Chapter 716: Chapter 716: Serving Me Is Your Duty
That day, Jude Crawford wore a custom-made white shirt and black trousers. He was still in his youthful prime, unbearably handsome. Sitting on the office chair, he held a cigarette between his two slender fingers, and with a hand adorned with a scarlet flame, he pointed at Isabelle Willow, "Come over, sit on my lap."
Isabelle Willow was only barely 19 at the time, nurtured in seclusion. She raised her eyes to look at him, her small hands clutching her skirt, unwilling to move over.
"If you don’t come over, then get out. But I will also have Chase Sullivan thrown out of the hospital!" Jude Crawford smoked a cigarette as he threatened.
Isabelle Willow trembled then and could only step over with her thin legs.
Jude Crawford, Aethelgard’s first eminent businessman, had just returned from the company. A pile of documents was scattered on the desk; his tie loosened and hung carelessly around his neck, exuding a few traces of a wicked charm in the business elite aura. That mature man’s scent was overwhelmingly attractive, yet it also made the 19-year-old Isabelle Willow too afraid to get close or to touch.
Jude Crawford clamped the cigarette between his thin lips, then reached out and pulled her onto his lap with one swift motion.
When Isabelle Willow stumbled and sat down, she was sideways with her legs closed. Before she could react, she heard his lowered voice from above, "Sit on my lap, do you understand?"
Isabelle Willow’s lashes fluttered in surprise, gazing at him in a daze.
The clear and pure appearance of the girl was unparalleled in the man’s eyes, especially since she was such a cold and exceptional talent. Jude Crawford’s eyes were burning hot.
By then, they had already experienced the wedding night. Isabelle Willow saw his passionate and fierce desire reflected from the jumping flames in his narrow eyes. It was familiar to her, prompting her to struggle immediately.
But Jude Crawford grasped her soft waist with his large hands, directly changing her position into straddling his sturdy thighs.
Iris Crawford was just outside the door watching. She initially intended to see Isabelle Willow but ended up witnessing her brother’s intimate moment with her sister-in-law...
This was in the study.
Iris Crawford, who had married first and was already well-versed in the matters between a couple, now seeing this scene, she could guess what her brother intended to do.
In Iris Crawford’s impression, her brother had always been an extraordinary individual, untouched by women with a kind of abstinence. Sometimes she even thought her brother’s standards were too high, and he might not find a woman he favored, or perhaps he wasn’t interested in such matters of romance between men and women.
But she was wrong.
Witnessing her brother’s current state totally upended Iris Crawford’s understanding of him over the past decade. She was blushing red, felt she ought to leave quickly, but yet was too curious to look away.
People were very curious about the married life between Aethelgard’s first businessman Jude Crawford and the capital’s most celebrated cold talent, Isabelle Willow.
Isabelle Willow refused to sit there in such a manner. She pressed against him with her small hands and spoke in a soft, gentle voice, "Jude Crawford, let me go!"
Jude Crawford domineeringly restrained her, making her unable to move. He curled his thin lips teasingly, "Not listening again, are you?"
Isabelle Willow stopped struggling, "Chase, he..."
"Kiss me." Jude Crawford interrupted her directly.
Isabelle Willow’s lashes quivered violently; constrained by his threat, she could only lean in and give a light peck on his thin lips.
Jude Crawford cupped the back of her head, immediately turning the tables.
Iris Crawford was just outside the door at the time, hearing the soft, involuntary sounds of Isabelle Willow. That coerced, tender, unrestrained sound made even Iris melt completely.
When Isabelle Willow was nearly out of breath, Jude Crawford released her, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of coaxing, "Undo my belt."
Isabelle Willow began to struggle desperately.
Jude Crawford easily controlled her; their noses nearly touching as he gazed at her cold and stunning little face. He spoke low to her, half-threatening, half-soothing, as if coaxing a girl in the palm of his hand, "I told you last time if you want to discuss Chase’s matters, you must first appease me, undo my belt. You squirming in my embrace has already made me uncomfortable."
Isabelle Willow’s face turned crimson, desperately avoiding his breath.
"Blushing again? No worries, you’ll get used to it over time. You’re my Mrs. Crawford, tending to me is your duty."
Iris Crawford almost had to cover her ears; she never imagined her noble and elegant brother would actually...
Soon, the sound of a metal buckle being undone echoed in her ears. Iris Crawford could no longer bear to watch what was happening inside and turned to leave.
But just as she moved, those inside heard the noise.
"Who?"
Jude Crawford’s low, hoarse voice immediately called out, tinged with sternness.
Iris Crawford glanced back, her eyes meeting Jude Crawford’s piercing gaze through the gap in the door; his eyes were filled with a craving redness.
Ah! Somebody’s here, Isabelle Willow gasped, terrified, instinctively burrowing into Jude Crawford’s embrace. Jude Crawford quickly reached out to shelter her, hiding any hint of her exposure from sight.
"Bro... Brother, it’s me..." Iris Crawford forced a smile.
Jude Crawford’s handsome face was cold. Holding Isabelle Willow with one arm, he picked up a file from the desk with the other and hurled it at her, "Get out! Or I’ll cut you up!"
Iris Crawford was so scared that she turned and ran.
Iris Crawford could still vividly recall every scene from that time. She gave a slight smile with her red lips, "I’d never seen my brother like that before; it was from that day on I truly realized that my brother was genuinely fond of Isabelle Willow."
"Back then... Clyde Gardner had come to pick me up twice. I was so foolish, too foolish to see that his gaze was already wandering. He had stood several times downstairs, looking up towards the shut main bedroom door."
"Soon, I was nine months pregnant, and the baby was very healthy. I listened to his heartbeat every day; he was so mischievous, kicking my belly every morning upon waking. I bought new clothes for the baby, arranged the nursery, and even knitted two sweaters for the baby by hand; it was my first time learning to knit. Every day I anticipated, hoping my baby would come into this world healthy and safe."
"But accidents are inevitable; nothing can be avoided."
Serena Sterling felt a chill in her heart, knowing the main event was about to begin.
Iris Crawford fell back into memories, "That day... was my birthday. We all returned to the Crawford family mansion; my brother also brought Isabelle Willow back for dinner to celebrate my birthday. Clyde Gardner was there too, along with my mom, all of my loved ones. I was so happy."
"After dinner, Isabelle Willow suddenly said she felt a bit unwell and went upstairs to rest. It wasn’t long before I noticed my husband, Clyde Gardner, was missing too; the two of them disappeared together."