Tempting Him to Lose Control

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: I Have a Boyfriend

As he spoke, his kisses fell on her again like rain.

Claire Kendall dodged, panting. "Stop kissing me."

"I can’t even talk..."

Miles Warren froze.

Claire Kendall’s voice was breathless and hoarse, but she had more pressing things to worry about.

"I’m fine, Ian. I just got out of the shower, so it’s not a good time to open the door."

"Thank you. I’ll be on time for the banquet."

The person outside the door paused, then said hesitantly, "Well, get some rest. I won’t disturb you any longer."

Ian Rhodes left.

Claire Kendall finally let out a breath.

She stared at Miles Warren. "What’s gotten into you? You’ve been acting really strange lately."

"Nothing," he mumbled, his voice muffled as he kissed her neck.

She grew tense. "Stop. I have to go to a banquet tonight. Don’t leave any marks."

"I’ll try."

The man’s arms tightened around her again.

He kissed her all the way from the entryway to the bedroom. Claire Kendall felt like she was about to pass out from all the kissing.

Claire Kendall stared at the hickey on her neck in the mirror, annoyed as she dabbed foundation over it again and again.

She gritted her teeth. "Miles Warren, you did this on purpose!"

The man was noncommittal, showing no signs of guilt.

Claire Kendall couldn’t be bothered to argue. She took out the gown she had prepared. Right in front of Miles Warren, she slipped off her cover-up, and then her swimsuit.

Miles Warren’s gaze darkened, and he immediately averted his eyes.

"Claire Kendall, you..."

She had already changed into the gown and turned around. "How do I look?"

The gown accentuated her slender waist, and its wine-red color made her already fair skin seem to glow.

"Mm," he nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

Claire Kendall, dissatisfied with his lukewarm response, sat on the bed and swung her legs. "Help me with my shoes."

Miles Warren picked up the high heels, knelt on one knee, and took her foot in his hand to help her put them on.

"Will they chafe your ankles? Do you want a bandage?"

"No, that would look ugly. It’s just for a little while. It won’t hurt."

Claire Kendall’s gaze lowered slightly.

’So this is what it’s like. She had worn high heels just like these countless times when she accompanied Jacob Sinclair to receptions. Every single time, they rubbed her ankles raw, but Jacob had never once asked if she was in pain.’

’Love really is different depending on who you’re with.’

The resort’s ground-floor banquet hall was bustling with people.

Ian Rhodes saw her and immediately rushed over to greet her warmly.

"Claire, are you feeling any better?"

"I took some medicine. I’m much better now." Claire Kendall smiled, her eyes subtly glancing toward the VIP suite to the side.

The door was ajar. Miles Warren was sitting inside, surrounded by several of the resort’s managers and executives.

The young boss had shown up unexpectedly and wanted to have a meeting. They were all overwhelmed by the honor, not daring to show the slightest neglect. They sat stiffly, exchanging uneasy glances.

The resort manager noticed Miles Warren glancing outside from time to time and spoke tentatively.

"Mr. Warren, is there a problem with the birthday party outside? I can have them leave immediately."

A sharp glare from Miles Warren cut him off. "Mind your own business."

The executives all fell silent.

Grace Rhodes looked at Claire Kendall, her face beaming with a kind, joyous smile.

"You must be Claire, right? It’s been so many years, but you’re still as lovely as ever."

"Hello, Mrs. Rhodes. Happy birthday. I hope you always have a reason to smile."

"Yes, yes, what a good child." Grace Rhodes nodded in satisfaction. "Claire, you know, my Ian hasn’t had a girlfriend all these years. The truth is, he..."

Grace Rhodes changed her tack.

"What about you, Claire? Do you have a boyfriend?"

Claire Kendall instinctively glanced at the suite next to them before looking away and answering frankly, "Mrs. Rhodes, I do have a boyfriend."

The smile on Grace Rhodes’s face stiffened for a moment but quickly returned, gracious as ever.

"Successful in both career and love. Claire, you really are an exceptional young woman."

Beside them, Ian Rhodes picked up his wine glass, his expression dimming.

In the suite next door, the corners of Miles Warren’s mouth lifted into a faint, unconscious smile.

The resort executives gathered around the table felt like they were being tortured.

’Why is he smiling all of a sudden?’ They collectively shivered.

The manager asked cautiously, "Mr. Warren, is something wrong?"

Miles Warren raised a hand. "It’s nothing. Continue."

The executives: ???

At the entrance to the banquet hall, Yvonne Warren strode in, dressed in a crisp, tailored business suit.

She casually tossed a gift onto the guest reception table and said to Grace Rhodes, "May your fortune be as vast as the eastern sea and your life as long as the southern mountains."

Her voice was dripping with insincerity, devoid of any genuine feeling.

Ian Rhodes frowned and said curtly, "Ms. Warren, I don’t recall inviting you."

Yvonne Warren stepped forward with a soft laugh. "Mr. Rhodes, you misunderstand. I didn’t come especially for the banquet."

"This resort is the property of the Warren Family. I hardly need Mr. Rhodes’s approval to visit my own family’s estate. As for the gift, I just picked it up for your mother on my way here. Why so upset, Mr. Rhodes?"

Her tone was haughty and condescending, as if she were bestowing charity.

Claire Kendall stood up, her voice cold. "So what if it’s the Warren Family’s property? Ian Rhodes has rented this space, which means for the time being, you don’t have the right to be here."

Yvonne Warren was taken aback for a moment. Then, as if remembering something, she continued with unhurried sarcasm.

"So afraid of me showing up? Is it because you’re worried I’ll run into Lindsay Joyce?"

"I came looking for her. I heard she was coming to the resort. Otherwise, did you really think someone like me would attend a birthday party of this caliber?"

Lindsay Joyce.

Hearing the name, Claire Kendall looked at Ian Rhodes.

Ian Rhodes pursed his lips. He had indeed invited Lindsay Joyce, but he wasn’t sure if she would actually show up.

Yvonne Warren walked up to Claire Kendall, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Claire Kendall, I know what you’re thinking. You want Sinclair Design to get dragged into a plagiarism scandal so your Moonstone can take its place and you can get one over on me, right?"

Her disdainful gaze swept over Claire Kendall.

"Keep dreaming. Once I acquire OCHH and get Nati, the designer of the Starlight series, to join Sinclair Design, your Moonstone won’t even get the scraps."

Yvonne Warren spoke each word with deliberate force, as if victory were already in her hands.

A few nearby guests started casting curious glances their way.

Claire Kendall remained completely unruffled. She let out a soft, indifferent "Oh."

"Nati? You want to poach her?"

"Of course," Yvonne Warren sneered.

Claire Kendall looked up. "If Nati is so brilliant, why hasn’t OCHH released any more of her work since the Starlight series?"

Yvonne Warren was caught off guard. She clearly hadn’t considered that question.

"You... Claire Kendall, what would you know? Nati is resting on her laurels, preparing her next move. A masterpiece with the impact of the Starlight series isn’t something you can just churn out. You think it’s like one of your Moonstone’s throwaway designs?"

"Oh—" Claire Kendall swirled the wine in her glass nonchalantly. "Well then, I wish you the best of luck with that, Ms. Warren."

Another stir went through the entrance of the banquet hall.

Lindsay Joyce had arrived.

And behind her was a group composed entirely of OCHH’s original partners.

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