Ruthanne widened her gleaming eyes as anxiety filled her gaze. “I-It’s a piece of jewelry I’ve been wearing since I was a child.” Theodoric looked at the timid woman beneath him. The intense anger churning within him gradually and inexplicably dissipated. Why? I detest women who manipulate me the most, and Ruthanne climbing into my bed in the middle of the night clearly shows that she harbors ulterior motives, yet I can’t seem to unleash the full extent of my wrath on her. It was like this in the afternoon, and now the same thing is happening. Having no other choice, Theodoric could only narrow his eyes and warn her, “Don’t take me as a fool. If you act presumptuously again, I will make sure you suffer a fate worse than death.” Theodoric exuded an overly oppressive aura. His piercing gaze alone was sufficient to cause her to shudder uncontrollably. He stared at her frostily and asked sternly, “Do you understand me?” “Y-Yes.” Ruthanne felt guilty under his gaze. Seeing that, Theodoric was about to release her, but before he completely loosened his grip, Ruthanne’s low and pleading voice sounded. “Since you’re awake now, c-can you let me look for the necklace a little longer?” Theodoric was stumped. Did I not make myself clear enough, or is she just used to pushing her luck? However, he sensed the sincerity in her eyes and the desperation in her voice. “That necklace is very important to me.” The expression on Theodoric’s countenance turned icy as he suddenly tightened his grip on her wrists. The abrupt force he exerted hurt Ruthanne, and she realized talking more wouldn’t do her any good. Nevertheless, Ruthanne was determined to find the necklace, so she could only brace herself and negotiate further with him. Theodoric merely glared at her sinisterly in silence. She bit her lower lip and pleaded with him, saying, “Please. I beg you. Please…” Her tender and melodious voice tugged at his heartstring and reverberated within his heart. Surprisingly, the feelings he had from the one-night stand the night before suddenly surged within him. Amidst the darkness, Marianne had begged him in the same tone. Why am I getting a similar sensation from Ruthanne? Moreover, the sudden rise in his body temperature prompted him to be perceptively aware of his physiological changes. Exasperated, Theodoric frowned and let go of Ruthanne. A hint of frustration flashed across his eyes. “You have one minute.” He moved away from her delicate body, turned around to light a cigar on the balcony, and puffed on the death stick gloomily. Glancing at Ruthanne, he noticed she was already frantically searching for her necklace. She lifted the pillow and the quilt but found nothing. A distressed look spread across her sallow, petite face, which was filled with freckles. Her eyebrows were messy, and her broad, squashed nose was even full of pimples and acne scars. Ruthanne was hideous to the extent of revolting. Only her bright and round eyes, which weren’t widened on purpose, appeared as if they were meticulously carved and could captivate the heart of anyone who met her gaze. Theodoric suddenly realized that she wasn’t that ugly when taking into consideration her charming eyes. Halfway through taking a drag from his cigar, Theodoric strode into the room with the cigar held between his fingers. His towering figure overshadowed her thin body. “One minute is up. Get out.” Despite how entrancing he looked, holding the cigar, Ruthanne felt only disappointment, hearing his order to leave the room. If the necklace is not in Theodoric’s room, where is it? How could it disappear without a reason? She apologized to him and turned to exit the room. However, she suddenly turned her head around and said, “Sir, if you find my necklace, please be sure to return it to me. The necklace is golden and has a few words carved on it—” “What you’re looking for isn’t here,” Theodoric interrupted her mercilessly. “Get out.” He lost his patience and was close to exploding with rage. Upon hearing that, she caught herself and left. The cigar continued to burn. Theodoric took another puff and put it out in annoyance. Then, he turned around and went into the bathroom. He didn’t expect Ruthanne to have the ability to make him lose control, arousing him to the extent of requiring him to take a shower to quell his burning desire. The next morning, after waking up, Ruthanne hurriedly left the house. As she passed the dining room, she saw the chef had prepared a sumptuous breakfast. When Mary invited her to eat before taking her leave, Ruthanne seemed at a loss. The delicacies served on the table were food she had never seen before. Not to mention, with the assortment of knives and forks on the tabletop, the meal was simply too extravagant for her. Ruthanne was a humble, unpresentable nobody. She felt exceptionally out of place amidst the elegant and luxurious environment. For Theodoric, it was just a typical breakfast, but for Ruthanne, it was an exorbitant feast she might not be able to afford even if she worked her whole life. Ruthanne, feeling overwhelmed, was instinctively averse to the invitation. Even though she was starving, she politely refused. “Thank you for your hospitality. I’m not hungry. I have some things to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave now. Goodbye.” The moment she started walking away, Theodoric had already descended the Epean-style staircase. He stopped in his tracks and leaned lazily against the railing. Resting his gaze on Ruthanne, he called out coldly, “Ruthanne.”