Chapter 76 Undercurrent of Discomfort
Douglas would have needed immense restraint not to indulge in a deep kiss.
After touching her lips lightly, he withdrew, leaving the audience to sigh in regret.
They couldn't help but wonder why the couple didn't kiss more passionately!
During the latter half of the dinner, Regina left the grand hall but didn't return home; instead, she waited for the event to conclude and for Douglas.
Douglas had consumed quite a bit of alcohol tonight, possibly more than he had in years. Despite his usual self-discipline—not just in his job but also in his personal life and bodily health—drinking to the point of a slight buzz was rare for him.
Jason was driving, his focus on the road, and with a quick glance in the rearview mirror, he noticed Regina's brow slightly furrowed with concern.
"Why did you drink so much? Is your stomach okay?
"Want some water?"
Regina opened a bottle of water and handed it to Douglas. Then she texted Betty, asking what helps sober up a drunk person.
Douglas leaned back, loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt, looking relaxed and lazy.
"I'm fine."
"You're actting like this, how can you be fine?"
Douglas chuckled. "If I were in trouble, you'd probably be 'in trouble' too."
"What?"
"Drunken promiscuity, you know, Mrs. Semona?"
Sometimes Douglas hated his own sobriety. Despite drinking so much tonight, he remained sober and restrained.
Regina's mind went blank for a moment before she understood.
She pressed her lips together, wanting to say something but stopping.
The atmosphere in the car was thick with unspoken tension. Jason, who was driving, felt an inexplicable unease, as if he were caught in an undercurrent of discomfort.
He drove quickly and soon got them home.
Once inside, Douglas slumped onto the sofa, reluctant to move. Though his mind was clear, his body felt sluggish and drained from the evening's events.
Regina headed to the bathroom. "I'll run a bath for you."
It took her a while to fill the tub and get his pajamas. When she returned, Douglas was lying on the couch with his eyes closed.
She hesitated. "Mr. Semona?"
No response.
"Douglas?" she called louder.
Douglas slowly opened his eyes.
"The bath is ready. Do you want to take a bath before sleeping? It'll make you feel better."
Douglas responded with a low hum.
He got up, brushed past Regina, and walked to the bathroom.
It was late, and Regina was tired too. She took a bath and got ready for bed. But then she remembered something and quickly went to Douglas' room.
He wasn't in bed.
She thought, 'Could he still be in the bathroom?'
Regina waited uneasily. He'd been in there for almost thirty minutes.
Normally, she wouldn't worry, but he had drunk a lot tonight. Staying in the bathroom too long could be dangerous.
She knocked on the door. "Douglas, are you done?"
No response.
She thought he might have fallen asleep.
She instinctively reached for the bathroom door but was abruptly reminded of that night—walking into his bathroom in a sleepwalking daze and the collision that followed.
In an instant, Regina's body felt like it was on fire; her face flushed so deeply it was almost unbearable.
Desperately, she pounded on the door and called out loudly, "Douglas, are you done in there?"
No response came from within the bathroom.
Her anxiety grew with each passing second, overwhelming her. She threw caution to the wind, barging into the bathroom with urgent haste!
