Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Jasmine Blackwood Loves to Act Spoiled

"Alaric Blackwood, you’re burning up. Get back in bed and lie down properly."

"I can’t lie down."

"Then lie on your stomach."

"What if I want to lie on my wife’s lap?"

"..."

So, when Dr. Cole arrived at Alaric Blackwood’s room with his medical bag, guided by the butler, he opened the door to see Sophie Shaw sitting on the edge of the bed, while Alaric Blackwood, turned slightly to the side, was resting his flushed, handsome face on the woman’s lap.

The man was facing Sophie’s abdomen, eyes closed, one arm draped behind her hips.

Although he was delirious with fever, his hands... weren’t exactly behaving.

Sophie had been secretly pinched on her hip several times, and she sat bolt upright on the edge of the bed. When she saw the butler bring Dr. Cole in, she was about to stand up, but Alaric Blackwood’s arm immediately wrapped around her waist, refusing to let her move.

"Don’t move, darling."

She could only sit back down.

Dr. Cole put down his medical bag and began to redress Alaric Blackwood’s wounds. He cut away the gauze, disinfected and applied medicine, then rebandaged them. Alaric Blackwood didn’t even make a sound throughout the entire process.

After treating the wounds, Dr. Cole took his arm and gave him an intravenous injection to reduce the fever.

Then, Dr. Cole rummaged through his medical bag again and took out two tubes of ointment.

One was an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving ointment to be used in three days. The other was for preventing scars, to be used after the wound healed and the scab fell off.

"I’ll be back tomorrow and the day after to change the dressing," Dr. Cole said, leaving instructions to monitor Alaric Blackwood’s temperature every hour before picking up his medical bag and heading out.

The butler was seeing the doctor out when he happened to see Quentin Blackwood and Mandy Halloway walking out of the first-floor study.

Upon learning that Sophie had arrived, and already knowing that Alaric Blackwood had been punished, Mandy Halloway nodded. She felt that they couldn’t keep this a secret forever. The newlyweds were suddenly separated, and on a weekend, with the flimsy excuse of work. If she were Sophie, she wouldn’t believe that shabby reason either.

"Please prepare some toiletries for Sophie. I’m sure she’ll be staying the night."

After giving the butler her instructions, Mandy Halloway went upstairs and knocked on Alaric Blackwood’s door.

Quentin Blackwood followed behind her.

When she heard Sophie say, "Come in," Mandy Halloway pushed the door open and walked in, with Quentin Blackwood right behind her. Seeing Alaric Blackwood shamelessly lounging on Sophie’s lap, his mother couldn’t help but smile.

’Her tough, thick-skinned brat,’ she thought, ’instantly turned into a clingy little Jasmine the moment his wife arrived.’

"Mom, Dad, you’re just in time."

Sophie’s expression was serious. "That uncle from the Kane Family who works in Silhaven... I’ve heard a few things about him."

Mandy Halloway’s interest was piqued. She pulled Quentin Blackwood to sit on the sofa at the foot of the bed, waiting for Sophie to continue.

"On the surface, Mason Kane appears to be an incorruptible official, but in reality, he’s been secretly taking bribes. People who want favors from him are rejected outright, but then his assistant contacts them privately, dropping hints that they need to offer some benefits first if they want to get things done."

"Also, his private life is a mess. I think he’s keeping a mistress on the side."

She had overheard all this back when Mr. Kane was still alive, during a private conversation he was having with Bianca Kane in the study.

Mason Kane wasn’t based in Kingsport; he only came back for holidays. Sophie hadn’t paid much attention to these words before, just hearing them and letting them go. But now, they had become a powerful weapon they could use to bring down Mason Kane.

After hearing this, Mandy Halloway nodded repeatedly. "To be honest, your father and I were just in the study discussing how to deal with Mason Kane. He’s the Kane Family’s backbone, and he’s doing very well for himself over in Silhaven. Don’t be fooled by his title as a mere department director; he carries a lot of weight. If we don’t take him down, it will be hard to suppress the Kane Family’s arrogance."

Sophie thought for a moment, then said to Mandy Halloway, "I think we can start with Mason Kane’s assistant."

"His assistant?"

"Yes."

Sophie remembered it clearly. During the Lunar New Year two years ago, Mason Kane had come to visit with gifts. Just because his assistant brought the wrong bottle of wine, Mason Kane slapped him across the face in front of everyone.

At the time, the assistant kept his head down, completely intimidated by Mason Kane’s presence and power. However, Sophie had caught the flash of resentment in his eyes as he looked at Mason Kane.

"Since he uses his assistant to take bribes, I’m sure that assistant must have some fatal leverage on Mason Kane. To be safe, we should investigate the assistant’s background first."

Mandy Halloway smiled, gratified. "Sophie, I’m so glad you could provide this information."

Sophie glanced down at the man on her lap, who was breathing deeply with his eyes closed. Thinking Alaric Blackwood was asleep, she then said to Mandy Halloway, "I could let it go when they used to bully me. But bullying Alaric Blackwood is unacceptable."

Mandy Halloway covered her mouth in pleasant surprise, her gaze involuntarily shifting to Alaric Blackwood.

’If this brat were conscious right now,’ she thought, ’wouldn’t he jump for joy to hear what Sophie just said?’

"I’ll take care of the secret investigation," Mandy Halloway said.

Just as Sophie was about to nod, she suddenly heard the man on her lap murmur, "Mom, stay out of it. I’ll handle it."

She froze.

She was shocked that Alaric Blackwood hadn’t been asleep; the man had just been resting with his eyes closed.

"This time, Mason Kane is coming after me. You and Dad stay out of it. I’ll deal with him."

After speaking, he slowly opened his eyes. His gaze rested on Sophie’s flat stomach as he added, "Alright, I’m tired. Mom, Dad, you can both leave now."

The couple exchanged a look, tactfully left the room, and gently closed the door behind them.

Hearing the door click shut, Alaric Blackwood moved closer to Sophie, burying his face in her soft belly.

"Wifey~"

Hearing the teasing lilt in his voice, Sophie had a sinking feeling that he was up to no good.

And she was right.

The next second, Alaric Blackwood flipped her onto her back. Despite his fever, his strength was astonishing. He threw back the covers, grabbed her by the waist with both hands, and lifted her upward until she was lying on the bed with her head on the pillows.

Then, the man leaned over, pressing his whole body on top of her, pinning her down.

"Alaric Blackwood, you’re heavy."

The man adjusted his position so he wasn’t crushing her, but his body remained pressed tightly against hers, his face buried in the crook of her neck.

"Sleep with me."

Sophie sighed helplessly.

She thought that when Alaric Blackwood said "sleep with me," he simply meant sleeping. But a moment later, the man’s scorching lips were gently kissing the side of her neck.

A shiver ran through her. "Alaric Blackwood, have you lost your mind?"

"Nope."

"Can you just behave yourself for a minute? You’re running a fever, and you’re injured."

"My wife smells so good."

"..."

The fever reducer was slowly starting to take effect. Alaric Blackwood kissed her neck and the side of her face until, in the middle of a kiss, he drifted into a stupor.

Sophie lay still on the bed, letting him do as he pleased. Thankfully, the medicine kicked in, and the man soon fell asleep, nestled against her neck.

She couldn’t move, nor did she want to.

Listening to Alaric Blackwood’s breathing gradually even out, she stared at the ceiling as drowsiness began to creep over her as well.

She slept so soundly it was as if the world had stopped. When she opened her eyes again, the sky outside was dark.

A solitary table lamp was on in the room, its light dimmed to a warm, soft glow that wasn’t harsh at all. She shifted and managed to slide out from under Alaric Blackwood.

The man’s brow furrowed slightly. He rolled over, putting pressure on the wounds on his back, and the pain jolted him awake.

Discovering Sophie was right beside him, he immediately pulled her into a hug, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and whined, "Wifey, it hurts."