Annie’s smile was soft, filled with a warmth that seemed almost too gentle.

“Mr. Adams, let me help you.”

Though she spoke the words, she didn’t return the blanket right away. Instead, she lowered herself into a squat in front of Vincent, holding her position, her eyes steady on him.

Her outfit was bold today—a strapless dress that revealed a great deal of her chest, clearly meant to draw attention. From his angle, Vincent could easily see the deep plunge of her neckline, her cleavage impossible to ignore.

A flicker of coldness flashed across Vincent’s face. He looked away sharply, his expression full of contempt as he chose to disregard her completely.

Annie didn’t take offense at his coldness. Instead, she subtly highlighted the changes she’d made to her appearance, adjustments she had carefully perfected just the day before.

She couldn’t help but feel pleased with the result, taking pride in her new look.

Even when she thought of Katelyn, she felt confident now, sure that she could outshine her this time.

“I’m here to help you, Mr. Adams. Why won’t you look at me? Are you scared that if you look too long, you might fall in love with me?”

Annie’s voice oozed with a smooth, tempting allure, her eyes shimmering with intent.

She lifted her hand slowly, reaching toward Vincent, but the moment it got close, he jerked away on instinct.

His eyes flared with a dangerous intensity, giving off a cold, cruel energy that made a chill run through her body. In that instant, it felt as if an invisible blade was pressed against her throat, threatening to cut at any moment. Even though the sun shone pleasantly overhead, Annie felt an unexpected chill run down her spine. She forced a smile onto her face.

“You don’t have to be so guarded around me,” she said, her voice gentle but persuasive. “I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to show you a more exciting side of life. I promise you’ll find me far more interesting than my cousin and Katelyn. You will definitely want more once you have a taste.”

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Annie’s confidence stemmed from her experience.

She had won over many nobles in Yata with her charms. If she could just get Vincent to let his guard down, she was sure he’d be hooked. She knew exactly how to make a man fall for her.

Why should someone as perfect and remarkable as Vincent be tied to her weak, sickly cousin?

If her cousin could be engaged to Vincent, why couldn’t she? ? f?ndnovel.net

Vincent’s stare hit Annie like a blast of icy wind, cold and sharp, as if it could slice through her chest.

“You must want to die!” he growled, his words like a slap.

Annie’s smile faltered, but only for a moment before she spoke again, her tone soft and steady.

“Aren’t you curious, Mr. Adams? Don’t you want to give it a try? You must have realized before arriving here that the royal family is shockingly open about their affairs.

That’s how I learned my… skills.”

Yata’s culture stood in stark contrast to Granville’s. It wasn’t just the clothing that was different; people’s attitude toward sex here, for example, was refreshingly free.

In Yata, it was completely normal to switch partners daily. If someone didn’t, others would probably think they lacked allure.

If it hadn’t been for the overseas project, Vincent would never have stepped foot in a place like this.

What disgusted him even more was the fact that, in the past, nobles intermarried to keep the royal bloodline “pure.”

They ignored the dangers of inbreeding and the wellbeing of their children, fixating only on preserving their lineage.

Though those appalling practices had faded away, the freewheeling spirit of Yata still echoed in the thoughts of its people.

Vincent’s expression turned even colder, his eyes narrowing with disbelief. His cold gaze pierced through Annie, as if she were already a phantom.

“Get lost!” he barked.

Annie had faced rejection three times in a row, and despite her tough skin, the hurt still stung.

But Annie refused to give up, taking another step forward. “Mr. Adams, trust me, I can give you an unforgettable experience.”

As she spoke, Annie crouched down once more, pressing her body against Vincent’s leg, hoping to draw his attention. The two were tucked away in a corner of the garden, hidden from view.

Vincent’s eyes turned as cold as stone.

In the next instant, he lashed out with a swift kick. The blow struck Annie’s chest with a sickening thud, leaving a clear shoe print on her pale skin. Annie’s body arched backward, her face contorted in pain.

“Ahhh!” she screamed, the sound echoing through the pavilion.

Her body rolled across the ground, tumbling several times before crashing into a tree and finally coming to a stop.

Vincent rose from his wheelchair and walked toward her, the sunlight streaming behind him and casting his sharp features in a striking, almost angelic light.

“I don’t hit women, but I won’t hesitate to strike an idiot,” he said.

Just then, Katelyn returned after rescuing the kite for the kids, her eyes widening in surprise at the scene before her.

“What’s going on here?” she asked, confusion and concern evident in her voice.

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