The Wicked Wife’s Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 105

Ash tilted Nina’s chin upward.

Pressing his thumb firmly against her lower lip, he watched as the soft, red flesh naturally parted.

For a brief moment, his gray eyes, illuminated by the pale blue moonlight, gleamed with an unreadable intensity.

“Mmh—”

Their noses brushed at a slight angle, and his lips barely hovered over the thumb that had parted hers.

She was trapped—like an insect caught in a spider’s web, unable to move.

If she so much as shifted, their lips, separated by only his thumb, might actually touch.

She forgot how to breathe.

Her gaze, ensnared by his, was locked onto those piercing gray eyes that seemed to see straight through her.

A moment later—

A flurry of hurried footsteps echoed from the opposite balcony as someone scrambled to leave.

Click.

A door opened abruptly, then shut just as quickly.

Only then did Nina release the breath she had been holding.

“Haa…”

As the suffocating tension unraveled, her knees gave out beneath her.

“…Are you alright?”

Ash steadied her, one hand supporting her waist as she swayed.

Her legs trembled violently.

Would she even be able to walk?

“You—you startled me!”

“…Did you really think I was going to kiss you?”

He smirked as he teased her, and Nina’s face burned with indignation.

“No! Well… maybe a little…”

She had thought—no, she had been startled, believing he would actually kiss her.

The realization that she had stood there, completely defenseless, mesmerized by him, sent a rush of heat to her face.

Her heart pounded erratically.

If their lips had touched—if he had actually kissed her—would she have been able to push him away?

Somehow, she wasn’t so sure.

For that moment, her mind had gone completely blank, like it had been bleached of all thought.

Honestly, with a face like his, practically a national treasure…

Wasn’t it natural for reason to momentarily shut down when a man like him leaned in as if to kiss her?

Desperate to rationalize her reaction, Nina quickly took a seat at the tea table.

“…So, how much of that conversation did you hear?”

She had been so focused on eavesdropping that she hadn’t even noticed when he entered the balcony.

She had no idea how much he had overheard.

“From the part where they said it was about time I started thinking about an heir.”

Ah.

So that’s why he had been so irritated.

She had just told him moments ago that he could see other women if he wanted, and he had responded as if she were insane—only to then hear people gossiping about him behind his back.

No wonder he was angry.

Rebecca actually ended up being useful for once.

And now, thanks to his impulsive display, the rumors about their marital discord would likely be dampened.

Of course, it would inevitably stir up new rumors in its place.

She could already guess what they would be, but still—between whispers of being kicked out of the bedroom and engaging in an intimate display with her husband on a balcony, the latter was definitely the better option.

Both were equally embarrassing, but…

At least it wasn’t unheard of for couples to get caught up in the moment on a balcony.

“Your Grace, first… just sit down. But—what about the food?”

“Right here.”

Ash retrieved the plates and glasses he had quietly set on the railing.

How did he put those down so silently?

Nina, still trying to calm her hammering heart, reached for her drink to moisten her dry throat.

“Wait—”

The action happened too fast for him to stop.

She had already taken a deep gulp of the golden liquid in her glass—

And immediately, it sprayed from her mouth like a mist.

“Pff—!”

She had expected apple juice.

It was whiskey.

A fiery burn seared her throat, and her nose stung unbearably.

She had swallowed it too carelessly, and it had gone down the wrong way.

“Cough, cough! Cough!”

Hunched over like a shrimp, she hacked violently as Ash stepped forward and rhythmically patted her back.

Tap, tap, tap.

“You seemed so composed, but you’re surprisingly clumsy.”

“Cough—d-don’t… cough—don’t tease me…”

“How can I not?”

“……”

As she glanced up and caught the slight twitch of his lips—like the time he had barely held back laughter when she had a nosebleed—she internally sighed.

He’s absolutely going to tease me about this.

“Here, drink this first.”

Blinking back tears, she accepted the drink he handed her.

This time, it was real apple juice.

As she slowly sipped, her breathing steadied, though a few lingering coughs escaped.

Damn it… my makeup must be a mess.

Even without looking in a mirror, she could tell her face was completely ruined.

If she stepped out like this, she’d be the laughingstock of the night.

Another embarrassing memory to add to the list…

“Let’s just go back to the private room.”

Ash tapped at one of the whiskey-soaked finger foods with the tip of his finger before rising from his seat.

“With the state I’m in right now, it’s better to wait until fewer people are around before leaving. I’ll stay here—if you have anything to take care of, go ahead.”

She had no idea how long it would take for the banquet hall to clear out, but she definitely didn’t want to become the subject of more gossip.

Even if it meant waiting longer, she’d rather suffer through that than parade her disheveled self before the crowd.

The mere thought of it had exhaustion weighing down on her shoulders.