At that, Shirley headed back to her room on the second floor, but Zacharias suddenly extended an


    invitation. “Do you want to sleep with me?”


    Shirley’s steps paused, and her body stiffened. Turning back, she refused, “No.”


    “How about giving me a massage then? It will help me sleep. I have a whole day of meetings to attend


    tomorrow. It’ll be terrible if I spend the night sleepless,” the man said, sounding somewhat pitiful.


    Shirley immediately imagined this man dozing off during the next day’s meetings and found it amusing.


    “Do you have sleeping pills at home? Take one!” Shirley suggested. This method would be more


    effective. Suddenly, Zacharias grabbed her domineeringly. “Alright, I’ll take the pills, but you have to


    stay with me.”


    Shirley was at a loss for words, but when she heard that he would take the medicine, she felt


    somewhat concerned for him. Is his sleep really that bad?


    Whether out of empathy or pity, Shirley followed him into his room. Once inside, the man let go of her


    hand, took out a box of pills from the drawer, and popped one into his mouth, washing it down with


    water from a nearby cup. After swallowing, he turned to Shirley and said, “I took the pill.”


    Seeing him take the medicine so decisively, Shirley nodded. “Alright, I’ll stay with you until you fall


    asleep, and then I’ll leave.”


    Since he took the pill, he would probably fall asleep quickly. She was also concerned about his other


    possible reactions to the pill.


    Zacharias lifted the covers andy down on the bed, leaving a side empty. “Come here. It’s warmer


    under the covers,” he said while looking at Shirley and patting the empty spot. Shirley shook her head


    and went to sit on the couch. “I’ll stay here. You go to sleep.”


    At that, Zacharias turned to his side and fixed his mesmerizing gaze on her, not blinking. Shirley, with


    her arms crossed, too, observed him. Just like that, the two stared at each other in the dimly lit room.


    Soon, Zacharias sighed. “I seem to have gotten more excited.”


    “What are you excited about?” Shirley asked with a frown. Zacharias didn’t know why, either. Despite


    taking the medicine, his nerves seemed to be resisting the effects, making him more excited and eager


    to do something.


    “Can I call you Shir?” the man asked in a hoarse voice. Shirley quirked a brow in response. “No, only


    my family is allowed to call me that. Others are not permitted.”


    “Well, I’m calling you that,” he insisted obstinately. Shirley looked helplessly at him with crossed arms.


    Can’t you just close your eyes and sleep after taking the sleeping pill?


    She decided to ignore him and simply wait for him to fall asleep. Just then, a p of thunder sounded


    outside, startling Shirley visibly. The man in bed furrowed his brow, noticing Shirley’s reaction to the


    sudden noise.


    At that, he got out of bed. Seeing that he refused to sleep, Shirley decided not to apany him


    anymore. “I’m going back to my room.”


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    However, she had just taken a couple of steps when a strong arm wrapped around her waist. Her back


    was pressed against the man’s warm chest while his chin rested on her shoulder. “Stay and sleep with


    me, please?” He pleaded with her.


    Perhaps due to the effects of the medicine, the man’s tone was not domineering. Instead, it carried a


    gentle quality, akin to a puppy seekingfort.


    Boom!


    Another p of thunder rumbled overhead, causing Shirley’s body to instinctively tense up, fearing that


    the thunder might strike her directly. The man tightened his embrace a bit more. “Afraid? Come to bed


    with me.”


    Perhaps it was the early morning hour or the rainy night, but it could easily weaken one’s defenses and


    dull one’s will. Emotions that couldn’t be breached during the day seemed to dissipate at this time.


    When Zacharias pulled Shirley toward the bed, it was like her legs weren’t hers, and she found herself


    standing beside the bed with him.


    By the time she realized it, a small internal struggle took ce. When the many down and reached


    for her wrist, his eyes were filled with desire.


    Shirley sat on hisrge bed, and the man’s long arm pressed her down onto the bed. He lifted the


    nket, covering both of them.