Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Found a Substitute to Sleep

Jonathan Keller let out a dry laugh, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"Ms. Kendall, the organizers have arranged for dinner after the conference ends. Once you’re finished down there, would you like to come up and join us?"

At his words, Claire Kendall’s gaze subconsciously drifted to the silent Miles Warren beside her.

His expression was impassive, showing not the slightest hint that he wanted her to stay.

"Miles," Rosalind Linden leaned in and spoke softly, her voice filled with grievance, "I’ll think carefully about what you just said."

"Tonight, can I have dinner with you and we can talk more in private?"

Miles Warren grunted a soft "mm."

"Okay, I’ll go prepare my materials then. I’ll wait for you tonight." Rosalind Linden left, but before turning away, she shot Claire Kendall a meaningful smile.

Claire Kendall’s fingers, hanging by her side, clenched slightly.

She withdrew her gaze, her voice distant. "Dr. Keller, you’re too kind. It was nothing. I still have to organize the exhibits and take inventory downstairs later, so I won’t be coming up."

"Hey..." Jonathan Keller wanted to try and persuade her.

But she had already turned and headed downstairs, the hem of her cheongsam swaying gracefully with her steps.

Jonathan Keller touched his nose in resignation.

"Miles, I did my best. What’s going on with you two?"

Miles Warren stared intently at her slender departing figure, his thin lips pressed into a tight line.

’She comes running when I have a use for her, then casts me aside when I don’t. Who spoiled her like that?’

Jonathan Keller raised an eyebrow, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

"You did. You’ve been her simp for ten years. What’s one more time?"

Miles Warren’s eyes darkened, and he shot him a cold glare.

Jonathan Keller wisely shut his mouth.

On the first floor, in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Innovation Exhibition Hall.

Claire Kendall returned to the Moonstone booth, where Wendy White was busy organizing the merchandise.

The booth’s display was a dazzling array of exquisite trinkets made from Flowing Light Brocade, along with a lookbook of Moonstone’s clothing designs. Every stitch was a testament to their ingenuity.

Passersby were drawn to the iridescent cheongsam Claire Kendall was wearing and stopped to ask about finished products made from Flowing Light Brocade.

In just half a day, they had received custom orders for over twenty outfits.

"Claire, you’re amazing! You’re practically a walking billboard for Flowing Light Brocade. That dress is gorgeous."

"You’re just a sweet-talker."

As the crowd thinned out, Claire Kendall began to pack up.

Her gaze inadvertently fell on two familiar figures near the exhibition hall’s side exit, and her fingertips paused.

It was Rosalind Linden and Miles Warren.

She had changed into an apricot-colored long dress, her makeup delicate and gentle. It was clear she had gone to freshen up after the summit ended.

The two of them were standing very close. Rosalind Linden was saying something, and the man nodded frequently, their posture intimate.

"That damned scumbag..."

Claire Kendall muttered, her thin lips barely moving.

The next second, she realized something was wrong.

The man in the distance turned his head slightly, revealing half of his face.

It wasn’t Miles Warren.

But his clothes, his hairstyle, and even the contours of his build were identical to Miles Warren’s.

From behind, he was a perfect double, completely indistinguishable.

Claire Kendall’s brow furrowed, a sharp glint in her eyes.

’Rosalind Linden already has a dinner date with Miles Warren.’

’Why would she need a carefully disguised body double?’

In the side corridor, the two exchanged a few more words in low voices before parting ways. The man didn’t even take the elevator, instead heading up the stairs.

Rosalind Linden straightened her dress and tucked away a stray strand of hair. She reapplied her lipstick using her phone as a mirror, adjusted her expression into a gentle and proper smile, and then returned to the second floor.

’Something’s wrong. Very wrong.’

Claire Kendall immediately put down what she was holding.

"Wendy, finish packing everything up and just leave it backstage."

She followed, her steps hurried.

In the elegant, top-floor restaurant of the Aethel International Center, the windows offered a view of the entire Aethel skyline at night.

Miles Warren and Rosalind Linden sat opposite each other. One was cold, the other gentle; the atmosphere was strangely stagnant.

The man lifted his gaze slightly, a bone-chilling coldness radiating from him.

"Rosalind Linden, you leaked Shirley Kendall’s private information to Howard Kendall. That’s an abuse of your position. It’s a disciplinary violation."

Rosalind Linden’s eyes were red, her voice trembling.

"Miles, must you force my hand like this?"

"Even if I had a moment of confusion, I’ve studied medicine for so many years and saved so many people. You can’t force me to resign!"

Rosalind Linden tried to defend herself, "Howard Kendall is Shirley Kendall’s husband. How is informing family members a violation?"

Miles Warren’s brow twitched with impatience.

"The only reason I’m sitting here talking to you calmly, without wanting to make things too ugly, is out of respect for Richard Linden."

"You know perfectly well whether you did it on purpose or not."

The man’s words left no room for negotiation.

She stared at Miles Warren’s cold, merciless face. The grievance in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a kind of madness.

’Originally, I was still wavering about taking this step.’

’But now...’

Rosalind Linden’s lips curved into a smile of resignation as she wiped away her tears.

"I understand. And I know I was wrong. I will resign to take responsibility."

"Miles, it’s just a shame that after all these years, it’s come to a point where we can’t even be friends."

She lowered her eyes, hiding the shrewd calculation within them.

"In that case, let this glass of wine be my apology to you."

"To bring our years as classmates and colleagues to a close."

She held out the wine glass. "From now on, I won’t bother you again."

Miles Warren was silent. After a long moment, he finally raised his hand and took the glass from her.

Rosalind Linden stared intently at his bobbing Adam’s apple. When the glass was empty, a secret, triumphant glint flashed deep in her eyes.

The colorless, odorless drug took effect quickly and powerfully.

In just five minutes, an intense heat surged from his lower abdomen, spreading rapidly.

Miles Warren’s heart rate accelerated far beyond its normal range, and his vision started to blur.

’There was something in the wine.’

Miles Warren tried to focus, but the drug was too potent. A surging wave of desire invaded and overwhelmed his senses, devouring his reason.

He propped himself up on the table, trying to stand and leave, but he couldn’t keep his balance.

"Dr. Warren, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Rosalind Linden quickly got up and supported his arm with feigned concern.

She intentionally raised her voice so that others around them could hear clearly.

"Dr. Warren, you’re drunk. I’ll help you to the lounge."

The scorching heat engulfed his entire body. Half-supported, half-dragged by Rosalind Linden, Miles Warren was taken to the most secluded lounge in the entire Aethel International Center.

The lights in the outer corridor weren’t even on. It was so dim you couldn’t make out anyone’s face.

"Miles, wait for me a moment."

Rosalind Linden had left in a hurry, leaving her purse behind in the restaurant. She had gone to get the room key she had prepared in advance.

She had estimated the drug’s potency and knew Miles Warren couldn’t escape.

Miles Warren leaned his back against the wall, using his last shred of reason to drag his heavy feet, trying to get away.

’Rosalind Linden... she’s completely insane.’

Just then, his arm was grabbed firmly.

Miles Warren instinctively tensed up. He struggled reflexively, his voice hoarse.

"Get off me. Don’t touch me."

"It’s me."

The two words, familiar and clear, instantly dispelled his confusion.

The moment he heard Claire Kendall’s voice, Miles Warren’s body relaxed.

’It’s her, not Rosalind Linden.’

He let her pull him into the adjacent lounge.

The moment the door closed, the man with the strikingly similar build to Miles Warren appeared at the end of the corridor.

He peeked around but didn’t see anyone at the lounge door.

According to their agreement, if Miles Warren wasn’t in the corridor, he was to pretend to be him and cooperate with Rosalind Linden to stage some intimate photos.

The body double stood at the door, waiting.

Rosalind Linden hurried back, her voice full of anticipation. "Miles, you must be feeling awful, aren’t you?"

She quickly supported the man, swiped the key card, and entered the lounge.

"Miles..."

She embraced the man, murmuring his name, and kissed him with fiery passion.

The body double was slightly taken aback but didn’t resist, embracing her with equal passion.

In that instant, Rosalind Linden was ecstatic.

’Miles Warren is actually responding to me!’

Her voice turned sultry as the two of them tumbled onto the bed.

"Miles, take me..."

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