Runaway Heiress, Reluctant bride

I was supposed to answer him, but once again, I found myself captivated by his jet-black hair. It was silky and smooth under my touch. Even though I had already stepped back, I could still smell the faint fragrance of his shampoo. What was wrong with me? Since the moment we arrived at his place, there was something about him I couldn’t ignore.

Okay. I needed to breathe, relax. Inhale, exhale. I repeated the process a few times, trying to regain my self-control. “I’m also tired,” I muttered, but as soon as I saw the way his eyes flicked up to meet mine, I regretted my words.

“Should I give you a massage as well?”

The way his gaze drifted over me made my skin crawl. Was I really living with a nymphomaniac? It terrified me, but I couldn’t let him smell my fear. “Never mind, Sebastian. A hot shower will do. Excuse me,” I said quickly, turning to leave.

“Stop right there!” he shouted, his voice startling.

“What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Instead of responding, he started walking toward me. For a moment, a flash of fear gripped me—was he about to force himself on me? When he grabbed my wrists, I winced in pain. “Who do you think you are, Isabella? Why are you so arrogant?”

I avoided his piercing gaze. His brown eyes seemed to see right through me, as if reading every hidden thought, every secret I tried to bury. “Saying no isn’t arrogance, just so you know. You can’t demand things from me like that,” I snapped.

“Demand? Are you serious?” His voice was thick with disbelief.

“I’m serious. You’re trying to turn me into your sex slave!” I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.

“A sex slave?” His laughter was almost mocking. “Why the hell would I need a sex slave?”

Before I could respond, he dragged me toward a room I recognized—where I’d caught him with a brunette earlier. I froze in shock.

“Who are they?” I asked, feeling my stomach twist with unease.

“My mistresses,” he replied nonchalantly, as though having multiple women around was perfectly normal, as if they were just casual acquaintances.

“W-what?” My voice faltered, struggling to process his words. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. He had how many women in this house?

“Now, tell me, Isabella,” he continued, his tone cool and demanding, “Do I need a sex slave?”

His question left me speechless. But even though I couldn’t find the right words, I couldn’t justify his actions either. I took a deep breath before facing him. “Maybe. Just because you have all these women here doesn’t mean you have the right to treat me like that.”

“God, you’re stubborn,” Sebastian muttered under his breath. One of the women in the room noticed us and waved at him, and the others followed suit.

“Be honest! Who are they?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin.

He narrowed his eyes, sensing my disbelief. “They’re mine. All of them,” he said, his tone that of someone claiming ownership over an object.

“Are you insane?” I shot back. “Are you some kind of sex addict?”

“Do you think I’m a sex maniac?” His tone had a bite to it now.

“What else am I supposed to think? Your actions speak for themselves!” I retorted, my anger bubbling over.

“They’re my stress relievers,” he said with a shrug, as if that explanation made perfect sense.

“Your stress relievers?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “You talk like you’re the busiest man on the planet.”

“I am,” he replied matter-of-factly.

“Whatever,” I muttered, barely containing my disgust.

“What’s your problem?” he snapped. “This is my life, and you’re just my maid. Whatever I do here is none of your business. Now, go to your room, get some rest, and make sure you do your job well in the morning.”

I was stunned. Never in my life had I been so insulted. Just a maid? How dare he look down on me like that? He had no idea who he was messing with. At that moment, I swore to myself that I would make his life a little more miserable.

“Sorry, I’m just being nosy,” I said with an air of feigned innocence.

“Never mind,” he muttered, though his eyes remained sharp. “If you’re worried about your safety, don’t be. I can assure you that you won’t become one of them,” he said coldly.

I bristled at the way he spoke, like he was dismissing me entirely. “What do you mean by that?” I asked, my voice low with suspicion.

“You’re not my type,” he said bluntly, but I didn’t believe him. He’d already complimented my appearance, said my legs were incredible. Physically, I knew he was attracted to me. Maybe I could use that to my advantage.

“Well, it’s a shame,” I said, meeting his gaze with a confident smirk. “Because you’re definitely my type.”

He grunted, clearly frustrated by my boldness. He could try to act superior to everyone else, but not to me. “By the way, Sebastian, can I borrow some of your clothes? I have nothing to wear tonight,” I asked, my voice casual, though the way he stared at me sent a chill down my spine.

On the second floor, there were two bedrooms, but only one was unlocked, while the other was bolted shut. Sebastian told me not to touch anything in his room and that I could leave once I had picked out some clothes.

I wandered into his closet, scanning his clothes as I pulled out a few t-shirts and long-sleeved shirts. The man was tall, and when I slipped on one of his t-shirts, it fell all the way down to my knees. The long sleeves were just as oversized. I grabbed three of his long-sleeves and three t-shirts, hoping they’d be enough for the next few days.

Just as I was about to leave, I hesitated. Something inside me urged me to check out his bathroom. It had both hot and cold water, just like I had hoped, and I was eager to take a shower and freshen up before I left. I locked the door behind me as I undressed and turned on the water.

The hot water poured over my body, soothing the tension and exhaustion. I indulged in Sebastian’s shower gel, telling myself it would probably be the first and last time I’d use it. I took my time washing my body, knowing the next few days would be all about staying on guard and keeping warm.

That man… what a nightmare.

When I finished showering, I wrapped myself in a towel and headed back to the room to change. But as I entered, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. “Oh my God!” I gasped in surprise.

Sebastian was standing in the middle of the room, his gaze falling on me in disbelief.