MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

The guards led Carlos to the infirmary. Eric cut the rope that bound Crystal's hands and legs, and they followed behind them. They had not been waiting long when they heard one of the guards begin to yell.

"What was that?" Crystal wondered, and she ran into the infirmary.

When she opened the door, she saw that Carlos had knocked a guard to the ground. The other guard was so frightened that he had backed himself into a corner.

Crystal approached him as if nothing were out of the ordinary. She held out her hand to him and said, "Carlos. It's me, Crystal. Let me help you."

Carlos hung his head but said nothing.

Crystal nodded to the guards, and they ran out of the room. Then she put her hands on Carlos's shoulders, turned him around, and led him to the next room where the showers were.

There was a large bench running down the center of the room, and there were four open showers on either side of it. Each one had an extendable showerhead so that people could bathe from a seated position. Crystal sat him in front of the shower closest to the entrance.

Crystal was about to get the showerhead, but before she could, he grabbed her, pulled her closer, and sniffed her body. He liked the smell. It helped him calm down so that he could start to arrange his thoughts.

Seeing him in this state made Crystal cry. She could not imagine what horrible dr*gs he had been given. She lifted his chin, and when she looked in his eyes, she saw the remnants of his humanity. "Hold still," she said. "Let me get you cleaned up."

Everything seemed fine, but then Carlos bit her wrist.

Crystal could not believe it. This was the second time that she had been bitten by him today. Damn my bad luck! - she thought. Her first instinct was to pull away, but she knew that it would only make the situation worse. So, instead of fighting him, she forced herself to relax. She ran her hands through his hair and said, "If you need to bite me, I don't mind. It doesn't hurt." She looked him in the eyes. "Will you feel better after you've bitten me?"

Carlos eyed her suspiciously. There was blood streaming out from either side of his mouth.

"I don't know if you regret meeting me or not," Crystal continued. "I am sorry that you have had to suffer because of me." Tears began to stream down her face. "If it were not for me, Eric would not have hurt you."

Finally, Carlos let her go, and he used his hand to stop the flow of blood on her wrist. Crystal smiled meekly and said, "Will you let me help you?"

Carlos nodded and let her go.

This time, when Crystal went to get the showerhead, he did not stop her.

****

Eric watched from the hallway as Crystal took care of Carlos. He had his phone pressed against the side of his face. Paul was on the other end of the line. "It looks like you are ahead," Eric admitted. "But don't get too excited. This is just because your prey is more stupid than mine is."

"Is my prey stupid?" Paul asked. "You had better watch your mouth if you wish to remain my friend."

"But you call Nancy stupid all of the time," Eric complained.

"I can call her stupid because she is mine," Paul explained. "What gives you the right?"

"I suppose, nothing," Eric replied. "I apologize." The call came to a quick conclusion after that, and when his eyes returned to Crystal and Carlos, he stepped into the room.

When Carlos saw him, he immediately became restless. He bared his teeth, and he let out a warning sound between grit teeth. Crystal immediately turned around and told Eric that he needed to leave. He had already seen the bite on her hand, though, and he refused to go.

"He bit you again," Eric argued. "You are not safe!"

"I'm fine!" Crystal exclaimed.

"You are bleeding!" Eric shouted. "Don't you see? You are not fine. If your wound is not taken care of, it will get infected, and you could die!"

"No one is going to die!" Crystal rolled her eyes and said, "Don't be so melodramatic." 

Eric scowled, and he glared at her. "An animal who has bitten once will bite again, and it will keep on biting until it is put down!"

"Don't call him an animal!" Crystal gave Eric a dirty look and said, "He is a human, and he is not being put down!"

"Is he human?" Eric asked sarcastically. "He can't even speak, and he doesn't recognize anyone!"

"But that is your fault!" Crystal groaned. "What dr*gs did you give him? Can you change him back?"

Eric smiled and said, "Of course I can, but first, you need to promise to let me get you pregnant. But you had better make up your mind quickly. The longer you take, the less of him there will be when I give him the antidote."

"How long will it take?"

"Don't worry. If you give me the right answer in three days, everything will be fine." 

"Alright." Crystal sighed and said, "I will think about it. In the meanwhile, let me get Carlos taken care of. He is going to catch a cold."

"Catch a cold?" Eric scoffed. "He is a cold-blooded animal now. He can't catch a cold."

"What do you mean?" Eric's words had given Crystal a bad feeling in her gut.

"It is all a part of my experimental serum," Eric explained. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it; you hear me?"

"What happens if your experiment fails?" Crystal asked nervously.

Eric shrugged. "Then he will die. It is no great loss." 

Crystal's eyes widened with horror.

Eric took her into his arms. He kissed her on the forehead and said, "Don't worry. You can change his destiny at any time."

"I get it!" Crystal hissed. "Will you finally let me take care of Carlos?"

"I will not," Eric replied. "It is too dangerous. My guards will take over."

"It is more dangerous for them than it is for me," she argued.

Eric snickered. "Watch and learn, my young padawan. Watch and learn…."

*****

Dearest Lovely Readers, 

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of us. Forever so grateful for all the love and support throughout the entire year of 2021 you've given this humble author. Although we encountered many trials and difficulties, we still reached another fantastic year, 2022. 

As we enter the year 2022, I wish that all of us could find hope, prosperity, and healing. 

May we overcome this pandemic and any hardship that will come along the way—looking forward to reading all your lovely comments and reviews on my upcoming books this year. 

I am sending you my warm hug and heartfelt greetings!

Xīnnián kuàilè. Gèng duō zhùfú děng nǐ lái! ( HAPPY NEW YEAR. More blessings to come your way!)

Anna Shannel Lin