Chapter 300: Shameless Me
"Fine, Marcus. I won’t struggle anymore. Put me down and let me walk, alright?"
Willow had finally run out of ways to deal with his shamelessness. As they moved deeper into the residential area, the lights from nearby apartments grew brighter, illuminating them more clearly. The number of curious glances increased, and under that attention, the already shy beauty could no longer endure it.
She gave in.
"Won’t struggle what?"
Marcus looked down at her, still held securely in his arms, his eyes filled with amusement. Seeing her flushed face, her mix of helplessness and anger, only made him want to tease her more.
"Marcus, you..."
Her frustration flared instantly.
"What?"
He acted as though he truly did not understand, lifting his chin slightly as he continued walking, completely ignoring the annoyance written all over her face.
"You..."
Her anger only deepened, but there was nothing she could do.
"Put me down. Just help me walk."
Her voice softened despite herself. Against someone this shameless, she had no leverage at all. In the end, she could only yield.
A shameless man was often a woman’s greatest weakness.
"Marcus... please. Let me down, alright..."
By the time she finished speaking, her voice had dropped to a soft murmur, almost like a whisper meant only for him. Her resistance had completely melted away, and she hid her face shyly against his chest.
That meek, obedient tone made something in Marcus stir.
Unable to resist, he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before finally setting her down. One arm remained around her as he supported her carefully, guiding her step by step.
"Shameless."
Willow shot him a glare, though it lacked any real force. Even now, he had still taken advantage of her. But she did not pull away. Instead, she leaned lightly against him, allowing him to support her, her hand resting in his as they walked on together.
Marcus did not want to attract too much attention either. If anyone saw him carrying Willow like that, the entire university would be thrown into chaos the next day. Even now, if someone who knew them happened to see this... it would not end quietly.
Still, under the soft glow of the moonlight, with the cool night breeze brushing against them and her faint fragrance lingering in the air, Marcus found himself wishing the road would stretch on forever. Walking beside her like this, quietly, without interruption, felt almost unreal.
But the moment did not last, they soon arrived at her door.
"Marcus, we’re here."
Willow spoke softly as she opened it. When she turned back, she found him still looking at her, not moving, his gaze filled with quiet concern. A warmth spread through her chest.
"Marcus... come..."
The words nearly slipped out. She had almost asked him to come inside.
"I’m going in. I’m fine."
At the last moment, she changed her mind.
Everything that had happened today was still too fresh and too overwhelming. The thought of being alone with him again in such a confined space made her heart race uncontrollably. Her pride and shyness held her back, even though, deep down, she did not want him to leave.
"Willow, I’m thirsty..."
Marcus, however, had no intention of leaving so easily.
His tone carried a casual ease, but his eyes lingered on her. She looked soft, slightly weary, with a faint trace of lingering emotion in her expression. After everything that had happened, how could he just walk away and leave her alone here?
"I’ll just have some water."
Before she could respond, he stepped past her and entered the apartment. Willow stood there, stunned, staring at his back in disbelief.
"Marcus..."
Yet as she watched him walk inside, her heart softened instead of resisting. She knew he was worried about her, that he did not want her to be alone tonight. The thought made her chest tighten with emotion, tears slipping down her cheeks without warning.
In truth, she had not wanted him to leave. Not today.
Inside, an awkward silence quickly settled between them.
The television played in the background, its light flickering across the room, but neither of them paid it any real attention. Their thoughts were elsewhere, tangled and unspoken.
"Marcus, I’m fine. I just need some rest. You should go home."
She broke the silence at last, though her voice felt uncertain. She had expected things to be awkward, but not like this, where even speaking felt difficult.
"Yeah... it’s getting late. I’ll go after this part."
His eyes remained on the screen, though it was clear he was not actually watching anything.
His gaze shifted briefly to the luggage in the corner.
Willow had only just returned from England that day. She had not even had time to unpack before going to confront him. Even so, the apartment itself was spotless, clearly maintained regularly in her absence.
"There’s not much to unpack. You keep watching. I’m going to shower."
Seeing that he still made no move to leave, she assumed he was absorbed in the television and decided not to press further. What she needed most right now was a shower.
She stepped into the bathroom and sank into the spacious bathtub, letting out a quiet breath as she closed her eyes.
The warm water eased the lingering discomfort in her body. There was still a faint soreness, a subtle reminder of what had happened earlier, but along with it came an unexpected sense of sweetness that she could not deny.
A faint blush rose to her cheeks.
She glanced down at herself, at the curves of her body, and could not help remembering the way he had looked at her. The memory made her heart flutter again.
A woman always wanted to be seen, to be cherished, by the one she loved. But before she could fully relax, the bathroom door opened.
The sound startled her instantly. Her eyes flew open, then squeezed shut again as she cried out in shock.
"Ah!"
"Marcus... Marcus..."
"Wh-what are you doing?"
She shrank back instinctively, covering herself as best she could, her voice trembling.
Marcus had entered without hesitation. And he was completely naked.
"Marcus..."
Her voice softened, uncertain, almost disbelieving. Then suddenly, everything went still. No sound or movement.
The silence made her uneasy.
"Marcus...?"
She called out again, more quietly this time.
Just moments ago, she had clearly seen him walk in, seen him approaching her. But now... nothing. It was as if he had vanished.
What she did not know was that Marcus had deliberately concealed his presence. To her, it felt as though he had disappeared entirely.
In truth, he stood right beside the tub.
His gaze lingered on her, taking in every detail, as though committing the sight to memory. In the quiet, steam-filled room, she looked almost unreal, like something too delicate to touch, yet impossible to look away from.
And for a moment, he simply watched.