Chapter 123 Do You Love Me?
His demeanor was as cold as a blade cutting through the thick night. Under the moon's glow, his eyes were even more frigid than the sharpness of a knife.
His face revealed no emotion. Only the dropping temperature around him silently conveyed his discontent.
Ashley was taken aback. Why was Damian Hearst here? Was he one of the guests tonight? It couldn't be possible. If they were able to invite the CEO of KM Road, wouldn't the news have spread long before the explosion at the law firm? Was it just a coincidence?
Although this place was frequented by discreet billionaires, boasting picturesque surroundings, the late hour seemed an unlikely time for Damian to leisurely appreciate the night scenery.
Before Ashley Astor could make sense of it all, an unknown force gripped her arm. Damian effortlessly pulled her away from Hendrix's grasp. He casually tugged her back, positioning himself as a barrier between her and Hendrix, preventing any further physical contact.
Tension filled the air, putting everyone on edge.
Hendrix reacted more calmly than Ashley did. A faint surprise crossed his face, quickly followed by an unfriendly smile. "Damian Hearst? What brings you here?" he questioned.
It seemed that he didn't fear Damian's identity.
Damian ignored him completely, not even bothering to put out his cigarette. He had no intention of shaking Hendrix's hand. "Are you tired of being a lawyer, Hendrix? Want to experience what it's like to be a prisoner?" he threatened.
His confident tone conveyed that he could send Hendrix to jail with just a single word.
Hendrix flicked the cigarette ash off his fingers. With only one cigarette left, he took one final drag before tossing it on the ground and crushing it under his foot. "Is Damian Hearst trying to intimidate me or educate me?" he retorted.
His gaze shifted to Ashley standing behind him. "Do you know each other?" Hendrix asked, a hint of jealousy in his tone.
Damian replied, "She's mine." It was more than just knowing each other.
Ashley looked up in a panic, she gasped at the words "She's mine." What did he mean? Was he going to reveal their past relationship to Hendrix publicly?
Didn't he know that Hendrix was a partner at Sky Balance Law Firm?
Hendrix smiled and scoffed, "I don't think so. Ashley is a lawyer at Sky Balance Law Firm, and as her boss, it's my place to say. Damian Hearst has been her opposing party twice, so what? Are you trying to steal Ashley away from us?"
Damian didn't let go of her hand, asserting his authority, and said, "No, what can you do about it?"
Ashley's mind raced. Both of them were implying something. What were they really talking about? Did they treat her as air?
Hendrix smirked, and continued, "It's okay to steal someone. After all, it's Damian's style. But if you want to steal her away from me, it won't be that easy."
As the heir to Stone Group, Hendrix had never been afraid of anyone, even when faced with Damian pressuring him here.
Although Stone Group was slightly inferior to KM Road, in a real confrontation, both sides would suffer losses, and no one would benefit.
It was Hendrix Stone's stubbornness.
Damian's eyes flashed with a murderous look, his low voice saying, "Hendrix Stone, you're tired of the good life and want a change of lifestyle. I'll grant you that. I'll take her now."
Swish!
Hendrix's arm suddenly crossed and grabbed Ashley Astor's other wrist. "She can't go anywhere. The show isn't over yet. Ashley, let's go," he imposed.
The mention of Ashley completely infuriated Damian. He stomped out his cigarette, freed up his hand, and clamped down on Hendrix's wrist, saying, "Let her go."
It didn't look like he used much force, but only Hendrix Stone knew that his bones and flesh were almost separating in pain. Damian's strength with just using one hand was astonishing, but Hendrix endured and didn't show weakness.
"Damian Hearst, are you humiliating me? There are dozens of people waiting inside. Isn't it unethical to snatch her away like this," he said, gritting his teeth as he spoke.
Damian remained silent but responded with increasing force.
Finally, Hendrix couldn't bear the excruciating pain and was forced to let go of Ashley, lowering his now limp arm. "Ashley, it's up to you," he said, putting her on the spot.
Ashley had been struggling secretly, trying to break free from Damian. But with such a huge difference in strength, she had no power to fight back. "Damian Hearst, we can discuss work another time. Our law firm has an event tonight," she replied.
The windbreaker's belt was loosely pulled, revealing the formal dress and neck, creating a striking black-and-white contrast.
Damian coldly pulled the windbreaker and roughly wrapped her up, saying carelessly and rudely, "Can't wait."
There he goes again, Damian always acted self-righteous.
Ashley twisted her wrist, causing pain in her skin. "Damian Hearst, let me go!" she demanded.
Damian interrupted her and glanced at Man Hearston. "Sky Balance Law Firm, backed by Hendrix Stone, is still a small and unsuccessful organization. If you don't want to pursue a successful career, I can permanently get rid of you," he said, with a serious threat, spoken with righteousness.
Hendrix chuckled twice. "Damian Hearst, are you threatening me?" he scoffed.
"Yes, what of it?" Damian sneered.
Hendrix pressed his tongue against his cheek and noticed the resistance on Ashley Astor's face. Annoyed and frustrated, he warned, "Let go of her, don't make me get physical."
Damian despised being threatened, so before Hendrix could make a move, he immediately remarked, "I don't have time to argue with you tonight. I only want her. If you need anything else, speak to me tomorrow."
Without hesitation, he grabbed Ashley's wrist and walked confidently towards the entrance of Man Hearston.
Hendrix spat out a mouthful of saliva and angrily clenched his teeth.
Ashley was thrown into the car by Damian, hitting her back against the seat and bouncing back heavily. Her wrist was scraped, causing a burning pain.
"Damian Hearst, who is this performance for tonight? What effect are you trying to achieve?" Ashley questioned, angrily.
Damian revved the engine, causing the black car to roar forward.
Ashley Astor's internal organs were displaced from the violent movement, and she patiently waited for him to stop the car.
Screech!
The sound of intense friction was as if the tires were about to burst.
After the high-speed movement, Damian Hearst's hostility dissipated slightly, and he could finally calmly look at the pale-faced woman in the passenger seat.
There is a simple way to determine whether a man loves a woman! Just observe how you feel when she is with another man. If find yourself feeling angry, anxious, or upset, then congratulations, buddy, you are already in love with her!
It was Hayden Sackler's method for him, just this one.
Damian Hearst initially didn't want to try it, but instead of speculating and being torn, it was better to make a decision early.
Then, he lost his sanity again and had Thomas inquire about Ashley's whereabouts for tonight.
As he drove, he kept thinking about the six-year feud between him and Ashley, which had long extinguished everything related to love. The fading so-called love would not grow on their barren land of coexistence.
However, when he saw her dressed in a gown on the stage through the tall window and heard her confident speech, he suddenly felt moved.
Finally, he saw Hendrix entangled with her, embracing each other like intimate lovers! His anger reached its boiling point, becoming irrational, and impulsively charged forward.
He was angry, furious, and anxious. At that moment, he couldn't distinguish his emotions.
Gazing at her face, seeing her anger, Damian spoke gently, "Ashley, do you love me?"
