I immediately blocked his path and shouted, "Hunter, wait a second!"

But Hunter was quick, deftly dodging my arm, his eyes flickering with a flash of resistance and disgust.

I calmly withdrew my hand.

I peeked into the bathroom. The Naga was nowhere to be seen, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

Hunter looked up, and then seemed to realize something.

He let out a scoff and said:

"Princess Sienna, surely you aren't this desperate for it?"

I was so angry at his words that I laughed.

He was indeed good-looking, but compared to that stunning serpent beauty, he was lacking.

Besides, I had no reason to keep chasing someone who didn't want me.

I lifted his chin, speaking with deep meaning.

"Desperate? With just you, you're hardly qualified."

"You!" Hunter was left speechless.

I walked over to the drawer by the coffee table.

I pulled out a stack of documents and tossed them casually against his chest.

"Haven't you always wanted my sister to adopt you? This is the beastman guardianship termination agreement. I've already signed it." "Hunter, you're free."

I spoke every word clearly, with almost no emotion.

He was usually calm and composed, but now he was utterly shocked.

Waves of emotion surged in Hunter's eyes before quickly subsiding.

He mocked me nonchalantly:

"Sienna, don't regret this. Once I walk out that door, I won't give you a second glance!"

I shrugged.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

His face went cold as he took the agreement, and he turned to leave my house.

He didn't show a single hint of lingering attachment.

Watching his back, I let out a long breath.

Sometimes I think that even if I raised a dog, it would wag its tail to please me.

But I had raised Hunter for so many years, and he wouldn't even let me touch him.

His eyes were always filled with disgust.

As if... I were something filthy. I mocked myself inwardly.

Forget it. My sincerity was just pearls before swine.

5

Clang—

There was a strange noise coming from my refrigerator.

I yanked it open, only to find the Naga curled into a ball, huddled inside the freezer compartment.

A layer of white frost had formed on his scales.

Even his eyelashes were dusted with a thin layer of snow.

I froze in shock for a second before hurriedly dragging him out!

"How can a snake be this stupid? My house is huge; you could have hidden anywhere, but you chose the fridge?"

Looking at his near-frozen "corpse," I rushed to fill the bathtub with warm water and placed him inside.

As the water temperature rose, the frost on his body gradually faded.

Suddenly, I caught a strange scent emanating from him.

It was a sort of woody fragrance, cool yet aggressive, and not at all unpleasant.

Could this be the smell of a frozen snake?

Startled, I began to scrub him, trying to wash the scent away.

But as I washed...

I realized something was wrong.

His body was burning hot, as if he had a high fever.

My hands brushed against him haphazardly, and suddenly, he caught me by the wrist.

His tightly closed eyes slowly opened, revealing emerald-green vertical slits that were breathtakingly beautiful.

The tips of his ears flushed an unnatural shade of red.

"Don't touch... there..."

I hadn't expected a Naga's body to be quite so sensitive.

Seeing him like this, I couldn't resist teasing him.

"Fine, but only if you tell me your name."

"Hmm? Not talking?"

I threatened him, reaching out as if to touch him again.

He lowered his gaze, staring at me. "Caspian."

Satisfied with the answer, I still took the chance to give him a quick squeeze.

He seemed unable to restrain himself, his fangs sinking into my shoulder strap.

"You went back on your word."

Caspian's tail slowly coiled around my waist.

I froze.

Oh no, I pushed it too far.

His skin pressed against mine, as if he were trying to draw coolness from me.

His body was so scalding that it made me shiver.

Aren't snakes supposed to be cold-blooded?

A sudden realization hit me like a bolt of lightning.

Dammit, he's in his Heat Phase!

No wonder he crawled into the fridge—he was trying to cool down...

Staring at him, my hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Splash—

The next second, I was dragged into the water.

Water droplets splashed from the tub, trickling down his jawline.

Then, he tilted his head back slightly.

A pair of desire-filled eyes locked onto me, and the Adam's apple on his pale neck bobbed slightly.

His voice was deep and husky:

"Help me..."

His jaw brushed against my neck, his touch laced with flirtatious intent.

My eyelashes fluttered in nervousness as I began to move...

6

By accident, my gaze drifted toward a certain spot.

My mouth fell open, and then... total internal earthquake!

He lifted his eyelids slightly, looking at me with a touch of confusion.

My face was burning, but I forced myself to stay calm. Faking composure, I stammered:

"It's... it's nothing."

But my heart was a raging storm.

Caspian seemed to realize something and let out a low chuckle.

"Oh?"

He leaned in closer, his aura intensifying until it completely enveloped me.

Those emerald eyes were filled with playful mischief.

His voice was a low, gravelly rasp. "Then why is your face so red?"

His hair fell forward, brushing against my skin with an accidental touch.

It tickled.

I averted my gaze, coughing a few times. "It's just... it's hot in here."

Damn it!

They say foxes are the masters of seduction, but I was beginning to think Nagas were on a whole different level.

7

Caspian deliberately licked my earlobe.

His tail glided up my calf, inching higher toward my inner thigh as his serpent body coiled completely around me.

My face was on fire, and my voice cracked slightly.

"Not... not from behind, I can't..."

But Caspian seemed to have lost all reason.

He bit into my collarbone, burying his head in the crook of my neck.

His hot breath fanned over me as he whispered seductively:

"Just bear with it. It'll be over soon..."

How was I supposed to take this!

In a moment of desperation, a lightbulb went off.

I grabbed a nearby ornament and slammed it onto his head with a loud thud.

His body swayed.

And he passed out.