Isabelle Willow left the mansion, but as she walked across the lawn, she felt large raindrops hitting her body. It started raining. The weather was just fine before, and the forecast didn’t mention rain tonight, yet it began to pour. The rain was heavy, a torrential downpour, and Isabelle had no umbrella, getting soaked almost immediately. "Madam Yara, it’s raining so hard you can’t leave. You should go back to the villa and wait for the rain to pass," Butler Thorne came running over with an umbrella. Isabelle had no other choice. The rain was suspicious and heavy, "Thank you, Butler Thorne." With no other option, Isabelle returned to the mansion. Inside the villa, Isabelle took the towel and wiped the water off her body, just as a deep, magnetic voice came from upstairs, "Go take a hot shower and change those wet clothes." Isabelle looked up, watching Jude Crawford step out of the study and stand at the top of the stairs, looking down at her. "No need. I’ll leave once the rain eases." Isabelle politely declined. Jude didn’t speak, his dark, profound gaze resting on her. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N0velFire.ɴet Isabelle sensitively noticed his gaze wandering over her body. She looked down at herself; her cheongsam was soaked and clinging to her, accentuating her curves even more. The slit in the cheongsam revealed glimpses of her legs, and Hayden Crawford was staring at them. She had been with Jude too young, only 19, and hadn’t interacted with any other men. She was conservative and reserved in this regard. His intense stare made Isabelle’s delicate face flush red, and her almond eyes glared at him fiercely—pervert! Jude watched her shame and anger with amusement, a smirk curling his thin lips. He realized she hadn’t changed—she couldn’t handle the slightest teasing from men. Just a little teasing would make her blush. "Why are you glaring at me? I kindly suggested you take a shower, and you refused, standing in front of me all wet, isn’t it a... wet-body seduction?" Isabelle found him still as shameless and vile—bastard! "Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you now. Have you forgotten the good deeds you did for me?" Jude reminded her again. Isabelle thought of his condition; from his tone, he might indeed be incapacitated. Butler Thorne announced, "Madam Yara, the guest room is ready. Please take a shower and change. Sometimes, Young Master Caden also comes back. If you catch a cold, you might pass it to the young master." His words struck a chord with Isabelle, and she no longer refused. She went up to the guest room. The guest room door closed, and Butler Thorne walked over to Jude’s side, "Sir." Jude looked at the tightly closed door, "Is the incense lit?" Butler Thorne nodded, "Yes, it is." Jude didn’t return to his study. He went to his master bedroom to take a shower. Isabelle finished a hot shower and came out, finding clothes prepared for her—a nightgown. Why had they prepared a nightgown? She looked out; the rain was still pouring down, making it impractical to go out and buy new clothes. So she put on the nightgown. Then Isabelle caught a faint fragrance in the air, a clear and pleasant scent that seemed to have a calming effect conducive to sleep. Sitting on the bed, she unwittingly felt drowsy and dozed off in a haze. Soon, with a gentle creak, the guest room door opened, and Jude Crawford walked in. Jude had just showered too, wearing a black silk pajama, the mist softening his features, making him appear younger and more handsome than usual. Jude approached the bed, gazing down at Isabelle. She was asleep, her long black hair cascading down, some strands tangled on her exquisite face and neck, exuding temptation. Jude reached out, the rough pad of his finger lightly grazing her face. Her skin was as white and smooth as ever, maintained beautifully over the years with Seraphina Linden, just like twenty years ago, evoking his fondness. Jude watched her intently, his deep eyes slowly filling with fervor and obsession. He lowered his head, his thin lips landing on her forehead. His kiss traveled downwards, from her forehead, eyelids, to her eyes, over her nose wings... finally landing on her soft lips. He kissed her while tugging at the waist tie of her nightgown, mindful of her tender skin, fearing he’d leave marks that would arouse suspicion. He knew her body too well. Despite twenty years apart, past intimacy was deeply ingrained, making him adept. Soon, a melodious phone ringtone broke the silence—Isabelle’s phone rang again. Once again, it was Chase Sullivan calling. Jude pressed the button to answer, Chase’s anxious voice coming through quickly, "Yara, I’m coming to find you now. You must stay away from Jude Crawford; he’s a devil with ill intentions for you..." Before Chase could finish, Jude let out a low, raspy chuckle, "Heh." Chase froze, "Ju... Jude Crawford..." "I see you know me quite well," Jude replied, a charming, elegant smile curving his lips. "Jude Crawford, why are you answering Isabelle’s phone? Where is she? What have you done to her?" Chase promptly questioned. Jude raised a well-groomed brow, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes easing into an indescribable charisma of a mature man, "Isabelle is asleep next to me. She’s tired and can’t come to the phone." With that, Jude hung up, and he turned off the phone. Jude gazed down at the sleeping Isabelle with love and obsession, "Yara, you’ve been so elusive, making me search for you for years. Tell me, how should I punish you?" Outside, the rain poured relentlessly. After an unknown period, a luxury car drove up swiftly, stopping on the lawn outside the villa. Chase Sullivan had arrived, and getting out, he pounded forcefully on the mansion’s door. Chase was drenched, cold raindrops pelting down from above, leaving him in disarray and embarrassment. He knew it was deliberate on Jude Crawford’s part. Jude could have simply not answered the phone, but he did, an act of provocation, arrogance. He must have guessed Chase would come, yet left him outside in the rain, remaining aloof, mysteriously powerful, in control of everything, just like years ago.