Chapter 12 No Objection
When Penelope woke up, it was already the early hours of the morning. Her mouth felt dry, her head heavy, and her legs wobbly.
Blurry-eyed, she tried to sit up and go drink some water, but as soon as she stood, her legs gave way, and she collapsed forward.
The moment she hit the cold floor, Penelope was jolted awake—she was completely naked!
"Ah..." Her voice was hoarse, a mix of pain and shock.
At that moment, the soft, steady sound of running water from the bathroom seemed to pause.
The man in the bathroom stepped out, and when he saw the pale, delicate figure lying on the floor, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile. "Are you still trying to pounce on me?"
At that moment, Ajax stood bare-chested. His tanned skin gleamed, the muscles of his abs defined and prominent. Below, he wore only a bath towel, loosely draped, as if it could fall at any moment.
It was a sight that could stir anyone's blood.
In an instant, Penelope realized her situation.
Forgetting everything else, she scrambled back to the bed and pulled the blanket tightly around herself, hiding under its folds.
Her mind raced, her eyes blinking in disbelief, the unfamiliar, Eldrican-style room and the soreness of her body reminding her of what had happened.
Last night's seductive, ambiguous scenes rushed back into her mind. Her delicate face drained of color, and her eyes filled with a painful, burning sensation.
"Don't cry." Ajax's voice, cold and unyielding, came from above as he looked down at her pitiful state, irritation flashing in his eyes.
But Penelope couldn't hold back the tears. Her purity had been stolen in a single night, and she couldn't accept it.
Overcome with sorrow, she forgot that the man before her was the one she feared most. In a surge of frustration, she grabbed the pillow beside her and hurled it at him.
Ajax tilted his body slightly, effortlessly dodging the throw.
"Woman," he murmured, his gaze darkening as her tears continued to fall.
He furrowed his brow, then moved quickly to seize her shoulder, pulling her out from beneath the covers and into his arms. He kissed her fiercely, silencing her cries with his lips.
Penelope, already overwhelmed, was now stunned, her sadness turning to shock. She tried to struggle, but his grip was firm, his gaze unyielding, and she found herself powerless to escape.
Only when her lips were swollen from his assault did he finally release her.
Ajax flashed a dismissive smirk. "Mrs. Grimwald, still crying?"
Although he had let her go, he kept her trapped in his arms, their upper bodies almost bare, separated only by the thin sheet between them. The closeness, the intimacy, was undeniable.
Somehow, Ajax felt himself growing aroused again. It was strange, even to him—he had been out of control last night, spending the entire night with her.
Despite her petite frame, she had everything a man could want.
Penelope's eyes widened in indignation. "You bastard!"
Ajax sneered, his voice cold as he pinched her tear-streaked face. "Penelope, you're troublesome, untrustworthy, and planned that woman's escape, then had the audacity to attend a speed dating event. Tell me, should I punish you?"
His words were so blunt that she had no defense. How could she argue? She had lost everything precious to her.
Penelope bit her lip, turning her face away, her gaze landing on the scattered clothes around the room. The disarray of the scene only reminded her again of what had transpired.
"Why did you have to punish me like this?" she asked.
The man narrowed his eyes, studying her flushed face with an almost predatory gaze. His voice was rich and deep as he spoke. "Because you're my substitute bride."
Penelope froze, her body instinctively shrinking away.
"What's wrong? Any objections?" he asked.
She sniffled, defeated, and whispered, "No."
Satisfied, Ajax stood and walked toward the wardrobe, giving his orders as he went. "Have Mrs. Grimwald's clothes sent up."