough as a barbarian.

Even while kissing her, he would deliberately bite her lip.

In reality, Lyla didn't want to be so physically intimate with him. There were still many unresolved issues between them, especially regarding the family that lived down on Springton Street. She had even brought up the idea of divorce.

Today, she had provoked him just to prove that she could be tough in front of him.

But when it came to sex, Joshua never respected her opinions. He picked her up, turned her around, and pressed her onto the sofa. Lyla didn't know which button he pressed but all the curtains were immediately lowered, shielding them from prying eyes.

Then he began to take advantage of her without any hesitation.

Women could never win in a battle of strength against men.

They had not been intimate for three months. At first, Lyla was not used to it and her body trembled slightly. But somehow, it seemed to excite Joshua even more.

After he had finished, Lyla was too exhausted to even open her eyes. Luckily, there was a small compartment in Joshua's office with a bed for her to rest on.

After covering her with a quilt, Joshua headed to the shower room for a refreshing shower.

Just as Lyla was about to drift off to sleep, the phone on the bedside table began to ring. She frowned and reached for it. However, upon seeing the caller ID, her drowsiness vanished in an instant.

It wasn't her phone; it was Joshua's.

The caller was Natalie Happer.

Could she be the same Ms. Happer who lived on the 14th, Springton Street?

She stared at the screen for a moment and then hung up.

When Joshua emerged from the shower room, he was wearing nothing but a bath towel wrapped around his waist. The steam around him had yet to dissipate and he looked even more handsome after his shower.

Seeing that Lyla was lying in bed, staring at a phone, he quipped, "I thought you were exhausted."

Lyla elegantly placed the phone on the bedside table and countered, "You must be more exhausted, Mr. Harvey. After all, you have women to take care of, day or night."

She wondered if Natalie Happer's fragile health could withstand a man like him.

The thought made her feel repulsed.

It took Joshua a moment to comprehend what she was insinuating.

He scowled and cautioned, "You're a girl, stop talking like that. Stay away from Derrick, he only has a bad influence on you."

"Derrick and I have known each other since childhood. It's a little late for you to worry about that."

Lyla picked up the kettle and poured herself a glass of water to alleviate her discomfort.

She and Derrick had built a special bond as they navigated the complex dynamics of Cleopatra's upper class. They had each other's backs through thick and thin.

Joshua walked closer. "Did you forget that he introduced Nathan to you? He was audacious enough to facilitate your affair behind my back."

Lyla's brow furrowed, and she snapped, "This is between us. Don't drag Derrick into it."

Joshua's long fingers lifted her chin and he wiped the water droplets from her lips with a tender gesture. His eyes were intense. "You really care about him, huh?"

Lyla met his gaze but felt uneasy so she looked away and pulled the quilt up to leave. "If that's all, I'll be on my way."

Lyla's feet had not touched the floor before Joshua's lips were on hers, pressing her onto the bed. With her hands, Lyla pushed him away and exclaimed, "Hey! You..."

He took hold of her wrists with one hand and threw the bath towel aside with the other.

Lyla couldn't understand why he was so aroused today.

As his hand caressed her belly, Lyla flinched when he brushed against that two-inch scar, and he whispered into her ear, "How did you get it?"

"Didn't you ask me before? It was from an appendix surgery," Lyla replied, frowning.

Joshua turned her face and kissed her.

But their passion was interrupted by the ringing of his phone on the bedside table.

At first, Joshua ignored it, but when he saw the caller ID, his expression changed abruptly and he let go of Lyla's wrists and stood up.

He left hurriedly and without hesitation. Before Lyla could react, he had already put on the bathrobe and answered the phone.

Lyla didn't know what was said on the other end but Joshua comforted in a hushed voice, "Don't worry. I'll be there soon... Don't cry. I'm here. Quentin will be fine."

It was the first time Lyla felt the chill of winter after their lovemaking.

She watched him answer the phone and prepare to rush to another woman. Joshua still looked as handsome and alluring as ever, but his features began to blur in her mind.

As Joshua looked through his call history after hanging up the phone, he noticed that Natalie had called him over ten minutes ago but the call was declined.

He remembered he was showering at that time, and only Lyla had access to his phone.

With a cold gaze, he asked, "Who gave you permission to decline a call on my phone?"

In response, Lyla smiled and said, "I thought I had the right."

She thought she had the right to decline his mistress's call as his wife. But the truth was she didn't.

After staring at her for a moment, Joshua grabbed his coat and swiftly left.

But before he turned the doorknob, he paused and spoke in a low and frigid tone. "She wouldn't call me during work hours unless it's an emergency about Quentin. He was born with leukemia."

With that, he slammed the door shut, leaving Lyla alone on the bed with the quilt.

After a while, she blinked and felt something drop on the back of her hand.

It was a teardrop.

No wonder she couldn't see his face clearly earlier.

It was too humiliating to cry in front of him.

Lyla covered her face with her hand and let out a deep sigh. "What's the point..."