bChapter /bb51 /b

Milo blocked bmy /bpathb: /bb“/bIs bthis /babout byour /bgirlfriend’s situationb?/bb” /b

Ferris said bcoldly/bb. /b“This has bnothing /bbto /bdo with Mr. Ellison.”

“Her business is my business.b” /b

brerris’s /bbeyes /bdarkened slightly: b“/bOh? I only learned today that bMiss /bWindsor is so attractive, with so many men willing to stand bup /bfor herb./bb” /b

Enoughb, /bFerris.”

had bguessed /bthat after today’s bevents/bb, /bhe woulde looking for me. I smiled apologetically at Milob: /bb“/bbSorry/bb, /bI’ll handle him.”

Milo’s smile faded. He leaned against his car, nodded, and said: b“/bContact me if you need anything.”

Before I could respond, Ferris forcibly dragged me baway/b.

lis grip on my wrist was strong. bI /bstruggled but couldn’t break free from hisrge hand.

bt /bbwasn’t /buntil he pulled me to his car that I finally broke free from his grasp.

berris /bstared at me darkly.

, /bare you doing this to seek justice for your precious first loveb?/b”

Fine! What do you n to do now? Turn me over to the police? What crime did Imit–petty theft? Want to lock me up so you and your saintly Ashley can inally be togetherb?/bb” /b

bAre /byou finished?”

erris pressed me against the car door.

turned my face away, refusing to look at him.

‘erris gripped my chin, forcing me to look directly at him. He frowned slightly, staring at my pale face.

You pped her. Shouldn’t you apologize?”

bSo /bwhatb?/bb” /bMy smile disappeared as I looked at him calmly, “Are you going to hit me back for her?b” /b

‘berris’s /bgaze locked onto me.

We’d been married for three years, and this was the first time he’d seen this sharp side of me.

And this side seemed to please him.

I didn’t bexpect /byou to have such a spirited side.”

bwas /bsuddenly stunnedb: /b“What do you mean?b” /b

Ferris breleased /bme and loosened his tieb: /b“This matter ends here. Don’t bring it up again, and don’t provoke Ashley anymore.”

I bprovoked /bAshley?

Hab! /b

No matter how I exinedb, /bbeven /bwith the factsid bareb, /bFerris always bstood /bon Ashley’s side.

bHe /bbelieved Ashley, not me.

suppressed bthe /bbitterness in bmy /bheart and bpushed /bhis hand baway/bb. /bb“/bbYou /bbshould /bbgo /bbfind /bbyour /bbAshley/bb./bb” /b

I was about bto /bleave bwhen /bbFerris /bbpulled /bme bback/b. I was bpressed /bbagainst /bthe bcar /bbwindow /bas bhe /bgripped my chinb, /bbhis /bfingertips applying bmoderate /bpressure that betrayed restrained anger.

I turned my face away, unwilling bto /blook at him again.

bBut /bbhe /bsuddenly lowered his headb, /bhis nose approaching my neckb, /bhis movements slow and dangerous.

I instinctively tried to dodgeb, /bbut he trapped me between the car door and his chest with his arms.

bAfter /ba moment, his eyes darkenedb, /bhis breathing low and husky, bas /bbif /bsqueezing out a bestial rasp from his throatb: /b“Aurora, why do youb… /bsmell like another wolfb?/bb” /b

bMy /bheart tightened, but I gritted my teeth and said nothing.

He moved closerb, /bhis tone no longer calm but filled with undisguised jealousy and rageb: /b“It’s Adrianb, /bisn’t itb? /bYou let him mark youb?/bb” /b

“When did you be bso /bintimate with ck Mountain’s Alphab?/bb” /b

His voice was almost grinding through clenched teeth, like a beast about to lose control.

(9)