Chapter 381: Opening Up

"Are you underestimating your teacher’s wife? I may not drink often, but I don’t get drunk that easily."

Winslet stuck out her tongue, looking rather mischievous. "I want to test whether I can handle mixed drinks. Nowadays, when I occasionally have late-night snacks with my assistant, sharing a drink or two helps me unwind."

"Fine, then!"

Winslet knew this place especially well and was even acquainted with the owner, because her home was located in the quiet, aging residential complex right behind them.

"Luis, dear, your teacher’s wife will do the ordering. You have to try the specials here, they’re incredibly good."

Winslet didn’t even glance at the menu. She simply called out to the proprietress, "Sis, we’re ready to order."

"Two baskets of garlic buffalo wings, one plate of loaded bacon fries, and a grilled pork belly sandwich."

"One bowl of beef tripe stew, a side of salted edamame, and two pints of craft lager."

The bartender wrote everything down swiftly, then raised a brow with mild amusement.

"No fruit juice today?"

Winslet stretched lazily and gave a short laugh.

"Got off work early for once, so I figured I’d do a proper unwind."

"That’s the spirit."

The bartender chuckled. "I’ll throw in some spicy pickles on the house. We just got a delivery of smoked sausage this morning too, I’ll cut you a few slices later."

"Thanks, I really appreciate it," Winslet said warmly.

Then she turned back with a slightly awkward smile.

"My dad’s from the Midwest. He used to bring me to places like this all the time for real bar food."

"He’s always trying to get me to drink with him. I never cared much for alcohol before... but lately, I’ve been thinking it might be time to build up some tolerance."

"That’s a good thing!"

The beer arrived first. Winslet drank with evident pleasure, declaring cheerfully, "Luis, dear, if I end up getting too drunk later, you’ll have to take me home. The keys are in my pocket, you remember which apartment it is, right?"

"I remember!"

Although he had only been there two or three times, and that was many years ago, Luis wouldn’t claim to have a photographic memory, but he certainly knew his way around.

Winslet undid the buttons at her collar, two of them, revealing a glimpse of snow-white skin beneath. Through her white blouse, it was clear she was wearing a pink bra.

She also unfastened the cuffs at her wrists and rolled up her sleeves, laughing lightly. "I should have gone home and changed. Wearing this work outfit after hours is so uncomfortable."

"But Teacher’s Wife looks especially beautiful like this!"

Luis offered the praise sincerely.

Especially with those buttons undone, hinting at a deep cleavage and pale, smooth skin. Truthfully, in this mildly intoxicated state, his teacher’s wife radiated a captivating, fully feminine allure.

Back in Luis’s adolescent years, she had been a regular guest in his youthful fantasies, a goddess whose every smile and glance had stirred the restless hormones of his puberty.

Sneaking glances at her, or stealing glimpses of her underwear, had been one of Luis’s greatest guilty pleasures during those formative years.

The auto repair shop was mostly filled with rough, older men. A woman alone was already a rare sight, let alone a teacher’s wife as graceful and stunning as Winslet. How could Luis possibly have harbored only pure, innocent thoughts?

"Such a smooth talker, you little rascal!"

Winslet giggled coquettishly. "No wonder you’ve managed to trick so many young girls into being devoted to you. Even your teacher’s wife is starting to feel a little overwhelmed by that silver tongue of yours."

The atmosphere was becoming too flirtatious, and just as Luis was about to say something, his phone rang. He saw it was Lily calling.

His wife wasn’t concerned about the Cayenne or anything like that; she only cared about Luis’s injuries. Even though Yana had already checked him over, she still called anxiously to ask about him.

"Me? I’m having dinner with a breathtakingly beautiful fairy-like woman right now. Just looking at her makes my mouth water," Luis said.

As he spoke, Winslet rolled her eyes. Hearing him call her "wife," she wasn’t even sure if it was Lily anymore.

"Really, she’s unbelievably beautiful, the kind of beauty that feels like cheating. If you don’t believe me, I’ll have her talk to you."

The moment Luis handed over the phone, Winslet knew it was Lily. She answered with a playful laugh, "Lily, what’s this? Checking in on your husband while he’s having dinner with his teacher’s wife?"

Lily immediately cooed, "Not at all! He didn’t even tell me. I was just thinking how busy my teacher’s wife must be, how would she have time for this guy?"

"Haha, no overtime today, so I asked him to join me for a drink."

"Teacher’s wife must have been working so hard lately. Let me treat you to a meal when I get back, okay?"

"Such a sweet girl, Lily. Your teacher’s wife misses you terribly too. Don’t worry, your husband’s with me, he’s not out chasing girls."

"I don’t even mind if he goes chasing girls, but there’s a strict rule: he has to go for ones as beautiful as you, Teacher’s Wife. No messy, crooked-mouthed, ugly pumpkins allowed."

"You two lovebirds are so smooth with your words lately. If you keep sweet-talking me like this, your teacher’s wife might just sign the house over to you..."

After laughing and chatting for a while, Lily hung up, reassured. Winslet wore a mischievous expression and said, "Covered for you. You can go have a good time with your little lover tonight."

"Teacher’s Wife really spoils me, haha!"

The food arrived quickly. They raised their mugs of draft beer and drank several rounds, both in particularly high spirits.

This was the first time Luis had seen his teacher’s wife like this, and he actually found it quite fascinating. He felt both patient and interested enough to keep drinking with her.

He had originally planned to go "train" Hela tonight, but he sent her a message saying he was busy.

Hela, who had just finished showering, sat on the bed in a purple, elegant slip dress, lost in thought. Staring at the message on her phone, she felt both resentful and annoyed.

Under the slip dress, she was completely naked. After returning home, she had scrubbed herself thoroughly, and now she was staring blankly at the items laid out on the bed.

Darlan had been working in the capital city all along; she lived almost alone. Even when Darlan returned, he stayed in the study, the couple had long been like strangers.

Honestly, with the children grown, they both kept their desires in check and had no time for messing around. If they were a slightly more affectionate normal couple, they would have divorced long ago.

That bastard had said he was coming today and had even mailed her some things in advance.

Besides the frosted-effect blindfold and some items for "training," he had told her to prepare herself thoroughly.

He had flat-out told her he intended to claim her virgin backdoor, leaving Hela feeling both humiliated, furious, and yet oddly expectant. She was so worried she wouldn’t do it right that she had even gone to the medical department to get cleaned out.

She had flushed herself several times until completely empty. After returning home and showering properly, she had been waiting anxiously ever since.

Hela swore she hadn’t been this nervous even on her wedding night. She just kept waiting like this, ready to put on the blindfold at any moment.

She was a woman with pride too, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

"What the hell is going on with you? Are you just toying with me, getting off on seeing me act like a slut?"

The moment she sent the message, she regretted it. It was truly how she felt, but she worried it might anger that guy.

He already had enough leverage over her to force her submission, and now he could also help her overcome the biggest hurdle in her life, defeating that rival she had loathed for years.

Just as Hela was lost, distraught, and utterly confused, a reply notification arrived immediately.

That "ding" sound made her whole body jolt almost convulsively, because that bastard never replied this fast:

"Ran into some trouble, got a few stitches on my head. A bit of a hassle to deal with."

"About Kai and the others, you can look into it more thoroughly. Just in time, it gives me something else to keep myself busy with."