The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 377

Oh, God! What was she going to do? She’d been caught red-handed trying to steal a kiss from Joseph! They were married, yes, but still, this was so…

“I was asleep,” Joseph said, his voice smooth. “But then you started tossing me around like a sack of potatoes to get my clothes off. That woke me up.”

He was lying. He hadn't been drunk at all. While he wasn't a heavy drinker and rarely went to social events, he could hold his liquor. He just kept it a secret, letting everyone, including Harvey, believe he had a low tolerance. That way, after a few drinks that evening, he could feign intoxication, and Harvey had let him off the hook. If Harvey had known he could drink, he would have made sure to drink him under the table. And then Joseph would have missed his wife's sneaky little performance.

“You could have said something!” Vivica’s face was beet red, and she felt like steam was rising from her head. She pounded a fist on his shoulder.

Joseph’s smile was elegant and bewitching. “If I had been truly drunk, what were you planning to do? Take advantage of me?”

Vivica’s eyes seemed to well up with moisture. She turned her face away, but he gently gripped her chin and turned it back.

“Answer me,” he insisted.

She bit her lip, trying to calm her racing heart. “I… I wasn’t thinking that far ahead,” she admitted honestly. “I just thought your face was nice to look at, and I wanted to kiss it.”

“Just my face? You don’t find me, as a person, even more charming?” Joseph was really just fishing for a confession, for her to admit that she had fallen in love with him. But Vivica didn't dare.

“Is there a difference? Your face is part of you, isn’t it?” she said, deliberately being obtuse. Then she pushed against his chest. “Get off. Since you’re not drunk, you can go take a shower yourself.”

“No, I can’t. I’m dizzy. I can’t possibly shower on my own…”

Vivica stared at him, unconvinced.

“I have a wife now,” he continued, abandoning his usual cool demeanor and acting like a clingy child who just wanted to be pampered. “It’s only natural for her to take care of me when I’ve had too much to drink, right? And I seem to recall someone promising to be a good wife.”

Vivica stared at him, internally conflicted. His request wasn't unreasonable. After everything he had done for her and all the support he’d given, helping him with a shower was nothing. She should be treating him like a king.

“You don’t want to?” Joseph asked, raising an eyebrow when she remained silent. He was assertive, but he wouldn’t force a woman. If she was unwilling, he’d let it go.

He started to get up.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t!” Vivica called out, stopping him.

“Laura said they’ll watch him and call me if anything happens.”

“Mm…”

—

That weekend, as planned, they were to visit the family estate so Vivica could be formally introduced to the elders as the Baird family’s new daughter-in-law. After breakfast, they took Chaim to the hospital for a check-up. Once they confirmed he was fine, they “requested leave” for another day and headed to the estate.

On the way, Vivica asked, “Are you sure you have the day off? You don’t need to go to the firm?”

Joseph drove, his long, elegant fingers turning the steering wheel with a captivating grace. Watching his hands, Vivica’s mind flashed back to the previous night—how those same hands had gripped her waist, as if holding her very life in their grasp. She realized that whenever she looked at Joseph, no matter what part of him, her mind would wander to those chaotic, passionate moments.

“It’s the weekend. Can’t I take a day off? Besides, we’re in our honeymoon phase. I think I’m entitled to some time off for that, don’t you?”

Vivica was in the back seat with Chaim. As he spoke, she looked at his profile from her angle. It was a face that could charm thousands.