Chapter 81


    Self-defense “Now, let’s get started, shall we?”


    The demonic grin on Aren’s face wasn’t encouraging at all. I responded with a slight nod. Even though I


    was the one who suggested learning self-defense from Aren, I was beginning to regret that decision


    more by the second. “You should warm up first,” he said, taking my hand and leading me to the center of


    the mats. We did a bit of stretching, which I found close to unbearable, and it wasn’t because of my stiff


    body. Every single ounce of my willpower was aimed at restraining myself from looking at Aren’s body.


    It’s been two days since we hadn’t slept together, and I was starting to behave like a junky at the


    beginning of rehab. I whimpered inwardly and bit my lip when he wasn’t looking, but I could proudly say


    that I managed to keep my serious face throughout the warm up. Unfortunately, my struggle had barely


    begun. “My, let’s start with something easy,” Aren said, standing some distance in front of me. “I will


    attack you, and you will try to defend yourself.” “Right…” Iughed nervously. “How do I do that?”


    Aren scanned me from head to toe, and I didn’t miss the fact that he paid extra attention to my hips and


    breasts. “First of all, stand up straight. When Ie near you, your instinct will tell you to step back, and


    that is what you need to do.” I raised one eyebrow at him. First of all, no living woman on the face of the


    Earth would ever step back seeing Aren Lan try to approach her, but let’s imagine otherwise. I put my


    one leg back, concentrating on maintaining bnce. “Good.” He nodded. “Now, let’s get to the actual


    attack. I will grab your shoulders and you will try to release yourself.” I smiled wryly at him. “You are a


    foot taller than I am, and you are much stronger…” “It doesn’t matter,” he assured. “If your attacker wants


    to grab you, even if he is really tall, he will have to lean down to do it, and then you can defend yourself.


    All you need to do is to cross your arms and push your arms up using your elbows to release yourself


    from the attacker’s grip. Then you need to p his ears to stun him, kick him in the groins, stomach, or


    whatever, and run.”


    I blinked my eyes at him. He made it sound so easy, but my motion skills on the scale from one to ten


    were like… minus four. Not to mention that my focus decreased proportionally to his closeness.


    “Let’s start. I’m going to grab your shoulders,” he said as he stepped toward me. I gulped, trying to


    hectically process his instruction, but my tries all failed miserably as he grabbed my arms and looked


    dangerously into my eyes. My mind went nk. “You were supposed to defend yourself, not wait until I


    hurt you.” He chuckled, not knowing that to me, his words had a slightly different meaning.


    “Let’s try again,” I squeezed through my teeth before taking a deep breath. He grabbed my shoulders. I


    crossed my arms just like he told me and pushed my arms up, forcing him to release me. “I did it!” I


    shouted merrily.


    He nodded. “Yes, but you need to hit my ears so I can be disoriented for a few seconds, and then kick


    me.”


    “That’s absurd. I cannot reach your ears. You are way too tall,” I protested, crossing my arms. “Cora,


    don’t make excuses-think!” He frowned. “If you think that I am too tall, then attack me before I stand up


    straight. You need to move fast if you want to defend yourself and escape.


    I hated the fact that he was right. I had never been a fan of exercise, but it was time to admit that I


    needed to put a few workouts into my weekly schedule. I took a deep breath and tried one more time,


    and this time, I managed to hit him. Of course, he blocked my kick before I reached his balls, but for the


    first time, I followed his instructions and executed them well. I had to say that I was proud of myself.


    “Again!” he shouted, as I thought that I could finally take a break He was relentless, forcing my muscles


    to stretch and my body to apply more strength as his grip became more powerful and his attacks faster.


    After performing the same movements for the tenth time, I was panting as if I was about to die, and he


    stood in front of me without even one drop of sweat on his forehead.


    “Let’s move on to something harder. I’m going to grab your hair from the back, and you are going to twist


    my arm,” he said calmly.


    “Are you trying to kill me?” I breathed, my chest heaving and falling erratically.


    He leaned over, a wicked smirk ying on his lips. “I’m not the one who wanted to face an FBI agent


    completely unprepared.”


    A sound of frustration escaped my throat. “Do you seriously think that the second Ie to his office he


    will grab my shoulders or my hair?! Besides, if the situation escted to the point I needed to run, then I


    wouldn’t be able to escape the FBI field office now, would I?!”


    Aren chuckled coldly and stepped closer, forcing me to take a step back. “You still don’t get it, do you?


    You merely focus on the fact that you are about to do something illegal, while at the same time assuming


    that Packton would act ording to thew. Well, think again!” He leaned over me, making me step back


    again. “I researched this guy. He is fucking dangerous, and he has been used of harassment and


    physical assault before! The only reason that he is still a field agent is that the victim suddenly withdrew


    all the usations!” he roared, pushing me back against the wall. He leaned closer, his eyes darkening


    as his hands went to my neck and squeezed my throat. “You need to know what to do when someone


    unpredictable attacks you,” he whispered, applying more force to his grip.


    “You… you’re hurting me,” I choked out, grabbing his hands, and trying to push him away.


    He leaned over my ear, his hands still on my neck, proving how defenseless I was against him. “You


    cannot overpower me, sunshine,” he mocked. “You need to think about my weaknesses and use them


    against me. You can try to kick me, but you are not strong enough to cause me


    pain. Now, what is the weakest point in my hands?” he asked, suddenly freeing me from his grip and


    stepping back.


    I copsed onto the floor, heavily breathing. “Are you fucking mad?!” I yelled hoarsely, rubbing my neck.


    “This isn’t a game, Cora, and we are not doing this for fun. Now answer my damn question, and use your


    brain this time,” he hissed, looking down at me with an icy stare.


    Anger buzzed within my veins. I wanted to hit him hard, but only because he painfully showed me how


    weak I was outside myputer office. I wanted to act as if I was strong enough to help him, just like


    when I searched for the sh drive in Augustus Winton’s office. I hadn’t even realized how different this


    situation was from going to Packton’s office. For starters, I was going to bepletely on my own in


    there, and if something went wrong, Aren wouldn’t be able to barge into Packton’s office to save me. I


    was merrily nning a mission like a kid ying a secret agent while Aren was doing everything he


    could to protect me. I clenched my jaw and took a breath through my nose, trying to calm down.


    “Your thumbs…” I muttered. “When you choked me, your thumbs were the weakest point in your hand.”


    He smirked. “Good. Now I will teach you how to use your body strength to press them hard enough to


    release yourself.”


    During the next two hours, I slowly learned how to release myself from any grip I could think of. Aren told


    me to always shift my focus to control the attacker’s movements. Repeating his instructions over and


    over again exhausted mepletely. “Can we at least take a break?” I looked at him pleadingly.


    He sighed before walking to the bench and bringing a bottle of water for me and for himself. I sat on the


    mat, trying to steady my breath. Only after a while did I realize his eyes were on me the entire time, his


    lips curving into a mischievous grin.


    “What?” I grunted.


    He patted my head, his tender gaze locked on me. “I’m proud of you, wife.”


    My stupid heart skipped a beat. I was d that a thick blush was already on my cheeks because I would


    surely be red after Aren’s words. I took a deep breath and lowered my head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t


    be so stupid and stubborn. I know that you are worried about me.”


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    “Thank you.” His sudden words startled me.


    I smiled nervously. “What for?”.


    He stroked my cheek. “For being the sexiest and the most stubborn wife I know.”


    “Don’t taunt me.” I pouted.


    He chuckled and grabbed my chin, positioning me before he leaned closer, his slightly parted lips less


    than an inch away from mine.


    I pressed my hands against his chest, ready to push him away. “What are you doing?”


    He smiled and ced a soft kiss on my lips before I could react. “I’m ready to take a risk…” he


    whispered before kissing me again, more hungrily this time. Then he stopped and looked at me with a


    fiery gaze. “And I’m ready to take responsibility for my actions.”