Ava tossed and turned beneath the thin comforter, staring at the ceiling as the quiet of the house pressed down on her thoughts.
Maybe I shouldn't have stayed.
The idea made her bite her lip.
Does this make me look… careless?
She rolled onto her side, hugging the pillow to her chest.
Forget it. What's done is done. I'll deal with it when it comes. If Jason comes in… I'll just go along with it. Not too eagerly. Half-heartedly, at least.
Her cheeks warmed at the thought.
I stayed single for so many years… and the first man I get tangled up with is a known playboy.
She exhaled softly, then frowned.
But he really is handsome. And that body… When he gets close, he even smells good. Being held by him must feel—
Her thoughts cut off abruptly.
Ava squeezed her eyes shut, her face burning.
Her heart was a mess—half anticipation, half hesitation—twisting tighter with every passing second.
She waited.
And waited.
But the door never opened.
No footsteps. No movement outside.
Confusion crept in.
After a long moment, Ava quietly slipped out of bed and cracked the door open. The hallway on the second floor was dim and silent. The living area beyond was empty.
Jason wasn't there.
Her gaze shifted to the bedroom at the end of the hall. The door was closed.
She hesitated, then softly called out, "Jason?"
No answer.
She tried again, quieter this time.
Still nothing.
Carefully, she twisted the doorknob.
What she saw froze her in place.
Jason was lying on the bed, eyes closed, breathing steady and calm. One arm rested casually at his side, his expression completely relaxed.
He was… asleep.
Actually asleep.
Ava gently closed the door, her face flushing crimson.
Seriously?
He didn't overthink it at all?
Her embarrassment turned sharp.
Was everything just my imagination? Or—wait—am I really that unappealing? I'm staying in his house, and he just… goes to sleep?
Anxious, irritated, and unreasonably ashamed, Ava retreated to the guest room.
If anyone could hear her thoughts, she'd probably want the floor to open up and swallow her whole.
She lay down again, but sleep refused to come.
Earlier, she had been struggling with whether giving herself to Jason so soon would be inappropriate.
Now, she was struggling with something entirely different.
Why did he sleep alone? Didn't he have any thoughts about me at all?
What Ava didn't know was that Jason hadn't misunderstood—or ignored—anything.
He was simply respecting her.
Jason wasn't in a rush. He already knew that Ava had never been in a relationship. It was only natural that she valued her first time.
Some men would take advantage of the moment. Some would even resort to getting someone drunk.
Jason didn't judge them—but he didn't need to be like that.
To put it bluntly, crossing that line without full consent was just coercion wearing a mask. And even legally, it was playing with fire.
More importantly, Jason hated force.
He had no shortage of women who threw themselves at him willingly. He could afford to choose.
What he wanted was sincerity.
Even if someone acted shy or hesitant, there was a difference between playful resistance and true unwillingness. Jason understood that line clearly—and refused to cross it.
Morning came quietly.
Jason woke up refreshed and clear-headed. After washing up, he headed downstairs.
The smell of food greeted him immediately.
In the kitchen, Ava stood in a light apron, carefully preparing breakfast.
Eric Carter and his wife, Angela Carter, hovered nearby, clearly trying to help, but Ava kept smiling and gently nudging them aside.
"Please, let me do it," she insisted. "I'm a guest—I should help."
Jason paused at the stairs.
Seeing him, Ava shot him a sideways glance.
For some reason… there was a hint of resentment in her eyes.
Jason blinked.
Did I do something wrong?
The morning light streamed through the windows, illuminating her expression—soft, complicated, and just a little dangerous.
He had a feeling… today might not be as peaceful as he'd hoped.
Ava prepared a breakfast that was both nutritious and delicious, clearly putting extra care into it. Without saying a word, she made a noticeably larger portion and placed it in front of Jason Carter.
His parents ate with great enthusiasm, praising her nonstop. The more they ate, the more satisfied they became with Ava.
Jason also smiled and said casually, "Ava, you're really impressive. You're good in the living room and even better in the kitchen."
Ava's lips curved into a sweet smile, and the faint resentment she'd been holding onto vanished instantly—she was surprisingly easy to placate.
She picked up a piece of steak and placed it onto Jason's plate. "You eat so much. Have some more."
Jason didn't stand on ceremony. He took the steak and ate it naturally. Seeing that he still wasn't slowing down, Ava turned back to the stove and fried another piece for him.
After breakfast, Jason took Ava out for a walk. This was one of the advantages of living in a Park—wide paths, fresh air, and a quiet sense of luxury.
After strolling halfway around the area, Jason led Ava. As they climbed the stone steps, he naturally reached out and took her hand.
Ava didn't refuse. Instead, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
She thought Jason was simply taking her out to relax, unaware that once they reached the mountaintop, he quietly set up a Spirit-Gathering Sub-Array.
The process itself was incredibly simple. Jason didn't need to perform any visible actions—he merely confirmed it through the system. Within half a minute, it was complete.
Nothing seemed different on the surface, but Jason could clearly sense the surrounding energy beginning to converge.
The villa hadn't been built there yet, but the land approval was already finalized. Setting things up in advance wouldn't affect construction at all.
Soon after, Jason brought Ava back home.
Ava resumed practicing the piano. With the competition approaching, playing made her feel calm and fulfilled.
Jason stayed with her for a bit, then went off to read and binge-watch a few shows. From time to time, he answered phone calls, efficiently finalizing the remaining details of the two-billion-dollar project.
After a while, Ava grew tired and headed to the poolside.
Jason was already there, wearing only swimming trunks.
The moment she noticed his physique, her face flushed. She quickly looked away—but after a second, she couldn't help sneaking a few glances back. Pretending to be composed, she asked, "Where did Uncle Eric and Aunt Angela go?"
"They went back to the hold house to bring stuff," Jason replied. "I told them not to bother, but they insisted. Said it'd be a waste to leave everything untouched. I even offered to hire people, but they wouldn't agree."
He sounded a little helpless. Those stuff themselves weren't worth much, but he understood—it was the result of their hard work. Forcing them to abandon it would only make them unhappy.
Besides, their health had only improved after drinking the potions. As long as they didn't overdo it, a little physical labor was more like exercise.
Ava nodded gently. "I understand. It's something they worked for. After my piano competition, if I have time next visit, I can help them harvest."
Jason laughed. "Forget it. With your delicate skin, heavy work would ruin your hands. And if your fingers get injured, how will you play the piano?"
"If I can't do things that hurt my hands," Ava replied casually, "I can do things that don't."
Jason raised an eyebrow, amused. "Then I'll let you experience it next time if there's a chance. For now—want to go for a swim?"
Ava glanced at his body again, temptation flickering in her eyes. "But I didn't bring a swimsuit."
"That's easy," Jason said with a smile. "I'll have the nanny buy one. What are your measurements?"
Ava rolled her eyes at him, her cheeks reddening. "I'm not telling you. I'll tell her myself."
Not long after, the swimsuit arrived.
Ava changed and returned to the poolside.
She'd chosen a one-piece—modest, not overly revealing—but her figure was excellent, and her skin was fair and smooth like fresh snow. Combined with her gentle, scholarly aura, even the small amount of exposed skin was captivating.
Jason's gaze lingered without restraint.
Ava noticed. Her face warmed, but instead of feeling embarrassed, she felt secretly pleased.
So I'm not lacking in charm after all.
With that thought, she even struck a subtle pose.
Jason's eyes lit up.
Ava let out a soft laugh.
Suddenly, Jason reached out and pulled her toward him.
"A-ah!"
She let out a startled cry as she fell into the temperature-controlled pool.
Water splashed everywhere.
Soon, the two of them were laughing and splashing, chasing each other through the water.
After a moment, Jason wrapped an arm around Ava's waist.
Their skin touched.
Ava didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned fully against him.
The distance between them vanished.
Jason's lips were so close.
Ava's breathing grew unsteady. Her heart raced wildly in her chest.
This time, she didn't hesitate.
She leaned forward and kissed him.
There are 150 chapters ahead in my Patreon. If you are interested can check it out.
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