Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Especially now, Jackson's shirt was practically bursting at the seams.

His broad chest muscles heaved with each slightly heavy breath, his abs tight and well-defined, each one seemingly ready to pop.

And because of the fever, his usually pale skin was flushed a delicate pink, adding a rather provocative and intense hue to his appearance. Yet, around his neck hung a black tie, looking like a naughty accessory that had somehow turned inappropriate.

At this moment, Liz was pulling on it forcefully.

Liz's mind went blank, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"I... I..."

Jackson's Adam's apple bobbed as he leaned in closer to her ear, his voice husky.

"Whatever you want to do to me, I'm all in."

All in my foot!

Liz's neck was as red as a beet, especially thinking about Cedric sitting right in front.

Whatever was said now, Cedric could hear, Liz glared fiercely at Jackson.

She pulled a towel out of her bag and threw it over Jackson's head, saying, "You seem pretty lively to me. Change by yourself!"

With that, she moved closer to the car window, turning her head to look outside, ignoring Jackson.

Cedric, driving the car, struggled to hold back his laughter, the effort making veins pop on the back of his hand holding the steering wheel. The CEO is really overdoing it, huh?

It's not like he's drunk and forgetting what he's doing. If he were Mrs. Dashiell, he'd be livid too.

Jackson was momentarily engulfed in darkness as he didn't rush to remove the towel. Instead, his Adam's apple moved vigorously again.

He licked his dry lips, his eyelashes brushing over the towel, causing a slight itch.

But it couldn't compare to the tingling in his heart and the heat spreading throughout his body.

If he let her continue to help him undress, things might spiral out of control.

After a moment, Jackson pulled off the towel and started to undress himself.

Liz heard the rustling of clothes and the sound of a belt buckle being undone. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Thinking back to how Jackson's clothes were half off just a moment ago, her ears turned red again.

It's not like she hadn't seen it before. Why act like she'd never seen the world?

She silently reassured herself.

It's just that.

But then, another uncontrollable thought flashed through her mind.

Despite his face looking a bit thinner, his body didn't seem to have lost any muscle.

Damn, his physique seemed even more perfect.

No, no, it's nothing special. Doesn't everyone have abs and pecs these days?Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Stay calm.

Just as Liz was convincing herself, she felt a heavy weight on her shoulder as Jackson leaned on her again.

His hot breath once more wrapped around her sensitive ears.

"Liz, help me with my belt."

"Huh?"

Liz adjusted her breathing and turned her head.

Jackson had already changed his clothes, and Liz was confused about what he needed help with when his husky voice filled the air again.

"I really don't have the strength."

JMS

Liz lowered her gaze and saw that it wasn't just the belt. He hadn't even fastened his pants or zipped them up.

Her cheeks, which had just cooled down, instantly flamed up again, and she quickly turned away, biting her lip. She was convinced he was doing it on purpose.

Just as she was about to scold him for being an old pervert, Jackson's large hand caught hers. "Please, I don't want to be indecent..."

His palm, usually warm and dry, was

clammy with cold sweat. Despite e Ving a fever, his hand was colder

hers.

Liz instantly believed him, her heart tightening, and she silently turned to help him.

Cedric, driving, saw how Mrs.

Dashiell, who usually kept her

distance and showed various of net

of disdain for the CEO, was doing

such intimate tasks for him.

Internally, he cheered, "The CEO truly is a capitalist." That night, the respect was real, and it was earned.