Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

In the past, Timothy would not bother to say another word or offer any explanation. However, he opened his mouth once more and explained clearly, “You answered my call without authorization and deleted the call records to hide that fact. Your dereliction of duty at work has already reached a standard that would necessitate expulsion.”

Tiana never expected Timothy to know that she had secretly answered the call. She knew that she had done it very carefully.

“I, Mr. Barker…I, I…” She opened her mouth to explain and secure a lifeline for herself.

Before she could even think of a reason, she heard Timothy’s merciless sentence. “More importantly, you went into Mrs. Barker’s room, wore her pajamas, and seduced her husband before her very eyes.”

“Get lost. Don’t make me repeat it a second time.”

‘Before her very eyes?

‘Mrs. Barker…?’

Tiana felt like she had been struck by lightning. She turned her neck abruptly and looked stiffly at Samantha.

Timothy really was married…and his wife really was Samantha…

‘But how?!’

Tiana’s knees softened and she slumped onto the floor, unable to say another word.

…

The door slammed shut.

Timothy lowered his eyes and looked at still-stunned Samantha. There was a hint of joy that was not easily detectable in her deep eyes.

The man’s voice resonated throughout the quiet villa. The slightly hoarse timbre was particularly pleasing to the ear. “Are you satisfied with the way this was handled, Mrs. Barker?”

Samantha had not been able to react yet and remained silent for some time.

The corner of Timothy’s lips curled up in a smile as well. He took one step toward Samantha and closed in the distance between them. He bent down slightly, lowered his head, and practically pressed his thin lips against her earlobe. His voice became more and more muffled and he said, “When you made all those requests to me earlier, did you do so in the capacity as my wife? As Mrs. Barker?”

His warm breaths caressed her entire ear.

Samantha’s consciousness snapped right back and her eyelashes trembled fiercely as she listened to him.

She took a step back quickly and distanced herself from Timothy.

The tables were turned in a way that was truly unexpected and she was bamboozled at that moment. She thought that Timothy deliberately brought someone else back on the day of her lunar calendar birthday to anger her, but it turned out not to be the case?

What were his intentions then?

Then there was the question he asked… She somehow had a bad feeling about it.

Speaking before clarifying the situation would only open up avenues for error. Samantha suddenly covered her head and acted drunk. Her expression became hazy and she asked instead of answering, “What did I say? Did I say anything? I… I’m drunk. I don’t remember anything. Argh, my head hurts like hell. I’m going to sleep…”

She even burped while she spoke and lifted her feet to try and leave.

Despite the many solutions she could use to handle the situation, leaving was the best of them all!

Timothy, however, seemed to see through her thoughts. His big palm reached out for her wrist, after which he applied some force to push her against the shoe cabinet in the hallway.

He propped his hands on both sides of her waist, locking her firmly in front of him.

Timothy did not allow her to escape and his black eyes stared luminously on her face. The next sentence he said was clear and the pronunciation was very articulate. “You forbid me from bringing another woman back here and even threw that big of a fit at me. Are you jealous, Mrs. Barker?”

Jealousy…

Samantha’s black pupils shrank suddenly and her fingers pressed hard against the door of the shoe cabinet.

She exerted a lot of effort to suppress the panic in her eyes and forced herself to feign composure.

Then, she smiled sweetly at Timothy and wrapped her hands over his neck all of a sudden, tiptoeing and leaning her red lips against his ear.

She spoke in a voice that was charmingly gentle. “You’re right, I’m jealous.”

Timothy’s straight, towering figure trembled abruptly and an unusual light flickered deep in his eyes.

Samantha paused for a second and succinctly added four more words, “In your dreams, maybe!”

Seizing his momentary daze, she pushed Timothy forcefully and ran straight upstairs.

Timothy was taken by surprise and ended up being pushed two steps back. By the time he raised his gaze and looked over, Samantha had long vanished from his line of sight.

…

Samantha ran back to the master bedroom, closed the door, and locked it. After leaning against the door panel, she covered her heart and felt it beating extremely fast.

She had nearly…nearly exposed her true emotions to Timothy.

She continued to breathe deeply and calm her emotions as she perked her ears and listened to the movement outside. It was only when she was sure that Timothy did not chase her that she felt relieved.

After about ten minutes, Samantha finally calmed herself down.

She looked at the nightdress on the floor and could not help but feel nauseous again. After picking it up and tossing it into the trash can, she grabbed some air freshener and sprayed the entire room. She even changed the bedsheet and put a new one, lying down only when she had thoroughly cleared Tiana’s lingering scent.

She could not help but recall everything that happened that night and analyzed Timothy’s thoughts. A sudden realization came to her and she sat up abruptly on the bed.

Was Timothy’s intention not to disgust her, but to use other women to test whether she still had feelings for him?

Furthermore, she would easily be provoked into revealing her true thoughts because it was a special day.

Was that why he asked her whether or not she was angry and jealous?

Although she denied it, her behavior was far from convincing.

Why did he have to test her though?

She asked herself whether she had been cautious enough during that period and answered in the affirmative. She had avoided coming into contact with him insofar as it was possible for her to do so and avoided him to the best of her ability.

Could he have been trying to prove his charm after getting upset over the way she eluded him and viewed him with disdain?

It was not that Samantha was unwilling to consider the good side of things, but rather, she dared not due to the lessons she learned in the past. How insensitive toward pain did she have to be in order to stop hurting herself?

After thinking about it a few times over, she still felt that Timothy had no good intentions irrespective of what his thoughts were!

Fortunately… Fortunately, Samantha had finally calmed herself down.

…

Inside the study.

Timothy’s phone rang and he glanced at the caller ID before answering, “Yes.”

Zachary’s loud voice blasted from the speaker. “Hey, Timmy! What’re you up to? Come out for a drink or two. Jonny’s here too.”

“I’m busy.” Timothy refused without a second thought. After a brief pause, he said again, “I’m spending time at home with my wife.”

Zachary inhaled sharply. “You’ve got to be kidding? Timmy… Blink twice if Samantha kidnapped you.”

Before Timothy could speak, Jonathan’s cold voice rang again. “What did you do, Tim?”

He was rarely one for gossip.

Timothy narrowed his eyes, opened his mouth awkwardly, and briefly explained everything that happened that day.

Upon hearing that, Jonathan asked again, “And it worked? I should try too.”

When one taught, the other learned.

Zachary could not tolerate it any longer and said, “You’re a perv, Timmy! And you’re even more of a perv, Jonny!”

After taking a deep breath, Zachary’s tone became serious all of a sudden. “That’s a lot of stupid stuff you did, Timmy. Have you….fallen for Samantha again?”