Chapter 19: Three Parts Drunk, Acting Until You Cry.

Daniel's warm fingertips gently traced over her skin, sending shivers through her body. Soft moans escaped her lips involuntarily.

"Vivi…"

He murmured her name repeatedly, kissing her between each whisper, almost as if to confirm that she, the woman beside him, was real.

But kisses were no longer enough for him.

Daniel lowered his head, burying his face in her neck, biting and sucking as if he wanted to leave an indelible mark on her skin.

Vivian felt her entire body grow soft and tingly, a mix of pleasure and pain. She tried to push him away, but with his weight pressing down on her, she couldn't move. The more she struggled, the tighter his hold became.

"Don't leave me."

Daniel whispered, his voice husky, then suddenly opened his eyes.

His striking gaze, clouded with intoxication, held a vulnerability. For a fleeting moment, he looked like a homeless puppy, drenched by the rain, pitiful and abandoned.

"You're drunk," Vivian murmured, dismissing his words as ramblings.

The sweet scent of wine lingered on his lips, and without a second thought, Daniel captured her lips again, his kiss deepening with satisfaction. A contented sigh escaped him as he continued.

Vivian was lost in the kiss, her thoughts muddled, completely swept away by him. She wanted to pull away, but her body refused to obey. She wanted to escape, but Daniel pursued her every step of the way.

The storm raged outside, but inside the room, the temperature was rising.

Crack! Another deafening thunderclap shook the air.

Vivian, in a daze, glanced toward the large floor-to-ceiling windows. The reflection in the glass showed the two of them, tangled in an intense kiss. She looked mesmerized, helpless under the sensual weight of the moment.

Her reflection brought her back to five years ago. Hadn't she been in a similar situation then?

That Daniel... Could he possibly be the same as before?

Of course not. The years had changed everything—her heart, scarred by bitterness, could never be the same again.

Yet, here she was again, falling into the same trap.

"No..."

She suddenly snapped to attention, her mind clearing, all her reason returning in an instant. She pushed Daniel away with force.

Her lips were swollen from the kisses, her face flushed, still glistening with traces of the intimate moment.

Daniel didn't seem surprised. He chuckled bitterly, his hand brushing her cheek as he whispered, "Vivi, do you want to leave me again?"

He lowered his head, self-deprecating. "I knew it. You always do this. Every time I wake up, you're not here..."

He was drunk, speaking nonsense.

"But not today. I'm not letting you go," he said suddenly, climbing on top of her again. "My dream, I decide."

Before she could react, Daniel pulled her back into his arms, this time just holding her tightly.

Vivian knew he was drunk.

His heartbeat gradually became steadier, and soon, she could hear the rhythm of his breathing—calm and regular.

To her surprise, Daniel fell asleep, still holding her.

Vivian called his name a few times, but there was no response.

The sofa was large, but with two adults lying together, it felt a bit cramped. After some time, seeing that Daniel hadn't moved, Vivian slowly lifted her head.

She watched him quietly.

His sleep was peaceful. His broad forehead, defined brows, long lashes—longer than most women's—his nose was sharp with a mole just beside the right nostril.

Had he always had that mole? She didn't remember noticing it before.

Her hand moved unconsciously, tracing the line of his lips. Thinking back to their passionate kiss, her face flushed again.

Would he forget this by tomorrow? After drinking so much, how much could he even remember?

Maybe she could just treat it as a dream.

But she couldn't help but wonder, how did he kiss so expertly? She had been completely swept away, unable to resist.

Earlier, she had tugged too hard on his shirt, causing several buttons to come undone, exposing his toned chest. He was no longer the lean figure from five years ago; his muscles were firm and perfectly sculpted.

Vivian felt like a pervert, taking advantage of him while he was asleep.

Lying together alone, she felt thirsty and hot all over, the lingering scent of him still in her mouth and on her skin. She couldn't stay there any longer.

The living room temperature was just right, and she didn't need to worry about him catching a cold. Vivian went to the kitchen for some cold water, drank it all in one go, hoping to quench the dryness in her throat and cool down a little.

In her haste, she crossed over his long legs, eager to head upstairs. In her hurry, she accidentally kicked something, making a sharp sound.

She thought it was Daniel's phone that had fallen, so she bent down to pick it up.

But when she looked, it wasn't his phone—it was a folder.

It could be someone else's private documents, maybe even business secrets. At first, she intended to put it back without looking. But the contents of the folder slipped out, revealing the words "Jadeite Lane."

Vivian froze.

She glanced at Daniel, who was still deeply asleep on the sofa.

What did Daniel have to do with Jadeite Lane?

Her mind raced back to the events at Smith family.

Had it been a coincidence that Daniel showed up right after she arrived there?

Looking back, his words earlier at Rosewood Hotel seemed suspicious. The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt.

Her curiosity urged her to open the folder.

A voice in her head said it wouldn't hurt to take a quick look, right?

She opened the folder and quickly scanned the first page. Her blood froze in an instant.

The words "Jadeite Lane Acquisition Plan" pierced her eyes like a needle.

She didn't care if it woke Daniel. Quickly flipping through the pages, she found the red stamp and Daniel's signature at the end. His elegant signature was unmistakable—it was the same as what she had seen earlier.

Vivian felt dizzy, her vision blurring as she nearly collapsed.

At that moment, she wanted to wake Daniel and ask him directly if this was true.

Why was the universe playing such a cruel joke on her?

The person she thought was behind everything was just a pawn, and the one she trusted most was the one who had been leading her straight into the abyss!

If she hadn't discovered this, what would Daniel have done to her?

He had been watching her all along, laughing at her ignorance!

Even worse, she had been so easily swayed by his drunken words, completely fooled!

She was furious, trembling with anger and helplessness. The only thing she could do was take out her phone and snap pictures of the entire document, including the red stamp and seal.

Afterward, she placed the folder back exactly where it had been, pretending she had never seen it.

Vivian wiped her swollen lips, trying to erase the traces of their intimate moments.

She couldn't help but spit out in disgust. How could she have been so foolish, letting herself be led by his sweet lies?

She almost made the biggest mistake of her life.