Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Mr. Warren, This Is My Girlfriend

The crowd fell silent.

The doors to the celebration banquet hall slowly opened, and Miles Warren walked in.

He was dressed in an all-black suit, his posture tall and straight. The light fell on his chiseled face, highlighting his deep-set eyes and extraordinary aura.

Gasps of awe and murmurs of flattery instantly filled the room.

"Miles Warren? The crown prince of the Warren Family! The Orwells actually managed to invite someone of his stature?"

"Mr. Warren, I had the honor of meeting you at Aethel General Hospital."

"It looks like Mr. Warren came alone. He doesn’t have a date."

...

Miles Warren’s voice was calm and steady. "The old man hasn’t been well lately. He asked me to come and offer his congratulations in his stead."

His words were concise, yet they gave the hosts a great deal of face.

Mr. Orwell was deeply honored. "Thank you, thank you so much..."

For someone from the Warren Family to attend, the prestige of a minor Aethel family like the Orwells had just multiplied several times over.

When Claire Kendall saw him, her heart suddenly sank.

Claire Kendall wasn’t surprised to run into Jacob Sinclair on an occasion like this.

But Miles Warren... why would he suddenly attend a business gathering?

’This is... just my luck.’

Claire tried to hide, but Ethan Lynch grabbed her by the wrist, his grip so tight it hurt.

He lowered his voice. "Behave yourself in a moment! This is the crown prince of the Warren Family. The Lynch Family has been hoping to work with them."

"If you dare to ruin this for me, I’ll make you pay!"

Miles Warren’s gaze also fell upon her.

It was a faint glance, devoid of warmth or emotion.

Ethan Lynch, his face wreathed in smiles, proactively extended his hand. "Mr. Warren, I’m Ethan Lynch of Lynch Building Materials. It’s a true honor to meet you today."

Miles Warren didn’t extend his hand, merely giving a slight nod in response.

Ethan Lynch awkwardly retracted his hand, but he didn’t give up.

He continued his introduction. "Mr. Warren, this is my... girlfriend, Claire Kendall."

Girlfriend.

The word stabbed at Claire Kendall’s eardrums, causing a dull ache.

’Now there’s no way to explain this.’

But when she thought of Howard Kendall, she found herself unable to refute it.

Miles Warren’s gaze finally settled on Claire Kendall.

"Say hello!" Ethan Lynch gave her a push.

She met the man’s gaze, forced her lips into a faint, shallow smile, and steeled herself.

"Mr. Warren."

"Mm," Miles Warren responded, a rare utterance.

Ethan Lynch immediately sensed something was different. He grabbed a glass of red wine and shoved it into Claire Kendall’s hand.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and toast Mr. Warren!"

Her fingertips, wrapped around the glass, felt a little cold. Claire Kendall raised the glass, feigning composure.

"Mr. Warren, this toast is for you."

Under Miles Warren’s profound gaze, she downed the glass of wine in one go.

The cold liquid slid down her throat, leaving a strong burning sensation that went straight to her heart.

Ethan Lynch offered an apologetic smile. "Mr. Warren, my girlfriend is a bit sheltered. Please don’t hold it against her."

Miles Warren retracted his gaze, his tone cold. "Excuse me."

The moment he turned, the calm in his eyes shattered completely, replaced by a terrifying, turbulent storm.

’Girlfriend?’

’Just yesterday, she was sitting on my lap, her eyes rimmed with red as she wrapped her arms around my neck, her every sound making me lose myself in her.’

’And now that she knows the kidney source for her mother is secured, she can just turn around and stand by another man’s side as if nothing happened.’

’If it weren’t for this banquet, if it weren’t for this moment, if it weren’t for the fact that I still want to leave her with a shred of dignity and a way out... ’

’I really want to rush over, wrap my hands around her neck, and ask her if she even has a heart.’

’Even a dog would have developed feelings after being teased for this long.’

’How can she just turn her back and walk away without a second thought, ready to seduce the next target?’

’This time, what is it she wants from Ethan Lynch?’

’Money? Or a business deal?’

Ethan Lynch glared at Miles Warren’s back and cursed under his breath, "Who does he think he is? Just some damn doctor who got lucky with the family he was born into... AH!"

"Claire Kendall, are you trying to get yourself killed? Why did you step on my foot?"

Having failed to talk business and getting snubbed on top of it, Ethan Lynch was simmering with anger.

As the banquet neared its end, the atmosphere grew unrestrained amidst the alcohol and boisterous jeers.

By the pool, a group of Aethel’s rich playboys had gathered, led by the young master of the Orwell Family.

Someone proposed that their dates get into the water for an endurance competition in the pool. The last one to get out would win a recommendation for the next round of investment.

Most of the women brought to the poolside were the daughters of Aethel’s minor entrepreneurs with little say in the matter, or models and starlets hoping to marry into wealth.

Their faces were pale, but no one dared to object.

"Claire Kendall!"

Ethan Lynch sidled up to her, placed a hand on the bare skin of her back, and gave her a push forward.

"You go. Win some face for me!"

Claire Kendall didn’t move. She lowered her voice, "Ethan Lynch, don’t go too far."

"Too far? Claire Kendall, have you forgotten what your father said?"

Late at night, the pool water radiated a chill. She stood in a thin, strapless dress as mocking gazes fell upon her from all around.

"Mr. Lynch, you’re really willing to put such a beautiful girl through that!"

"That woman has a great figure. She’ll definitely look good in the water..."

"Mr. Lynch sure knows how to have fun. He has no pity for the fairer sex. It hurts me just to watch."

From a short distance away, Jacob Sinclair watched with cold detachment. Yvonne Warren leaned against him, a cryptic smile on her lips as she feigned concern.

"Jacob, should we go stop them? They’re taking it a bit too far."

"Leave her be," Jacob Sinclair gritted out. "Let her suffer a little. I want to see just how long she can last!"

’She would one day pay back everything she suffered today.’

Claire Kendall closed her eyes, and, dragging her long skirt, stepped into the swimming pool one step at a time.

A bone-chilling cold instantly enveloped her. Water rushed in from all sides, and her thin, purple dress immediately became transparent.

The fabric clung to her body, outlining her pathetic curves.

The jeering laughter from the poolside was cruel and unbearable.

The other girls entered the water one after another, their continuous gasps and whimpers of complaint filling the air. Someone quickly gave up and climbed out.

Ethan Lynch watched Claire Kendall holding strong in the water. He crouched down, scooped up a handful of water, and splashed it on her face.

"Tsk, tsk, not bad at all!"

Time stretched on endlessly, every second a form of torture.

She lifted her eyes and saw Miles Warren.

The man was standing on a veranda not far from the pool, seemingly indifferent to the whole farce.

A wave of torment washed over Claire Kendall, and she immediately averted her gaze.

’She didn’t want him to see her in such a pathetic state.’

The temperature kept dropping. Claire Kendall’s vision began to blur, and her limbs grew heavy and unresponsive.

Just as she was about to give in, in the last moment before her consciousness faded...

"That’s enough."

A deep, cold voice rang out. It wasn’t loud, yet it instantly silenced all the clamor by the poolside.

Miles Warren walked to the edge of the pool. His brow furrowed as his gaze fell on the faltering figure in the water.

"The game ends here," he announced, his tone flat but unquestionable. "Everyone, get out."

The rich kids exchanged glances, not daring to make a sound.

Ethan Lynch had thought he could take first place, but Miles Warren just had to speak up at this exact moment. What a nuisance.

A flash of displeasure crossed his face, but he didn’t dare say anything. He just yelled at the water.

"Claire Kendall, get out! Mr. Warren has spoken!"

Claire Kendall’s mind was hazy. She struggled instinctively, using her hands and feet to move toward the edge of the pool.

Her long, wet hair clung to her face, and the dress stuck to her body, making every movement feel incredibly heavy and exposing the curves of her figure completely.

From the poolside, catcalls and whistles occasionally sounded out at her.

She gritted her teeth and used the last of her strength to grab onto the edge of the pool.

But she had been in the water for too long. Weak and cold, her fingertips kept slipping on the smooth edge of the pool. After several failed attempts to climb out, she looked utterly pathetic.

A well-defined hand suddenly extended in front of her.

Claire Kendall stared blankly as she looked up.

It was Miles Warren.

The man was bent slightly, appearing at that moment like a god descending to the mortal world.

But in the next second, that hand went past her, grabbed the wrist of the girl next to her, and pulled that person up.

Claire Kendall’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air...

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