CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: FELL INTO HIS ARMS

"Let’s go, let’s continue our conversation!"

"Yeah! Let’s go to Elysian Plaza, the girls there suit us!"

"Let’s go!"

The noisy and chaotic voices came from upstairs. A group of half-drunk men staggered outside.

Ava Sterling heard the noisy voices, frowned in displeasure, ordered new food, paid the bill, and went towards Jace Kingsley.

But just as she turned around, she bumped into someone.

The impact made her take two steps back.

The other person also stumbled back and was caught by someone behind him.

After steadying himself, he pointed at her, "How do you walk? Didn’t you see our Brother Sun?"

Ava Sterling steadied herself and was about to brush off the alcohol smell on her body when she heard this and squinted her eyes as she looked up.

The other person was about to say more, but his expression changed instantly upon seeing Ava Sterling’s face.

"Oh, it’s a beauty!"

"Beauty, come, have a drink with us brothers."

The group of men surrounded Ava Sterling, while the man she bumped into rubbed his eyes in disbelief as he looked at her.

Because this man was none other than the one Ava Sterling had pointed at and scolded on the road yesterday.

Ava Sterling recognized the man too.

After all, she hadn’t lost her memory, nor did she have poor eyesight.

"It’s you..."

Hearing the man’s voice, the others were stunned and looked at the man.

The man stepped forward and grabbed Ava Sterling, perhaps because he was drunk or because his car was damaged just like that, his temper flared up in an instant.

"You still dare to appear in front of me, such nerve!"

Ava Sterling’s hand was grabbed, but she didn’t struggle and just watched the man rant drunkenly.

However, as the man spoke, his alcohol-laden breath made Ava wrinkle her nose in disgust.

"What’s that expression? Are you looking down on me?"

"I didn’t even look down on you, yet you dare look down on me!"

"Come on! You’re coming with me now!"

The man started dragging Ava Sterling away, leaving the others bewildered.

But Ava swiftly pulled her hand away.

The man was left empty-handed and stood there dumbfounded.

Ava Sterling pulled out a tissue from her pocket, and in front of them wiped the wrist that the man had grabbed, saying, "What? Not convinced?"

"Not convinced? Let’s find a place to settle this one-on-one."

"This is a place of business. Let’s not disrupt their business."

Her calm words left them unable to respond immediately.

But the man reacted quickly, and like an enraged lion, he lunged at Ava Sterling forcefully and swiftly.

The force was quick and strong, knocking Ava Sterling backward unexpectedly.

But she was trained and knew how to steady herself in such situations.

However, before she could react, she fell into a hard and cold chest.

At the same time, a large hand grasped her waist securely, positioned just at the small of her back.

It felt like it was holding onto her lifeline, and she froze.

Because... she smelled a familiar sandalwood fragrance...

Just lingering softly at the tip of her nose...

Like that one night...

"Who... who are you?"

The sudden appearance of this person made the stunned men react, their voices shaky.

It wasn’t anything else, but the person who appeared had an overwhelmingly strong presence.

He merely stood behind Ava Sterling, looked at them, and made them feel short of breath instantly.

At this moment, Vincent Donovan also reacted, glancing at Poe Vaughn’s embrace and then at those clearly intimidated by Poe Vaughn’s aura yet too proud to act, saying, "I suggest you leave now."

Hearing his voice, the men looked at him, then at Ava Sterling, especially the man who pushed her, glaring fiercely, "Just you wait!"

They left.

Ava Sterling’s heart raced, thudding rapidly like a small motor.

Because the images from that night flooded into her mind crazily.

In the darkness, where she saw nothing, she knew clearly the hand that held her waist, very much like now, in control of her, causing her to undulate...

"Ava!"

A hand pulled her away instantly, dragging her out of the overwhelming aura she was sinking into.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

With her hand held, Jace Kingsley immediately looked her over, his expression extremely serious.

He had been on a call just earlier, unaware of what was happening.

Until he hung up and heard the anomaly, turning to see the situation.

But he was still late, and she was harmed.

Poe Vaughn watched as Jace held Ava’s hand tightly, her pale wrist marked red, looking fragile as if it would snap at any moment.

He moved his fingers slightly, grasped the suit jacket draped over his arm, and stepped upstairs.

Vincent watched from the side clearly, sensing what was in Poe Vaughn’s eyes just now.

With a slight shock, his gaze swept over Jace and Ava, as he followed behind the person in front.

"Ava?"

Jace looked Ava over, ensuring she wasn’t hurt before noting her expression.

But he found Ava dazed.

"Ava?"

Jace waved a hand in front of her eyes.

Ava’s eyelashes fluttered as she came to her senses.

"No... no problem."

As the steady footsteps faded away, Ava finally found her voice again.

Subconsciously, she immediately held Jace’s hand, hurriedly returning to their previous spot.

When the footsteps completely disappeared, and the soul-stirring sandalwood scent vanished, Ava finally felt alive again.

With a long sigh, she picked up her glass and downed the remaining alcohol.

Seeing her bold drinking, Jace shook his head helplessly and pushed something in front of her, "Have something to eat."

Ava now needed to retrieve her lively self to cover up her just-stirred heart, so she picked up the spicy skewers before her and started eating.

Jace noticed Ava’s unusual behavior but didn’t ask. Instead, he poured her tea or handed her things.

Waiting for her to recover.

After several delicious plates, Ava burped contentedly.

Realizing the food on the table was mostly eaten by her, even the additional dishes she ordered were down to only a third.

Glancing at Jace, his space was almost spotless, as if he hadn’t eaten anything.

"Didn’t you eat?"

Jace shook his head, voice gentle, "I was watching you eat."

Ava sighed, looking at him with mock resentment, "Do you want me to owe you for treating you?"

"Haha, yes."

"One meal isn’t enough. Naturally, I’d like to share more meals with you."

"Alright, since we’re friends, I’ll treat you to more meals!"

"It’s a deal!"

She agreed readily, without hesitation.

Jace chuckled softly, took Ava’s teacup, and poured her another cup of tea.

Her lips were stained red with peppers, like a blooming rose at its peak, breathtakingly beautiful.

Ava, without reservation, took the teacup and gulped it down.

Jace asked, "Who were they just now? Why were they troubling you?"