Chapter 391

Darlene, however, remained conflicted. Her mind was wavering, and she briefly considered backing away. She and Yvette were stark contrasts in allure. Yvette exuded a bold sensuality. Darlene, on the other hand, was deeply conservative. She was almost the quintessential woman of virtue. Standing at the door, after much internal debate, she couldn't bring herself to take that step, to shamelessly ask someone to take her… In the midst of her inner struggle, the door suddenly swung open, startling Darlene. "Ah!" she gasped, her face flushing crimson. "You… Why aren't you wearing any clothes?" Steven stood there shirtless, his form only covered by shorts. Darlene didn't know where to direct her gaze. She was conservative, yet even the most reserved person was still human. Steven's physique was impeccable, his proportions meticulously sculpted. It left her feeling incredibly embarrassed. "Isn't it normal to be shirtless in my own home?" Steven replied nonchalantly, seemingly unfazed, as if he hadn't overheard Darlene's murmurs moments ago. He flashed her a smile and asked, "So, what brings you here?" Her gaze shifted away. "Um, well…" "Oh?" Steven's grin widened knowingly. He had caught every word of Darlene's confession through the door, yet he wanted to hear her say it face-to-face. Darlene, known for her virtue and reserve, rarely found herself in such a compromising position. Considering the severity of his injuries caused by the mother-daughter duo, a bit of playful teasing with Darlene didn't seem out of line. "I..." Darlene hesitated, feeling her cheeks burn. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she struggled to find the courage to speak them aloud. "What's wrong?" Steven pressed. "I want..." Darlene hesitated. "What do you want? Come on, speak up. I've taken a serious hit today and still need time to recover," Steven urged. Feeling the weight of her confession bearing down on her, Darlene clenched her teeth and closed her eyes. "I want to give myself to you!" she finally blurted out, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. As soon as the words escaped her lips, she wished she could retract them. A woman of strong tradition, uttering such words felt akin to offering her very soul. "I... For what you did for my daughter, risking your life and all that... I have nothing else to offer you," she managed, her voice trembling. "After much consideration, the only... the only…" Her voice faltered, unable to continue. She had a strong aversion to emotional entanglements. After Alfred's betrayal, she had sworn off new relationships and remained single for many years. It took great courage for her to make this decision. After bravely confessing her feelings, she had thrown caution to the wind, closing her eyes and leaning toward Steven for an embrace. However, instead of being embraced in welcoming arms, Steven gently pushed her away. Opening her eyes, she met Steven's solemn gaze. Her own eyes moistened. She nervously bit her lip. "You don't find me attractive?" More than the rejection of her advance, what wounded Darlene deeply was Steven's apparent disinterest in her. True, she was older than Steven. Though once a striking beauty, these past years had seen her neglect her appearance compared to those flashy, younger women. It was understandable that Steven might be turned off… "What are you thinking?" Steven chuckled softly. He shook his head in amusement as he regarded her with a mix of pity and resignation, but there was no hint of disdain. "Darlene, you're reading too much into this. How could I take advantage of you in such a vulnerable moment?" he reassured her gently. "Huh?" Darlene was surprised by his response. "Do you really think I'm some kind of predator?" Steven asked. Steven smiled outwardly, yet his inner thoughts were different. Sure, he could be a predator. But he wasn't one to force anything that wasn't genuine. Besides, he wasn't desperate for women. There was no need to rush. Darlene clearly struggled with her feelings, and while he could have taken advantage of her, it just wasn't his style to do so.