9
The angrier Jordan Turner became, the calmer his voice sounded.
I was so terrified my legs went weak, and I almost fell to my knees.
Triệu Nghiễn Nam was “invited” out by the bodyguards, leaving just the two of us in the hall.
Jordan Turner stood and walked over to me. He had an even more imposing presence now than he had five years ago.
That kind of pressure made it almost impossible to breathe.
I had no time to think. Instinctively, I gave in to save myself.
Before he could say a word, I wrapped my soft body around him.
Taking advantage of the moment, I pressed my chest against his strong thigh. “Mr. Turner… I was wrong.”
“Ava Walker, you really know how to bend without breaking.” Jordan Turner gave a cold laugh, his voice dropping even lower.
I said nothing. I bit my lip and held on tighter.
The man’s thigh beneath my arms was unmistakably tense, hot and hard.
But his tone grew even colder. “I suggest you stop tempting fate.”
“If you’re going to kill me anyway, then let me die in your bed.”
I lifted my tear-drenched eyes to look up at him, putting on a pitiful expression.
“The truth is, all these years, I’ve never been able to forget you…”
“After all, you’re the most impressive man I’ve ever met.”
My soft, boneless fingers traced their way up his strong thigh.
“Ava Walker!”
Jordan Turner suddenly furrowed his brow, his face showing the pain he was trying to suppress. “Are you trying to die?”
I couldn’t help grumbling to myself. He was reacting so strongly, yet still pretending.
Besides, he was so tall—if he really didn’t want me touching him, he could’ve moved away long ago.
I widened my eyes, looking utterly innocent, and lowered my gaze to him. “Mr. Turner…”
I pressed harder with my fingers.
Jordan Turner’s breathing grew heavier.
I curled my lips into a smile and asked him innocently, “Does it feel uncomfortable?”
10
Jordan Turner’s Adam’s apple bobbed violently.
The self-control he was always so proud of had vanished without a trace.
He knew perfectly well that Ava Walker was used to deceiving people.
But every time he touched her, he completely lost his reason.
The moment he walked in, he saw her sitting there with her head bowed, looking meek and helpless.
The curves of her waist and hips were even more alluring than they’d been five years ago.
His mouth was dry, his tongue parched, and a fire raged in his gut.
Jordan Turner knew he should push her away.
Expose her vile true nature in front of his foolish cousin.
Then take her to the police station without a shred of mercy.
But the moment she threw her arms around him, half his reason was gone.
Jordan Turner lowered his eyes to her beautiful, foxlike face.
Even five years ago, she’d been gorgeous—sultry and captivating.
Today, she was even more familiar—and more tempting.
11
“Ava Walker.”
Jordan Turner suddenly reached out and clamped a hand around my chin.
His grip was a little too tight. “Tell me. How much money are you trying to swindle this time?”
Heaven can bear witness.
I’d given up that life long ago.
This time, I’d come out of retirement just once to repay Isabella Turner for saving my life.
Who knew I’d be so unlucky as to run into an old flame?
“I don’t want money.” I stammered.
“Then you’ve got a big appetite. You want a title?”
I shook my head. “I don’t need a title, either.”
“I just…”
“So you’re into Old Seven?”
Who would want a rotten cucumber like him?
“That’s not it, either.”
“Ava Walker, you’d better come clean.”
Jordan Turner let go, his gaze passing over the red mark on my chin.
“Otherwise, I have plenty of ways to make you talk.”
After he spoke, he seemed to remember that my hand was still somewhere it shouldn’t be.
He tightened his grip on my wrist, and I released him at once, wincing in pain.
I pulled my hand back, stung. Men really were two different people in bed and out of it.
Wasn’t he the one who used to call me his good little treasure and beg me?
12
“I just can’t stand watching him toy with women.”
“So I toyed with him, too.”
Jordan Turner seemed amused by my answer.
“Ava Walker, have you forgotten what you did five years ago?”
I felt a little guilty. “I—I turned over a new leaf a long time ago.”
More precisely, five years ago, after I took ten million from him,
I did the thing I’d wanted most to do.
Then I completely erased my old, wretched identity as Ava Walker.
“Turned over a new leaf?”
Jordan Turner looked down at me from on high.
“You see a man and immediately start mooning over him, and you call that turning over a new leaf?”
“Miss Walker, have you forgotten where your hand was just now?”
I glanced at him and muttered an excuse. “We’ve slept together before, so I felt like I could.”
“It’s not like I touch just anyone.”
“I wouldn’t touch your Old Seven.”
“Besides, you seemed to enjoy it, didn’t you?”
“You were just now…”
“Shut up.”
Jordan Turner could feel his temples throbbing.
Five years ago, she’d been timid, gentle, and docile.
Why was she so shameless and reckless with her words now?
I could tell he really was getting a little angry, so I obediently shut my mouth.
Actually, none of them knew.
Including Avery Anderson—he probably never even imagined it, not until the day he died.
If it hadn’t been for Jordan Turner, those three days and nights would never have happened.
If he’d chosen someone else, I wouldn’t have had to fight so hard to escape safely.
And I never would have risked my life to give birth to Isabella Turner.
My body had already been ruined by all those drugs.
That I could get pregnant with Isabella Turner at all was a miracle I could hardly believe.
Thinking about it made me shoot Jordan Turner another aggrieved glance.
I’d suffered so much during the pregnancy.
I’d nearly died giving birth.
Meanwhile, he’d gotten three days of having his way with me, and picked up a beautiful woman without lifting a finger.
13
But I didn’t dare let it show.
After all, when you looked at the whole thing, I was the one in the wrong.
The wealthy families cared deeply about bloodlines.
If anyone found out I’d secretly given birth to Jordan Turner’s child...
They’d probably cut me into eight pieces and toss me into the sea for the fish.
For now, all I could do was pray that Jordan Turner’s anger would die down soon.
I’d go back to Hong Kong.
I couldn’t stay in Australia anymore, either. As soon as he left, I took Isabella Turner and went to America.
We’d never cross paths again, not in this lifetime.
That was what I told myself, but my body was telling a different story.
The truth was, when I’d put my arms around him just now, I’d felt a little spark.
For years, I’d been raising Isabella Turner on my own. I hadn’t had any contact with another man at all.
And my body wasn’t like other women’s.
Men who touched me found it hard to let go.
And after I touched a man, I’d find myself thinking about him day and night.
Especially when he was a man like Jordan Turner.
Maybe those five years of trying to keep myself in check had worn me down too much.
The moment a few thoughts crossed my mind, they started to take root.
I tried to hold myself back, tried not to look at him.
But he looked so damn sexy in that black suit.
“Mr. Turner, can I go back?”
I was getting restless.
If I stayed any longer, he wouldn’t be the one in trouble—I would.
14
Just then, Jordan Turner’s assistant arrived.
He took out a pack of cigarettes and didn’t light one until he’d stepped into the lobby.
I had no idea what the assistant said to him.
Just then, Jordan Turner turned and glanced at me.
When our eyes met, I gave him a sweet, ingratiating smile.
Jordan Turner made no move at all.
He turned away without changing his expression.
I grumbled to myself. He really was stiff as a board from head to toe.
But no matter how stubborn he was, in the end he’d still have to surrender.
Let’s see how long he can keep up the act.
15
When Jordan Turner returned,
I asked him, “Can I go home?”
Isabella Turner would be getting out of school soon, though Grace Miller had offered to pick her up for me.
But Isabella Turner clung to me the most.
Jordan Turner glanced at me. “Grace Miller confessed, too.”
I was startled and began to panic.
“Don’t be angry with her. She really had no choice. She only wanted a divorce.”
“If she wanted a divorce, she could’ve talked it over with the elders.”
“The Turner family rules aren’t just for show.”
“Conspiring to deceive and scheme against her own husband only makes things worse.”
I grew even more panicked. “Then what are you going to do? How will the Turner family handle this?”
Jordan Turner’s unreadable eyes were utterly cold. “Call the police.”
“Setting a trap, fraud, and adultery—together, those charges could put you away for ten years.”
“No…”
“Mr. Turner, you can’t call the police!”
“I was the one who came up with the plan for Grace Miller. You know she’s a sheltered heiress; she wouldn’t have thought up a scheme like that.”
“You want to take the blame for her?”
My face went deathly pale, but little by little, I clenched my jaw.
If Grace Miller hadn’t reached out to help, Isabella Turner and I would’ve died long ago.
“Yes… I taught her all of it.”
“Grace Miller is innocent. I was the one who deceived her.”
“You know I’ve always been a con artist.”
I lifted my head and looked at Jordan Turner, a broken smile slowly spreading across my eyes.
“You were right. Ava Walker—or Taylor Anderson.”
“It was all fake, right?”
I nodded.
“Over the past five years, besides Old Seven, how many other men have you conned?”
“None.”
“None?”
“Honestly, none.”
Jordan Turner clearly didn’t believe me. “Then you’re staying here tonight. Take your time and think about it.”