Chapter 24 What Should You Thank Me For? Kissing You?

Eric leaned over.
He didn't kiss her directly, but instead held Sierra's face in one hand and lightly stroked her delicate cheek with his slightly rough fingertips. Then he grabbed her hair and gently caressed it.
This kind of teasing was the most torturous.
Sierra had never experienced this before, she couldn't stand it and softly moaned: "Eric!"
...
"Don't call me Mr. Howard anymore?"
His straight nose touched hers, they were very close to each other, their breaths mixed together.
Eric could kiss her at any moment.
Sierra clutched his shirt tightly as her heart raced...she wanted to close her eyes.
But Eric wouldn't allow it. He tugged on her long hair and said in a low voice: "Sierra, open your eyes and watch us kiss."
It was the first time he called out her name for some reason that made Sierra feel overwhelmed with emotions.
She opened her eyes, trembling lips slowly pressed against his own.
Eric suddenly hugged her tightly.
They were probably still in the hospital room; both felt something special between them...what started as a light kiss gradually became more passionate!
Eric couldn't control himself anymore. He asked softly: "Are you sure about this, Sierra?"
For a brief moment of clarity, Sierra instinctively wanted to push Eric away. But then she thought about how all these years she had been foolishly guarding herself without any meaning or purpose when it came to love. With that thought in mind, Sierra took the initiative to offer up her lips again.
In a daze...she felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction from getting revenge!
The kiss ended abruptly.
A man's pride would not allow him to continue further; Eric let go of Sierra and stepped back while adjusting his disheveled shirt collar. Looking at her with a confused expression, he said in a calm tone: "Miss Adler, you're already injured. Please take it easy."
Sierra was completely sober now and felt embarrassed!
Eric didn't let her continue to feel ashamed; instead, he took out a snow-white cigarette and played with it between his fingers.
After a while, he suddenly spoke up: "You must be curious why I didn't stop Linda from getting engaged to Roger given his character!"
Sierra waited for Eric to continue.
Eric broke the cigarette in half and said somewhat annoyed: "Six months ago, Linda attempted suicide by cutting her wrists just so she could be with Roger."
Sierra was stunned; she had no idea about this before.
Looking at each other again, Sierra's voice trembled as she said: "Mr. Howard...I understand now! I promise not to upset Miss Howard anymore...consider it my way of thanking you."
Eric:
He was speechless!
It was clearly an explanation but Sierra managed to misunderstand him like that. Knowing Eric's temperament well enough meant that he wouldn't say anything more on the matter. He simply gave her one last deep look before leaving on his own accord.
Sierra stood there dazed for a moment.
She picked up her phone intending to transfer several thousand yuan from her bank card into cash but froze when she saw something on the screen.
Not only did Eric not take away the 18,000 yuan from her account but also transferred another 100k yuan into it!
Seeing those three words 'Eric' pop up on their chat history made Sierra feel indescribable emotions. Putting aside Linda who came between them earlier - Eric wasn't really bad towards Sierra despite occasionally being sarcastic towards her.
After some consideration, she sent him a message via WhatsApp.
[Mr. Howard thank you.]
As soon as Eric got into his car he received Sierra's message along with the notification that she hadn't accepted his transfer.
He thought for a moment and sent several messages back to her.
[What should you thank me for? Kissing you?]
[If it's because of the 100k yuan, Miss Adler can accompany me in playing ten rounds of golf.]
[If that doesn't work out, how about coming over to my place and staying up all night studying cases together?]
Sierra received Eric's message.
Her face turned red; she wasn't naive enough to take his words at face value.
Who would have guessed that Eric could be so reserved!
Just as Sierra was about to transfer him the full amount of 22,600 yuan, another message from him popped up on her screen.
[Take it! Consider it my apology on behalf of Linda.]
Sierra stared at this WhatsApp message quietly for a long time...suddenly feeling envious towards Linda.