Chapter 2

The live chat wasn't exactly helpful. With a deep breath, I pressed the tip of my shoe against Gavin's thigh, applying just enough pressure to make him flinch.

Gavin's expression didn't change much. His fists tightened, but he stayed completely still. His Adam's apple bobbed faintly, and his bloodshot eyes locked on me, as if trying to read my every move.

The live chat mocked.

[Not bad, crybaby. Now go harder. Say something he won't forget!]

I hesitated but managed to say, "I was just trying to help, and this is how you're acting?

"You're not Sir Winston's real son, so you're not my fiancé anymore. You don't have the right to yell at me now." My voice wavered, but I added, "If you listen to me and behave, maybe... maybe I'll talk to my dad about keeping the engagement."

Gavin's eyes grew sharper, darker with each word.

The live chat teased relentlessly.

[Crybaby, was that supposed to be a kick? Even a child could hit harder!]

[And that's your idea of a threat? Sounds more like you're begging him. He's not the type to fall for weak threats. Make it count.]

The mocking stung, but I refused to cry. Not again, not in front of him. Trying to recover, I moved my foot away, but Gavin suddenly grabbed my ankle, his grip firm and steady.

"Hazel," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "Try harder."

I hesitated, then kicked him harder. But as I did, I noticed his ears flush a faint red. Was he... angry?

"Did I go too far?" I whispered to the live chat.

The live chat replied, unhelpfully vague.

[Uh-oh. Could he be feeling something now?]

Feeling something? Pain?

Gavin's sharp gaze held me in place. "Hazel, do you even realize what you're doing?"

His tone sent a chill through me, dredging up memories of the suffocating darkness from my past life. My legs felt weak, and I stammered, "I'm sorry," trying to pull away.

But Gavin didn't let go. His hand slid across my ankle, the warmth startling me. The sudden contact made me lose my balance, and I fell to the floor, tears slipping out despite my best efforts to hold them back.

Gavin glanced down at me, his expression unreadable. "Next time you try something like this, it won't end with just a fall."

The threat was clear, but I couldn't look at him. Instead, I awkwardly patted the spot on his thigh where I'd kicked earlier.

"I'm not scared of you. You're just... just a stray dog now."

My hand brushed against something hard. Did he have a weapon?

I quickly pulled back. "Let me go," I demanded, my voice weak.

Instead of letting go, Gavin's grip tightened. For the first time, a faint blush spread across his face. His tone dropped further, darker. "Hazel, do you even know where you were touching?"

Panic rose in me. "I didn't mean to. I didn't know!" I stammered.

Gavin let out a slow, sharp exhale, his gaze almost burning. "Get out of my sight."

The sheer intensity in his voice made my legs tremble. The moment he let go, I scrambled up and ran, not stopping until I was safely back in my room.

Slumping against the door, I asked the live chat, "How did I do this time? I poured hot water on him, and I kicked him. Does that count as being a spoiled villainess?"

The live chat paused before delivering its judgment.

[Crybaby, you've got no idea what being a villainess means. You need to lock him up, whip him, humiliate him. That's the job.]

I blinked at the live chat, speechless. I... I didn't even know how to do any of that.

[Fine, just follow our lead next time.]