The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 62: Tempted

Ford entered his grand house, greeted by a line of servants and the butler standing respectfully in place. Their voices merged in a synchronized chorus as they welcomed him back.

"You’re welcome, sir," they all said, their eyes locked onto their master. They hadn’t seen him for three days, and his appearance startled them. Ford looked exhausted—his face pale, dark circles under his eyes, and his shoulders slumped. He moved sluggishly, his steps heavy with fatigue, as he made his way further into the house.

The butler, a loyal and elderly man, immediately stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "Sir Ford, welcome back. I’m happy to see you’re feeling better," he said warmly.

Ford gave a small nod and patted the butler’s shoulder, a rare gesture of appreciation. "Did anyone come by while I was away?" His voice was weak, almost drained of energy.

The butler straightened his posture and reported dutifully, "Yes, sir. Miss Lily and Sir Kelvin visited. Also, your father’s driver stopped by. He dropped off some provisions and medication for you."

Ford absorbed the information in silence. He wondered why his father would bother but was too exhausted to react with much enthusiasm.

Just then, the chief cook, Agnes, stepped forward with a bow of respect. "Sir Ford, welcome back. Your meal has been served. I just heated it up for you now," she informed him.

The mention of food made Ford realize just how hungry he was. His stomach had been empty for hours, and the fatigue weighed even heavier because of it. Without a second thought, he hurried towards the dining room. He pulled out a chair and sat down, immediately digging into his meal with an eagerness that surprised everyone in the room.

The butler watched in silence, feeling a pang of guilt as he observed how desperately his master was eating. He had never seen Ford in such a state. It dawned on him that he should have sent food to the hospital while Ford was away. Regret filled his voice as he softly said, "I’m sorry, sir."

Ford paused, lowering his spoon, and looked up. His tired eyes studied the butler, his expression unreadable. "Why the apology? Have you done something wrong that I should know about?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.

The butler swallowed hard before replying. "I regret not sending your meals to the hospital. I thought the hospital staff would take care of you and Miss Elena, but now I see I should have done more." His voice was laced with remorse.

Ford sighed, setting his spoon down. He was too drained to hold a grudge. "It’s alright," he murmured, pushing his plate slightly forward. "I’m back now, and that’s what matters."

The room remained silent, the servants watching their master closely, relieved that he was finally home but concerned about the toll the past few days had taken on him.

Ford glanced up briefly from his plate, his expression unreadable. "Oh yes, you surely should have brought us some food. Don’t assume next time," he said before returning to his meal.

The butler had braced himself for a stern reprimand, perhaps even a scolding, but Ford’s response was far milder than he had anticipated. A wave of relief washed over him.

"Noted, sir. Thank you, sir," he responded humbly, bowing his head in gratitude.

Just then, a young servant girl rushed up to the butler, leaned in close, and whispered something in his ear before quickly hurrying away. The butler’s expression flickered with recognition, but he said nothing, simply waiting for his master to finish his meal.

Ford ate steadily, savoring every bite. It had been far too long since he had last had a proper meal, and now that he was finally eating, he realized just how much he had deprived himself. Once his plate was empty, he reached for the glass of water beside him, drinking deeply. He downed one glass, then another, feeling the cool liquid soothe his throat. Though he felt a little more energetic, the emptiness inside him remained.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he pushed his chair back and stood. "Agnes, prepare a hot pot of porridge for Elena," he instructed.

"Yes, sir," the cook responded immediately, scurrying off to fulfill his request.

Before Ford could leave the dining area, the butler spoke up. "Sir Ford, a hot bath has been prepared for you."

Ford nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing. He turned away, his steps slow and deliberate as he climbed the stairs toward his room. His mind, however, was elsewhere—on Elena.

As he reached the top of the stairs, his eyes instinctively drifted to the side, stopping at her bedroom door. His heart clenched slightly. He hesitated for a brief moment before giving in to his emotions and walking toward her room.

Pushing the door open gently, he stepped inside. Her scent still lingered in the air, soft and familiar, wrapping around him like an invisible embrace. He let out a quiet breath as he walked further in, his fingers grazing the edge of the vanity table.

His eyes scanned the room, moving from the elegant sit-out area to her neatly arranged closet and then to the slightly ajar bathroom door. Slowly, he stepped inside the bathroom. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as memories surfaced—the last time he had been here, she had been standing before him, wrapped in nothing but a towel, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he let out a quiet groan. The longing he felt was deep and undeniable. Shaking off the thoughts, he turned away and left the room, heading back to his own.

Once inside, he peeled off his clothes and walked into his bathroom. The bathtub was already filled with warm water, the scent of essential oils and soap filling the air. Sinking into the water, he let his body relax, his eyes closing as he allowed his thoughts to drift once more to Elena.

She was safe—that was all that mattered.

One of the security personnel approached the butler in a hurry, his face tense with concern. "Sir, Miss Sia is outside. She won’t stop causing a scene, saying she won’t leave until she meets with the boss," he reported.

The butler groaned, rubbing his temples. "Miss Sia? How is she here? And what does she want this time?" he muttered under his breath. He knew his boss needed peace and quiet after just returning from the hospital. The last thing Ford needed was an unwanted visitor stirring up trouble.

Reluctantly, the butler followed the security officer toward the gate. As soon as they stepped outside, they were met with the sight of an angry Sia, her arms folded tightly across her chest, her foot tapping impatiently.

Her sharp gaze locked onto the butler as he hesitated before addressing her. "Miss Sia, what do you want? Were you invited by my boss?" His voice carried a tinge of unease. He had always dreaded encounters with Sia—she had a reputation for being aggressive and unpredictable. Privately, he called her trouble.

Sia’s expression darkened instantly. "Are you stupid?" she snapped, her voice thunderous. "You dare leave me outside? And as if that’s not enough, you stand here asking me foolish questions?"

The butler swallowed hard and quickly lowered his head. "I’m sorry, ma’am," he mumbled before turning to the guards. "Open the gate for her."

At his command, the heavy metal gates swung open. Without another word, Sia spun on her heels and marched back to her sleek black car. She got in, slamming the door behind her. Her driver, sensing her frustration, carefully maneuvered the vehicle forward, stopping just in front of the butler.

"Stop for a minute," Sia ordered, her voice sharp.

The driver obeyed immediately, pressing the brakes. Sia rolled down her window, her movements deliberate. As if the tension wasn’t enough, she slowly removed her designer sunglasses, revealing cold, piercing eyes that locked directly onto the butler.

She leaned slightly forward, her voice low but laced with venom. "You never cease to amaze me," she said, each word dripping with contempt. "I brought you to Ford and his family—don’t forget that. And just as I placed you there, I can just as easily remove you."

Her words sent a chill down the butler’s spine. He knew she wasn’t bluffing.

Without waiting for a response, she rolled her window back up and signaled her driver to continue. The car surged forward, disappearing toward the main house.

The butler exhaled a shaky breath, wiping the sweat that had formed on his brow. He had dealt with many difficult people in his service, but Sia always managed to unsettle him in ways no one else could.

Shaking his head, he turned back toward the house, knowing that trouble was now knocking at Ford’s door.

The butler shook his head, memories of the first time he met Sia flooding his mind. Back then, she had been a wild, spoiled little girl—but he had still sensed a hint of warmth in her. He wondered if there was any of that left in her now.

It had been years ago when he first applied for a job as a butler at her father’s house. He was already running late, his heart pounding as he rushed through the grand iron gates. His only thought was to make a good impression despite his tardiness. But just as he picked up his pace, he heard a noise from the far end of the estate.

The sound of rustling leaves caught his attention, as if someone was climbing a tree or picking fruit. He hesitated, debating whether to investigate, when a sharp, frustrated scream broke the silence.

Acting on instinct, he sprinted toward the source of the noise. His eyes landed on a teenage girl dusting herself off, clearly having fallen. Her clothes were stained with dirt, and she huffed in annoyance. His gaze shifted to the tree beside her—its branches heavy with ripe mangoes.

"Do you need some help?" he asked gently.

The girl spun around, startled. She hadn’t noticed him approaching, and his voice seemed to have scared her.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" she demanded, her brows furrowing in irritation.

"I’m nobody, ma’am," he said quickly. "Just here for a job. I heard you scream and—"

"Leave! I don’t need your help!" she snapped, folding her arms.

"Sorry, ma’am," he apologized immediately, turning to go.

"Wait," she said, her voice softer this time.

He stopped, looking at her again. He could see the frustration in her eyes, the struggle of someone who didn’t want to ask for help but clearly needed it. Without waiting for her to say more, he turned back to the tree. In one swift motion, he grabbed onto a low branch and hoisted himself up. Climbing expertly, he plucked the ripest mangoes, tossing them down one by one.

When he finally jumped down, he saw two sets of eyes fixed on him. A young boy had appeared beside the girl, watching him in stunned silence. They seemed impressed—or maybe just confused by his sudden act of kindness.

But the butler had no time to linger. Without another glance, he grabbed his bag and took off, running as fast as he could toward the house.

Present Day...

"Sir, Miss Sia is in the living room," a maid called out, snapping him back to reality.

His heart sank. "Oh no!" he muttered, his feet moving before he could think. He sprinted back into the house, just in time to see Sia rising from her seat, heading for the stairs.

Trouble was brewing.