Chapter 208

Rain poured down in sheets, drumming against the windowpanes with relentless intensity.

Vivian Laurent huddled in the corner of the bed, pulling the blankets tighter around herself. Her heartbeat pounded louder than the storm outside.

As dusk deepened, the rain showed no sign of letting up. It seemed they would have to spend the night in this small motel.

Ethan Roscente moved around the room wearing nothing but a towel, his sculpted muscles sharply defined under the dim lighting. Vivian turned her face away, her ears burning.

"I'll wash your clothes for you," Ethan said, picking up the garments she had changed out of. "They should be dry by tomorrow."

"No!" Vivian sat up abruptly, clutching the slipping blanket. "I'll do it myself."

Wrapped in the blanket, she shuffled to the bathroom and quickly washed her clothes. Just as she finished hanging them up, Ethan walked in with a hairdryer.

"This will dry them faster," he said, flipping the switch. Warm air blasted onto the damp fabric. "Go back to bed. Don’t catch a cold."

Vivian stared at him. Who would have thought the mighty CEO of Roscente Group would personally dry her clothes?

"They can air-dry."

Ethan arched a brow. "Or do you prefer staying like this?" His gaze flicked to the blanket wrapped around her. "Playing hard to get?"

Vivian gritted her teeth. She should have known better than to expect anything decent from this man!

Two hours later, her outerwear was finally dry. But her undergarments were still damp. Blushing, she snatched the hairdryer from him. "I'll handle the rest myself."

Once fully dressed, she regained her composure. Tossing the hairdryer back at Ethan, she snapped, "Dry your own clothes and stop parading around."

"Not satisfied with what you see?" Ethan glanced down at his chiseled abs.

"I've seen better." Vivian forced a cool tone, though she refused to look at him.

Ethan suddenly closed the distance, caging her between his arms. "So Dr. Laurent has quite the experience, huh?"

"Back off!" Vivian shrank away but couldn’t escape the sight of his perfect abdominal muscles. The faint hint of his Adonis belt beneath the towel made her breath hitch.

"So," Ethan leaned in, his breath brushing her ear, "my physique isn’t good enough for you?"