The air in the room was still.
"Bella." Clarice heard the nclearly. Alarm bells went off in her mind.
The Boss had promised her that the drug wouldpletely disrupt the emotional system and that it would erase all lingering affection for Bella. He assured her that Justin would no longer feel anything for his former lover.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIf that were true, why was he mentioning that woman again? Justin stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes unfocused. He had always believed that he did not need anyone in his life. Yet, when he absentmindedly called out for Bella, he felt an undeniable emptiness. A hollow space echoed deep inside him, and it refused to be ignored.
He had not yet realized that this echo existed because his heart had never truly otten Bella.
While Justin was lost in his thoughts, a pair of delicate hands glided over his shoulders, slipping around his neck. A faint, alluring scent drifted into his nose.
Justin glanced down and found Clarice, her eyes soft and filled with warmth. His expression immediately hardened.
"It seems that you're not very skilled at tying a tie, Mr. Justin,” Clarice said gently, her fingers tracing the deep gray fabric of his tie. Her voice was soft and persuasive. “Lethelp you. The board of directors will be arriving soon. You wouldn't want to look unpresentable, would you?" Even though she wore high heels, the man's towering height forced her on her tiptoes, drawing them closer. Their breaths mingled, and their noses were nearly touching.
Justin's brows furrowed slightly, and just as he parted his lips to speak, a set of heavy footsteps echoed from the doorway.
He raised his head sharply, only to see Arnold's cold expression as he stood there, witnessing the whole scene.
From Arnold's angle, Justin and Clarice appeared deeply entangled, as though they were about to kiss.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmArnold's fox-like eyes widened, and the blood in his body surged furiously, rushing straight to his head.
"Ah, Dr. Larson," Clarice greeted with a bright, innocent smile, as though nothing was amiss. "Please don't misunderstand. Mr. Justin seemed to be having trouble with his tie, and I was just helping him." Arnold's lips curled into a cold sneer, and he marched directly up to Justin.
Slap-! He swung his hand and delivered a vicious slap across Justin's face! Justin's head snapped to the side, and a red imprint of Arnold's fingers blossomed on his pale skin.
Clarice quickly stepped in front of Justin. "Dr. Larson! How could you hit him for no reason?" "You better get out of my way. I'm not a gentleman," Arnold growled, his tongue pressing against the roof of his mouth. "Say another word, and I'll slap you too!" "You-!" Furious, Clarice paled but was shoved aside roughly by Arnold.
"Justin, you've been awake for only a few days, and you're already so eager to replace the old with the new?" Arnold's eyes were filled with rage. "Did getting knocked on head trigger your scumbag instincts? You've got emotional issues, not amnesia, rave you otten Bella is your girlfriend? "Even if you don't love her anymore, do you have no sense of morality left? How can you be so openly involved with another woman when you already have a girlfriend What kind of person are you?"