“No!”

She couldn’t do it herself; after all, she’d asked him to do it!

Alexander Westwood's sharp gaze caught her restraint and the corners of her eyes, tinged with a hint of red from her indignation, deepening the darkness in his own eyes.

He reached under the covers, a sudden chill washing over them. "You brought this upon yourself. Don't be afraid of the pain."

The contact lasted only a moment.

Jane Lang had planned to take the opportunity to joke around but felt her face flush instead.

How embarrassing.

She tensed up completely, and Alexander could clearly feel her tension; it reminded him of how she had been last night, at the peak of emotion—like a bewitching spirit that could steal souls and pull people into the abyss.

His breathing grew heavier, and Jane could even hear the intensified rhythm of his heartbeat.

Finally finished applying the medicine, he let out a silent sigh of relief.

But the next moment, he found himself pulled back.

Jane's pale skin was mere inches away, their noses almost touching.

She wrapped her arms around Alexander's neck, her beautiful eyes sparkling as she teased, “Brother, your heart is racing. What are you thinking?”

Alexander swallowed hard, clearly seeing his own reflection in her eyes, along with the flames of desire burning within them.

“Jane, don't play with fire.”

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It was both a warning to her and a reminder to himself.

Yet Jane disagreed, pouting as she pressed a kiss on his lips, her sweet scent lingering. “Seize the day! If we’re already playing with fire, what’s there to fear about getting burned?”

Alexander narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing in his deep gaze. “You’re pushing it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s get down to business.”

Jane's eyes widened in shock. Before she could react, the man above her raised his hand, removing his glasses, and surged forward with a fierce kiss.

The intensity felt like it could consume her.

Just when things were heating up, a sudden knock on the door echoed from outside.

Jane instinctively panicked.

She held his restless hands, her heart racing wildly, and blinked, “Not now… Aunt Wan is downstairs, and besides, my injury isn’t fully healed yet.”

There was still someone else down there—Liam Summers.

Without his glasses, Alexander exuded a raw, untamed energy.

His hand ran through his hair as his voice came out low and husky, “So you’re scared now?”

Even with such teasing gestures, his demeanor remained serious. Jane's eyes widened in disbelief, the blush creeping down to her neck.

Alexander smirked coldly, rising with a swift grace.

“Jane, don’t try to play any games meant for adults with me; you won’t keep up.”

He put his glasses back on, returning to his composed, scholarly persona. If he had a book in hand, he could easily pass for a university professor.

The hand that had just been all over her was now adjusting his cuffs with a refined elegance.

“You’re still young, but I’m not. I’ll indulge you in other matters, but I don’t have time for childish games. Learn to know your limits in the future.”

“Clean yourself up and come down for dinner.”

Even after Alexander's tall figure vanished from the room, Jane remained frozen, her heart still pounding like a drum.

Damn.

That guy, Alexander Westwood, was way too flirtatious!

Jane raised a hand to her face, giving herself a couple of light slaps to cool down the heat, deep in thought about Alexander’s warning. After a while, she couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

He made it sound easy, but where was her escape?

Even if the Westwood family helped the Summers family through this crisis and Alexander stood by her side, how long could he protect her?

What if he ended up marrying someone else in the future…

With that thought, a wave of bitterness washed over Jane—an emotion she had buried deep within since her teenage years, a distant fantasy she’d never dared to voice.

But he called it a childish game.

So what?

She, Jane Lang, was determined to pursue the man she liked, even if she had to risk it all!

eeting between families, even