Our Billion-Worth Twins by Velvet Antler novel Chapter 39

Chapter 39
The crimson red liquid slowly filled the wine glass. Cedrick gently twirled and tasted the wine as his eyes locked on Catelyn.
The refreshing scent of gardenia in the air had become more distinct once she revealed herself.
Catelyn knew that explaining herself would only further the misunderstanding and decided to not even try. She grabbed onto the envelope with the check inside and headed straight for the door. However, her legs had been numb and she did not last a few steps before losing balance.
She stumbled and fell toward the ground while Cedrick happened to be standing by the wine cabinet next to the door.
Her heart raced from fear and she could not help but reach out frantically in an attempt to grab onto someone.
Thud!
Her knees landed on the mat, sending sharp pain from her knees, and the numbness went away with it.
The air froze around them as the tension rose.
Catelyn did not dare look at Cedrick; how she desperately wished she could just die on the spot. “…”
Before she could apologize, Cedrick suddenly set his glass down and extended his arm to wrap around her waist before pulling her up and pinning her against the wine cabinet.
Catelyn’s back ached from being pressed against the wine cabinet as a shadow loomed over her from atop.
Cedrick’s towering body pressed down as his palm moved along her shirt and to the back of her head to lift it up. Shortly after, his lips landed on hers.
Catelyn felt as though something had exploded as she came to the realization that she was taken advantage of. She punched him on the chest and wiggled her body in an attempt to break free.
“Let…go!”
Cedrick simply swallowed her words and pinned both of her wrists against the wall.
Catelyn bit down viciously, internally shrieking, ‘This beast!
The taste of blood instantly spread between their lips. Cedrick backed up to grab onto her jaw and stared coldly at her. “You’re quite used to playing hard-to-get, so what’s the point of playing the innocent card now?”
With Catelyn’s jaw held in place, she was forced to meet his eyes, but her eyes were filled with determination as she panted and retorted, “Hard-to-get, my foot. I have a son! Who’d want to seduce you?”
Cedrick’s tone was unforgiving as he questioned, “Well then, what of the scent of gardenia on you?”
Confused, she asked, “What of it?”
“Every woman who approaches me knows that I like this scent.”
Gardenia flowers were not commonly used in perfume, but Catelyn had his favorite scent on her. Along with her old-fashioned ways of flirting, Cedrick simply had no reason to believe she did not approach him with an alternate motive.
Catelyn’s expression shifted as she thought back to his horrible attitude from the previous times they had met and thought, ‘So all that has been because of the gardenia scent on me? This is crazy! How can there be such a big misunderstanding?
“It’s not what you think! I’ve always liked the symbolic meaning of gardenia, and I have gardenias, too! My shower gel and shampoo are all gardenia-scented, and we even make tea out of gardenias!
“Maybe that’s why I have that scent on my body,” Catelyn explained in all seriousness.
Cedrick sneered. “What about trying whatever you can to become the designer of my son’s mansion?”
She stared at him in confusion. “Wasn’t it you who called me out of the blue, asking me to take over the project?”
Provoked, the veins on Cedrick’s forehead were beginning to pop.
“Fine, let’s just say all of those things were just accidents. Last question: what are you trying to do by hiding under my table today and teasing me on purpose?” He wanted to see what else she had to say to explain herself.