100 Before the Storm

Chapter 99: Darkness Before the Storm

Maria stepped out wearing the dress she had just chosen and immediately heard the female servants eyeing Arthur covetously, their words dripping with shamelessness. She glared viciously at the servant who had spoken most brazenly, her gaze like a poisoned blade, stabbing toward the servant like a whoosh.

The servant trembled violently, instantly feeling chills creep over her, and looked in Maria's direction. All she saw was Maria's turned back. The servant shook her head in confusion, rubbed her cold arms, and continued watching Arthur while fantasizing.

"Arthur, how do you like it?" Maria said, spinning once in front of him.

Arthur lifted his gaze and saw Maria in a green velvet dress. Her fair, tender skin glowed with a milky white radiance beneath the lights, her high, prominent breasts nearly spilling out beneath the somewhat thin fabric, her slender waist tightly cinched by the dress, and her pert buttocks hugging the skirt's curves to create an alluring silhouette.

The short front hem featured irregular arcs, exposing her fair, long legs to everyone's view and carrying a unique seduction. The long back skirt boasted layered wavy designs, lending the dress nobility and elegance without diminishing its refined effect despite the brevity of the front.

Arthur gazed at the lively young woman before him. Her fiery red seductive curls were swept high, exposing only the nape of her long neck, while her emerald-green eyes sparkled with spirit like a flower fairy. Her lips, a deep red, were slightly pursed, adding a touch of coquettish sweetness to her mature, glamorous face. The woman, under his scrutiny, her cheeks flushed with spring, seemed to hesitate between speaking and holding back.

Maria looked at Arthur, expecting his praise. Under his gaze, her cheeks gradually warmed. "Arthur, does it look good?"

Arthur rose and approached Maria. His long, fair index finger curved gently as he hooked up her smooth chin. Maria felt his slightly calloused fingers caress her chin, her body quivering and her breathing quickening, her face flushing red.

"Very beautiful. You truly suit green well." Her rose-red lips curved upward with a bewitching, seductive smile.

Maria's eyes dazed, she looked at Arthur, her arms involuntarily lifting as if to wrap around his slender waist. Arthur suddenly withdrew, his expression instantly turning indifferent. He walked to the sofa, grabbed his coat, and faced the stunned Maria. "I'll wait outside for you." Then he strode out with elegant steps toward the club exit.

The wind chimes on the door swayed from Arthur's departure, ringing crisply and awakening Maria, still standing dumbfounded in place. Maria snapped out of it, biting her lip hard with her teeth, clutching the skirt hem of her dress tightly with both hands, a dark venom in her eyes.

The servant saw Maria wrinkling the dress in her grip and boldly stepped forward. "Miss, are you taking this dress?"

Her eyes fixed on the wrinkled spot Maria had made.

Maria followed her gaze to the hem, glanced at the wrinkles, and sneered coldly, "I'll take this one, make the waist smaller." Then she turned, returned to the fitting room, removed the dress, and hurried after Arthur. But before leaving, she cast a cold glance at the female servants who had been discussing Arthur.

In the villa filled with Hawaiian romantic charm, Maria wore a sexy Western-style dress, the tight, well-tailored skirt hugging her curvaceous figure. The group of rugged men below saw it and their blood boiled, only one step from bleeding noses to display their ugliness.

Maria smiled bewitchingly, "Have they all been brought?"

A trace of disgust flashed in the depths of her green eyes.

The men quickly steadied themselves, respectfully replying, "Yes, Miss. All have been returned. What should we do with them?"

Their eyes were filled with obscene filth as they spoke.

Maria frowned slightly. "I'll go check first. Then it's up to you."

"Yes, Miss."

In the dark basement, several women were blindfolded, gagged, and tightly bound, unable to move.

Maria walked over with elegant steps, removed the black cloth from their eyes, and looked at them with a seductive smile. Her deep red lips curved up. "Do you know why you're here?"

She gently stroked one woman's fair cheek, tightening her grip as her bright red nails slowly sank in, red blood slowly trickling down the pale cheek.

The woman wanted to scream but couldn't, her body trembling violently, face deathly pale.

"Because, you saw what you shouldn't have seen and said what you shouldn't have said." Maria flung the woman's face away, picked up a white towel, and disgustingly wiped the blood from her nails. Then she tossed the towel onto the woman's face and started walking toward the stairs.

At this moment, Maria's expression changed drastically, unreadable.

From behind, came the woman's screams and the men's lewd laughter.

White curtains fluttered, golden sunlight streamed into the small wooden house from outside. The furnishings were simple, but the blue-and-white color scheme harmonized perfectly with the environment.

Under the fluffy sky-blue comforter on the white small bed, a slender fair arm extended, pulling down the blanket, revealing an alluring smiling face in the sunlight. The small hand rubbed her eyes, slowly opening them. A pair of violet crystal-clear eyes came into view. Her nostrils were filled with the faint salty sea breeze, her cherry-blossom lips curving slightly upward.

She stood up and pushed open the small wooden door.

Outside, golden light bathed the white beach, reflecting diamond-like sparkles that stung the eyes. In the distance, on the sea, seagulls flew, dolphins leaped. Nearby, sea lions and seals basked in the sun, and a turtle dug a hole to bury eggs.

Everything remained as leisurely and carefree as on the first day, with a faint contentment.

Yingyue walked with light steps, bouncing toward Xiahou Yu's room.

"Yu, wake up!" Yingyue knocked vigorously on Xiahou Yu's door.

Inside, Xiahou Yu's brows were tightly furrowed, the quilt covering his head as he turned over and went back to sleep, ignoring the knock that sounded like an earthquake.

Yingyue knocked unwillingly. A door next to Xiahou Yu's opened under the thunderous knocks.

"Yingyue, you're here to wake the deputy general again?" The speaker was a sunny young man, an engineer on the Xiris Island development project. These days, seeing Yingyue come to call Xiahou Yu daily, he had grown familiar with her. He didn't know her true identity, only that she was Xiahou Yu's arrogant assistant.

The man smiled as he approached Yingyue, who smiled awkwardly and embarrassedly.

"Guangming, sorry to disturb you again."

Guangming, hearing this, became a bit shy. "It's fine. The air here is much better than in the city. I wake up early every day." His gaze on Yingyue's beautiful face made his cheeks flush, and he stammered, "Um, Yingyue... do you have breakfast? I made too much... can't finish it... do you want some?"

As he spoke, his head lowered further, almost touching the ground.

Yingyue looked at him, amused. This boy was interesting, so she feigned displeasure. "If you can't eat it, give it to me?"

Guangming quickly raised his head, face turning purple like pig liver, waving his hands wildly. "No, no, no, I didn't mean that. I... my point is..." Afraid of misunderstanding, he couldn't speak clearly.

"Hehe," Yingyue couldn't help laughing. "I'm joking."

Guangming scratched the back of his head embarrassedly, laughing foolishly.

"Then... let's go eat it. It'll be a waste if it's cold."

Yingyue was about to answer when a lazy male voice came from behind, accompanied by a big yawn. "I'm hungry too. Let's go together." Long arms draped over Yingyue's shoulders.

"Deputy... deputy general..." Guangming was even more flustered, unable to speak.

Yingyue was pushed hard, staggering, and turned to glare resentfully. Xiahou Yu shrugged innocently.

Yingyue turned to Guangming apologetically. "You don't mind if we have one more person, right?"

Guangming looked depressed but smiled sunnily. Touching the back of his head again, he said heartily, "No, being graced by the deputy general is my honor."

Xiahou Yu, seeing Guangming's sunny smile, grew vigilant. He hadn't forgotten the man's warning.

The three returned to Guangming's small wooden house. Yingyue looked around and sighed, "Guangming, your room is so clean!"

Guangming glanced at her quietly, sighing and scratching his head shyly. "It's nothing like you said. Just casually put things away, no particular order."

"Isn't this neat? What would be considered neat?" Yingyue was tongue-tied hearing that.

"Um, this isn't much. If you have time, next time I take you to my house, my mom cleaned it neatly, organized like entering a museum." He spoke proudly of his mother.

Mom! Yingyue lowered her head quietly, her bright smile dimming.

Xiahou Yu secretly worried in his heart. This silly boy really opened the wrong pot.

He slapped Guangming's back arrogantly. "Hey, kid, I'm standing right here, and you're already thinking of taking my girlfriend to your house!"