"I didn''t mean to..." Malvina was at a loss for words!


    To im she hadn’t toyed with the idea of breaking up with Ulrich would probably make even Ulrich


    himself burst intoughter. But those words had just slipped out without her even thinking.


    Ulrich understood, though. He knew Malvina was just acting out of self-defense!


    The Gruber family''s messed-up ideas about love had always been a thorn in Malvina’s side,


    convincing her from a young age that true love was just a fairy tale. And that she herself wasn’t


    worthy of it.


    Ulrich, with a mix of assertiveness and tenderness, lifted Malvina''s chin and nted a kiss on her


    lips!


    His kiss was fiery, and Malvina found herself sumbing to the heat of his anger and guilt, their


    breaths intertwining in a dance of desperation and need.


    "Stop talking like that. At least try to trust me more. If you can''t, then... y with my feelings if you


    must. If you don''t believe in evesting love, then let''s live in the moment and enjoy what we have,


    alright?"


    Ulrich''s expression was a curious mix of humor and seriousness.


    "You could even y with me, you know. You won’t be at a loss. Just enjoy yourself."


    Malvina struggled to breathe, Ulrich''s bold proposition sending her into a fit of coughs! "Is that even


    something you can say? If I really did y with you, would you ever let me go?"


    "yed or not, I wouldn’t let you go anyway."


    "Then maybe I should y a little."


    Malvina felt dragged down a path she hadn’t expected by Ulrich. Following this logic, it seemed she


    really should indulge in ying with Ulrich''s emotions and... body?


    But something about that idea just didn’t sit right with her.


    "Remember how you told me you weren’t allowed to have a puppy when you were little? Well, you


    don’t have to be sad about that anymore because you can have me as your puppy."


    Him as her puppy? Just the thought sent a wave of heat through Malvina’s body.


    Ulrich’s voice,ced with seduction, made her knees weak. If not for the wall behind her, she might


    have copsed right there and then!


    "Really? Can I?"


    "Of course, you can. You’re my queen. Whatever you wish from me, I’m more than happy to oblige."


    Malvina forced herself to remain calm. "It''s not the same... I also said I wanted to be your sister, and


    that was just a joke."


    How could Ulrich take such yful banter seriously?


    Ulrich stepped closer, his hand finding her waist as he leaned in and whispered, "Then I guess I''ll


    be your puppy."


    His words, loaded with enticement, sent shivers down Malvina''s spine, drawing her deeper into the


    trap he hadid out so enticingly. Yet, his words struck a chord in Malvina’s heart!


    It was as if electricity coursed through her, fireworks bursting before her eyes. She realized she


    liked this kind of attention.


    Before she could gather her thoughts, Ulrich had already scooped her up and carried her into his


    bedroom, the door mming shut behind them.


    The hallway fell silent, and Noe peeked out, her curiosity peaked.


    "Ulrich seems to be quite the yer, huh?"


    She never knew Ulrich had this side to him. But it seemed his approach was working wonders on


    Malvina!


    Palmer, covering Noe''s eyes, whispered, "Don''t spy on others’ privacy."


    "I''m not spying."


    She was outright staring, if anything.


    Noe removed Palmer''s hand from her eyes, fanning herself with her hand as if to cool off from the


    heated exchange she just witnessed.


    Though nothing had happened, the atmosphere was charged with a tantalizing tension, leaving


    even Noe, who nearly walked into the scene, blushing.


    Not to mention Malvina, probablypletely ensnared by Ulrich by now.


    Palmer chuckled softly behind her, "Does Noe want to y too?"


    Noe quickly shook her head, pulling Palmer towards the study.


    "You''re making things up. I don''t think like that."


    Palmer''s voice carried a teasing regret.


    "What a shame, I thought since you''re siblings, you might enjoy it too."


    Enjoy what?


    Being pressed against a wall and kissed forcefully?


    Noe was sure she didn''t harbor such desires.


    "I don''t have such inclinations, nor do I intend to break up with you."


    "I''m d to hear that. At least Noe has faith in me."


    Noe smiled! She had chosen Palmer, just as he had chosen her!


    Since she had decided to give it a try with Palmer, she wouldn''t waver like Malvina did!


    But observing Ulrich and Malvina, it seemed Ulrich had found the best way to deal with Malvina''s


    insecurities.


    Closing the door to the study, they left themotion behind.


    "I''ve got work to tend to. Do as you like."


    Palmer sighed with a smile. His fiancée was more of a workaholic than he was – a fact that both


    amused and exasperated him!


    "I think we should spend our rare time together not working."


    Noe raised an eyebrow, "Why can''t working together be a date? You’re saying you are less busy


    than me?"


    The truth was, he was swamped with work. But whenever he was with Noe, Palmer couldn’t bring


    himself to do anything else but spend every possible moment with her.


    "How is working together a date?"


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "It''s the perfect date for us."


    "Noe... do you not enjoy being with me?"


    "I do, that''s why you''re here."


    Palmer smiled, charmed by Noe''s straightforwardness. He loved how she never made him guess


    her feelings.


    "Then, may I have a spot to work beside you?"


    "Of course."


    Noe’s study was cozy – making room for Palmer was easy.


    Handing him an unpoweredptop, Noe pointed to the desk opposite hers, but Palmer shook his


    head, leaning in closer.


    "I''d rather sit next to you."


    "...Alright."


    Palmer and Noe had set up an impromptu office, two chairs pulled together in a cozy corner. As


    Palmer pretended to be absorbed in the financial reports on hisptop, his hand casually found its


    way to Noe''s waist. The arrangement was unconventional, sure, but it felt surprisingly right.


    Noe booted up herptop, only to be bombarded with notifications from thepany''s feedback


    app. She hadn''t expected much, but the contents left her utterly shocked. Almost all theints


    were about Cosmo!


    There were reports using the HR manager and head of design, Cosmo, of engaging in


    inappropriate rtionships with both female and male employees. Allegations of taking kickbacks,


    maintaining dubious rtionships with clients, harassment of staff members regardless of gender,


    and even skimming off employee bonuses for his own gain were rampant.


    Reading through the reports, Noe was astounded.


    Cosmo wasn''t just acting like a king in his own little kingdom; he was treating thepany like it


    was his personal yground.


    Given that the feedback app was essible to all employees, Cosmo was in for a sleepless night.


    Closing herptop, Noe turned to Palmer, who, it turned out, hadn''t been working on financial


    reports at all but had been watching her, amusement dancing in his eyes.


    "How about we change the scenery... go on a date?" Noe suggested, a yful tone in her voice.


    "Absolutely, are we heading to your room?" Palmer responded, his grin widening.