Chapter 256: I want both of you

Knock-knock.

Chloe knocked on the door of Vlad’s room. A few seconds later, the door opened, revealing Vlad’s drunken figure beyond it.

He no longer wore the blazer or waistcoat, instead draped in a half-tucked black shirt with the upper four buttons undone.

His half-open crimson eyes looked at Chloe, a smile forming on his face. He ran a hand through his hair, moving the strands away from his face as he whispered, "My Chloe baby."

Chloe’s brows twitched. She could smell the strong caramel aroma coming from him.

"Why did you drink so much when it was your first time?" she hissed, her tone low. He was looking even more enchanting in this vulnerable state.

That broad chest and those glimpses of his upper abs through his half-open shirt were already sending heat rushing to Chloe’s face.

She had seen him shirtless countless times, but now that they had confessed their feelings to each other, she couldn’t look at him the same way as before.

"I want to tell you something," Vlad said in a husky tone, leaning against the doorframe.

Chloe entered, closed the door behind her, and moved his arm around her shoulders.

"Tell me tomorrow," she said, guiding him towards the bed. "Sleep for now."

They had only taken a couple of steps when Vlad’s hand slipped from her shoulder, reaching her abdomen from behind. His other hand also gripped her stomach from the other side, pulling her into a hug, her back pressing against Vlad’s chest.

"Are you... still angry at me?" Vlad asked, his lips close to her ear, sending shivers through her whole body.

She tried to remove his hand from her abdomen, but his grip was too firm. "I’m not," she murmured. "So go to bed now. Don’t be a bad boy."

Vlad’s face leaned closer as he gently bit her ear. "You know when you lie to me, your nose turns red."

At this point, it was not just her nose. Her whole face had turned crimson, her body squirming in his arms.

"You lifted my sweater in public," Chloe complained, sulking. "And even made fun of my tummy. What if someone else saw it?"

"I wasn’t making fun of you..." Vlad explained, his lips brushing against her skin. "I also made sure that no one was looking at us when I lifted the sweater."

His arms wrapped around her abdomen, his hands reaching her sides on both sides as he continued, "Still, I’m sorry. Don’t be angry at me, hmm?"

His lips reached her cheek from behind and gave her a gentle peck.

Her heart completely melted from his tenderness, a low gasp escaping her lips. How could she bear to be angry at him when he was being so kind and lovable?

"I’m also sorry for hitting you," she murmured, turning her head towards him and kissing him back on the cheek.

A faint crimson hue appeared on Vlad’s face, his drunken act faltering.

"Also..." Chloe continued, lowering her eyes. "You can stop with your drunken act now."

Vlad’s brows rose in surprise. "H-how do you know?" he asked, his voice returning to normal.

"You can fool anyone with your acting, but not me." Chloe’s voice was flat, but there was an undeniable hint of smugness hidden beneath it.

Vlad released a sigh. He loosened his grip from her abdomen, his one hand suddenly reaching lower.

Before she could react, he picked her up in a princess carry.

"What are you doing?" she gasped, tightly holding him by the neck.

He didn’t reply, taking her directly to the bed. He put her down at the center of the master bed, the soft mattress compressing beneath them as he lay atop her, supporting himself on his hands placed on either side of her.

Chloe gulped, her pale lavender eyes looking up into Vlad’s crimson ones.

"Your eyes are so beautiful," Vlad said, moving the strands of her hair away from her face with the gentle brush of his fingers.

Chloe blinked quickly. He was being too direct with his compliments. Perhaps because he lacked any filter when he spoke, his casual statement, which he thought of as a mere fact, was making it all the more difficult for Chloe not to feel shy.

After remaining silent for a few seconds, she suddenly lifted her sweater, revealing her white, milky stomach.

"Vlad, just so you know, I’m not fat," she hissed, her eyes closed in embarrassment.

Her tummy didn’t carry any of the soft belly rolls from before, replaced by her faint but undeniably beautiful abs.

"That ugly bump was just temporary," she continued, her tone strained. She didn’t want Vlad to think that she was unattractive or ugly.

Chloe’s eyes opened as she felt her ear being pulled. Vlad’s eyes were narrowed at her, his hand holding her ear.

"There is nothing ugly about any part of you, idiot," Vlad muttered. "And I truly don’t mind how you look. You will always be my adorable Chloe to me, you understand?"

Chloe blinked, agreeing with her eyes. Vlad removed his hand from her ear. His eyes turned sideways as he revealed, "Besides, I found your tummy rolls cute. That’s why I couldn’t help myself from pinching them."

At that moment, if one were to compare a ripe tomato with Chloe’s face, they would say that her face was more crimson. She didn’t know what Vlad found cute about those embarrassing folds, but she learned an undeniable fact.

She had fallen even deeper in love with him. Dangerously deeper.

Her hands moved to his face, cupping his cheeks. "I’m your woman now, right?" she asked, just to be sure.

"Of course." Vlad’s response came in an instant, accompanied by a bright smile.

"Then what about Seraphina?" she asked, tilting her head.

The smile vanished from Vlad’s face, a hint of nervousness appearing in his eyes.

"A-about that..." He gulped, rising from above her and sitting beside her.

His head lowered, his body tensed as he confessed, "She is also my woman. I want both of you as my girlfriends."