Flash Marriage To The Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 56: Chapter 56

Hallie wondered, 'Although Nelson claims he was still the major shareholder behind the scenes, as long as Berry Bay remains in my hands, I can always find a way to stay in control.
'Whether the major shareholder behind the scenes is Levine Group or Blair Group, as long as I can keep prices stable and prevent foreign investors from getting involved, I can still uphold my mother's last wish.
'Right now, the most important thing is figuring out how to draft a win-win project proposal.
'After all, Nelson is a businessman at heart. He'll carefully weigh the profits this project can generate—as long as there's profit to be made, he won't raise, and might even lower, the current medication prices.'
Just thinking about it, Hallie knew this wouldn't be easy.
After all, she knew she couldn't have her cake and eat it too.
She had just one week to get the project proposal done—she needed to finish it within six days, since preparations for surgery would also take time.
At this thought, the ease faded from Hallie's face, replaced by a shadow of worry.
Hallie pushed open the bedroom door and reached for the light switch in the dark.
Her finger hovered over the switch—then froze abruptly.
Moonlight spilled through the window, illuminating the bulging quilt on the bed.
Nelson was lying on his side with his back to her, perfectly still—he looked for all the world like he was already fast asleep.
Hallie decided against turning on the light. Like a thief in the night, she tiptoed into the room, careful not to make a sound.
She reached back gently and closed the door without a sound.
Hallie had never seen Nelson turn in this early before.
She put down her bag, glanced at Nelson on the bed—his eyes closed, breathing steady—then looked toward the bathroom.
Perhaps it was because Nelson had entrusted the Berry Bay project to her, stirring a flicker of gratitude in her. Or perhaps, she simply didn't want to disturb his rare early rest.
Hallie thought for a moment and decided that she'd skip her shower tonight and just wake up twenty minutes earlier tomorrow to take one.
Tiptoeing into the bathroom, Hallie kept her wash-up quick and simple.
She lifted the blanket she'd laid out on the floor, about to slip in, when out of the corner of her eye she noticed that the blanket covering Nelson had slipped down to his chest, leaving both shoulders exposed in his black pajamas.
'It's early spring, and the nights are still quite chilly. If I ignore this, will Nelson catch a cold?' Hallie thought.
'I mean, Nelson's pretty fit, and guys usually run warmer than women anyway. A little chill probably won't bother him, right?'
Hallie wrestled with herself for a few moments.
Finally, Hallie stood up and crept toward Nelson, holding her breath for fear of making the slightest sound.
She hunched slightly, carefully reaching out with both hands to grasp the edges of Nelson's blanket. She gently pulled it up and tucked it snugly around his shoulders, making sure he was properly covered.
Just then, as if jolted by something, Nelson's eyes snapped open. On reflex, he grabbed Hallie's arm.
Hallie's heart lurched in panic as her body tilted forward uncontrollably, crashing heavily onto Nelson.
Hallie's rosy lips crashed onto Nelson's cool ones, the impact sending a sharp pain through her teeth.
Instantly, Hallie's pupils constricted sharply as she locked eyes with Nelson's deep, startled gaze.
The searing heat and unexpected softness of her lips against his sent a surge of irritation coursing through Nelson, setting his heart pounding in an erratic, unnatural rhythm.
'What's this woman up to? Does she really think that just because I handed over Berry Bay, she can throw herself at me and squeeze even more out of me? Is she that delusional?' Nelson thought.
Hallie pushed herself up with both hands and nearly tumbled off the bed in her panic. Her cheeks and neck burned crimson, even her earlobes tingling with embarrassing heat.
Shock, confusion, panic—Hallie couldn't process what had just happened. For a moment, reality felt impossible to accept.
She thought bitterly, 'My first kiss... was actually with Nelson?'
Nelson shot up from the bed, instantly wide awake. His voice was icy and deliberate, each word falling like a final judgment.
Nelson glared at her and growled, "Hallie, you're done for."
He fixed Hallie with a cold, disgusted stare, as if she'd just done something utterly shameful.
Hallie's fury flared as she shouted, "It was you who grabbed my hand out of nowhere. You're the one taking advantage of me."
Nelson shot her a cold, mocking look. "Me? Are you serious?"
Nelson sneered through gritted teeth, "What were you doing creeping so close to me in the dead of night? Was this some pathetic attempt to seduce me?
"Did you really think that forcing my hand would make me reconsider divorcing you in six months? Let me make one thing clear—even if we do have sex, it wouldn't change a damn thing."
Hallie glared at Nelson and snapped, "Who in their right mind would ever want to seduce you? If it weren't for your blanket slipping off, I wouldn't have come near you—even if you begged me."
Hallie plopped down on the floor, clutching a corner of the blanket in her fist, longing to hurl a pillow straight at Nelson's sneering, icy face.
Hallie thought bitterly, 'I should've just minded my own business.'
Nelson's expression softened slightly as he frowned, scrutinizing Hallie's face—weighing the truthfulness of her words while replaying the scene in his mind.
Nelson had woken to the sensation of the blanket being pulled upward—Hallie's hands still clutching it.
He thought if it was just an accident.
Nelson fixed Hallie with a silent stare before speaking in an icy tone, "Consider today erased. Don't get so close to me when I'm sleeping. If there's a next time, I won't hold back."
Hallie just brushed off Nelson's words as an empty threat, never realizing there was a hint of sincerity behind them.
"I don't need your reminders. I must've had nothing better to do today. That's why I stuck my nose where it didn't belong." Hallie glared at Nelson and fired back a retort.
Nelson narrowed his eyes and swept a measuring glance over Hallie.
He thought to himself, 'Just a brush, and she's making such a scene?'
He asked, "First kiss, huh?"
Nelson's thin lips curled into a cold smirk as he uttered those words with absolute certainty, adding a layer of humiliation to Hallie's already boiling anger.
Not only did Nelson refuse to apologize for his rudeness, but he also shot Hallie a look that made it clear he thought she was just overreacting—like a childish fool throwing a tantrum.
Nelson said coldly, "That wasn't even a proper kiss. Don't make a fuss about it."
Hallie sneered, "Of course I'm not as experienced as you, who can so expertly tell what a real kiss is. Not that I care. I just find the whole thing utterly repulsive."
Nelson sneered, side-eyeing her with a mocking smirk, "If it's so repulsive, then why are you blushing?"
"Look, it's just a purely physiological response. It has absolutely nothing to do with what I'm actually thinking," Hallie shot back immediately.
Nelson scoffed, brushing off her response.
He said, "Rather than obsessing over whether that even counts as a real kiss, you'd better focus on drafting a flawless project proposal. Remember—you've only got one week."
With that, Nelson lay back down as if nothing had happened.