Chapter 9: The Thin Line Between Desire and Rejection

Lucas laid Emma down on the king-sized bed in the presidential suite with a movement that was far from gentle. He wanted to relieve the burden in his arms as quickly as possible while also getting rid of the warmth of this strange woman, which, unfortunately, had begun to disturb his composure.

However, Emma had no intention of letting her prey escape so easily.

The moment her back touched the soft mattress, Emma let out a soft moan. Using the lingering haze of alcohol and her desperate need to satisfy her wounded ego, she moved her arm as though by reflex, like someone delirious from an unbearable dizziness. Her slender fingers quickly grabbed the collar of Lucas's black shirt and pulled him down as she deliberately rolled onto her side.

"Cold... I'm dizzy..." Emma murmured in a husky, incredibly seductive voice, pressing her body against Lucas's chest until he lost his balance and fell onto his knees on the bed.

In an instant, Lucas landed directly on top of Emma. Their faces were only a few centimeters apart. Lucas could feel Emma's chest rising and falling against his body, while her slender legs subtly wrapped around his waist as though seeking warmth.

Lucas froze. His jaw tightened instantly.

Damn it.

Under the dim bedroom lights, Emma's sweet scent, mixed with the lingering aroma of alcohol, filled the air, triggering a biological response he had managed to suppress for more than a decade. His mature body began to react; his heart pounded faster, and a wave of heat suddenly surged through his lower abdomen.

Lucas narrowed his dark eyes. The flash of anger mixed with restrained desire made his aura feel even more dangerous. With a rough movement, he seized both of Emma's wrists and pinned them against the mattress, completely restraining her.

"Open your eyes, you damned woman," Lucas hissed, his voice now lower and hoarser as he struggled to suppress the turmoil inside him. "I know you're not unconscious. You did this on purpose to seduce me, didn't you?!"

Emma slowly opened her eyes. Her hazy gaze met Lucas's dark eyes directly. A faint, provocative smirk curved across her lips. She did not deny it. Her gaze seemed to challenge the billionaire's authority.

"You..." Lucas growled in disgust. His patience had finally run out.

Realizing that he had almost fallen for such a cheap trick, Lucas's immense pride immediately rebelled. Ignoring Emma's soft whimpers, he abruptly stood up. He grabbed Emma by the arm and ruthlessly dragged her off his bed without the slightest hint of mercy.

"Get out!" Lucas barked as he gripped Emma's shoulder and firmly shoved her toward the door of Presidential Suite 6009.

The door of the presidential suite slammed shut right in front of Emma's face, leaving behind a loud bang that echoed through the silent hallway.

Emma stood motionless outside the door, rubbing the slight redness on her arm caused by Lucas's grip. Instead of feeling sad or humiliated, she let out a quiet chuckle. A victorious grin spread across her beautiful face.

That old man was affected. I could feel the way his body reacted just now, Emma thought with satisfaction.

The confidence that Zane had shattered earlier that night slowly began to return. Emma turned toward her own room with steady steps.

I won't give up, Uncle. We'll see how long you can hold out.

Meanwhile, inside Room 6009, Lucas stood in the middle of the suite, his breathing still uneven. He roughly rubbed his face, trying to erase the lingering warmth of Emma's body that seemed to remain on his skin.

Damn it.

How could a complete stranger shake the defenses he had built as solidly as stone for more than a decade?

The anger burning inside him drove Lucas straight to the work desk, where he grabbed his satellite phone. He dialed an encrypted international number. It took only three rings before the call was answered.

"Was it you who sent another woman to seduce me, Mother?" Lucas asked without any pleasantries, his voice cold and demanding.

On the other end of the line, the weary sigh of an elderly woman of European noble blood could be heard.

"What do you mean, Lucas? I didn't send anyone. Haven't I already promised not to interfere in your love life anymore after you rejected those women time and time again?"

Lucas fell silent for a moment. His brows furrowed tightly. If his mother had not sent the woman to trap him in another inheritance scandal, then what the girl had said in the lounge was true. She had genuinely entered the wrong room by mistake.

"Besides, Lucas..." the woman on the other end continued, her tone now more serious and emphatic. "You should start thinking about your company's position. The board of directors has begun questioning the status of Blackwood Group's sole heir. They want you to get married and have children as soon as possible."

Lucas clenched his fist tightly, his gaze fixed blankly on the window overlooking the glittering lights of the capital city. The issue of an heir was the very reason he had returned to Asia. It was a great secret he had kept hidden from his extended family in Europe.

"You don't need to lecture me about an heir, Mother," Lucas said in a firm, unwavering tone. "I didn't return to this city without a reason. Mother... I'm going to find my son, who disappeared more than a decade ago. I will find him and bring him back to Europe. Don't worry, okay?"

"I hope you find your son as soon as possible."

"I know."

Lucas ended the call without another word. He tossed his phone onto the desk before walking toward the large glass wall. The mature man had never known where his son was.

But Lucas would never give up.