Signed, Sealed, Scandalous

Chapter 20

Lily Wilson wore a fitted white blouse and a lavender pencil skirt that perfectly accentuated her figure. Her carefully styled hair fell naturally around her face, occasionally getting in the way as she chopped vegetables.

Without a second thought, Noah Kingsley removed the hair tie he always kept on his wrist for Sophia Sterling and walked behind Lily, gathering her hair into a loose bun. Startled by his presence, she turned around and smiled.

"Thank you, Noah. Just wait a little longer, dinner will be ready soon."

As she spoke, she deliberately let a piece of wet meat slip into the sizzling oil, causing hot grease to splatter everywhere.

"Watch out!"

Noah immediately pulled Lily into his arms, shielding her with his body. Feigning concern, she quickly rinsed her hands, dampened a tissue, and dabbed at the grease stains on his face.

"Does it hurt?" she asked softly.

Noah tried to avoid her touch, but his gaze inadvertently landed on the damp spot on her blouse. The white fabric clung to her skin, nearly transparent. He averted his eyes, an uneasy suspicion creeping into his mind.

"I'm fine. Just finish cooking."

He grabbed her wrist to stop her, then swiftly left the kitchen. Though he didn't cook, something felt off. Pausing, he watched Lily's slender figure from behind, his unease growing.

Would someone actually dress like that to work in the kitchen?

Back when she used to help in the kitchen, she always wore the standard maid uniform, her hair neatly tied up, no makeup. But now…

At dinner, Noah deliberately sat as far from Lily as possible, avoiding any closeness. Ethan and Liam Kingsley noticed his odd behavior but didn't dwell on it.

Later that night, Lily stayed over again, claiming she wanted to take care of them. Just as Noah was about to fall asleep, a knock sounded at his door.

"What is it?"

His tone was as indifferent as always, and Lily didn't seem to suspect anything. Wrapped in a towel, her hair still dripping, she shivered slightly.

"Noah, the hot water in my room stopped working. Can I use yours?"

Though he knew exactly what she was up to, he let her in. He wanted to see how far she'd go.

The moment Lily stepped into the bathroom, Noah's expression turned icy. After the sound of running water, an unusual fragrance drifted out, making him tug at his collar, suddenly feeling uncomfortably warm.

Then Lily emerged, wearing a flimsy slip dress that barely covered anything, her smile deceptively innocent.

"Noah, thank you! I'm done."

She moved toward him, but as heat surged through his body, his face darkened. He seized her wrist, his other hand gripping her shoulder hard enough to leave marks.

"Ah, !"

Her playful gasp turned into a sharp cry, tears welling in her eyes. Before she could beg for mercy, Noah flung her out of the room.

He slammed her against the wall, fingers tightening around her throat, his voice lethally cold. His sharp features twisted with fury.

"Who the hell gave you the nerve to drug me? You think you can seduce me?"