淑女的欲望

After enjoying Xander's soothing scent, Scarlett tried to escape from his embrace. She asked while looking up to see his face, "Why didn't you wake me up, Xander?" Her gaze met his calm eyes. 

Xander smiled and gently tucked her smooth hair behind her ears. "How could I disturb your sleep when you were sleeping like a baby? Well, dear... I knew you returned late, so I let you sleep a little longer. Besides, we didn't have any plans for this morning." He paused, his fingers still caressing her hair, and locked eyes with her.

"Babe, go get changed now! I can tell you're getting hungry!" He chuckled as he heard a low growl emanating from her belly. He playfully rubbed her stomach, eliciting a giggle from her.

"Stop it, Xander!" Scarlett tried to wiggle away from him. "Alright, alright, I'll freshen up!" She dashed to the bathroom like a rabbit evading a fox.

"Hahaha, babe, I'll be waiting outside!" He called out before leaving the room. Just then, the doorbell rang. He presumed it was Ben coming to deliver their breakfast, or more accurately, their brunch.

Xander glanced at Ben, who was setting up the food on the table. After Ben finished, he gestured for him to join in the seating area.

"Have you made the necessary preparations for our departure tomorrow?" Xander asked as Ben took a seat across from him. He wanted to ensure there would be no delays in their journey back home. He had made a promise to his grandfather to spend their holiday at the Riley mansion until New Year's Eve.

"Yes, boss!" Ben replied. "I have taken care of everything, including Young Madam's plans to travel to B Island."

"Perfect! And don't forget to arrange our visit to Theodor Villa tonight," Xander added. After dismissing Ben, Xander continued reading on his phone while waiting for Scarlett to finish.

...

When Scarlett emerged from the bedroom, she noticed Xander engrossed in something on his phone. A smile crossed Scarlett's face as she approached him.

"Xander, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting," Scarlett apologized, standing before him. "Let's eat. I'm hungry!" She tugged on his arm, leading him to the dining table. "Wow! Did you order Korean food?" Her eyes lit up at the sight of dumplings, ginseng chicken soup, and rice.

"Hmm, I know you love Korean food, so I ordered it," Xander proudly replied, gently stroking her back. "And you need to have this ginseng soup to restore your stamina. You've been working so hard, babe, but you must also take care of your health..." He was concerned that she might catch a cold, especially after staying up late last night in this chilly city.

Scarlett found his thoughtfulness endearing. Even though she really wanted to eat ramen this morning, she appreciated the fact that Xander had ordered healthy food for her.

"Thanks, Xander," she said, tilting her head and leaning in to kiss him on the cheek before saying, "I'm going to enjoy this chicken soup!"

"Oh, eat while it's still hot. Afterward, you can go back to sleep. I have something to do and need to make a video call. Can I use your office?" Xander requested.

"Of course, you can!" Scarlett responded, not saying much as she began to eat her breakfast. Xander joined her, and they had both finished their breakfast. 

Before long...

Xander continued his activities in Scarlett's office while Scarlett headed back to her bedroom, eager to catch some more sleep. However, just as she was about to close her eyes, her cell phone vibrated.

Checking her phone, she saw a notification from the unique app she typically used to communicate with the members of The Fox. However, the person contacting her wasn't a fellow member but her uncle, Noah Withers.

Scarlett sat up abruptly and went to the corner near the window to answer the phone. Before picking up the call, she glanced at the serene blue sky outside and took a deep breath to steady her nerves.

As she was anxious about the early morning call, her worry grew as she feared something might happen to her uncle. "Uncle... Is everything alright over there?" she asked, her tone filled with concern.

"Good morning, Scarlett. Yes, Uncle is fine..." Noah Withers' cheerful voice resonated through the phone, easing Scarlett's concerns slightly. "Where are you? I need to meet you. There's something important I need to discuss."

"I'm currently in New York," Scarlett replied. She had been eagerly awaiting a vital clue from her uncle regarding her mother's last mission. Her uncle had promised to contact her as soon as he found any leads. He must have called about this. 

"But, Uncle, I'll be returning to Astington tomorrow. If you want to meet, we better meet at Astington..." Scarlett continued.

"No, it's better if we don't meet in your country. We should meet somewhere outside, afraid that evil Jude will trace me and find out about you," Noah quickly rejected her suggestion, concerned that Jude Withers' people might be monitoring him. "How about we meet in New York or somewhere in Canada? Your country is not far from there..." he proposed.

"Agreed!" Scarlett responded, momentarily forgetting about Jude Withers. "Uncle, once you arrive, please let me know your location and the time. I'll fly there immediately!" She continued. 

"That's great! I'll be there in two days before New Year's..." Noah confirmed. 

After concluding the call, Scarlett remained standing by the window, deep in thought. Her uncle's urgent call had stirred her curiosity. 

"What could Uncle Noah be hinting at this time? It must be a crucial clue regarding my mother's final mission, right!?" Scarlett mused aloud, attempting to calm her frayed nerves.

All she knew was that her mother's ultimate mission was known only to her mother and her great-grandfather, Victor Withers. This was the critical piece of information she needed to initiate her investigation in Country M. If she could uncover the identity of her mother's intended target, everything would fall into place smoothly.