CHAPTER 23: CHAPTER 23: AVA STERLING, ARE YOU CRAZY?

Ava closed her eyes, her fingers clenched tightly.

She thought, her temper was just like Lillian Donovan’s, reckless and unrestrained.

This should be a moment to be angry, to shout, but instead, she found herself calm.

She curved her lips slightly, eyes opening: "You know Jace Kingsley’s identity, right?"

"If you dare, go make a scene, the bigger the better, let’s see if he’ll still follow your wishes."

"You!"

Ava hung up the phone.

Her mom was difficult to deal with, and so was she.

Let’s see which of them would win in the end!

Ding! The elevator door opened.

Ava put away her phone, pressing her lips together tightly as she quickly stepped out.

She completely forgot about the person ahead, and forgot to check the floor buttons.

Then...

Bang!

She collided with a solid arm.

Yes!

That’s right, it was an arm!

Because she clearly felt the arm pressing right against her chest, firmly!

Ava’s eyes widened instantly, cursing: "You..."

She only got one word out before she stopped abruptly.

Because she clearly saw who was pressing against her chest.

No one else but the man she just ogled over: Poe—Vaughn—!

Ava was stunned, standing there like a wooden post, without any further reaction...

The elevator reached the thirty-third floor, and as Poe Vaughn was about to step forward, he felt a strong impact.

At the same time, the soft pressure stuck tightly to his arm, with no gap...

The surroundings fell quiet.

All sounds disappeared.

In that moment, within the small space, an inexplicable heat silently rose.

Poe Vaughn stood there, the delicate softness transferred through his clothes to his skin, like a small hooked thorn sinking into his bloodstream, brazenly roaming and stirring up chaos.

The darkness in his deep eyes broke the surface calm, revealing the turbulence inside, akin to a terrifying storm finally visible from the depths of the ocean.

He moved his fingertip slightly, glanced sideways at the person tightly against him.

Her skin was snow-white, with no makeup, her natural face flawless under the light, just like a perfect exhibit, flawless.

She stared at him, eyes blank, shock and disbelief written in her beautiful eyes.

He parted his lips: "Miss Sterling, watch where you’re going."

At the moment Poe Vaughn looked at her, Ava’s heart leaped wildly, her gaze instinctively dodging.

She wanted to speak, wanted to ease the dreadful situation.

But just as she opened her lips, his deep voice resonated in her ears, carrying prestige and indifference.

Haha!

Watch where you’re going?

Didn’t she watch where she was going? It was him who didn’t watch, wasn’t it!

And now, who really was the victim here?

Obviously, it’s her, right?

He still had his hand on her chest, and he had the nerve to say that?

Ava absolutely wanted to curse him fiercely, just like she cursed the person who bumped into her that night.

But the person in front of her now wasn’t someone she could scold casually; his identity, status, were above hers, way above.

Once she cursed him, it was over!

Ava forced a smile onto her lips, intending to apologize and step back, but just as she was about to move, his arm shifted away, and the suit jacket resting on it switched to the other arm.

The hand pressed against her chest slid into his pocket, and he stepped away.

Just like that, he left.

Ava’s eyes widened, watching the person walk away, mouth agape, amused by her own anger!

It was clearly she who suffered a loss, but to him, it seemed like he was the one aggrieved!

Ridiculous!

Utterly insulting!

As the elevator door completely closed, a vulgar phrase echoed inside: "Damn! Molested my chest and acting all disdainful, if you dare, stay away from me that night! Damn you, Immortal!"

Poe Vaughn’s steps halted.

The light in the corridor enveloped him; it should’ve been radiant, yet not a trace of brightness was seen.

Even the surrounding atmosphere was eerily still.

Poe Vaughn stood there for a long moment, then stepped away.

Ava stood in the elevator, cursing just as the door closed, even kicking the elevator.

She was clearly supposed to be on the thirty-second floor, so why did it stop on the thirty-third?

Looking at the numbers on the elevator panel, Ava kicked the elevator a few more times, then pressed the button for the thirty-second floor and returned to her suite.

Lauren had just finished showering and was drying her hair.

Seeing Ava return, she rushed forward to ask.

However, before she could open her mouth, Ava slapped her face directly, pushing her aside before heading to her room and lying on the bed as if dead.

"Tired?"

Lauren hadn’t slept, wanting to wait for Ava’s return, eager to ask about her and Jace Kingsley’s progress.

After all, today in the parking lot, she saw with her own eyes Jace tending to Ava’s feet.

That wasn’t an ordinary relationship.

Ava ignored her, lying in bed with her eyes closed, unmoving like a corpse.

Lauren frowned but didn’t press further.

Ava’s current state wasn’t new; it indicated something was up.

This kind of time, better not to provoke her.

Otherwise, it’s troublesome.

The door quickly closed, and Ava lay in bed still unmoving.

It seemed like she was really asleep.

But suddenly!

She opened her eyes abruptly and sat up, holding the blanket.

She looked at her chest, eyes wide, flames of anger burning inside.

Her mind was filled with the scenes in the elevator, the more she thought the hotter her chest felt, the hotter it got the more she remembered that night’s scene.

Her heart pounded intensively, uncontrollably.

Damn it!

Ava, have you lost your mind?!

He’s so dismissive of you and you’re still thinking about him physically.

Do you have any shame left?

Ava rolled over on the bed, from headboard to foot, then foot back to headboard.

But she still couldn’t stop herself from thinking.

She suddenly sat up, a serious expression.

She needed to take a cold shower!

She needed to calm down!

Calm and composed!

Crash... the sound of water flowed, Ava said she was taking a cold shower but the moment cold water splashed on her, she immediately turned the hot water on.

Life first.

Hot water showered over her, washing away all fatigue and clearing up the boozy feeling.

By the time Ava stepped out of the bathroom, she was completely calm.

It’s just a man, isn’t it?

There are plenty of men in this world, any of whom could easily outdo him!

Sleep!

...

As night unfolded, all of Delphos City was draped in a veil of quietude.

Poe Vaughn came out of the bathroom, drying most of the water from his hair.

He placed the towel on the sofa, went to the bar, and took a bottle of liquor from the cabinet.

He poured a small amount, stood at the floor-to-ceiling window with the glass, and took a sip.

This suite was a presidential suite, equipped with a liquor cabinet, bar, pool table, gym, and small swimming pool; everything you could imagine, and more.

As night deepened with the approaching dawn, even the traffic on the roads was infused with silent tranquility.

"Wooooo..."

The phone rang.

He turned, picked up the phone from the bar: "Hey."

"President Vaughn, there’s indeed an issue with MK’s new device, it’s with the system."

"Suspend cooperation."

"Yes."

The call ended.

Poe Vaughn held the glass, looking at the night outside, a clear scene appearing in his mind.

Outside the hotel gates, bright with lights, a pair stood in the glow, tightly embracing.

Their faces showed smiles, contentment and happiness.

Taking a sip of his drink, he moved his fingertips slightly, dialing a number: "Investigate a person."

"Who?"

"Jace Kingsley."