At that moment, the ringing stopped.
It was as if the world had come to a standstill.
The entire bedroom was eerily quiet.
Sophie Allen's face flushed red instantly, and she quickly bent down to pick up the towel and wrap it around herself.
"Justin, why didn't you knock before entering?," she wished she could find a hole in the ground and hide.
Justin Battleson looked away, the visual shock from just moments ago rendered him speechless.
His body was stirring in ways he couldn't fathom.
Regaining his composure, he said gruffly, "You didn't lock the door."
"Even if I didn't lock the door... This is the room of your brother and sister-in-law, you shouldn't just walk in!" Charlotte frowned, struggling to hold the towel with one hand, and pointed to the door with the other, "You should get out."
She was embarrassed at first, but Justin did not apologize, instead blaming her, which annoyed her.
Seeing her admonishing him, Justin Battleson's face darkened, "This is my house."
Charlotte was stunned by his overbearing attitude. "Yes, this is your house, Justin. But, this is not your room. You need to understand your place."
"My place?" Justin Battleson's eyes narrowed and he moved closer.
Charlotte dared not escape. Her back was bare and she was forced to retreat step by step.
The man's overpowering aura suffocated her, and she winced when she hit the cold wall - she was cornered.
Sophie looked up at him, wary of his cold glare, and demanded, "Justin, what are you trying to do?"
Had she angered him and now he was going to punish her?
Justin concealed the intensity in his eyes, and with a smirk, he asked, "Since Justin isn't well, have you considered other options?"
"What are you implying?" Sophie frowned, puzzled.
Ignoring her feigned ignorance, Justin leaned closer to her, whispered into her ear provocatively, "Consider me."
With a shock, Sophie froze. She hadn't expected such a respectable man to propose something so outrageous.
"Regardless of anything else, Justin and I are married. I am his wife now. As his elder brother, instead of showing concern while he's hospitalized, you want to make him a cuckold?"
She sympathized with her disabled husband whom even his own brother was bullying.
Surprise flashed across Justin Battleson's dark eyes.
He hadn't expected Sophie, who was known to be easily bribed, to burst out with such righteous words.
He observed her.
There was no denying that Sophie was beautiful, her face sweet and innocent - a kind of beauty that was subtly enticing.
How could such a woman be willing to marry a hideous cripple?
He remembered the way she looked at the hospital, looking pitiful yet resilient, and how she tried to lure Henry Hudson.
He laughed and threw a bigger bait, "I'll give you a million every month. Our deal, Justin will never know."
A slap was heard.
A handprint was left on the man's handsome face.
"You're crossing the line," Sophie yelled, chest heaving with anger. How could anyone be so shameless?
Justin's face instantly darkened, his aura menacing.
No one has ever slapped him in the face!
He grabbed her slim wrist and threw her onto the bed.
Sophie was terrified, and the horror from that night instantly swept over her.
She cowered, whispering, "Let go of me..."
She didn't want to experience such a horrifying thing for the second time.
"If you leave now, I won't mention what happened today." Her face was pale, lips quivering, and her forehead was drenched in cold sweat.
It was as if she was cornered by a monstrous beast.
Justin's face remained dark, he observed her terrified demeanor. It did not seem like she was pretending.
Could it be, he had misunderstood her?