Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

In the faint light of dawn, Aspen slowly woke up back at the hotel. Her body ached, and a soft groan escaped her lips as she frowned from the soreness. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was Andrew finally arriving at the villa to find her.

Everything else after that was a blur. However, she vaguely recalled him treating her wounds and undressing her.

When Aspen realized Andrew had undressed her, she bolted upright and flung the covers aside in a panic.noveldrama

Her bare, pale body was fully exposed beneath the sheets, with bandages wrapped around her chest and lower abdomen.

She wondered how Andrew helped with the bandage, and if he had touched her. If he did, where did he touch?

Did he touch her chest, her thighs, or even her private part?

A sharp scream echoed through Room 9527, and Andrew jolted awake on the sofa, looking more irritated than surprised.

"What the hell? You moaning from a dream or something?"

Aspen scrambled to sit up, her face flushed with fury. "You bastard! How could you take advantage of me while I was unconscious?"

Andrew frowned. "What advantage? All I did was bandage you up and save your life. And now you're accusing me of assault? Really? Aspen, don't you think you're acting a little like the girl who bites the hand that saves her?"

Aspen nearly exploded. She clenched her teeth and shouted, "If you didn't touch me, then where the hell are my clothes? Do you expect me to believe you didn't strip me down like this?"

Andrew stood, poured himself a glass of water, and spoke flatly. "Can you not be so dramatic? I had to undress you to treat your injuries. Besides, you had a raging fever last night—if I didn't help bring your temperature down, your brain might've cooked itself."

Aspen was mortified. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she ducked back under the sheets. She hesitated, then carefully shifted her legs, checking herself.

When she noticed no pain or discomfort, she let out a tiny breath of relief-at least that had not happened.

Lifting her head again, she fixed her cold stare on Andrew. "Fine. I believe you didn't cross the line. But Andrew, you definitely saw everything, didn't you?"

Andrew looked at her like she was an idiot and gave a soft snort. "Of course I did. I took off your clothes, didn't I? And for the record, I even touched a few places. Not bad, honestly. Feels good."

Aspen's face turned scarlet with rage and humiliation. "You're disgusting!"

Andrew leaned against the sofa, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're really something, Aspen. You're not a kid anymore. Is it really necessary to freak out over something so minor? Plenty of women your age are already planning their second kid."

Aspen gritted her teeth. "I may have a lot of flaws, Andrew. But one thing I've never been is promiscuous. Now, do you have any clothes I can change into? I want a shower and something clean to wear."

Andrew shook his head. "You can't shower-your wounds won't allow it. But I already asked the hotel to send a change of clothes."

...

Soon enough, room service arrived with two neatly packaged outfits—one for a man, and one for a woman.

Andrew changed first but noticed Aspen still had not moved. He asked, "What's the holdup? Hurry up and change. We need to head downstairs."

Aspen grabbed the black stockings, high heels, and a tight blazer-skirt combo from the bed, then threw them all straight at his face.

Her chest heaved with fury. "You sick pervert! What the hell kind of outfit is this? How am I supposed to wear this?!"

Andrew picked up the stockings and inspected them with mild amusement. "Huh... didn't expect this hotel to have such excellent taste. Maybe just wear it. Make do."

Aspen sneered. "Oh, so now you're blaming the hotel? I know you—you ordered these!"

Andrew rolled his eyes. "Fine, sure. Let's say I did. But I never specified what to send—I just asked them to deliver a proper work outfit for my assistant. Apparently, they really nailed my preference."

Aspen had no other option-either she wore them or not. Swallowing her shame, she forced herself to put on the three-piece outfit from hell When she finally stepped out of the dressing room, Andrew took one look and was genuinely caught off guard.

Long, slender legs wrapped in sheer black stockings, heels clicking with every step, and a form-fitting navy-blue skirt suit that hugged her curves so tightly, it drew out every

flawless line of her silhouette.