CHAPTER 118: CHAPTER 118: IF YOU MARRY ME, YOU CAN WALK WHEREVER YOU WANT

Stella Grant’s heart skipped a beat, and her feet instinctively moved back.

This man emitted a suffocating sense of danger from head to toe.

He slowly lowered his head, his warm breath almost touching her skin, his deep eyes locked onto her, with a clear target, wanting to kiss her.

"Mr. West!"

Stella Grant sharply raised her voice, with a subtle tremble she herself didn’t notice.

"Do you want to experience being poisoned again?"

He paused, but the corner of his mouth curved into an indifferent smirk, his voice deep and irresistibly magnetic.

"Under the peony flower, even as a ghost it’s charming."

He didn’t take the pill; he knew she was just trying to intimidate him, yet at this moment, his eyes were filled with even more possessiveness.

"Afraid of me?" He chuckled softly, "Little thing, this is my territory, you can’t escape."

His fingers gently lifted her chin, his grip unrefusable.

Stella Grant’s tense nerves suddenly relaxed, she laughed suddenly, with a hint of slyness in her eyes.

"Mr. West, stop teasing me, we’re all adults, playing these games isn’t fun."

She paused for a moment, her voice lowered, with a touch of seduction.

"How about we talk cooperation? After all, the value of ’God N’ isn’t just a body for your pleasure, don’t you think?"

He listened, eyebrows raised with interest, but the sense of oppression didn’t lessen at all, in fact, it gained a bit of mockery.

He released her, but his fingertips ambiguously brushed over her lips, his voice lazy.

"I don’t think it’s uninteresting; it depends on who you’re... playing with."

He said "play" with a note of amusement, his smile wild and unrestrained, his gaze burning into her as if to swallow her whole.

Seeing her a bit afraid, he pushed further, "If you marry me, in all of Mardale, no one will dare touch a hair on your head. You can walk across sideways, do as you please."

This statement was like a heavy bomb.

Stella Grant’s smile remained unchanged, but her tone softened a bit, "Sorry, Mr. West, I’m already married."

The man’s brow twitched slightly, she still remembered she had a husband?

His eyes unexpectedly filled with tenderness, his tone mocking.

"Oh? Married? Then why hasn’t he shown up to protect you? Looks like, your relationship isn’t that great either."

Stella Grant kept her smile, but it deepened with resolve.

"He has his own things to deal with, I just happened to be here on vacation."

She looked him directly in the eyes, her words clear and firm.

"Besides, I love him very much."

Simple words.

Like a stone thrown into a calm lake, yet it stirred up a storm in his heart.

I! Love! Him! Very much!

These words seemed to have some magic, exploding inside him, his long dormant heart suddenly erupted.

A massive energy surged through his body, catching him off guard.

The air stilled for a moment, he quickly reined in his exposed emotions, but his eyes became even deeper and unreadable.

"Today’s life-saving grace isn’t cheap."

He suddenly spoke, with some amusement, yet undeniably strong.

"Miss NOVA, remember it well. One day, I’ll come to collect personally."

Stella Grant’s lips curved, "Of course. I wouldn’t dare forget Mr. West’s grace."

Unexpectedly, using Aiden Fordham at the crucial moment worked quite well!

She shifted the subject, her eyes bright, "I wonder if I could discuss a deal with Mr. West?"

His eyes lit up a bit, seeming interested in the word "deal."

Stella Grant continued: "I want to find someone, I wonder if I could hire Mr. West’s team?"

The man sneered, the warmth in his eyes instantly cooled.

"The cost is very high; you can’t afford it." His tone carried undisguised disdain, "A woman should be in a safe place, fighting isn’t for you."

He seemed a bit angry, and after saying that, he turned sharply, striding out with an imposing presence.

Stella Grant watched his retreating back, wanting to say more, "My friend..."

The butler at the door spoke timely, his voice respectful yet unyielding.

"Miss NOVA, your friend will be met by our people, you don’t need to worry."

After speaking, the butler bowed slightly, then gently closed the door.

The room returned to quiet.

Stella Grant let out a light breath, walking to the window.

This Mr. West, truly unpredictable, mood swings unpredictable.

Like that man, just as irritating!

By now, the sky had darkened, the forest resounding with the calls of small insects.

Tom Summers finally found the injured Seraphina in an abandoned lumber mill cabin.

She leaned against the corner, her face pale as paper, the left shoulder of her clothing stained red with blood, glaringly shocking.

"How are you?" Tom Summers rushed forward, his voice carrying an urgency he hadn’t noticed.

Tom Summers quickly found a crude first aid kit, opened it, finding it pitifully lacking.

"The bullet needs to be removed." He said seriously, "But there’s no anesthetic."

"No need." Seraphina’s voice was hoarse, but unusually calm.

Tom Summers said nothing more, picking up a sterilized small knife and tweezers.

He carefully cut away her clothes at the shoulder, exposing smooth skin and the gruesome bullet wound.

Blood still seeped out, he held his breath, his tweezers steadily probing the wound.

Seraphina’s body subtly tensed, beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, lips bitten pale by herself.

Yet, from beginning to end, she didn’t utter a single groan.

This woman...

Tom Summers felt as if something tugged at his heart, a mix of sympathy and admiration welled up within him.

His movements became faster, yet gentler.

With a soft "ding", the blood-stained bullet was tossed into the enamel plate beside him.

He quickly bandaged her up, then squatted down in front of her, "I’ll carry you out."

Night had fallen; this wretched place was no place for people.

She weakly pushed him, "No need, someone will come to get me." A sleeve button on her attire flickered with a faint blue light.

He asked again, "Are you one of Mr. West’s people?"

Seraphina’s eyes were icy cold, "Don’t ask what you shouldn’t, or I’ll knock you out!"

Tom Summers: "..."

...

Mardale’s largest bar - Ebrius.

Amidst the cacophony of neon lights and swirling colors, a mix of expensive perfumes and alcohol lingered in the air, adding to the ambivalent atmosphere.

Every corner spelled out ’decadence’ in bold strokes.

Vivi Sterling took a deep breath and headed straight in, pushing open the room’s door.

Inside the room, smoke swirled.

On the central sofa, Zane Zimmerman reclined into the soft leather, his posture relaxed yet exuding an undeniable sense of oppression.

He was naturally a born leader, noble and aloof. On either side, a stunning woman clung to him, giggling as she fed him fruit.

Nearby, two other men, similarly surrounded, were being fed drinks, sweet voices echoing softly.

Seeing Vivi Sterling burst in, Zane Zimmerman paused slightly, his hand holding the wineglass twitching.

His deep eyes squinted, a flash of cold light appeared.

"Go back!" he spoke, his voice not loud but filled with authority, "This is not where you should be."

Vivi Sterling fought to steady herself, putting on a courteous smile, "Sorry to disturb your fun, Mr. Zimmerman. As long as you agree to help me find someone, I’ll leave immediately."

Zane Zimmerman’s lips curled into a derisive arc, coldly sneering.

"Find someone?" His gaze looked like it wanted to see through her, "What else do you have to offer?"

Vivi Sterling met his eyes squarely, enunciating clearly, "Whatever you want, I can give you."

Zane Zimmerman appraised her, emotions churning in his seemingly bottomless eyes.

"Anything?" He repeated, drawing out the last syllable slightly, teasingly, "Then undress!"

His voice was soft, yet it penetrated the ears of everyone present.

"Let everyone see if your offer carries enough weight."

He intended to make things difficult for her, humiliating her this way, wanting her to retreat in defeat.

Unexpectedly, Vivi Sterling didn’t even blink.

She reached out, unhesitatingly pulling down the zipper at the back of her dress, the smooth fabric pooling at her ankles along her contour.

Leaving only black lace underwear, outlining her perfect, shapely figure.

Her skin fair as snow, strikingly white in the dim light of the room, the explosive image instantly froze the originally noisy atmosphere.

Under everyone’s gaze, Zane Zimmerman’s face turned entirely sour, rage rolling in his eyes, seemingly ready to engulf everything.

"Get out!" An angry shout, laced with unchallengeable authority.

People in the room scurried out, fearing their lives would be lost if they were a second too slow.

He reached out, roughly pinching her chin with calloused fingers, forcing her to lift her head.

"Want me to have you?"

Vivi Sterling however laughed, her smile bright, even a bit provocative.

"I bet you’d be mad." Her voice was soft, yet every word clear, "Admit it, Zane Zimmerman, you like me."

The word ’like’ drove Zane Zimmerman to frustration, the anger in his eyes burning fiercer.

The next moment, he suddenly pressed her against the sofa behind, not waiting for her reaction, biting her lips fiercely.

Not a kiss!

Full of punishment, filled with anger, and with a touch of uncontrollable sentiment even he hadn’t noticed.

The taste of blood spread through their mouths, her lips colored crimson, shocking to behold.

Zane Zimmerman abruptly rose, striding out without looking back.

Damn it!

This woman always finds a way to cross his line, make him lose control!

Vivi Sterling lightly touched her pricked lip corner with her fingertip, staring at that vivid red.

She slightly curved her lips.

She was sure, Zane Zimmerman wasn’t just her protector here, but also that shimmering blue moonlight in her heart!

...

Meanwhile, in a heavily guarded villa in Mardale’s affluent district, Andy Lockwood was throwing a fit.

"Are you all useless?"

A precious antique vase was slammed forcefully to the ground, instantly shattering into countless pieces, fragments scattering everywhere.

His subordinates were scared, heads lowered, not even daring to breathe loudly.

"Sending so many people, yet unable to bring back a single woman? And letting her fall into danger?" Andy Lockwood’s voice was filled with irritability and impatience.

He had to bring Stella back before Aiden Fordham arrived.

But what he didn’t know, Aiden Fordham had long been there already...