MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

When Leslie returned, she was wearing her white strapless dress. She looked stunning, and even Arnold had to admit that the garment suited her. Dressed as she was, she appeared delicate and charming, and her short blonde hair radiated femininity.

When Arnold looked at Leslie, he recalled the kiss that she had given him in the bathroom, and his desire for her was undeniable.

Leslie had said that she would bring a decent boyfriend home, but Arnold hadn't taken her seriously. By bringing this decent, extraordinary man home, she had really surprised him. He didn't expect that Leslie would be entangled with someone coming from a rich family. 

When Leslie walked past Arnold, there was a coy smile on her face.

Arnold stared at her without blinking his eyes. Her stunning eyes tugged at his heartstrings.

When Leslie stopped in front of Hugo, she did a little twirl to show off her gown, and she said, "Am I pretty?"

Instead of replying, Hugo seized Leslie's arm and pulled her into his arms, making her sit on his legs. Then he said, "You look very beautiful, but I would prefer to see you naked."

Everyone was shocked by what Hugo had said, but no one was more shocked than Arnold. Not only was he shocked, though. He was angry. He thought to himself, Nobody talks to my sister like that and got away with it!

Arnold walked towards Leslie with cold, heavy steps, intending to drag her away from him. Before he could touch her, though, she smiled and said, "This is my boyfriend. Isn't he good-looking?" As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around Hugo's neck.

Arnold's body suddenly stiffed. He felt like his heart had been stabbed by something sharp. Suddenly, the air in the room seemed very thin, and the quiet was oppressive.

Alex coughed twice deliberately to diffuse the tension. "Why hasn't Eric and Antony arrived yet?"

"They said they are already on the road," Owen replied. "Oh, by the way, Nathan, Eric said that he had prepared a big gift for you, you know, for your 26th birthday."

Nathan raised his eyebrows. He couldn't imagine what Eric would buy him.

As Owen finished speaking, the front door opened, and Eric walked in. Owen laughed and said, "Speak of the devil..."

"...and he appears!" Eric chuckled as he finished Owen's sentence.

Everyone looked to the door, and when they saw the girl that came in behind him, they were all stunned. Alex rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Then he turned to Owen and said, "Owen, is there something wrong with my eyes?"

Owen: "The girl next to Eric is..."

Eric had a gentle hold on the girl's hand. His eyes swept over everybody's surprised faces, and there was a look of satisfaction on his own face. Then, finally, his eyes landed on Nathan's face.

When Nathan saw the look on Eric's face, he clenched and unclenched his fists, and his nails dug into his palms.

Suddenly, Eric pushed the girl forwards.

"Nathan," he said. "This is your birthday present. Do you like it?"

The girl looked a little frightened. There was a lackluster look in her eyes, and she seemed confused, as if she didn't know where she was or what was happening.

Crystal gave Eric a suspicious look. Did he say that the girl is a birthday present for Nathan? Is he crazy? This man is without shame!

And this wasn't even the first time he'd gifted a woman to Nathan! Crystal was disgusted by the way Eric treated women as objects.

Eric didn't see anything wrong with his behavior, though. He nodded to the girl and said, "Helen, don't be afraid. Nathan still remembers you."

Everyone gasped when they heard Helen's name. Was this Helen Bush?!?! - they wondered.

Crystal stared at the girl in front of her in surprise. It can't be her! - she thought - Helen Bush is dead. She committed suicide over something that Nathan had done.

Eric was grinning. "Nathan!" he exclaimed.

"You must be surprised. Helen wasn't doing very well, but when she heard it was your birthday, she perked right up!" Then he looked at Helen and said, "Helen. Your big brother, Alex, Owen, and Leslie are all here."

Helen smiled shyly and said, "Hello, everyone."

Alex walked closer to Helen and looked at her carefully. "Helen, is it really you?" 

Helen squinted, and it looked like she was having a hard time seeing straight, but her hearing was just fine. "Alex," she replied, "long time no see."

Alex frowned and asked her if there was something wrong with her eyes.

Helen: "Well, three years ago, I jumped off a cliff, and although a fisherman rescued me, my eyes were damaged...."

"Hey, don't just stand there," Alex said.

"Come and sit down." He wanted to lead her to a seat in the living room, but Helen stepped back and asked, "Can I sit next to Nathan?"

Everyone turned to see how Crystal would respond to her request. Before she could do anything, though, Leslie stood up and pulled her out of the room.

Crystal scowled once they were alone and said, "What the heck was that all about?"

Leslie sighed and said, "Do you know who she is?"

Crystal: "Helen Bush?"

Leslie nodded and gave her a severe look.

Crystal began to feel anxious suddenly. "What's the problem?" she asked nervously.

"Isn't she Eric Bush's sister?

Leslie: "She is, but besides being Eric's sister, she has another identity."

Crystal had no idea what Leslie was talking about, and she was getting impatient. Finally, she gave her friend an aggressive look and said, "Whatever it is that you have to say, please just say it! I'm a big girl. I can handle any of the news that you have to give me!"

Leslie swallowed and said, "Well, you're going to hear this eventually, so I guess it's better coming from me... Helen is Nathan's fianceé... Or she was, at least..."

When Crystal heard that, her mouth nearly hit the floor, and she was utterly speechless.