Try? To test his ability? But how?
âAh!â
Xantheaâs imagination ran wild with alarming scenarios. She started flailing about in his arms, exclaiming, âOrion, I misspoke, I misspoke! Youâre the best, absolutely the best!â
âCan you put me down, please? Iâm scared.â
âNo, letâs not âtryâ!â
âWhat? Why are you closing the door? You beast!â
Despite her struggles and pleas, Orion showed no mercy. He shut the door firmly, tossed her onto the plush bed, and began to undo his tie.
Xanthea watched as Orion started stripping, his presence felt overwhelmingly dominant, like a predator ready to pounce at any moment. She was so frightened that she propped herself up on the bed, her legs shuffling backward as she begged, âNo, please no, Orion, I havenât.â
As the manâs tall and imposing figure suddenly loomed over her, Xanthea turned her head away in despair and shut her eyes. Then, she felt her hands being tied?
Opening her eyes, she saw her hands bound to the bedpost with his tie, cushioned with a silk handkerchief as if to prevent the ropes from cutting into her skin.
âWhat are you doing?â
Xanthea looked up at him, her eyes filled with indescribable emotions.
âReady? Letâs start the rehearsal.â
Rehearsal?
His words left Xanthea utterly confused.
Wait, the âtryâ and âknow if heâs goodâ and binding her hands all part of helping her practice acting, not what she had imagined.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she felt herself utterly foolish.
âWhat else did you expect?â
âI-I didnât expect anything but a rehearsal.â
A mischievous smile played at the corner of Orionâs mouth as he walked over to the door and turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness.
Then, a soft sound of the door closing.
Xanthea spent a second, then two, then three, unable to move in her bound state, consumed by fear of the unknown darkness...
âOrion, why turn off the lights for a rehearsal? Are you trying to set the scene that realistically?â
âWhere did you go? Come back quickly, Iâm scared of the dark!â
With a âclick,â the lights were back on.
Squinting against the bright light, Xanthea saw Orion standing by the door, now dressed in a sharp black suit, looking more daunting and distant than before, his features hard and cold, resembling that of Maximus.
âPhee, itâs been five years. I hope youâve been well.â
He approached her slowly, suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to look into his eyesâdark pools swirling with longing and joy, âDo you know how much Iâve missed you these past five years? Every year, every day, every minute.â
Xanthea was stunned by his almost frantic expression, and she was instantly drawn into the role.
He truly resembled Maximusâjust a few words perfectly conveyed his dark solitude and deep longing for Phoenix.
His gaze made her feel as though he wasnât just reciting lines but expressing his own feelings, prompting her to respond with Phoenixâs lines, âNow that Iâm at your mercy, life or death, do as you will.â
âDeath?â
Suddenly, the man burst into laughter, a sound filled with wicked delight that sent shivers down Xantheaâs spine.
No wonder he got so mad when she doubted he wasnât good.
His acting was so lifelike; he truly embodied Maximus. He was so capable that Xanthea could hardly distinguish between reality and the play.
My Beloved Has Risen from Death's Embrace ï¤Chapter 219 Revenge is Best Served After Reborn (James)
ï¤Chapter 1927 Falling For My Contractual Wife (Brian and Grace)
ï¤Chapter 782 âI couldnât bear to kill you, my precious, my heart. I want to keep you by my side forever.â
The man suddenly approached her, the increased pressure in his hands and the intense possessiveness in his eyes causing Xanthea to an involuntarily moan.
Hearing her own delicate, tender voice, she frowned.
This wasnât Phoenix at all!