Garden of May - Chapter 130
Perhaps Logan Dawson would become the first casualty and another strange decoration attached to her name. If there was no turning back anyway, then perhaps shamelessness was the better option.
At the very least, she would accomplish the original goal she had set for herself: becoming entangled in scandal after scandal with countless men.
Vanessa straightened her back and shoulders and walked forward with as much elegance and confidence as she could muster, completely unaware that the man beside her was watching her with faint surprise.
“Thank you for coming with me.”
The moment they turned into a quieter corridor, the gratitude burst out of her like a relieved sigh. River Ross let out a low laugh.
“Were you really that desperate?”
“Everyone was staring, and I panicked for a moment… Anyway, I’m glad to see you here.”
“You don’t look very glad.”
“Hm?”
“You seem different than usual.”
“If I do, it’s probably because of a personal matter. Something… complicated happened.”
The direction River was leading her was the complete opposite of the corridor lined with luxury suites.
Aside from the occasional navy officer appearing here and there, the hallway was deserted. Even those few had likely abandoned their cabins to watch the fireworks and enjoy the ball.
“Something complicated?”
Vanessa bit lightly at her lip, hesitating.
Should she tell River Ross the truth about what she had discovered? Or should she hide it for as long as possible?
‘I don’t know.’
Sometimes, all of this simply felt overwhelming. In the end, Vanessa decided to follow her emotions in the moment.
“I think… my uncle may have been deceiving me for a very long time.”
“That’s quite an interesting secret.”
She had agonized over those words before finally saying them aloud, yet River Ross remained utterly calm. If anything, his arrogant gaze almost seemed to say, You’re only realizing that now?
She knew none of this was his fault. That only made it more irritating. And the fact that she liked him enough for that irritation to matter was the real problem.
“Is that why you called me out here?”
“…Technically, yes. But that’s not the main reason.”
“Then tell me.”
“From now on, let’s not act familiar in front of other people. At least until we leave the ship.”
“Ah. Because you’re planning to stir up scandals with other men?”
“Of course. That was the agreement from the start. I said River Ross’s name would never be dragged into any rumors.”
“Until the end of summer?”
“Obviously afterward too. Earlier was a little dangerous, but hardly anyone actually saw your face, so it should be fine.”
Vanessa mumbled the words without much confidence.
Suddenly, River Ross stopped walking. Then, with an unusually serious expression, he stepped closer to her. Startled, Vanessa instinctively backed away, only for her back to hit the solid wall behind her.
This was still a corridor people occasionally passed through. She was just about to plead with him to at least move somewhere hidden when the door against her back suddenly gave way.
And in the next instant, they stumbled into a dimly lit room.
“You asked me to treat you like a lover.”
Before Vanessa fully processed what had happened, the door clicked shut behind them.
River Ross braced one arm beside her head, trapping her completely between the wall and the hard strength of his body. Tilting his head slightly, he lowered his lips near her ear.
“And now you’re telling your lover you plan to go meet other men instead.”
“…When you put it like that, I sound awful.”
“Don’t you?”
“I’m only doing this to uphold the agreement you made with me.”
“I didn’t realize contracts meant that much to you.”
“I’ve always honored my agreements.”
“Then take it off, Vanessa.”
“What…?”
“What else would devoted lovers do alone together in a dark room?”
The ribbon tied beneath her chin finally came loose and slipped to the floor. Along with the copied will hidden inside the hat.
The scattered papers fluttered across the ground, only for River Ross to casually pin them beneath his shoe. As though he had no interest whatsoever in what they contained.
Vanessa glanced briefly at the papers before lifting her gaze to stare directly at him.
“…Are you suspicious because I disappeared with Logan Dawson for a while?”
“As if.”
“Then why—”
“This is just a convenient excuse. Or would you rather I take mine off instead?”
“……”
“You like it, don’t you? My body without clothes.”
It was a wicked tone. A temptation spoken by a man who already knew she wouldn’t be able to refuse him.
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 152 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 151 - Jun 16, 2026
- Protected: Garden of May Chapter 150 - Jun 16, 2026
