Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: A Figure That Makes You Want to Claim Her

The next morning, Claire Kendall went to the textile mill.

The more she looked around, the more the pressure mounted.

The Wexall Textile Mill was dilapidated, from the building itself to the machinery. It would take at least five million to restore it to basic operational capacity.

Moonstone Studio couldn’t afford that sum, and Jacob Sinclair would never invest in her.

She had to figure something out on her own.

It felt like she had hit a dead end. Claire Kendall leaned against the wall, suppressing her frustration.

Her gaze suddenly froze. A piece of fabric on the top shelf of the mill’s storage racks had caught her eye.

It was a qipao.

The fabric was delicate and its color was magnificent. In the sunlight, it shimmered with a faint, flowing luster of red and purple that changed with the angle, like a rainbow.

This was... Flowing Light Brocade.

She knew an older generation of artisans could create this type of brocade, but the technique had long been considered lost, and very little of it was available on the market.

Claire Kendall quickly called over some of the mill workers. A few of the old women looked at it, unimpressed.

"Claire, if you like the dress, just take it and wear it. It’s all stock we can’t sell."

’It won’t sell?’

It made sense. The production cost was too high, and no one was willing to pay for a brocade made by an unknown workshop.

An idea suddenly flashed through her mind.

She picked up the qipao and hurried back to the small wooden cabin she and Miles Warren were temporarily staying in. Closing the door, she carefully changed into the dress.

The fabric felt cool against her skin, and the size was a perfect fit. But it had been in storage for so long that the zipper on the back was stuck halfway. No matter how hard she twisted her arm, she couldn’t pull it up.

A familiar set of footsteps approached from outside, and Miles Warren knocked on the door.

"Is it a good time to come in?" his deep voice asked through the door.

Claire Kendall held the qipao against her chest, her voice soft. "You can come in..."

"Okay, I just need to grab the first-aid kit."

The door swung open. Miles Warren entered and looked up to see her standing with her back to him.

His breath caught the moment his eyes fell on the delicate, fair skin of her back.

The form-fitting qipao accentuated her slender waist, making it look almost too fragile to grasp. The zipper was stuck just below her shoulder blades.

"Dr. Warren, could you help me...?" she asked tentatively, a hint of a plea in her voice.

It was impossible to refuse.

Miles Warren raised his hand, his fingertips hooking a few loose strands of her long hair away from her back.

His cool fingertips brushed against her warm skin, and a shiver ran through them both.

Especially Claire Kendall.

’She’d asked for his help intending to get a little leverage over him, but now she was the one losing her composure.’

"Don’t move," he murmured, his warm breath fanning against her ear.

Claire Kendall held her breath nervously, all of her senses seeming to converge on that single patch of skin.

The zipper was jammed tight. He had to lean in closer, a posture that almost had him embracing her from behind.

His body heat radiated through his thin shirt, searing her skin.

He gave it a tug. The zipper finally came loose, gliding smoothly to the top.

An involuntary hum escaped Claire Kendall’s lips. The moment she heard it, she realized how suggestive it sounded, and the tips of her ears instantly burned red.

In the cramped space, it felt as if both their senses were infinitely magnified.

Claire Kendall cleared her throat twice, breaking the awkward silence. "What do you think of this qipao?"

His Adam’s apple bobbed. His gaze lingered on her for a moment before he said, "It suits you very well."

She blinked. "Are you busy right now, Dr. Warren? Could you help me with one more thing?"

「Beneath the ancient tree at the village entrance.」

Claire Kendall handed her phone to Miles Warren and quickly taught him a few camera movements.

"Like this, right?" the man asked, demonstrating the movement with his fingers.

"Exactly. I knew you were a quick study, Dr. Warren."

Claire Kendall stood under the ancient tree, her qipao shimmering in the sunlight like the surface of water.

"Are you sure this will work?"

Claire Kendall nodded. "This is the fastest way to introduce Flowing Light Brocade to everyone."

She took a deep breath, a do-or-die glint in her eyes. "Let’s start."

Music began to play from the phone—the most popular traditional-style dance trending on a certain app.

Claire Kendall was a little stiff at first, but when she caught a glimpse of the Flowing Light Brocade looking as if it had been brought to life in the sun, her confidence grew.

She tried her best to replicate every movement and every curve, gradually becoming immersed in the dance.

Miles Warren held up the phone, his eyes following her every move, a faint smile playing on his lips.

The video wasn’t long, only about a minute. Claire Kendall, panting lightly, took the phone and watched it through once.

"This is great. Let’s go with this."

"Dr. Warren, you’re a natural. This is Moonstone Studio’s very first video."

She logged into her account on the app, added a few hashtags, and hit "publish."

"Alright, I’ve done my part. The rest is up to fate," she said, tilting her head back with a smile.

Miles Warren glanced at her account. "Yes, it’ll definitely be a success."

After spending another two days in Wexall Village, Claire Kendall compiled the information on the workers again. Most were elderly men and women, the youngest of them fifty years old.

At their age, they weren’t suited for high-intensity assembly line work, and learning to use modern machinery would be difficult for them.

Fortunately, however, every single one of them knew how to embroider Flowing Light Brocade.

A high-end, custom-order luxury project wouldn’t require overly intensive labor, would offer considerable returns, and could also build the brand of The Wexall Textile Mill. It couldn’t be more perfect.

Claire Kendall left Wexall Village with Miles Warren’s medical aid team.

Before she left, one of the villagers stopped Claire Kendall.

"Claire, take this," a white-haired old woman said, handing Claire a package. "The village chief told us to give this to you. He said you should have a beautiful qipao made. The one we made is too old-fashioned."

Claire Kendall opened the cloth bundle. Inside was a piece of vintage fabric.

It was aged, yet it glowed brilliantly in the sunlight, shimmering with at least seven different colors. This was unquestionably top-grade Flowing Light Brocade.

"I can’t accept this."

This bolt of fabric was far too valuable.

"Just take it, dear. Otherwise, the village chief will blame us when he gets back."

It was an offer too kind to refuse, so Claire Kendall accepted it with solemn gratitude. The fabric felt heavy in her hands, but she knew she was holding more than just cloth; she was holding the future of The Wexall Textile Mill.

The video Miles Warren had filmed for Claire Kendall went viral.

It was mainly due to her stunning looks and the ethereal quality of the fabric.

In just three days, it racked up over twenty million likes and a hundred million views.

「Inside a private club.」

"Whoa, check this out. IP in Aethel. This girl is a total knockout. Look at that vibe, that body..." a rich heir said, passing his phone around for everyone to see.

"So, which one of you guys wants a shot at her?"

Jacob Sinclair was lounging on the sofa, listlessly swirling the wine in his glass, his expression indifferent.

He was thinking about Claire Kendall.

She’d really gone to Wexall Village. And there hadn’t been a peep from her for days.

’Hah, still being stubborn with him? Is she waiting for him to come coax her?’

’Maybe I should give her an out, go and smooth things over?’

The man’s gaze drifted casually over.

He froze.

On the screen, a captivating Claire Kendall was dancing to the rhythm of the music. Her smile was dazzling, her eyes sparkled with life. She looked nothing like the lifeless woman who was always by his side.

Listening to the men around him fantasize about her, Jacob Sinclair smashed his wine glass down with a CRASH...

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