Chapter 194
Marianna’s eyes lit up. “Tristian’s always so generous,‘ she thought. “Thirty thousand dollars, just like that, without a second thought p>
But the excitement dimmed almost immediately.
Thirty grand meant nothing to Tristian–just a few taps on his phone. But to her, it was a fortune.
And even then, she only got it when he was in a good mood. She still had to grovel with thanks like some kind of beggar. This text is hosted at.net
She thought, ‘If I became Tristian’s wife, if I became the lady of the Sexton family, spending their money would be my right. I wouldn’t need to act grateful anymore p>
While she was lost in thought, Tristian poured a glass of water and handed it to her, his voice full of concern. “Have your injuries healed up p>
Marianna took the water and sipped it gently, nodding her head.
“Yeah, it’s all thanks to Tris having people take such good care of me. Otherwise I wouldn’t have recovered this fast p>
The injury had cost her a fortune in medical bills.
Marianna didn’t want Ruby to find out and chew her out for it, so she kept the whole thing to herself.
That meant she had to figure out how to cover all the medical expenses on her own. Luckily, Tristian had stepped in to handle it–otherwise she would’ve been completely broke.
Tristian had even arranged for the household staff to manage her meals every day, preparing different nourishing dishes to help her recover. She hadn’t suffered much at all, and the healing went smoothly.
But now that she’d gotten a taste of this kind of pampered lifestyle–everything handed to her on a silver platter–the thought of going back to doing everything herself was unbearable.
‘No wonder Kayla acts so arrogant at school,‘ she thought. ‘Growing up like this, without a care in the world, with servants waiting on her hand and foot–of course, she has the capital to be that cocky p>
The more Marianna thought about it, the more resentful she became. Her determination to climb higher and live like those at the top of the social ladder intensified. She wanted to surpass Kayla, to leave her behind.
Tristian’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I’m glad you’re healing up, but just saying ‘thanks‘-don’t you think
that’s a little insincere p>
His voice dropped lower, laced with suggestion.
Marianna’s lashes fluttered. She immediately understood what he was getting at.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she rose onto her toes and pressed a soft kiss against his lips.
Tristian’s gaze darkened. Just as Marianna tried to pull away, his arm locked around her slender waist while his other hand cradled the back of her head. His voice came out rough. “Marianna, are you trying to seduce
me p>
Marianna shook her head, the picture of flustered innocence.
“No, not at all. Tris, don’t get the wrong idea. I didn’t mean anything like that. It’s just–you’ve been so good to me, and today you look so irresistible, I couldn’t help myself p>
‘Couldn’t help herself?‘ Something lit up in Tristian’s eyes. His control snapped. He leaned down and captured her lips, still glistening with droplets of water.
A flash of triumph crossed Marianna’s eyes. ‘Just like Mom said,‘ she thought, ‘a fragile, helpless woman is exactly what drives men wild with desire p>
All it took was one little crook of her finger, and Tristian had taken the bait.
Marianna gave
Tristian a light push, more symbolic than real. Her hesitation only stoked his hunger to conquer. The tighter he held her, the harder his kiss pressed against her lips.
Her eyes curved with a smile, and she stopped resisting. She slipped her arms around his neck and rose on her toes, deepening the kiss on her own.
Tristian’s eyes lit up instantly. He thought, ‘She wants this too.‘ The realization drove him to kiss her harder, his urgency turning sharp and wild.
Still, the closeness wasn’t enough. Heat clawed at him from the inside. He let her lips go only to sweep her off her feet and set her down on the wide bed.
Without breaking the moment, he leaned over her, his body pressing down against hers.