Brooks visibly flinched, his eyes narrowing in surprise. Aiden seized the moment to pull away Brooks'' grip on Charles'' wrist. Evelyn''s eyes widened in shock, and it took every ounce of her self-control not to shut them when Charles leaned in for a kiss. Instead, she turned her head, dodging his lips, which were irresistibly tempting when she was under the influence. Through gritted teeth, she hissed, "Get... off!"


    Evelyn was halfway inside Brooks'' car, her heart brimming with rage. Her hand feebly pressed against Charles'' solid chest as she tried to pull away, increasing the distance between them. Though she managed to create some space, her palm ended up right over his heart, feeling its strong, steady beats.


    "Thump-thump-thump-"


    The rhythmic heartbeat pulsated beneath her hand, sending waves of confusion through her mind. Each beat felt like an invitation she struggled to ignore. Her fingers tightened instinctively, determined not to give in to impulse. She was enduring more than she could bear. Charles leaned in, his cool lips brushing against Evelyn''s ear. He didn''t pull away but whispered in a voice only they could hear, "Evelyn, do you want me to do more right here in front of Brooks?"


    His words were delivered like a lover''s murmur, and their intimate posture made Evelyn feel a chill. She understood the threat. The kiss he nted in front of Brooks was a warning. If she dared to leave with Brooks, what he nned next wouldn''t be as simple as a kiss. Evelyn bit her lip hard, turned her head, and red at Charles, meeting his intense and dangerous gaze. He was serious. When Charles was pushed to the edge, there were no limits to what he might do. She couldn''t afford to take that risk.


    Reluctantly, Evelyn stopped


    resisting, allowing Charles to pull her back into his arms. Brooks couldn''t hear their exchange, but he noticed Evelyn''s surrender and loosened his grip on Aiden''s arm. His eyes stayed on Evelyn, ready to intervene if she showed any hesitance to teave with Charles.


    Aware of Brooks'' watchful gaze, Charles scooped Evelyn up and turned, shielding her from Brooks'' sight as he strode toward his parked Rolls-Royce. Aiden had the backseat door open and ready. Evelyn was gently ced inside, and as the door shut, Brooks'' gaze waspletely cut off.


    Once inside the car, Aiden raised the partition. Evelyn was left in the dimly lit backseat, sprawled across the seat. Her sweat made her long hair cling to her shoulders like seaweed, framing her face. She breathed heavily, trying to pull herself up.


    As Charles leaned in again, she recoiled to one side, raising a defensive hand to push him away. Her eyes were zing with anger, and her bodynguage screamed defiance. "Charles, don''t touch me!"


    Charles'' eyes were icy, and his chest rose and fell with intensity. With a swift motion, he caught her wrist and effortlessly pulled Evelyn into his embrace. His strong hand gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice was frigid. "If not me, then who? Brooks?"


    "Yes!" Evelyn shot back without


    hesitation, her voice firm and unyielding. Choosing to go with Brooks meant trusting his integrity. She knew he''d get her to a hospital without taking advantage of her vulnerability. But more than that, she wanted to make things difficult for Charles.