Chapter 173

"Get away!"

Susan's vision blurred as a ringing filled her ears. She bit down hard on her lower lip, the metallic taste of blood spreading in her mouth, but it did nothing to quell the scorching heat surging through her body.

Kevin Oak's greasy face loomed too close.

His cologne mixed with sweat made her nauseous. Yet her body betrayed her, craving proximity to that repulsive figure against her will.

"Don't play hard to get, Susan." Kevin grinned, bits of food stuck between his yellowed teeth. "The live audience is waiting."

The shattering of a glass briefly cleared her mind.

She grabbed a shard and slashed her arm. Blood trailed down her pale skin, the pain granting her a fleeting moment of clarity.

"You bitch!" Kevin's face twisted as he slapped her.

Darkness edged her vision, but she mustered the strength to smash a teapot against his forehead.

"Who are you pretending to be?" Wiping his face, Kevin lunged at her with a leer. "Soon you'll be begging me—"

The door exploded off its hinges.

Andrew Lucas stood in the doorway, fury radiating from him. His gaze swept over Susan's disheveled collar and bloodied arm before freezing into ice.

"M-Mr. Lucas..." Kevin fumbled to shut off the livestream, forcing an obsequious smile. "Susan and I were just—"

A fist crushed his face before he could finish.

Two front teeth flew out with a spray of blood. Before Kevin could react, a kick to his gut sent his obese body slamming into the wall.

"Mercy, Mr. Lucas!" He wailed on his knees. "She came onto me—"

Andrew stepped down hard between his legs.

The scream cut off abruptly.

The black Maybach raced through the stormy night.

In the backseat, Susan clawed at her collar, her snow-white skin flushed an unnatural red. Unconsciously, she pressed against Andrew, her scorching breath grazing his neck.

"Hot..."

Andrew gripped her chin, his voice a blade. "Who allowed you to meet trash like that?"

Her unfocused eyes struggled to meet his. Staring at the face she'd longed for day and night, she suddenly smiled.

"Andrew..." She shook her head weakly. "I don't love you anymore."

The words detonated his restraint. He pinned her against the leather seat, teeth sinking into her earlobe. "Say that again."

Trembling from the pain, she repeated stubbornly, "I don't... love—"

A ruthless kiss swallowed the lie.

Andrew yanked off his tie to bind her wrists, storms raging in his eyes. "Susan, you'll never escape me."

By the time the car stopped at the villa, Susan had lost all coherence. Clinging to Andrew like a drowning woman to driftwood, she dug her fingers into his shoulders.

"Help me..."

He carried her inside and kicked open the bedroom door. Moonlight through the sheer curtains illuminated her tear-streaked face.

"Remember this," he whispered against her ear. "If you dare touch another man, I'll break your legs."