Mr. Warner, Your Wife is Running Away Again!-Chapter 222: Happy New Year

The chime of the clock at midnight rang out, and everyone gathered together raised their glasses and in unison said, "Happy New Year!"

Audrey Sutton stood beside Shane Warner, lifted her glass with the others, and tilted her head back to drink the beer inside.

After emptying her glass, Audrey turned her head to glance at Shane standing on her left, pursed her lips and smiled, tiptoed closer to his ear like she was whispering and said just to him alone, "Happy New Year."

Shane lowered his eyes, smiled and asked her, "Didn’t you prepare a New Year’s gift for me?"

Audrey smiled complacently, "Yes, it’s at home. I’ll give it to you when we go back."

The night was deep, and after the chime of the clock, people on and under the bridge gradually headed home.

Even Audrey, who loved to play, felt a bit tired. She was still chattering when she got into the car, but halfway through the drive, she fell silent.

Shane had drunk, so he called a driver to drive. He and Audrey sat in the back seat, but there was still half a person’s distance between them.

Audrey tilted her head and fell asleep. Without anything to lean on, her head swayed slightly with the car’s movements.

Shane took a deep breath, quietly moved closer to Audrey, and gently pushed her head leaning toward the window to rest on his shoulder.

Audrey wasn’t sleeping deeply, so she noticed his action.

She immediately lifted her head, smiling as she stared at him, as if trying to see through his thoughts and see if she was in his heart.

"You like me a little, right?" she asked with a smile, her dark eyes filled with anticipation.

Shane glanced at her coldly, as if his gaze was denial, and lowly scolded her, "Go to sleep."

Seeing that he didn’t retract his arm from around her shoulder, Audrey felt that at least at this moment, he liked her. She boldly snuggled into his arms and even reached out to hug him tightly.

As if afraid he’d be annoyed, Audrey glanced at him again. Although his face was sour, and his eyes were disdainful, his arm around her tightened a bit.

Audrey smirked and comfortably closed her eyes.

But just lying in his arms, listening to his powerful heartbeat, she absolutely couldn’t fall asleep.

...

The bustle on both sides of the river faded, and moonlight shone into the room through the high windows.

The room lights were off. Vanessa Sterling lay quietly wrapped in a blanket, her dark eyes looking out at the bluish night sky.

"Click—"

The sound of the door lock turning.

She knew Miles Sterling had come.

Wrapped in the blanket, she didn’t move, just tightly shut her eyes.

Listening to the door open, his footsteps gradually approached the bedside, Vanessa’s body gradually tensed, luckily the thick blanket concealed that she was pretending to sleep.

The sound ceased as his footsteps approached her from behind.

The room returned to silence, as if he had suddenly disappeared.

She lay motionless, not daring to turn her head to see what he was doing.

In her heart, she even thought, was he standing there with a knife to stab her, hesitating whether to plunge it in?

Such behavior is unthinkable for normal people, but Miles isn’t normal. If he’s in a bad mood, he can do anything.

And tonight, he had many unusual actions.

Her back was rigid with fear, she couldn’t help swallowing nervously, and suddenly a very soft voice sounded, "Happy New Year."

It was like a murmured soliloquy, gentle and ethereal like a dream, very unreal.

The footsteps quietly resumed, moved away, and the door closed. Only after hearing his footsteps retreat did Vanessa open an eye.

Recalling his "Happy New Year," she felt strange inside.

If it had been said by anyone but Miles, it might have moved her.

But Miles was unpredictable, hard to fathom.

When in a good mood, he’d do abnormal things, acting as if he really cared for her.

But when unhappy, he doesn’t treat her as human.

She felt like a puppet under his control, with her own soul but without any freedom, compelled to follow his whims.

She had thought of escaping, but where could she run?

Who even had the power to protect her?

Being caught would only lead to harsher punishment from him, so she could only obediently stay in the world he trapped her in.

...

Audrey, after showering, changed into her fluffy pajamas, took the perfume box she cherished and hidden in the drawer, and ran to knock on Shane Warner’s door.

After a few knocks, there was no response from inside the room. Audrey bent down to check the door crack, the lights in the room were still on, she guessed he might be showering.

She tried twisting the door handle and was surprised to find it unlocked.

Like a thief, she stealthily crept into his room, hearing the shower flowing in the bathroom; he indeed was showering.

Having visited his room a few times, Audrey’s curiosity wasn’t as strong, she obediently sat on the bedside sofa waiting for him.

It was almost one o’clock; Audrey let out a yawn.

True to his routine, he was quick in the shower; within two minutes of her sitting down, the bathroom door opened.

Audrey perked up to look in that direction, never expecting... that rascal was wearing nothing.

She was instantly dumbfounded, even forgot to avert her gaze.

Shane hadn’t expected her in his room either, so he was momentarily stunned.

But he recovered quicker than Audrey, reached for the towel on the door rack, wrapping it around himself as he asked her, "Does it look good?"

Audrey snapped back to reality, realizing she had been staring blatantly, even forgetting to blink, she felt extremely embarrassed, a blush quietly crept up her face.

What had she just done? Even if acting, she should’ve pretended to be reserved. Any other girl would have quickly covered their eyes in shock or even screamed "Pervert."

Clearly, she was the "pervert" in that moment.

But she couldn’t deny, his body looked good, yet her response was, "... Just okay, not as good as what I’ve seen before."

Shane tied the towel, walked to the bed, picked up the sleepwear on the edge, and as he dressed, coldly asked Audrey, "How far is the difference? Who were you comparing to? Which man have you seen?"

"... Everywhere is lacking," she spoke insincerely.

"I asked who you’ve seen? Not clarifying this will get your score at zero with me."

Audrey knew he was likely teasing her, but she still honestly mumbled, "... Male model magazines, of course."