Chapter 529

Ruby’s gaze lingered on Troy with a mix of pity and ridicule. She said, “Mr. MacAfee, some things can’t be forced. A man’s body doesn’t lie. Once age catches up with you–and especially if you’ve overindulged in wine and women–it’s no use pretending. When it stops working, it stops working.”

Troy roared in frustration. “No! My heart still burns with passion! I’m still ready for battle!”

Ruby let out a light laugh. “Ah, but your weapon is rusted and brittle. It’s no longer fit for combat. Tell me, how can a knight without a proper sword hope to ride onto the battlefield?”

Troy slumped on the bed, looking like the life had been drained out of him. He could not stand it–he was sitting in front of a feast, yet his body refused to let him enjoy it. No matter how much his pride resisted, his body’s limits were absolute.

Pulling his clothes on hastily, Troy muttered, “Baby, give me a few days to recover, and we’ll go again. I promise I’ll make you beg for mercy next time.”

Ruby, exhaling a puff of smoke, replied with indifference, “Mr. MacAfee, perhaps you should go home and focus on your health first.”

Troy grabbed his briefcase and left the hotel, shoulders slumped in defeat.

As he stepped out the door, a familiar voice greeted him with a light chuckle. “Well, Mr. MacAfee, isn’t this a coincidence?”

Troy froze, looking up to see Lauren with Andrew beside her, both regarding him with amused expressions.

“M–Ms. Rhodes… What… what are you doing here?” Troy stammered, his voice trembling.

Lauren’s smile was as cold as ice. “What I’m doing here isn’t important. What’s important is that, when I called you earlier, you said you were at a restaurant discussing business with a client, didn’t you?”

Troy’s palms began to sweat as he secretly cursed his rotten luck, ‘Why is it always these two?‘

“Well, I… Yes, I was… discussing business. It’s just that…” Troy chuckled nervously as he fumbled for words.

Lauren’s smile widened into a sharp smirk. “Let me guess–‘business discussions‘ that conveniently ended up in a hotel suite?”

“Troy, let’s not beat around the bush. Do you think I don’t know what you’re doing here?”

Troy’s face darkened, and he growled, “Ms. Rhodes, even if you do know, so what? Mr. Rhodes already stated he wouldn’t interfere in my personal life. Whether I’m meeting a client or doing something else, it’s none of your concern.”

He was already frustrated by Ruby’s dismissive attitude and could not bear to grovel any further. He thought, ‘So what if Lauren knows I was here with Ruby? This is my private life, and she has no right to meddle in it!‘

Lauren’s voice turned calm and cutting. “Mr. MacAfee, there’s no need to get so defensive. Who you sleep with and who you cheat with is your business–honestly, I couldn’t care less.”

“But let me remind you,” she added, her tone sharp as a blade, “you hold a critical position at Rhodes Corporation. If you ever confuse personal pleasures with professional responsibilities—if you dare sell out the company for what’s between your legs–you’ll be seeing the inside of a courtroom.”

Troy’s face flushed with anger as he snapped, “Ms. Rhodes, if you’re accusing me of leaking company secrets or betraying corporate interests, then you’d better have evidence to back it up! Otherwise, don’t waste my time with baseless accusations.”

Lauren smiled sweetly, her eyes gleaming with mockery. “Oh, my dear Mr. MacAfee, you seem awfully nervous. Are you feeling guilty about something?”

Troy’s heart raced, but he forced himself to maintain his composure. “I’ve done nothing wrong, Ms. Rhodes. A clean conscience fears no shadow. If you have doubts about me, I’m more than willing to submit to an investigation by Mr. Rhodes.”

Lauren waved him off with a smirk. “Don’t try to use Michael to intimidate me. I’ve said all I need to say - take care of yourself.”

As she turned to Andrew, she asked with a teasing smile, “Dr. Lloyd, I’ve heard that people who indulge in promiscuity often end up catching… diseases. Is that true?”

Andrew nodded, his tone matter-of-fact. “It’s not guaranteed, but yes, people who are reckless in their relationships are at a much higher risk of contracting diseases.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening, as Troy’s face flushed an even deeper shade of red. His fists clenched tightly around his briefcase as he hurried away, muttering curses under his breath.