Chapter 4

Lydia POV

This time, my target in the crowd was Damien Cross.

In a corner not far away, Damien was sipping red wine, surrounded by two women, a picture of evil arrogance.

I walked toward him. When Damien caught sight of me, his expression turned wickedly gleeful, staring at me with a thoroughly depraved look.

Then Damien gestured for the two women beside him to leave.

He didn't seem at all surprised to see me here, as if he'd expected me to come looking for him.

I asked directly.

"Mr. Cross, may I speak with you privately?"

"Talk? Of course we can."

An evil expression crossed Damien's face, suddenly covered with a thick layer of menace. He handed me a drink.

"Drink this, then we'll talk."

Damien's gaze swept over me with casual insolence.

I took the glass and downed it decisively.

"Can we talk now?"

Damien wore an ambiguous smile, grinning like the Big Bad Wolf.

"Go ahead. What do you want to talk about?"

"About our villa. Please, Mr. Cross, be magnanimous and give it up. We're not selling anymore. Please be accommodating and return it to the Reed family."

But Damien remained unmoved. His brows were raised in a wicked smile, making him look even more ruthless.

"What the hell is your Reed family? What do you take me for! You say you're not selling, so you're not selling?"

I clearly sensed his anger and pleaded again.

"Sir, it's not like that. Our family didn't communicate internally. The decision not to sell is our fault, so we can compensate you according to the contract price..."

I was very anxious.

After all, the evil emanating from Damien made him seem like a predatory hungry wolf, filling me with panic.

Sure enough, before I could finish speaking, Damien's long arm reached out, pulling me into his embrace, causing me to crash squarely into his chest.

"What are you going to compensate me with?"

I was completely at a loss, leaning against Damien, our bodies uncomfortably close.

I instinctively struggled, but Damien held me fast, preventing me from moving an inch.

"Please don't do this. I'll find a way to compensate you. Please return the villa to us. Tomorrow morning, I'll transfer the money to your account."

I was determined to get the villa back.

But Damien's expression hardened, a slow, sinister look creeping over his face.

"What if I don't want compensation?"

Suddenly, I sensed trouble brewing.

Even though I was afraid, I could only continue negotiating with Damien in a reasonable tone.

"Then what are your conditions? I'll try to meet them, as long as you don't buy our villa."

Damien's expression became thoroughly vile, a cynical smile appearing.

"Sleep with me right here, and I'll return the villa to you."

As he spoke, Damien's eyes stared at me like a tiger eyeing its prey.

My fear surged to the extreme-just as I'd suspected, this guy was no good person.

"You're joking, right? You can have any woman you want... Someone like me who's been with everyone, you wouldn't be interested."

I deliberately degraded myself, trying to make Damien let go.

But Damien came on strong.

"I've played with all kinds of women, but I've never played with trash like you. I want to try something fresh."

In this moment, no matter how calm and composed I tried to be, I couldn't handle a rogue like Damien.

Despite struggling desperately, I still couldn't escape Damien's grasp.

"What, playing hard to get with me, huh?"

"If you touch me, aren't you afraid of ruining your reputation..."

"I'll tell you straight-I've had my eye on you for a long time."

I couldn't push Damien away. Just as I was about to become fish on the chopping block, left to Damien's mercy, a familiar voice rang out.

"You seem to be in good spirits."

The voice drifted over, low and slightly cold, carrying an invisible sense of oppression.

When Damien looked up and saw Adrian approaching, he immediately released me and rushed forward to greet Adrian.

"Adrian."

I took the opportunity to break free, turning my back to both Damien and Adrian, completely unprepared for Adrian to be here.

As I turned my back to Adrian, my spine felt as if ignited by a scorching heat...

But Adrian brazenly wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close without any pretense, reaching up to adjust my neckline, blocking Damien's lascivious gaze.

"Some women are off-limits to you."

Adrian's voice was gentle and soft, yet concealed an extremely powerful warning.