Forced to retreat several steps, she stumbled back, her heart racing.

As the car window rolled down, she was left speechless, shocked to see him again.

Charles glanced at her for a moment before his gaze shifted to Ethan beside him. He parted his lips slightly and coolly commanded, "Get out."

The car door opened, and Ethan stepped out with a smile, making a gentlemanly gesture. "Miss Cooper, please get in. My brother has something to discuss with you."

What could they possibly have to talk about? Maya's heart raced as she glanced at the man inside the car, her voice cautious. "What is it about?"

Ethan gave a sheepish smile and cleared his throat. "It's about my studies."

It seemed she had been too tense. Licking her lips, she replied, "If it's about your studies, we should go to my office."

"My brother's identity is a bit special, and there might already be reporters on their way, so it's better to find a quieter place."

Just as they spoke, the principal hurried over with a flattering smile. "Mr. Darwin, why didn't you give me a heads-up before coming? I would have been ready to welcome you."

Charles nodded slightly. "I'm just here for Ethan's parent-teacher meeting today; I didn't want to disturb you."

"Not at all, Mr. Darwin, it's too kind of you." The principal rubbed his hands nervously, only then noticing Maya standing nearby. He exclaimed in surprise, "Miss Cooper?"

"Principal," she nodded in greeting, surprised that he even acknowledged her presence.

"I'd like to discuss Ethan's academic performance with Miss Cooper," Charles continued.

"Of course," the principal's eyes practically squinted with delight. He turned to Maya and said, "Miss Cooper, you won't need to return to school this afternoon. Take the time to have a good talk with Mr. Darwin. It would be best to come up with a targeted study plan to ease his worries."

Is this really necessary? The principal was acting like she was using Maya as a stepping stone, Maya thought to herself, wanting to decline. "But I have classes this afternoon."

This Miss Cooper is so oblivious, the principal thought, feeling a bit anxious. No matter how many classes she had, she needed to prioritize Mr. Darwin: "Miss Cooper, I'll let Miss Steel cover your classes this afternoon."

Ethan raised an eyebrow at the principal. "Thanks, old man. Now we're taking Miss Cooper away" Before Maya could respond, Ethan opened the back door, pressed down on her shoulder, and shoved her inside. He then slid into the front passenger seat. "Hey, where to?" he asked, tilting his head toward the driver.

"I'm hungry," Charles replied in a low, gravelly voice, leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, his gaze drifting over Maya. The pressure radiating from him was overwhelming, making her frown and feel restless.

She didn't even dare to move...

Even though Ethan and the driver were in the car as well, the intensity of Charles's presence seemed to grow stronger. Even without moving her eyes, she could still catch him in her peripheral vision.

The car glided smoothly down the road, eventually stopping in front of an upscale restaurant. Inside the elegant and lavish private room, each of them had a plate of medium-well steak in front of them, along with a bottle of red wine.

Ethan had ordered the steak and kept asking Maya what she wanted to eat, pulling out the menu for her to choose from. Maya only wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible, repeatedly declining and making excuses. But her refusals were in vain; Ethan had insisted on ordering her a medium-well steak, which led to the current awkward situation.

The thick red wine slowly dripped into the transparent glass, and its rich aroma immediately filled the private room. Charles' gaze fell on her, studying her for a few seconds before putting down his glass of wine. "Are you sure you want to keep standing, Miss Cooper?"

Both Charles and Ethan were seated, and her standing made the situation feel a bit out of place. Maya had no choice but to awkwardly take a seat. For a moment, the only sound in the room was the slicing of steak.

Fidgeting with her fingers, she broke the suffocating silence. "Is there something you want to discuss about Ethan's studies, Mr. Darwin?"

As soon as his name was mentioned, Ethan abandoned his wine, making an excuse. "I need to use the restroom." As he left the room, he even winked at Charles on purpose.

Charles elegantly continued cutting his steak, then turned his attention back to her. "What do you think about hiring a tutor, Miss Cooper?"

Seeing his businesslike demeanor, she felt her guard drop and nodded in agreement, "I think that's a great idea."

Then, his voice cut through the air, "It seems that you have agreed to be Ethan's tutor."

Maya's eyes widened involuntarily as she straightened up. "When did I agree to that?"

Setting down his knife and fork, Charles picked up his glass and took a slow sip. "What's your answer now, Miss Cooper?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the time," she replied without a second thought.

"You won't need too much of your time, just two hours a day."

"Mr. Darwin, it's not about how long it is; I truly don't have any spare time," she mustered the courage to meet his gaze.

However, Charles seemed to ignore her words entirely, his lips curling into a slight smile as he continued, "How about I double your pay?"

Maya's tone turned icy. "It's not about the money, Mr. Darwin. You should find someone else." She was determined to erase all memories of that night, not wanting any further entanglement with him. Because the moment she saw him, the memories of that night would flood back like a tidal wave.

Gently swirling the red wine in his glass, Charles remained calm and relaxed. "What do you think about discussing this matter with the principal of your school?" There was undoubtedly a hint of threat in his words. Given the principal's earlier behavior, she was 100% sure that he would hand her over to him without a second thought! The anger inside her finally ignited.

Her chest rose and fell slightly as she abruptly stood up from her seat. "Why do you insist on me?" Countless people wanted to be a tutor; why did he have to force her? What were his true intentions?

"Miss Cooper, you must have misunderstood my intentions," Charles replied, a light smile dancing in his eyes. He chuckled softly, "It's not that I insist on you, but rather that someone else did."

Maya froze, staring at him in shock as the word escaped her lips: "Ethan?"

"Yes..." Charles replied lazily. So it turned out she had overthought it. A sense of embarrassment rose from deep within her, and her face involuntarily flushed red. Taking a deep breath, she apologized, "I'm sorry, I got a bit carried away just now.

He looked up and asked again, "What about your answer, Miss Cooper?"

"I still refuse," she replied, staring directly at him, each word deliberate.

Charles narrowed his eyes, fixating on her without saying a word, as if he was trying to see right through her.

After a long silence without hearing his voice, Maya glanced up in surprise, only to find herself lost in the depths of his inscrutable gaze, her heart racing wildly.

The tense silence hung between them, and suddenly, Charles spoke, his deep voice carrying an undeniable certainty: "Your refusal must have something to do with that night."

Maya's face turned pale in an instant. She felt a sense of wariness toward the man before her; he was like an elegant leopard seemingly casual, yet capable of delivering a fatal blow. But that night was an undeniable fact. She didn't back down; instead, she nodded. "I have something to say about that night."

Charles fixed his gaze on her. "I genuinely meant well when I suggested the idea of repairing your hymen, but clearly, you misunderstood."

Anger surged to Maya's head, and she gritted her teeth, whispering fiercely, "I wish Mr. Darwin would completely forget about that night! Whether you meant well or not!"

"I've already forgotten; the one who actually cares is you, Miss Cooper, that's all." His gaze was sharp as an arrow, constantly observing her expressions.

She averted her eyes from his penetrating stare and retorted, "No!"

"Since you don't care, what's the harm in being Ethan's tutor?" he raised an eyebrow, pushing closer with each word.

Her irritation and frustration were finally provoked, and she sprang up from her seat with a hint of defiance. "No, No! I won't do it, Mr. Darwin, do you understand what I said?" Her cheeks flushed, and her big, bright eyes sparkled with determination.

Charles seemed momentarily captivated by her gaze; the light in his eyes flickered, and his lips curled slightly as he gently reminded her, "It seems you are getting a bit worked up."

"And so what if I am? I won't be Ethan's tutor, no matter what! I have classes this afternoon, so Mr. Darwin, feel free to do as you please!" With that, she grabbed her bag and headed toward the door of the private room.

Just as she took a couple of steps, the door swung open, and Ethan walked in. Charles raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to Ethan. He spoke smoothly, "Since Miss Cooper doesn't agree to be your tutor, it's best not to push her too hard. By the way, have Driver Max take her back to school."

Ethan furrowed his brows deeply, fixing his gaze on Maya. "Why didn't you agree?"

"I have too much to do and no time to be a tutor," she replied apologetically, looking at him. She then swerved him and left the restaurant.

Charles, tall and composed, stood up and headed for the exit, only to find Ethan still rooted in a spot. He raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you coming?"

"Charles, believe it or not, I can make her agree." Ethan snapped back to reality, a bright smile spreading across his face.

"I have too much to do too, no time for that." Clearly, Charles wasn't interested in Ethan's words. He glanced at his watch and got into his Bentley.

Meanwhile, Maya returned to school, and as soon as she entered her office, the principal called for her. He bombarded her with pointless questions, all revolving around Mr. Darwin-what happened, what's going on, and so on.

 Sitting there, Maya tried to feign interest while feeling drowsy, and she even had to suppress a loud growl from her stomach. She hadn't had a chance to eat her spaghetti at noon, and now her stomach was growling with hunger.

As she was leaving, the principal kept reminding her to make sure to focus on the studies of the young master, Ethan Darwin. Maya was taken aback by how much flattery the principal was dishing out; she felt like he was beyond salvation.

However, over the next few days in class, she noticed that the seat by the window in the last row was always empty, which belonged to Ethan. She tried calling him, but each time she was met with a sweet voice reminding her that the line was busy and to please try again later.

If it happened once or twice, it would be normal, but every time meant something was wrong. He was clearly avoiding her. He was already 18 yet he still acted like a petulant child when he threw a tantrum.

She understood why he was behaving this way; it was simply because she hadn't agreed to be his tutor. With a helpless sigh, she pulled out the student list and began searching for his home address. With the final exams just three days away, he had to come to school to take them.

After noting the address on her phone, she hailed a taxi and told the driver, "Take me to Springs Garden Residence."

The taxi driver glanced at her a couple of times and smiled, "Miss, are you living there? I hear the houses there are quite expensive."

"It's not that," she replied. "I'm just going to meet someone." She had heard that the Springs Garden Residence had very high property prices, but she had never been there before. It was her first visit.

Half an hour later, the taxi stopped in front of the residence. The air was indeed fresh, and the environment was beautifully maintained. As she walked through the community, a faint floral scent filled the air. Following the address, she made her way to Building Three and paused in front of the door.

To her surprise, the door was slightly open, leaving a small gap. After checking the address several times, she reached out and pushed the door open, stepping inside. However, she barely took a few steps forward before she froze like a statue, her feet seemingly nailed to the floor.

The erotic sounds clearly reached her ears. A woman's voice was sultry and seductive, mingling with a man's, sending shivers down her spine. She realized what was happening in the room.

They were definitely in the middle of something...erotic!

In an instant, all the blood rushed to her head. Her lips felt parched, and her cheeks flushed a vibrant red, as if they were about to bleed.

What... what is going on here...?

She snapped back to reality, feeling completely lost. She didn't even know where to put her hands and feet, her mind a blank slate. The only thought racing through her head was to get out of there fast!

 But as she turned to leave, she failed to notice the trash can at her feet. With a loud crash, it toppled over, creating a ruckus. Her face turned pale, and she froze in the spot.

Just then, Ethan's voice cut through the air. "Hey, is something making noise?"

"If you can't keep it quiet, then just get the hell out." Charles' tone came suddenly, low and heavy.

Hearing that, Maya snapped back to reality, feeling something was off.

It seemed like... like...

What was happening inside wasn't what she thought it was?

Out of curiosity and confusion, she carefully walked past the entrance and tiptoed forward. As soon as she stepped into the living room, a massive LCD screen on the opposite wall came into view, vividly displaying what was happening on it. Her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze, finally noticing the two people on the sofa.

Ethan was fixated on the screen, sharing his opinions. "Dude, don't you think this woman sounds a bit too seductive? And look at her chest, it's definitely enhanced. But her legs are long and straight."

Charles, who had clearly just taken a shower, had damp hair and was dressed casually in the comfortable loungewear that made him look tall and elegant. In front of him lay a stack of documents that he was reviewing.

Sensing her presence, he paused his pen, looked up, and his deep gaze met hers. There was no surprise nor embarrassment in his eyes. Raising an eyebrow, he smiled slightly and said, "Miss Cooper."

Ethan was intently focused on the screen but when he heard the words "Miss Cooper." Immediately, he turned his head. In an instant, his handsome face flushed red.

Cursing under his breath, he jumped up from the sofa and frantically tried to cover the screen. Realizing it was impossible, he quickly stepped forward and placed his hands over Maya's eyes, blocking her view completely.

After doing all this, he glanced at Charles and awkwardly urged, "Come on, hurry up!"

In contrast to Ethan's embarrassment, Charles was completely at ease. He leaned down, his long arm reaching over the marble coffee table to grab the remote, turning off the screen.

Once the room fell silent, Ethan cleared his throat and said, "I'll go make some coffee." With that, he vanished from sight, leaving no chance for Maya to say a word.

Seeing this, Maya had no choice but to swallow the words that were on the tip of her tongue. She sat on the sofa, scanning the surroundings. The room was large and luxurious, with a very monochromatic color scheme of black and white. It was only then that she noticed she could see the sea from where she sat.

While she was still in wonder, Charles' deep voice broke the silence, "What brought Miss Cooper here?"

"Ethan wrote this address in the section for his home address," she replied honestly. At her words, Charles narrowed his eyes, directing a piercing gaze at Ethan, who was walking over with a cup of coffee.

Under that chilling stare, Ethan couldn't help but shiver. His older brother definitely knew he had written this address instead of their actual home.

Maya, not touching her coffee, fixed her gaze on Ethan and said, "The final exams are in three days. What are you planning to do?"

Ethan responded smoothly and naturally, using her earlier words against her: "I have too much to do. I don't have time to go to school."

"Ethan Darwin!" Maya snapped, calling out his full name in frustration.

"Well, if you won't agree to tutor me, I absolutely won't go back to school for the finals. As you know, I always walk the talk."

Having taught him for a year, she was well aware of his stubborn nature. In fact, her presence here today meant she had already compromised. "Alright then, let's talk about what happened just now," she shifted the topic.

"You're now an eighteen-year-old adult, and it's completely normal to feel curious and impulsive about those things. It's not that I don't want you to watch those videos; it's about having the right perspective when you watch."

Maya had never discussed such topics with a man before. Although she tried to appear calm, her cheeks were flushed bright red. Ethan, on the other hand, seemed to have lost his embarrassment, smiling and nodding in response.

Meanwhile, Charles, who was quietly reviewing documents nearby, caught the conversation.

He glanced over at her serious yet blushing face, a playful smirk forming on his lips. Did she really think that Ethan was an innocent kid? He had probably watched dozens of movies like that and might even have some real-life experience.

"And Mr. Darwin." Maya shifted her gaze to him, "As his brother, is this how you indulge him?" It seemed that the criticism had unexpectedly turned toward him.

Charles looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he lounged casually on the sofa, exuding a lazy demeanor. "Miss Cooper, didn't you just say that it's normal for him to feel curious and impulsive about those things? I have no reason to stop him from watching those videos, do I?"

Caught off guard and momentarily speechless, she took a deep breath to suppress her rising anger. "But you should at least teach him with the right perspective, shouldn't you?"

She prided herself on not being an easily angered person, yet he always seemed to effortlessly ignite her frustration with just a few words.

With his long fingers resting on his forehead, Charles gently rubbed it while his gaze remained fixed on her. He frowned and said seriously, "What is the right perspective? What position is the best?" Maya's eyes widened in shock, her anger flaring up as her chest rose and fell rapidly, even the fine veins on her neck were visible.

Gritting her teeth, she exclaimed, "Mr. Darwin!"

He was simply...infuriating...unreasonable... 

Charles raised an eyebrow slightly, the temperature in the room was warm, and her cheeks flushed. The soft yellow down jacket she wore accentuated her porcelain-like skin, making her look even more radiant.

The absurd scene of that night suddenly flooded his mind. His eyes darkened significantly as his thin lips moved again, his deep voice spilling out once more. "How should a man make a woman happy? Or what kind of approach should he take?"

It was outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! Was this really something a brother should say in front of Ethan? Didn't he care about the bad influence he might have on Ethan? Maya clenched her jaw once more, "Mr. Darwin, is this how you are educated?" Not only could he comprehend her words, but he also twisted their meaning and fueled her anger, making her feel like she was about to explode.

Hearing this, Charles smiled indifferently. "It seems that Miss Cooper's education isn't all that impressive. Hasn't anyone told you that you should ring the doorbell before entering someone else's house?"

"You.." Maya was left speechless with anger. Her hands, which had been hanging by her sides, slowly clenched into fists as she glared at him fiercely.

Still maintaining his elegance, Charles lifted his gaze slightly, casting an indifferent glance in her direction, while his pen continued to dance across the paper, signing his name with flair.

The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense, and Ethan, who was standing nearby, seemed to have been forgotten by both of them, becoming a mere invisible presence.