Reader Comments Exposed The Don’s Secret Desire Chapter 09
After being pricked by Red Thorn, I developed the same dependency symptoms.
I wanted to prick myself again.
Luckily my willpower held strong and I resisted.
I thought of someone.
The reader comments said Lilith had a special constitution. I suspected it was connected to Red
Thorn.
That weekend, I left the mountain and called Lilith.
“Miss Montclair, hello. This is Cressida. Do you have time to meet? I need to talk to you.”
Lilith paused briefly, then agreed. Th-That would be my honor! I’m staying in Cold Spring. Should I arrange security?”
“No need. It’s a private meeting. See you in two hours.”
[Cressida is meeting Lilith to tear her apart, right?]
[What did our Lilith do wrong?]
[If Cress wants to go crazy, she should go find Damian.]
[She can’t keep her own man and now she’s blaming Lilith?]
[Did you hear? Lilith said she lives in Cold Spring.]
[She’s probably staying at Damian’s riverside villa there.]
[Damian hasn’t been back to the main estate lately. He’s been staying there.]
[Cressida finally can’t sit still. Drama incoming.]
I was about to disappoint the readers. No drama here.
My meeting with Lilith had nothing to do with Damian.
Personal feelings wouldn’t affect my work.
Besides, Lilith wasn’t like how the comments described her.
The comments affected my mood, but not enough to cloud my judgment.
I worked hard to stay rational.
Coffee shop.
Lilith walked toward me.
She wore a strapless camisole and shorts, her hair styled in loose waves. She looked like an entirely different person from the quiet office worker I had seen at the estate.
As she sat down, I caught a glimpse of fading hickeys on her collarbone, hidden by her hair.
My chest tightened painfully.
I told myself there had to be a misunderstanding. The kiss marks near Lilith’s collarbone might not have anything to do with Damian.
Reader comments:
[Those hickeys are so obvious.]
[Lilith has them everywhere, not just her neck.]
[She looks quiet and innocent at work, but she’s wild in private.]
[What man wouldn’t love that contrast?]
[Damian has definitely fallen for her.]
[No doubt. Otherwise why does he drive to Cold Spring every day and stay at that riverside villa?)
[Everything Cressida couldn’t give him, he’s getting from Lilith.]
I wanted to block these annoying comments.
Every line was trying to stir trouble.
I might be the “cold wife” in their eyes, but I hadn’t done anything terrible.
Why were they so malicious toward me?
Why were they so determined to turn Lilith and me against each other?
I pushed the thoughts aside and briefly explained my work and the current research project to
Lilith.
Admiration filled her eyes. “Wow, Cressida, you’re amazing. A real medical expert.”
I showed her a photo of Red Thorn. “Lilith, have you ever been pricked by this plant?”
Lilith grabbed my hand like I was her lifeline. “How did you know? You call it Red Thorn too?”
“It’s our lab’s code name.” I noticed more than a dozen tiny puncture-like scars on her fingertips,
She told her story slowly. “Half a year ago, I went hiking in the valley with friends. I saw a vine just like the one in your photo.”
“I thought it was pretty, so I wore gloves and took it home to plant.”
“One time while trimming it, I forgot the gardening gloves and got pricked.”
“You know what? I squeezed out a drop of pale blue blood.”
“And then I had some… not-so-good reactions.”
Lilith grew more and more shy as she spoke.
I nodded knowingly. “And then? How many times have you been pricked?”
“After the first time, it became addictive. I wanted to get pricked every few days.”
“Probably twelve or thirteen times total.”
“After the third time, my body became harder to control. I would always…”
Lilith sighed. “Anyway, it was really uncomfortable.”
Then her tone shifted. “Cressida, I don’t want to live like this. Isn’t your lab developing an antidote? Can I volunteer to test the antidote for your lab?”
