Jayson slumped back against the couch, his eyes glazed with alcohol as he fixed his gaze on Sidney. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he muttered, "What, you're complaining about my smell?" His words were slurred, but there was an undeniable edge to his tone.
"It smells awful! That's the truth. Do you think alcohol smells good?" Sidney extended her hand, trying to pull him up, but unexpectedly, he yanked her and she fell right into his chest.
Jayson forcefully hugged her, turned her face towards him, and kissed her on the lips in a vengeful manner. Sidney twisted and struggled with all her might, but her strength couldn't match his. Especially now, he seemed like a madman, completely losing his rationality. Sidney didn't dare provoke him or hit him. She opened her eyes and looked at his unreasonable and domineering, arrogant expression. Her lips were swollen and red from his kisses. He maliciously pried open her mouth, his tongue seeking hers. The scent of alcohol filled her mouth, and even she felt a bit dizzy, as if she were about to get drunk.
"Mmm..." Sidney wanted to say stop, but his tongue was tangled with hers. Jayson was an experienced man in the art of seduction, kissing Sidney so intensely that she felt like the room was spinning and she could hardly breathe.
"How dare you say I stink!" Jayson murmured as he kissed her. His lips left hers and trailed down to her neck. Sidney was very ticklish, and being kissed there made her feel unbearable. She struggled with all her might, but Jayson held her tightly. She started begging, "Don't kiss me there! It's so ticklish! So ticklish!"
Sidney was so ticklish that tears almost welled up in her eyes, but Jayson wouldn't listen to her. As soon as he heard her say she was ticklish, he blew even harder in her ear, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin.
Sidney let out a soft cry, gripping Jayson's hands tightly. Jayson looked at her with pride, "Let's see if you dare to call me smelly again!"
"You smell the best, okay!" Sidney wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes with Jayson's suit jacket, her body draped over his shoulder, breathing heavily. When she saw that Jayson finally stopped, she quickly said, "Can we go home now?"
He nodded and let her pull him up. Sidney half-supported him as they walked out of the office.
"Do you get this drunk every day?"
"Mm... not always. We had some good business partners come today, so I entertained them a bit." Jayson draped his whole right arm over Sidney's shoulder. Sidney's height only reached his shoulder, making his whole body lean to one side.
"That's really bad for your liver... staying up late and drinking like this." Sidney helped him to the hotel entrance, and the valet, spotting them, quickly went to bring Jayson's car over.
The exceptionally tall bodyguard who Sidney had met the first time she saw Jayson opened the rear car door for them, helped Jayson into the backseat, then opened the other door for Sidney. Afterward, he sat in the driver's seat and drove them back to home.
They had been in the car for a long time, and Jayson kept his eyes closed without speaking. Sidney grew so quiet that she thought he had fallen asleep, and she gazed out the window at the bustling, neon-lit night scene. With the end of the year approaching, the weather was slightly chilly, and the fallen yellow leaves from the street trees were swept by the wind, but there was no sense of desolation. The colorful LED lights blinked and shimmered, adding a strange hue to the already lively and prosperous B City.
"You're the second person to say that," Jayson murmured.
Sidney didn't hear clearly and turned her head, "What?"
He kept his eyes closed and let out a soft sigh. "I've heard that before. Smoking's bad for the lungs, drinking and late nights wreck the liver… and yeah, the smell of alcohol isn't exactly pleasant." His voice had a casual, almost indifferent tone, as if he were stating an obvious fact.
There had been a woman who said this to him too, urging him not to grow up and adopt his father's bad habits. Back then, he was like a well-behaved student, agreeing with his mother's words, forcing his father to quit smoking and drinking. But no matter how much he promised to quit, his father still came home reeking of smoke and alcohol every night.
Until the day she died.
