Chapter 14 After Woodrow got out of the car , his indifferent gaze swept over Kaneeta and Edmund . He seemed to pause slightly at the sight of her , but it lasted for just a fleeting moment . " What a pleasant surprise , Frankie . I didn't expect to see you here tonight . " Alan shook hands with Frankie and then said , " I'm treating Mr. Hartwell to dinner tonight ." , " Mr. Hartwell ? " Frankie's eyes lit up . Even though Woodrow wasn't from around here, everyone in the business world knew him . Frankie and Edmund exchanged a glance and immediately reached a tacit understanding . 453181 After greeting Woodrow , Frankie offered with a warm smile , " Hey , we're gonna dine here tonight , too . Wanna share the table ? The more , the merrier . " Alan naturally had no objections . After all , he wasn't going to Chapter 14 discuss any confidential matters with Woodrow tonight anyway . Such business dinners often led to new partnerships , and if he got lucky , maybe he could close a deal between toasts . " Mr. Hartwell , what do you think ? " He turned to ask Woodrow . Woodrow said , his voice flat , " Whatever you say , Mr. Harrison . " Though he sounded casual , his commanding presence was not to be ignored . Nervous , both Frankie and Alan had fawning smiles on their faces . Even Edmund sensed Woodrow's oppressive aura . He couldn't help but marvel silently - Woodrow surely was the heir of the Hartwell family , one of the four great families in Roseburn . Then he instinctively turned to look at Kaneeta , only to see her gaze upon Woodrow . Deeply annoyed , he furrowed his brows . Driven by such emotion , he moved aside a few steps and blocked her view . She looked up at his back , a bit stunned . What had gotten into Edmund ? In fact , she was just remembering that day when Woodrow had helped her . But clearly , Woodrow had no intention of letting anyone know they knew each other , and of course , she wouldn't try to change that . The group went to a top - floor private room . After a few drinks , the conversation somehow shifted to Kaneeta . Frankie and the other clients of the Kuntz Group kept praising her , saying she was young , capable , and efficient . Facing their compliments , she maintained a humble , polite smile . But occasionally , she'd sense an intense gaze upon her . Her gut told her it was Woodrow . However , when she looked over to him , he was looking somewhere else . Was it all in her head? As she was wondering , the few clients started to comment on Nyasia . Chapter 14 Frankie couldn't hold his liquor and was already a bit tipsy . Patting Edmund's shoulder , he said , " Edmund , don't blame me for 1 , " Edmund , don't blame me for being blunt . Maybe you should hold off before letting Ms. Kuntz handle deals - better yet , don't involve her at all . Is she your sister ? I thought you were the only child . Or … is she your girlfriend ? " Edmund's expression stiffened a bit . He glanced at Kaneeta before quickly explaining , " No , she's not my girlfriend . Mr. Carter , you misunderstood ." A trace of mockery flickered in Kaneeta's eyes . Yes indeed . Nyasia wasn't his girlfriend . She was his wife . Frankie hiccupped . " Oh , really ? Then you must've really taken a liking to her , then , letting her take over the project Ms. Drayton has worked on for so long ." Edmund smiled , " Mr. Carter , you might want to go easy on the alcohol ." The cold glint flashing across his eyes sobered Frankie up slightly . He grinned a bit awkwardly . " You're right , Mr. Kuntz . I had a bit too much to drink . I hope you don't mind my little joke ! " Chapter 14 Just then , a waiter walked over and placed a bottle of wine in front of Edmund . Frowning slightly , he looked up and met Woodrow's gaze . " Mr. Kuntz ." Woodrow's eyes darkened , carrying unmistakable pressure . " Care for a drink ? " Edmund's gaze fell upon the wine bottle , his throat tightening . He felt a strange unease in the pit of his stomach . Woodrow was hostile toward him . But he couldn't bring himself to say no to Woodrow , as the latter's commanding presence was almost like a giant net , leaving him no way out . The waiter uncorked the wine , poured him a glass , and then retreated to the side again in silence . Steadying himself , he picked up the glass and smiled at Woodrow , " Cheers , Mr. Hartwell ." With that , he gulped down the wine in one go . Woodrow did the same . Just as he thought it was over , Woodrow waved his hand , and Chapter 14 the waiter stepped forward again and refilled their glasses . " Mr. Kuntz , " Woodrow said , swirling the wine gently , " how could just one glass ever be enough ? " The smile on Edmund's face stiffened . His instinct was right . But why did Woodrow target him ? He wasn't intimidated by Woodrow . After all , the Kuntz family was top - notch in Calchester . But he knew nothing would come out good if he messed with Woodrow . At this , he could only pick up the glass again and smiled , " Touché , Mr. Hartwell . I'll drink to that . " After saying this , he downed the wine in one go again . Soon , he furrowed his brows tightly , his face turning slightly pale . Honestly , he hated wine . He felt sick every time he drank - it was nothing physical , but some deep - seated mental aversion . Kaneeta knew this very well . Chapter 14 So , whenever someone proposed a toast to him during business dinners before , she had always drunk on his behalf . She had never turned down a client's toast , not even when someone disapproved of her heroic act and deliberately put her on the spot . Sometimes , she got so drunk that her world was spinning , but she still smiled at him , saying , " At least now you don't have to drink ." But today … As the waiter refilled Edmund's glass again , he turned to look at Kaneeta . She was sipping soup calmly , showing no intention of drinking on his behalf at all . For some reason , his heart sank , and the feeling was way worse than any wine had ever made him feel . Meanwhile , Woodrow kept pressuring him to drink . My table p After a few more glasses , he felt he was reaching his limit . The booze started to kick in . He was a lightweight . Beer was fine for him , but this bottle of wine was obviously stronger . Chapter 14 As the bottle was empty, the waiter uncorked a second one . He was about to lose it . Parting his lips , he tried to change the subject . " Mr. Hartwell , I heard you've just purchased a piece of land in Haferbourne … " " Mr. Kuntz , " Woodrow cut him off , not giving him a chance to continue , " leave business out of this room . Tonight , we drink . " He couldn't help but clench his fists , trying his best to hold back his anger . Offending Woodrow over this was simply not worth it . After a few more glasses , he was so close to slipping under the table . He instinctively looked at Kaneeta again , only to realize she couldn't even be bothered to shoot him a glance . She even stood up and gently apologized to the others , " Sorry , I need to use the restroom ." With that , she left decisively . Staring at her retreating figure , he felt that the wine sat heavy in his chest , suffocating him . Standing in front of the sink , Kaneeta calmly washed her hands . Chapter 14 She didn't know why Woodrow was suddenly pressuring Edmund to drink , nor did she care to find out . In fact , she had noticed Edmund's constant pleading looks . But that Kaneeta , who loved him deeply and was willing to give up everything for him , was long gone . She turned off the faucet and wiped her hands dry with tissues . Just as she stepped out of the restroom , a shadow suddenly loomed over her . Frowning slightly , she was just about to look up to see who it was when the man yanked her into a nearby vacant private room . The door was slammed shut . Then she was pressed against the wall . Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it jumping out of her chest . Just as she was about to scream , he covered her mouth with his hand . " Ssh . It's me . " It was … Woodrow . She gradually calmed down . Though she didn't exactly know Chapter 14 why , she just had this feeling - Woodrow wouldn't hurt her . She looked up . It was Woodrow indeed . But then , she noticed his flushed cheeks and hazy eyes . Though he was trying to restrain himself , she could still tell his condition was off . She let out stifled sounds , struggling . Finally , he let go of her . He staggered backward and collapsed into a chair . " Mr. Hartwell , are you OK ? " She walked toward him . " Don't come over ! " he warned her sternly , his eyes bloodshot . Meanwhile , he was panting heavily . Suddenly , he yanked his collar , and two buttons came off and fell to the floor . " Mr. Hartwell … " She suddenly realized something . " Did … someone tamper with your food or drink tonight ? " Judging from his looks , chances were , he was drugged with … aphrodisiac . " Yes !" " Chapter 14 A bead of sweat rolled down Woodrow's forehead , somehow adding a touch of allure to his raw magnetism . But Kaneeta wasn't in the mood to appreciate it . Instead , she was utterly wary . y Though she believed he was a gentleman , under the effects of drugs , men could hardly control themselves . V " Mr. Hartwell , I'll go ask for help ." Just as she was about to leave , he clutched her wrist and pulled her into his arms . Sensing his searing breath , she exclaimed , " Mr. Hartwell ! Let go of me ! " But Woodrow still held her tightly , refusing to let go . " Woodrow ! " Utterly panicking , she even wanted to bite his wrist . ཁྲབ་ ར Just then , he said , his voice strained , " I don't know who did this to me . Don't let anyone else know ! " She caught his drift at once . www. He didn't know who drugged him and what the person wanted . So , he didn't want anyone else to know he was here . Chapter 14 So … did it mean he hadn't completely lost it? " Now .. " His searing breath spread onto her neck , and she trembled all over uncontrollably . As he had just drunk a lot of wine , she could smell it on him now . Yet , she didn't find it unpleasant . On the contrary , it was … captivating . She looked up at him tentatively . The moment she met his eyes , she was shocked by the raw lust in them . He traced her beautiful eyes , his fingers trembling , and he swallowed hard . " I need … your help … " 4