Chapter 262: Choose One

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Choose One

Nolan Forrester raised his hand and gave her perky bottom a light, yet firm, slap.

His deep voice was husky, laced with a teasing quality.

"Save your energy. You can make all the fuss you want in bed."

Shiloh Sloan froze. Her cheeks instantly burned hot, and even the tips of her ears turned bright red.

’The Nolan Forrester of the past was cold and noble, distant and aloof. When we were dating, I was always the one to take the initiative. But now, he’s become so shameless and audacious!’

"Put me down! I have a shop to run!" She struggled, trying to get back on her feet.

Nolan Forrester’s steps suddenly halted. He held her waist firmly, showing no intention of letting go, and returned to the previous topic with an uncompromising attitude.

"Pick one, and I’ll put you down. Otherwise, it’s not up for discussion."

Shiloh Sloan was speechless.

"Why are you being such a scoundrel now?"

"I learned it from you," he replied matter-of-factly.

"When have I ever been a scoundrel?"

Nolan Forrester lowered his gaze, his dark eyes sweeping over her flushed little face. His tone held a hint of playful reminiscence.

"Do I need to help you recall? Back when we were dating, how clingy you were, how much you took advantage of me... have you forgotten?"

Shiloh Sloan bit her lip, unable to speak.

’Back then, I was utterly captivated by Nolan Forrester’s devastatingly handsome face, as if under a spell. Even a simple hand-hold or a brief hug could make me giddy all night.’

’My attraction to Nolan Forrester back then was genuinely physical.’

’Every day, I thought about how to sleep with him, how to make him mine!’

"Why so quiet?"

She bit her lip and retorted, "That was because I was young and didn’t know any better. It’s different now. You’re old, and I have countless young heartthrobs chasing after me."

"Heh."

Nolan Forrester’s eyes suddenly turned sharp, and he scoffed, "Do they work as hard as I do to satisfy you?"

Shiloh Sloan, "..."

’This man... he has absolutely no filter. He just says whatever explicit thing comes to mind.’

"I pick the first one! I pick it!"

She hastily compromised, just wanting to bluff her way through for now.

’But whether I really choose it or not, isn’t it still up to me in the end?’ she secretly schemed.

Nolan Forrester’s dark eyes narrowed. "For real?"

"Mhm, I’ve chosen. You can put me down now, right?"

"You know the consequences of tricking me?"

"We live across the hall from each other. It’s not like I can run away, can I?"

The moment she finished speaking, her world spun.

The instant her feet touched the ground, she lost her balance and had to grab the wall for support. Her stomach churned violently, and she nearly threw up.

Nolan Forrester’s gaze fell on her slightly pale face, and he said something shocking.

"You’re not... pregnant, are you?"

Shiloh Sloan rolled her eyes hard and snapped at him irritably.

"Why don’t you try being dangled upside down for a while and see if you don’t get nauseous!"

’After last time, I took the morning-after pill right away.’

’There’s no way I’m pregnant!’

’I’m not ready to suddenly become a mother, and I have no idea how to raise a child.’

’After all, I still need someone to take care of me.’

A flicker of guilt crossed Nolan Forrester’s eyes. He gently patted her back.

"How are you feeling now?"

Shiloh Sloan pushed him away.

"Just go back. Don’t disturb my business!"

"I’ll be waiting for you at home."

Nolan Forrester didn’t press the issue. He leaned down, his warm lips brushing gently against her cheek in a light kiss before he turned and left.

Watching his tall, straight back, Shiloh Sloan curled her fingers into a fist, suppressing the turbulent emotions in her heart.

’Why is that man so punchable these days?’

Taking a deep breath, she turned around and inadvertently met a pair of smiling, almond-shaped eyes.

Vesper Grayson was leaning against the wall, watching her with a beaming smile, her eyes full of teasing.

"Well, well. You two really get wild when you’re alone."

Shiloh Sloan coughed lightly, a little embarrassed. "When did you get here?"

"Since you two were kissing."

"So you saw everything?"

"Pretty much," Vesper Grayson teased with a smile. "I wouldn’t have dared to just appear and interrupt. It would’ve ruined the mood. Since your relationship is already this intimate, why not just go with the flow and give him a chance to get back together?"

At her words, the smile vanished from Shiloh Sloan’s face, her eyes becoming clear and perceptive.

"You know what Mrs. Forrester is like. She would never approve of me, much less let me into the Forrester Family."

"And I don’t think Nolan Forrester would really be able to completely break ties with the entire Forrester Family for my sake. He has to go back and take over the family business eventually."

"I’m not going to bet all my hopes on one man."

’I was born with weak family ties and distant relatives. I have very few close friends. The only person I’ve ever been able to rely on is myself. The only people I truly trust are myself and Vesper.’

"That’s true in principle, but you can’t deny that Nolan Forrester’s feelings for you are genuine." Vesper Grayson gazed at the swaying flowers and trees in the courtyard, her tone calm. "If he were really willing to fight his family and break free from all his restraints for you, would you consider taking him back?"

"We’ll see how sincere he is and what he does from now on." Shiloh Sloan’s lips curved into a carefree smile. "I’m not that reckless eighteen-year-old girl anymore. I’m not that easy to win over."

With that, she changed the subject, telling Vesper everything about Summer’s secret schemes to sabotage her shop’s grand opening.

Vesper Grayson was utterly astonished. "As a daughter of the Summers Family, why would she stoop to such low-class tricks?"

"She was lucky, I guess," Shiloh Sloan said flatly. "The day she came to probe, I kept a close eye on her movements, which is why I was prepared. The shop’s surveillance cameras hadn’t been installed yet. If she had really managed to secretly release rats, with the place full of guests on opening day, it would have completely destroyed Whispering Breeze Lodge’s reputation."

"So you’re just going to let it go?" Vesper Grayson frowned. "If she dares to play dirty, you have to get her back."

"I have no solid proof, nothing to hold against her."

A cold glint flashed in Shiloh Sloan’s eyes. She knew Summer was narrow-minded and would never let the matter rest.

For that reason, she had already installed hidden surveillance cameras all around Whispering Breeze Lodge.

If Summer dared to take such a risk again, Shiloh would definitely catch her in the act and leave her with no room for denial.

’Vesper Grayson secretly felt relieved that she and Elias didn’t have to deal with this kind of mess. The Hawthorne Family elders were open-minded and understanding, respecting the younger generation’s choices. Her mother-in-law was gentle and magnanimous, and her father-in-law was upright and impartial. No one gave her a hard time.’

’If she had to deal with an elder as overbearing, picky, and controlling as Mrs. Forrester, her life would surely be chaotic and she’d never have a day of peace.’

"You have to be careful. Don’t let yourself get blindsided."

"I know what I’m doing."

"Have Quentin Stone and Magnus stay at the shop to help out. They can manage things and protect you."

Shiloh Sloan nodded. "Once the final payment comes in, I’ll sell off the company I’m running. Then I’ll have them come to the shop to work as both waiters and security."

’The pay and benefits would be excellent, far more stable than their previous life-or-death days of underground fighting and living on the edge.’

At ten at night, Vesper Grayson and her party finished their meal and said their goodbyes.

The kitchen staff cleaned up and also left one by one.

Shiloh Sloan turned off the lights and locked up, ending a busy day. She was exhausted, but she cherished this down-to-earth, bustling slice of life.

After a shower, she leaned against the headboard, slowly towel-drying her long, damp hair.

Suddenly, a clap of thunder split the night sky outside, followed by the pitter-patter of rain.

The dense raindrops beat against the windowpane with a sharp crackling sound, and watery trails snaked across the entire glass. In an instant, the downpour intensified, and a vast, misty rain shrouded the small courtyard, blurring the view.

After drying her hair, the phone on her bed vibrated softly.

It was a message from Nolan Forrester: [You still not coming over?]

Her fingertip tapped the screen as she replied curtly: [Tired. Some other day.]

She casually tossed the phone onto the pillow beside her and began her skincare routine in earnest.

’After turning twenty-five, the condition of her skin had started to decline. She never dared to slack off on her maintenance, as she couldn’t compare to those with peerless, natural beauty.’

’Even if it wasn’t for others, she could do it for herself.’

’A woman’s beauty is for herself, not for the pleasure of others.’

The phone vibrated again, this time with a demanding, non-negotiable tone: [You dare to play me? If you don’t come over, I’m coming to find you.]

Shiloh Sloan’s brow furrowed slightly as she quickly replied: [Don’t come. I have no energy tonight. I’m going to sleep.]

’I’ve really spoiled him.’

’Why should I obey whatever he says?’

’The biggest taboo in a relationship is one-sided accommodation. You can’t spoil a man, and you certainly can’t let him get his way every time. You have to make him yearn for what he can’t have, to keep him thinking about you. Only then will he learn to cherish you.’

Her skincare routine finished, she lay down in her bed, reached out to turn off the bedside lamp, and the room was instantly plunged into silent darkness.

Just then.

CRASH—!

A piercing sound of shattering glass suddenly tore through the silence of the rainy night, abrupt and terrifying.

Shiloh Sloan’s heart seized. Her eyes flew open, staring intently at the dark window.

’The rain outside was heavy, but there was no wind. It was impossible for the wind to have shattered the glass.’

’A burglar!’

Her heart tightened. She immediately grabbed her phone and opened the feed from the courtyard’s surveillance cameras.

On the screen, a figure in a black raincoat was pacing back and forth, skulking around.

The moment she turned off her lights, the person had scaled the wall into the courtyard, smashed a ground-floor window, and climbed inside.

A chill instantly swept through her entire body.

In a panic, she called Nolan Forrester.

The moment the call connected, the man’s low, husky voice came through, tinged with a smile.

"What’s wrong? Changed your mind?"

Having just been rejected by her, Nolan Forrester was both annoyed and amused. He had already changed his clothes and was about to come over in person to teach her a lesson about keeping her word.

"Nolan Forrester, someone broke into my house!"

Shiloh Sloan kept her voice low, her tone filled with an undeniable tension. She pressed her ear tightly against her bedroom door, concentrating on any sound from outside.

The amusement on the other end of the line instantly vanished. He asked in a low voice, "Where are you?"

"In the bedroom."

"Lock the door. Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right there."

"Okay. You be careful."

After hanging up, she immediately dialed 911.

Then, she fumbled for the sharp scissors in her drawer and clutched them tightly in her palm, her fingertips turning white from the pressure.

’Although I’ve learned a few basic self-defense moves from Quentin Stone and Magnus, the physical and strength difference between a man and a woman is vast. In a direct confrontation, I stand no chance.’

In the silence, soft, slow footsteps could be heard from downstairs, step by step approaching the staircase, and finally moving slowly toward her bedroom.

Every step seemed to land on her frayed nerves.

Shiloh Sloan backed away repeatedly until her back hit the cold wall. Her pupils constricted as she stared fixedly at the closed wooden door.

The footsteps finally stopped outside her bedroom door.

The next second, the doorknob was turned gently and slowly, twice.

’Thankfully, I always have the habit of locking my door before bed.’

’If I had been careless tonight, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The thought was terrifying.’

The person outside tried the door twice without success and then let out a low chuckle.

The sinister laugh seeped through the thin door panel, mingling with the sound of the pouring rain outside. It was eerie and bizarre, enough to make one’s blood run cold.

"I know you’re in there."

"I’ve been watching you for a long time. Did you think hiding would work? You can’t escape."

After the words fell, the area outside the door fell silent once more.

A few seconds later, a pungent, strange smell began to seep in from under the door, and faint white smoke quietly billowed into the bedroom.

Shiloh Sloan’s expression changed drastically. She immediately covered her mouth and nose, staggering back to the window, intending to open it for air and to call for help.

But she couldn’t avoid inhaling some of it.

A wave of weakness and lethargy instantly washed over her. It felt as if her strength was being drained away in an instant.

Her legs gave out, and she slid down the wall to sit on the cold floor.

The scissors and phone slipped from her grasp and fell heavily to the ground.

’Damn it!’

’The intruder came prepared, with knockout drugs!’

The person outside was picking the lock.

She was limp and powerless, lacking even the strength to lift a hand. All she could do was grit her teeth and pray frantically.

’I can only hope Nolan Forrester gets here quickly!’

A minute later, the door was pushed open from the outside.

A soaking wet figure walked in.

BOOM—

A clap of thunder exploded outside. A pale bolt of lightning suddenly split the dark night sky, momentarily illuminating the dim bedroom.

In that fleeting flash of light, Shiloh Sloan saw the face hidden under the brim of the raincoat’s hood.