Chapter 417
[ 529 words ]
Chapter 417:
The car slowly drove out of the villa compound. I was still silently planning how to find an excuse to escape once we returned to the office when Ethan suddenly spoke, his tone cool and matter-of-fact. “The entire team is staying late tonight. Including you. Triple overtime pay.”
“Why?” I turned toward him immediately, my voice rising before I could stop it. “I already have plans with Frank tonight. I have personal matters to deal with.”
“The new project just kicked off. Overtime is normal from now on.” Ethan’s hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel, his tone firm and unquestionable. “Since Voss Group is paying your salary, I expect you to maintain a professional attitude. Save your personal life for after working hours.”
“I can come in earlier tomorrow, or take the documents home tonight,” I said quickly, almost pleading. “I really have something important tonight. Frank already booked the restaurant. He hasn’t seen me in a long time.”
𝖢𝗁𝘪nе𝘀е 𝗇𝗼𝗏e𝗅s 𝘵r𝖺𝗇𝗌𝘭𝗮𝘁𝖾𝗱 o𝘯 𝗀𝗮𝘭𝘯оv𝖾𝘭𝘀.𝘤𝗼𝗺
The next second, the car abruptly slowed with a harsh screech as Ethan slammed on the brakes and pulled over to the roadside.
He turned toward me slowly, fury swirling in his eyes. The oppressive dominance radiating from him was overwhelming, like an Alpha whose territory had been trespassed on.
“I said you’re working overtime tonight.” He spoke every word clearly and slowly, his gaze frighteningly cold.
“Ethan Voss, this is a personal vendetta!” I shouted, anger finally erupting. “I have every right to reject last-minute overtime. You cannot use your Alpha authority to interfere with my freedom!”
“Right?” He gave a cold, mocking laugh before suddenly leaning toward me, trapping me tightly within the passenger seat.
His fingers gripped my chin and forced my face upward. The pressure was so strong it almost hurt. “Lianne, if I wanted to, I could make Frank vanish from the face of the earth. Think I can’t?”
“Don’t you even think about it!” I gaped at him, my heart lurching wildly. “You can’t lay a hand on him!”
His eyes remained cold and unreadable, deep as an abyss. “And what exactly are you speaking to me as right now? His mate?”
I bit down hard on my lip before replying with deliberate sarcasm. “We’ve both already moved on. You have your son, and I have my mate. What’s the point of doing this? Don’t you feel guilty toward the mate waiting for you at home?”
The atmosphere inside the car fell deathly silent at once.
Ethan looked at me for a long time. Countless emotions flickered through his eyes before finally settling into something exhausted and bitter. Then he let out a low sigh.
“There’s no new mate in my life.” He let go of my chin slowly, his voice raw and tight. “These past three years, I’ve been on my own. Lianne, you’re the only person I’ve ever truly desired.”
I froze completely.
For that one moment, even my heartbeat seemed to stop.
Looking at the affection and loneliness buried deep in his eyes, I almost believed him.
But then the image of that suggestive bite mark on his neck from that drunken night at the villa flashed through my mind again.
Those marks could never belong on a man who claimed to be single.
.
.
.
If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.