MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

"Don't drink it!" Joshua quickly took the glass out of Hazel's hand.

She was caught off guard and asked, "Did I just drink wine?"

"Yes." Joshua nodded helplessly.

Hazel was wine, and he was afraid she would get drunk again.

"What to do now?" Hazel asked awkwardly; she didn't want to be drunk in front of so many people.

"Let's go home." Joshua gently held her hand.

They found Professor Watson to say goodbye and walked out of the front door into the night air.

Just as Hazel took the first step, she twisted her ankle. She was thankful that Joshua was holding her, or else she may have fallen down the entire flight of stairs.

"Are you drunk?" Joshua asked helplessly.

"It appears that way. I am a little dizzy." Hazel replied truthfully.

Joshua sighed, and he leaned down slightly. "Come on, I will carry you."

"No, I am not hurt..." Hazel replied with shame.

"Old rules, carry or hug, you choose one," Joshua said.

Hazel was silent for a while and climbed onto his back.

"You haven't answered me yet." She remembered the question she had asked before.

"Well, what does it all mean?" Hazel asks angrily.

"It is getting her admitting things," Joshua said calmly.

"Why are you targeting her?" She didn't understand.

"Because she wants to bully you," Joshua explained simply.

Hazel was stunned, she drank some wine, and her brain was somewhat foggy, but it was still clear enough for her to think about her problems.

"She is terrible!" Hazel was furious. She poked her head up to the side of Joshua' face and whispered in his ear, "Joshua, you are so good!"

As if a weak current traveled from his ear through his entire body, Joshua tensed up. She was drunk and seducing him, he thought as he clenched his teeth.

Joshua walked faster, when they arrived at the car, he helped Hazel into the seat, and then he leaned down and kissed Hazel with uncontrollable passion. 

Down the road from where they were parked, Vanessa sat in her own car filled with rage. She did want to leave when she walked out, but she wasn't willing to give up.

She planned to wait in her car until Joshua came out and ask to speak with him but then she saw Joshua carrying Hazel. Her only thought was that they are so intimate, it felt like a knife going into her heart, she had never experienced that kind of pain before.

As Joshua drove away, the hatred in Vanessa continued to grow.

***

In the days after the banquet, Joshua helped Hazel book a ticket to S City to visit her parents.

Denmark Group was off work for the New Year holiday, so Joshua drove Hazel to the airport himself. As he watched the crowd going in and out of the terminal, he could not help but frown.

"Be careful traveling, please." He said.

"I know, I know," Hazel said with a smile. She only felt the exhilaration of going home to see her parents, so she was only partially paying attention to what Joshua had been saying.

"Don't think that just because you know some Kung Fu that you are safe." Joshua raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Why are you saying all of this? You sound like my mother," Hazel said with attitude. She looked at the time. "I can't talk to you anymore about this. I am going to get my flight. Don't miss me too much…"

Before she had finished what she was going to say, Hazel was in his arms, and they were kissing passionately.

Hazel's heart softened when she thought that there would be a few days that she couldn't see Joshua, but even Nanny Carter had gone to visit her family. Joshua would be alone for the New Year.

Joshua loosened his arms around Hazel, knowing she would miss her flight if he held on any longer. She wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, she said softly. "Joshua, I will be back just after the New Year. Don't worry, we will see each other soon."

Joshua smiled and, with a twinkle in his eyes, said, "Yes, we will see each other soon."

Hazel was a bit confused as to why Joshua repeated her words back to her, but she did not think that much about it.

When she got on the plane, she looked at the floating white clouds outside the window and her heartfelt emptiness.

Why would I feel like this? Hazel smiled bitterly.

It hadn't been that long since she had left Joshua. She actually missed him, and the joy of returning home to see her parents began to fade. She kept telling herself that it was just a few days of vacation and she would be back soon.

****

A few hours later, Hazel arrived at the airport in S City.

Her father, Harry, was already waiting outside of the airport. Hazel saw him from a distance and began to run to him. She hugged him tightly and yelled, "Dad!"

Hazel looked at the car cheerfully. "Where is Mom?"

"You," Harry said with dissatisfaction and tapped her on the head. "You just want to see your mother when you come to visit. It is obvious that it was me, your father, that came to pick you up!"

"I just didn't see her, so I wanted to ask," Hazel said.

"She is busy at home, preparing food for you," Harry said with a smile. "Let's go, there will be a lot of food. She can't bear for you to be hungry."

Hazel was happy to be driving to her childhood home. When they opened the door, the smell of food was overpowering.

Hazel gave her mother a big hug, then they went straight to the table. Just as she was about to pick up a plate, her mother smacked her hand and yelled at her to wash her hands first. 

As they were eating, Hazel asked, "My brother really didn't come home this year?"

"He is an adult in his twenties, and he has more important things to do than to come home to visit," Harry said.

Seeing that her mom also nodded, Hazel was speechless. She really wondered whether her brother was adopted or not. Why did her parents not care about him? With her, they gave in to her every need and could not wait to give her the best of everything.

"Try my chicken soup." Her mom placed a bowl of chicken soup in front of her.

"So, Hazel, you are graduating soon, do you have a boyfriend?" Harry suddenly asked.

Hazel was drinking the chicken soup and suddenly began to choke.

"Do you?" Harry asked.

"...No." Hazel lied to her. 

"Hazel is still young. Why are you rushing her?" Her mom stroked her head. She looked at Hazel with kindness. "You have nothing to worry about. Even if you don't find a boyfriend, it doesn't matter. We will take care of you for the rest of your life."