The muscles of Gael's pectorals were pressed against Angela's back. She was stuck between his hard chest and the hard book that's on her chest. She hadn't noticed it yet but she was also clutching on him, his large, strong hand swallowing hers.

She seemed to be really comfortable despite her current wildly erratic heartbeat because she hadn't moved after hearing his oddly satisfying voice that caressed her sensitive ears.

She had a hard time peeling herself off him as she was nervous and panicking. They were so close that she could feel his very calm heartbeat. It didn't help that he smelled like he just came out of the shower, so fragrant—so manly!

And there she was, with sweaty armpits.

She couldn't help it. Being nervous made her all sweaty!

"Did you miss me that much that you want to stay like this?" His seductive voice woke her up from her trance and she hastily pushed herself off him. "You could have just said so earlier."

"What? No!" she croaked. Angela turned around and faced Gael for the first time in a while. She stepped back, wanting to create distance between them.

Earlier, she realized that he was one of the men she saw sunbathing at the beach from her balcony. Now he had changed into a white dress shirt that's also unbuttoned all the way. Why did he enjoy exposing his body so much?! Though she liked the previous shirt better—but that didn't matter. It's not like she cared.

Trying not to stare at his peeking V-line, she darted her eyes to the side and wished to the gods to teleport her somewhere far away right now. "Were you following me?" she accused.

"Is that what you want?" He threw a question back at her.

Angela scoffed, crossing her arms under her breasts—it only accentuated her round boobs like she was sticking them out to him. "What do you want?"

Seeing her arrogant attitude, Gael let out a little chuckle, scratching his temple using the edge of the book ever so casually. This woman must think so highly of herself all the time. She was clearly dodging the obvious right now and it's all very amusing for him. He should have just let her fall on her butt on the sand.

Also, should he tell her that her top was soaked and that he could see her peaks jutting against the fabric? She wasn't wearing a bra.

Nah.

"Are you sure I'm the one who wants something? You've been staring at me since earlier. I could have told you that staring is rude but… I couldn't really blame you." He shrugged.

Angela's mouth hung open. She was rendered speechless from what the jerk just told her. Could he be any more shameless? Was this really the same guy from three years ago? How awfully different they were!

She was trying so hard to ignore the fact that in his hand right now was her very first book. The book that she had him memorialized. And the look on his face screamed as though she was already dancing in the palm of his hands. Was this why he's acting so arrogant? He has found out about her secret. But how?! What was she supposed to do?

The side of her lip twitched while she tried to stop herself from glancing at the book but no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't resist. Her eyes darted to the hardbound cover of "Falling in Love With the Mafia Prince", the red and white book winking at her as if it was saying: "Hi, mommy!"

She was mortified.

Her very first baby—was now in the hands of its father.

Gael saw the change in her expression and decided to play with her for a bit. "Ah, it's a book that I've just picked up. Someone left it at the airport." He swiveled the book in his hand, and she saw her pen name waving at her. "Have you read it? No spoilers."

Angela shifted her gaze to his. She found his statement an absolute bullshît but he said it with an extremely nonchalant behavior that it actually sounded like it was the truth. Why was he doing this? If he found out about her already, why was he playing with her?

Her mouth must have been drunker than her brain because it spoke even before she realized what she just said, "No, I don't read books like that." And she walked away.

The corner of his mouth curled up into a lopsided grin as he watched her walk past him. 'Ah… So it's going to be like that, huh? Let's see who breaks first,' he thought.

Angela's heart was about to explode. What was she thinking? Why did she say that? She just made the matter worse! That was such a horrible, horrible meeting after three years. She couldn't think of a much worse situation.

With her brows knitted, she huffed and scoffed all the way back to where the party was, ignoring the sting on the sole of her foot. It was probably scraped but she was too pissed to care about her wound right now.

All she wanted was to go back to her room and lock herself in until they leave for Esmea. She would not want to bump into him again!

She walked hastily but a little wobbly in the sand. She had to move fast and head to her room to change her undies because after what happened just now — she may have just peed a little.

"Oh, my god. What happened to you? Are you insane?!" Her brother, Oliver, barked. He quickly stripped his shirt off and tossed it at her. "At least cover yourself!"

"What—" Angela looked down and it was only then that she realized that her nipples were visible under her now wet top. Her eyes grew wide and she was horrified at the realization that Gael stared at them earlier and didn't even tell her! What a scumbag!

She covered herself with the shirt and snapped her head around to glare at Gael's direction but to her surprise, he was just right behind her and now, he walked right past her as if they hadn't spoken just a minute ago.

Angela was enraged. She believed that Gael went there just to ruin her day — or her weekend. She felt so sticky and the soles of her feet were really starting to hurt. She had twisted her ankle too. What bad luck she had!