chapter498

“You wish! I’d rather be a nun than spend another minute with you!”

Karen’s cheeks burned with rage, and she spun on her heel to leave. Jeffrey caught her arm on impulse. “You’re walking away just like this? We haven't even finished talking.”

Karen glanced at his hand on her, then back up to his face, and suddenly, she let out a piercing shriek. “Aaaahhh!”

Jeffrey was startled and quickly clamped his hand over her mouth, dragging her into the hallway of his room. “Do you want to bring everyone in the hotel here?!” he hissed. This woman was completely unpredictable!

She stared at him in disbelief, pointing frantically at his right hand. “You... you just grabbed me with that hand, and now you’re covering my mouth with it!”

“Yeah, so what?” Jeffrey was clueless, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“What were you just doing before I came in?!” Karen’s face was a mixture of horror and disgust. “You were clearly in the middle of... of something private!”

He went silent for a moment, and his hesitation confirmed Karen’s worst suspicions. The thought of Jeffrey’s hand, which had been part of his private "me-time," now touching her skin was too much for her to handle.

“Ugh—” She bolted for the bathroom and started to retch into the toilet.

Jeffrey was at a loss for words. Watching her exaggerated reaction, as if she were trying to expel her very soul, he was half-tempted to usher her out of the room and lock the door.

“Are you sick or something? It’s my room; I can do whatever I like in here. You’re the one who came knocking without an invitation and ruined the mood. I’m the one who should be annoyed!”

Karen eyed him, her gaze traveling briefly toward his disheveled appearance. “Damn it, Jeff! I’m telling you—you better not breathe a word of this to anyone. Especially not to Dorothy, and definitely not to Everett! Forget all about it!”

She ran out like a whirlwind, as if Jeffrey might chase her down to explain himself further.

Staring at the door that had slammed shut, Jeffrey could only twitch the corners of his mouth in disbelief. He looked back at the TV, where a romantic movie was still playing, but the interest was gone. He turned off the screen with the remote and flopped back onto the bed. Being interrupted like that left him feeling frustrated and restless.

Ever since his last relationship ended, Jeffrey had been in a bit of a dry spell. This was the longest he’d gone without any romantic action. And now, when he finally tried to relax, he’d been interrupted by a whirlwind of a woman.

He sat up, annoyed, threw on his jacket, and pocketed his car keys. He marched over and knocked on Karen’s door. “What on earth are you packing? Why would you even need my help?”

Karen’s voice came through crisp and clear from inside. “Go away!”

“Don’t get too cocky! We agreed to put that awkward moment behind us, and now you’re shouting at me?”

“Just leave me alone!”

Jeffrey rolled his eyes. “Fine, I’m taking the car. Who knows when I’ll be back.” He needed a break from all this drama. Maybe he’d find a nice cafe or a lounge in Swevia Country to clear his head.

Just as Jeffrey was about to walk away, Karen unexpectedly opened the door. “Hold up, I’m coming with you! Drive me somewhere busy. I want to go shopping, and you can give me a ride back afterward.”

Karen was doing her best to maintain a steady demeanor, pretending as though the incident in the other room had never happened.