Chapter 1453 - 1444: It’s Not Like You Haven’t Seen Me Without Clothes
Chloe Winston had just picked up Finnian when Constantine Stewart got the news within ten minutes. The entire Holiday Village was contracted by him, and nothing escaped his sight.
"Chloe went to pick up a man and bring him to the Holiday Village?" Constantine wasn’t always on set watching over things; every few days, he had to go to the provincial city for a follow-up on his calf recovery.
The man had a follow-up yesterday and had removed the cast, slowly recovering, presently resting at the villa, when he received a call from the front desk.
"Yes, Mr. Stewart, Miss Winston just took the man to the villa, and his ID says his name is Finnian." The front desk quickly reported the news verbatim.
"Alright, I got it." Constantine hung up the phone, rubbing his somewhat aching temples. He hasn’t been sleeping well lately; ultimately, this wasn’t his own home, even though the sheets and covers were brought from his home, it still felt like something was missing. Especially with the young girl busy filming all day, having no time to pay attention to him, Constantine lived days resembling those of an old man, aimlessly wandering over to Chloe’s place to see her vaguely endearing posture to satisfy himself, or staying inside to bask in the sun and drink coffee, a slow form of self-destruction.
Thinking about being back in Imperial City for so long and not even having held Chloe’s hand, he lived every night relying on recollections. Reminiscing the happiness of the past three years of marriage when he could kiss whenever he wanted, and snuggle in bed whenever he wished, he regretted it countless times.
Constantine sat nonchalantly in his robe and pajama pants in the small garden in front, sipping afternoon tea, waiting for Chloe and her paramour to arrive.
It wasn’t long before he saw the two approaching, speaking and laughing together. Finnian was dressed in a trench coat, elegantly pulling a suitcase. The two walked neither too close nor too intimately, but in Constantine’s eyes, they felt inexplicably obtrusive.
His wife, from head to toe, belonged entirely to him; what’s up with this pretty boy? Are other people’s wives really that enticing?
Along the way, Finnian spoke about the flowers and plants in Chloe’s small garden, snapping quite a few photos this time around. At a lively moment, he looked up and saw Constantine Stewart, a man with a nearly crippled leg, draped robe with a slightly loose neckline revealing a seductive collarbone and solid muscle lines, his gaze insidious as he looked on.
Finnian’s smile faltered slightly, both being typical representatives of refined handsome men, with Constantine having a malicious undertone and Finnian profound. Both appeared harmless in appearance, yet upon meeting, tension sparked immediately.
"Constantine Stewart is here too?" Finnian moved to Chloe’s left side, blocking her line of sight. A grown man exposing his chest - isn’t this indecent behavior?
On hearing, Chloe lifted her gaze from the photos on the phone, peered over with a snort: "Shameless."
Is having a great physique that impressive? Showing off every day? Chloe didn’t want to critique anymore, having met countless men exposing their chests, reminiscent of a rogue. Her little face flushed slightly, recalling how Constantine wasn’t a public exhibitionist before, at least dressing meticulously in front of outsiders.
Seems the older he gets, the less shame he retains.
Dragging a suitcase, the two reached the doorway where the butler and servant stood, extending a hand with a broad smile to stop Finnian, "This is the ladies’ dwelling; if Mr. Finnian has nowhere to stay, Mr. Stewart’s villa still has three or four empty rooms he could occupy."
Chloe asked skeptically, "Constantine Stewart doesn’t like anyone sharing his place, right?"
Constantine had a strong territorial instinct; previously at the Fulham Road private residence, Chloe and he almost monopolized the entire second floor. Guests were arranged to stay outside, many of whom hardly visited in the past.
"Staying for a few days occasionally is no problem." The man’s crisp voice echoed faintly, following behind in the wheelchair, settled at the intersection, his face expressionless as he spoke.
"I originally intended to squeeze in a night with the male actors from the crew." Finnian smiled towards Constantine, "Disturbing you then."
"It’s alright." Constantine presented a smile where the humor didn’t reach his eyes, not looking at Finnian, wondering how he’d manage sleep tonight.
Finnian dragged his luggage over to Constantine’s villa; Chloe, afraid of Constantine bullying him, gritted her teeth and followed inside.
The original villa had been modified considerably; the indoor arrangement and items faintly echoing the shadow of Fulham Road private residence, simple and hard, embodying the style Constantine admired.
Chloe stood in the living room on the first floor, without going upstairs, noticing Finnian moving his luggage up, while the butler and servant stood smiling, no one aiding him. She bit her lip, realizing Constantine openly let Finnian stay, but secretly disfavored him. However, the entire Holiday Village was contracted by Constantine, leaving her powerless.
Scenery here was exceptional, otherwise, the crew wouldn’t stage real scene shooting here. The only drawback was the absence of hotels, other than the Holiday Village, the rest were residential houses.
Chloe glancing at the man, whose plaster was removed, still seated in a wheelchair. The man adjusted his robe tighter, yet a sexy collarbone peeked through, the robe draping beautifully. Her gaze twitched involuntarily, blurting out, "How come you lack shame, wandering about not dressed?"
Constantine’s handsome face darkened slightly, replying faintly, "I was just napping. Plus, aren’t I wearing a robe? It’s not like you haven’t seen me undressed."
Her little face flushed red with anger, thinking conversing with him was akin to talking to a wall.
"Finnian is my friend; you can’t bully him," Chloe gritted her teeth, stating.
The man squinted, looking at her with deep eyes, seeing her protectively posing, that unreasonable flame of anger within him grew ever stronger, his handsome face growing stern.
Bully? That guy is as cunning as a ghost; how long has it been since they met, and already she’s this protective of him.
Constantine thought of his effort over the half-year period, their relationship deteriorating, leaving him immensely frustrated. Chloe probably wasn’t aware of Finnian’s true face. Under the guise of a good neighbor, he expertly managed food and flower arrangements - masterful tactics.
Having lived with Chloe for six years and been married for three, they were intimately familiar with each other’s troublesome traits. Though he now found it in him to feign innocence by lowering his stature, the young girl inherently couldn’t believe it.
Damn it.
"You’re still young; the more perfect a man appears on the outside, the darker he is internally. It takes five or six years to truly see someone," the man lowered his eyes, his deep-set features exuding slight cold aloofness, implicitly referring to men like Finnian. Otherwise, how could someone from Coldgate mingle so successfully in politics over these years?
"Are you talking about yourself?" Chloe sneered, she spent six years realizing Constantine’s true nature, manipulative and unpredictable, no doubt.
Mr. Stewart serving his own trouble: "..."