Chapter 86

When Winnie finished her shower and returned, the bedroom was dimly lit. She walked over to Van's side of the bed, crouched down, and rested her hands on her knees, gazing at him in the faint glow. His features were striking, his profile deeply defined. Without warning, Van's eyes opened. He grabbed her arm and, in one swift motion, pulled her up and into his embrace. A soft moan escaped Winnie's lips. The thin silk of her nightwear offered little barrier, and she could feel the heat of his body against hers. Her heart pounded so fiercely it felt as though it might burst. The soft moan made Van's breath catch, and he could no longer hold back, pulling Winnie into a deep kiss while his other hand began to caress her chest. Van's fingers easily pinched, teasing her nipples. He kissed her from her lips to her neck, from her neck to her collarbone. Moving further down, his kisses stopped, his breathing paused, but the heat remained, scorching against her delicate skin. Unable to bear the hot breath lingering above her, Winnie's body trembled slightly. She was so nervous. She nestled in Van's arms, her small fists lightly tapping his chest in silent protest. Her eyes were tightly shut, tears streaming down, passing over her sweat-dampened temples. Van's fingers had already reached her lower body, staying there for too long, his fingertips slightly wrinkled and pale. Seeing Winnie's stubborn yet fragile face, Van became even more mischievous, lowering his head to bury it between her legs. His hot tongue licked the soft area, water flowing out continuously; she was truly made of water. With Winnie's cry, a rush of liquid began to gush out. Van lifted his head; Winnie had calmed down by now, but her face was streaked with tears, looking pitifully at Van. He kissed her nose tip and whispered under the light, "Why do you look so pitiful, huh?" Only then did Winnie gather the courage to open her wet eyelashes, with the aftershocks still resonating deep within her body, like waves. Unable to bear her looking at him like that, Van hugged her completely into his arms, licking her ear, saying, "So sweet." Outside the glass, the sky and sea were murky, Winnie sitting on Van's lap, resting against his shoulder. They could barely exchange words before the man kissed her again. 'Spend some time with Becca tomorrow. Don't be too reserved; she's very nice. She's seen your movies before and will take good care of you." 'What about you?" 'I have some things to take care of." Winnie nodded, feeling a mix of relief, a hint of disappointment, and understanding. Sliding off his lap, she tried to keep her tone light, 'Busy man. You should get some rest." Van suddenly pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a back hug. 'If it weren't for work, I'd want to be with you every single day." 'I have work too." Winnie lifted her head seriously and looked at him. 'Mr. Marlowe, I have my own career. I'm busy too." Van was momentarily stunned but quickly nodded. 'Sorry, I forgot. You're a star and have your own accomplishments." 'Accomplishments aren't much." Winnie smiled. 'You didn't even recognize me the first time we met." Van froze, his gaze dimming slightly. Winnie turned over and faced away from him. 'We've only known each other for a month." Van paused, his voice deep: 'Winnie, a month is just how long you've known me, but I've known you for a while." Taken aback, Winnie asked, "You've known me for a long time?" 'Yes." Van's eyes softened with an indescribable tenderness. 'The first time I heard your name was from Terry." Winnie's eyes widened slightly, and an involuntary smile curved at her lips. 'Terry?" Van nodded and recalled, 'Last spring, Terry spent New Year's with us in Las Vegas. He mentioned that the first time he visited the Stephan's home, they drank mulled wine at night. He said it tasted better than the mulled wine you made." Winnie froze, surprised that Terry had spoken about her that way. 'That annoying Terry," she muttered softly. 'Saying my mulled wine wasn't good enough." Van's lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes carrying a deeper meaning. 'When he said that, he had no idea that behind the mulled wine, there was already a connection between you and me." Winnie fell silent, her emotions swirling with complexity. 'And… what was your second thought?" she asked, curious. Van paused briefly, his tone softening. 'My second thought? I realized immediately that meeting you was inevitable." Winnie blinked in surprise. 'How could you know that?" Van's deep gaze held hers. 'If this encounter hadn't happened, there would've been another opportunity. You were destined to appear in my world." Winnie was speechless, a subtle wave rippling through her heart. She seemed to feel the weight of Van's quiet determination and resolve. The next evening, Winnie finally understood why Van had sent her back to her country early. Her schedule at home was packed with urgent work commitments, leaving her no choice but to face the whirlwind awaiting her. During the day, Becca had shown her a wonderful time—hot springs, swimming, afternoon tea, and yoga on the deck. That evening, she attended a banquet. Van didn't introduce her to many other guests, mentioning only that Watson was his friend from the yacht club and Reno was his high school classmate. After returning home, she learned that Reno was actually the heir to a top luxury brand group, while Watson was the young master of the company that owned Vibe. But there was one thing she had known even before heading back: The trending topics back home were constantly updating, and the hashtag #BeccaWinnie# was skyrocketing. On the other end of the phone, Anne's anxious voice echoed. 'If you don't come back soon, Elva's going to end up sleeping on my floor!"