Chapter 42: Three Agreements

As desire subsided and the night chill crept in, it should have been a moment for lovers to cuddle and cherish each other. However, the atmosphere in the bedroom was tense.
Monica pulled the blanket to cover her naked body and, seeing Steven about to approach, quickly stopped him.
"You're not allowed to get close to me!"
The blush on her cheeks had yet to fade completely, her eyebrows furrowed, biting her lips, her shoulders trembling lightly. It was obvious that she was both angry and embarrassed.
"Okay." Steven stopped and gestured that he wouldn't come any closer.
She caught a glimpse of his half-erect member between his legs, and her thighs instinctively clenched upon seeing the dampness between her legs from being thoroughly penetrated.
"Put on your pants!"
"Okay." He grabbed his pants and put them on, then sat back at the edge of the bed. "Anything else?"
Monica didn't know where to vent her anger, especially after seeing the mess on the bed. The chaotic scene from before resurfaced in her mind, making her even more furious and unsure how to face him.
She clutched the blanket, flipped it, and Steven got out of bed, his legs weak and unsteady. As he stumbled past him, Steven acted quickly, pulling Monica and the blanket into his arms.
"Let me go!" Monica struggled to break free from his grasp, angrily biting him. "How could you...!"
She bit down forcefully, leaving deep marks in his palm, faintly showing traces of blood. Steven didn't even furrow his brow.
He waited until she had weakened and let go before asking, "Satisfied?"
Monica didn't answer, unable to escape from him. Instead, she turned her face away, refusing to meet his gaze.
"These are just bedroom fantasies, baby." He leaned in, his lips lightly brushing against her cheek, whispering soothingly, "It's only in front of me, it's okay."
She remained silent, her lips turning pale from being bitten.
Noticing her reaction, Steven held onto her bottom lip, freeing it from the grip of her teeth.
He gently rubbed it with his fingertip, contemplating for a moment before asking, "Shall I let you have your revenge?"
Her cheeks flushed, she replied irritably, "I don't want that!"
He placed the palm of his hand on her cheek, his fingertips slipping into her dark hair, softly caressing down to the back of her neck. He then closed his fingers, gently cradling the back of her head, and slowly pressed his lips against hers, murmuring in a low voice to soothe her emotions.
Without any hint of desire, it was simply an affectionate comfort.
Monica turned her head to evade him, and he no longer insisted. His hand traveled downwards, grasping hers as his fingertips intertwined with hers. They embraced like this for a while before he asked,
"Still angry?"
She stiffly replied, "What do you think?"
There was no sign of forgiveness in her response.
He pressed his forehead against hers. "I promise, next time, I will ask for your consent first."
There's going to be a next time?! She glared at him fiercely.
Steven lightly touched her cheek. "Tell me, how would you like it then?"
Monica, seeing him unusually yielding, hardened her resolve. She climbed out of his embrace, half-kneeling on the bed, looking down at him with authority.
"You must agree to my three terms.”
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"First, you can't force me."
He made a sound of acknowledgment. "What counts as forcing? After all, every time you get into bed with me, it's not exactly against your will..."
Monica interrupted him angrily, "From today onwards, if I say no, you stop, got it?"
Steven lowered his gaze and thought for a moment before agreeing casually, "Alright."
He agreed so readily that it made Monica suspicious, but she didn't think too much about it and continued, "Second, you're not allowed to use our intimate relationship to threaten me, especially in front of my brother."
"Agreed."
"The third term." She thought for a moment and sneered, "You have to fulfill any request I have."
"Fulfill any request?" Steven savored these four words on his tongue. "That can be done, but what do I get in return?"
"Nothing." She lifted her chin, like a stubborn cat. "It's called the tyrant clause, and you must sign it."
She had a fierce and unreasonable attitude that was very characteristic of Monica.
He suddenly reached out his hand, palm facing upward, assuming a gentlemanly posture.
Monica hesitated as she looked at him.
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to create a sense of ceremony," he beckoned with his index finger, "come."
Although she didn't understand, she still reached out her hand, fingertips lightly resting in his palm.
Steven held the back of her hand and gently planted a kiss on it, "Deal."
His actions were solemn, and the place where he kissed instantly became hot.
Monica bit her lip and hastily withdrew her hand, feigning calmness, "We've made a deal. If you violate it, we'll tear each other apart."
"Don't worry."
Monica looked at his expression, attempting to find a trace of discontent from being forced into an unequal treaty.
However, Steven's expression remained calm and composed, as if he was the one with the upper hand.
Noticing Monica's gaze, Steven slowly raised his head and looked at her under the ceiling light.
For a long time, he faintly curved his lips. Although he didn't say anything, she understood the emotions in his eyes.
He was determined to win.
After tossing and turning for most of the night, and having to wake up early the next morning to catch a flight, Monica was extremely tired and couldn't stop dozing off in the waiting lounge.
Eric sat beside her, reading a magazine. Suddenly, he remembered something and took out a box from his pocket, "Here."
"What is it?" she yawned, casually accepting it.
When she opened it, she saw a pair of familiar earrings, the very ones she had left at Steven's house, the root cause of this unexpected business trip.
"Steven said you left them in the bag with the clothes he bought. He asked me to give them to you."
"Oh." Her fingertips trembled as she reached out to take them, not showing much reaction on her face, but her gaze unconsciously swept towards the entrance.
Steven was not flying back to Siena with them, but instead had to make a detour to another city. Although she knew it was impossible to see him at this time, she still subconsciously looked around.
Eric noticed her gaze, "Were you up to mischief last night? Your dark circles are so deep."
Monica immediately touched her own eyes, "Where?!"
When she saw his expression, she realized she had been fooled, and glared at him, "You're teasing me again!"
Eric leisurely said, "Just concerned. You're so easily deceived; you can't see through the tricks of bad men outside."
"Even if they're bad, can they be worse than you and Steven?" Monica gave him a sideways glance, "You're so scheming."
"Well, that's true." He didn't feel it was a derogatory comment at all, instead nodding contentedly.
"I'm still young, but as for you, your mom has given you an ultimatum. If you haven't made any progress before she returns to the country this year, she'll arrange a blind date for you."
"Why rush." Eric casually flipped another page of the magazine, "It's not you who's going on a blind date."
Monica huffed, "Considering we're siblings, I can help you find a suitable match. What kind of person do you like?"
"Me?" He smiled and deliberately said, "Someone who's not too dumb."
Monica nodded, "What else?"
He continued, "Someone who doesn't have a bad temper."
She furrowed her brows, "...Why do you only mention the negatives...anything else?"
Eric lightly patted her shoulder with the magazine, "Boarding time."
Monica looked at him, feeling annoyed, and muttered as she stood up, "So many demands? Just be a bachelor forever."
Eric didn't hurry to catch up with Monica's steps. Instead, he stood still and slowly turned his gaze to the sky outside the window, as if reminiscing about something, and smiled.
"Also...being too heartless won't work."