Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 86: Chapter 86

Zoe tilted her head slightly, making sure Shawn's gaze would land on her most striking features.
In a soft, trembling voice, she pleaded, "Mr. Ludwig, I don't want to die. Please, save me, won't you?"
Shawn was about to respond, but as he glanced down, his eyes accidentally caught sight of her delicate figure. He quickly turned his head away, but the blush creeping up his neck and ears gave him away.
Zoe stifled a laugh, thinking, 'So, this man does have a reaction after all. Guess he's not as dense as he looks.'
The more time she spent with him, the more she realized teasing Shawn was way more fun than her original mission to assassinate him. Watching him squirm and stumble was endlessly entertaining.
Shawn shut his eyes tightly and fumbled with the shower curtain, trying to wrap her up more securely. His hands hovered awkwardly, as if the curtain were some kind of dangerous weapon and he was terrified of touching something he shouldn't.
Zoe almost rolled her eyes and thought, 'Seriously, I'm just a woman. What's he so scared of? Does he think one look will turn him to stone?'
Deciding this couldn't go on, Shawn scooped her up and strode out of the bathroom with long, determined strides. Before Zoe could even blink, she was already wrapped up like a burrito in a blanket.
Zoe sighed in resignation. She didn't expect him to move so fast.
Shawn didn't waste any time. He quickly grabbed a clean set of clothes for Zoe to change into.
Zoe looked up at him with a pitiful expression and said, "Mr. Ludwig, I'm so scared I feel like jelly. I can't move at all."
Shawn sighed inwardly, 'Sure, she might be exaggerating a bit, but after the terrifying scene earlier, it's not hard to imagine any normal girl being scared out of her mind.'
With a resigned sigh, he bent down and gently slipped the clothes over her head.
Zoe watched him blush as he awkwardly helped her change. It was so amusing that she almost cracked up, but she managed to keep her composure in the end.
Once she was dressed, Shawn scooped her up and carried her out of the room, searching for a safer place for her to rest.
He brought her to a hidden chamber within the building—a place so secretive that only Shawn and a few of his most trusted allies knew about it. Zoe was the first woman to ever set foot in this private sanctuary.
After setting her down, Shawn turned to leave, ready to chase after the hitman. But before he could take a step, Zoe hopped on one foot and clung to him from behind. "Mr. Ludwig, are you really going to leave me here all alone?"
Shawn hesitated.
"I'm scared! That hitman was practically breathing down my neck earlier. If I hadn't insisted on you staying to protect me, I'd probably be dead by now!" Zoe's voice trembled, her eyes glistening with tears that threatened to spill.
Shawn immediately turned around and gently covered her mouth, his tone steady. "I'm not leaving. Besides, this place is secure. That hitman can't get in."
"But if he can't get in, he could use a bomb! If he really wants to kill me, there are plenty of ways to do it," Zoe argued, clutching Shawn's arm tightly, refusing to let go.
With a resigned sigh, Shawn gave in. "Fine. Just go rest. I'll stay here and keep watch."
"That won't work! You're too far away. What if you sneak off while I'm asleep?" Zoe pouted, her tone playful yet insistent. It was obvious she just wanted Shawn to stay close.
She figured the hitman would come back eventually. Maybe she could use the opportunity to lure the hitman in, take him out, and kill Shawn in the process.
But the odds weren't great, and she quickly dismissed the idea. Messing with this straight-laced guy was way more entertaining.
Shawn walked Zoe to the bed. Even after she lay down, Zoe clung to his hand like her life depended on it.
Shawn was speechless and stayed by Zoe's side. But Zoe showed no signs of sleeping. After tossing and turning for a while, she suddenly sat up.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Shawn asked.
"Mr. Ludwig, I'm hungry," Zoe said, looking at Shawn with pitiful eyes, as if accusing him of being utterly heartless.
Shawn's lips twitched slightly, and he immediately called someone outside to deliver food.
Naturally, this task fell to his trusted aide, Chase, who ended up being the one to bring the meal.
When Chase entered and saw Zoe leaning intimately against Shawn's shoulder, he was so shocked he nearly forgot how to walk.
"Leave the food and get out," Shawn ordered coldly, his face darkening as he caught the look on Chase's face.
Chase blinked innocently, feeling wronged. 'I'm just here to enjoy the drama. Is it really necessary to be so serious about it?' he wondered.
As Chase turned to leave, he couldn't resist sneaking one last glance at the pair before closing the door.
"Mr. Ludwig, my hands are weak. Can you feed me?" Zoe said sweetly.
'Good grief! She actually dares to ask Shawn, the legendary warrior, to feed her?' Chase exclaimed inwardly. He craned his neck, eagerly waiting to see what would happen next.
To his utter disbelief, Shawn picked up the bowl and carefully began feeding Zoe, his movements gentle.
Chase felt like his eyes were playing tricks on him. Shawn was finally in love and was feeding someone? Chase sighed, thinking he was too old to handle this kind of public display of affection.
Zoe, after finishing her meal, wasn't done causing trouble. She pouted and said, "My hair's still wet. What if I catch a cold?"
Shawn sighed and went to grab the hairdryer.
As his fingers gently combed through her damp hair, the tingling sensation in the air was undeniable. It made Zoe's heart skip a beat and stirred something deep within Shawn as well.
Once her hair was dry, Zoe lay down, looking ready to rest. Shawn thought to himself, 'Finally, she's going to behave now.'
But then, Zoe shifted closer, patting the spot beside her with a playful smile. "Mr. Ludwig, you said you'd protect me. Why don't you stay and sleep here next to me tonight?"
Shawn froze. This was by far her boldest request yet. But when he met her hopeful gaze, for some reason, he just couldn't bring himself to refuse.
He thought, 'Fine. I've already given in so many times. One more time is no big deal.'
Zoe noticed Shawn lying beside her, still fully dressed, and smirked to herself. She could tell he was trying to keep things proper.
Still, she was quite pleased with him today; he was good. No wonder Medusa had said she'd want to sleep with him before killing him. Zoe couldn't help but admit she was starting to feel a little tempted by him herself.
After a moment of thought, she leaned against his arm and said, "Mr. Ludwig, I can't fall asleep. Why don't you tell me a bedtime story?"