Chapter 70
Joshua stepped into Sheimaine’s room again. Shermaine said, “Don’t mind me, I’m just gonna slip into this real quick.”
Joshua replied softly, “Okay.”
Shermaine headed straight for the walk-in closet.
In the room, King Tiki had indeed been repaired and was now spinning around the room. Sensing Joshua’s arrival, it started playing a cheerful tune again, circling excitedly around his feet.
“Good evening! King Tiki is now version 3.0! Thanks to Princess Sheary, I’ve got a navigation system—no more getting lost or falling into fish ponds!”
Apparently, its language database had been enhanced.
Joshua glanced down at King Tiki and asked, “What other… upgrades did she give you?”
“I can take out the trash and put out fires!” King Tiki spun around in circles. “Master, praise me!”
Joshua thought Shermaine over-engineered this language database.
In the walk-in closet, Shermaine took out the haute couture gown. The cool, silky fabric slipped through her fingers. As she held it, it suddenly hit her that their engagement day was just around the corner. ‘Time really does fly,’ she thought.
It wasn’t an overly extravagant design—just a snow-white evening gown with a flowing skirt dotted with sequins. The spaghetti straps, delicately adorned with tiny pearls, added a whisper of luxury. Simple yet deceptively alluring, it was exactly Shermaine’s style. She had a feeling it would look stunning on her.
Shermaine slipped into the dress and checked her reflection, lips curling in satisfaction. ‘Fits like a glove—no alterations needed,’ she mused. ‘No need to show Joshua, right? This was just a fitting, and it’s perfect as is.’
Since everything seemed fine, Shermaine decided to change out of the dress. Her fingers found the zipper at the back, but halfway down, it snagged on her hair. She tugged harder, tilting her head back slightly, and a sharp sting shot across her scalp as strands were painfully yanked.
There’s a small balcony with a lounge chair in Shermaine’s room. Joshua stood outside, the autumn breeze brushing past him. With one hand tucked in his pocket and his eyes darkened, he gazed into the endless night.
Joshua felt the urge to smoke, but this was Shermaine’s space—it wouldn’t be proper. After waiting for quite a while without her finishing changing and coming out, his phone happened to ring.
Inside, after all her struggling, Shermaine felt warm all over, her cheeks flushed a delicate pink like she’d brushed on rouge, making her look irresistibly alluring. Though her hands were usually nimble, unable to see, she couldn’t free the hair tangled in the stubborn zipper.
With no other choice, Shermaine pushed open the closet door with a scowl and stepped out.
Joshua stood on the balcony, the breeze tousling his hair, yet leaving his composed and unflappable demeanor untouched. Phone in hand, he was deep in a business conversation.
Just as Joshua seemed about to hang up—Shermaine opened her mouth to call him, he turned around and their gazes met.
Joshua had to admit that Shermaine looked stunning in that dress—the perfect mix of innocence and allure.
Yet as Joshua’s gaze lingered on her collarbone, those alluring glimpses stirred an unfamiliar restlessness in him—unsettling for a man so ascetic and self-disciplined.
Joshua frowned slightly and said, “Better bring a shawl to wear on the engagement day.”
Shermaine arched a brow. “Since when are you so conservative?”
Joshua’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, but he offered no comment.
‘Fine, I’ll bring one then,’ she thought to herself.
Shermaine didn’t mind, but in her eyes, Joshua had officially morphed into a conservative relic. Seeing his silence and remembering her own pun-ward predicament, she moistened her lips and asked, “Could you help me out?”
He said, “Go on.”
Shermaine turned around. “My hair is caught,” she said.
Joshua stepped in from the balcony and said, “Let me take a look.”
“Mm.” Shermaine turned around without hesitation, presenting her back to him.
It wasn’t the first time they’d been this close, after all.
As Joshua stepped closer, his commanding presence enveloped Shermaine. He was so near, it felt almost as if he were holding her from behind. His warm breath tickled her back, and every so often, his calloused fingertips grazed her skin.
Shermaine was quite sensitive to his touch, her toes curling slightly in response.
Luckily, it didn’t take long. Soon, Joshua’s deep voice sounded close to her ear. “All done.”
“Thanks,” Shermaine said.
Shermaine got to her feet, about to leave, when she accidentally kicked King Tiki—she hadn’t noticed the little robot at her feet.
Kicked by accident, King Tiki let out a startled yelp.
Startled, Shermaine instinctively stepped back and trod on her own skirt, stumbling right into Joshua’s arms behind her.
Joshua slipped his hand around her waist, steadying her with ease. It was a rare sight to see her so flustered, and a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes.
Shermaine thought, ‘Well, great. Now I’m really in Joshua’s arms.’