Chapter 446 It's not the first time someone has coveted my woman.
"I like her, purely and simply, and I want to be with her."
Every word, precise and accurate, reached Ashley and Damian's ears.
Such a nice restaurant, yet the soundproofing was terrible. Was it intentional or a technical glitch?
Ashley gripped her fork tightly, almost scraping off the gold trim. Was Hendrix crazy to talk to Esme like that? And worse, Damian heard it too. Was he asking for trouble?
"He's clearly using me as an excuse to avoid talking about feelings with Esme."
Damian's deep and calm face showed no change in emotion. His dining posture remained elegant and dignified, as if he hadn't heard the outside noise at all. But his words were noticeably colder, "Do you believe that yourself?"
Ashley wanted to distance herself from Hendrix. She didn't like him and didn't want him to get involved and be targeted by Damian.
Unfortunately, her warnings were useless. "I can't control others, but I know my own thoughts. If you don't believe me after what I said, then there's nothing I can do. Hendrix is outside. Do what you want—break his leg, his arm, or his neck. It has nothing to do with me."
She finished in one breath and glanced at Damian. Judging by his reaction, it seemed he accepted her explanation.
Good, now she could eat in peace, and they could go their separate ways afterward. Hopefully, they wouldn't run into each other.
Suddenly, from outside came the words, "He has brought so many women, sneaking around, can't even say hello!"
If Ashley's fingers weren't gripping tightly enough, the fork would have clattered onto the plate.
Great, Hendrix was digging his own grave with his antics. She couldn't keep up.
Forgot it!
Damian unfolded his napkin and slowly wiped away the barely visible moisture from the corner of his mouth. "You should be more discerning in your friendships. Are you a zookeeper, taking care of any random animal?"
Before Ashley could respond, Damian's tall figure had already walked out.
The chilling aura he exuded was comparable to a general tearing through enemies on the battlefield.
Ashley didn't dare hesitate and quickly followed. She wanted to grab Damian's sleeve to calm him down and not pay attention to Hendrix's nonsense, but it was too late.
Damian's tall figure stood dominantly under the main chandelier in the lobby, his usual cold expression turning the atmosphere completely around with just a glance.
"Mr. Long, are you so eager to see me?" His words were so natural, yet they stirred up a storm in the lobby. Everyone except Hendrix was quickly covered in a layer of ice, as if winter had arrived in an instant.
Hendrix's lips curled into a mocking smile as he looked up at Damian under the light, completely unaffected by his killing intent. "Finally willing to come out? I thought Mr. Hearst was too busy indulging in beauty to care about anyone else!"
Seeing Damian reminded Esme of the last dinner at home, where her parents catered to him in every way, following his lead, like subordinates working for him.
But why? With her parents' status in Limehof, they should be enjoying Damian's respect as a junior!
Seeing him again, Esme's resentment hadn't diminished. She quickly aligned with Hendrix, sneering, "Mr. Hearst is here too? Who are you on a date with tonight? Do we have the honor of meeting this mysterious guest?"
Ashley had just come out and was standing right behind Damian, blocked by his tall figure, unseen by the two in front.
Damian didn't give Esme a glance but instead looked faintly at Hendrix's leg, a barely noticeable cold smile slipping from his lips. "Recovering well."
Hendrix's leg tingled, muscle memory forcing him to recall the moment of re-injury. "Judging by your expression, my leg seems to have a lot to do with you."
Damian replied, "Not much, just a debt of gratitude."
Hendrix's eye twitched as he glanced at the private room behind Damian. "Why not let the person inside come out and meet us? Rochester City is a small place; we see each other often. Mr. Hearst, are you hiding someone?"
Damian remained expressionless. "It's inconvenient."
Hendrix sneered inwardly. Finally, he had caught him. "There's no one else here. How could it be inconvenient? Unless Mr. Hearst's tastes have changed, and he's with a charming mature woman? That can't be right. Mr. Hearst, there are plenty of single women. Why go for someone who's been with others?"
Ashley was speechless by the door.
Damn it!
Esme had long been displeased with Damian's domineering attitude and increasingly sided with Hendrix, suppressing a mocking smile. "Which socialite is it? Maybe I know her."
Hendrix, hearing Esme's tone, knew she was against Damian. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. He smiled lightly at her. "What are you saying? Which socialite? You should ask Mr. Hearst which family's lady it is."
Damian came out alone, leaving his date in the private room. Hendrix guessed there was a problem. They were all in the same circle, just a few people coming and going. If it wasn't someone who couldn't be publicly acknowledged, would he need to hide her?
Unexpectedly, Damian had his day too!
Damian frowned. "Her identity is clean, but she's too beautiful to be seen by someone like Mr. Long."
The implication was that Hendrix's character was lacking.
Ashley was stunned.
Hendrix laughed, slapping his thigh. "Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm someone who hasn't seen the world? Bring her out. Even if she's an angel, I won't be tempted!"
In this world, besides Ashley, he wasn't interested in anyone. He just wanted to humiliate Damian!
Esme wasn't as direct as Hendrix, but her polite smile carried undeniable provocation. "Why don't I go in and say hello? As Mr. Hearst's friend, we naturally want to meet her."
Ashley took a step forward to expose the situation, but then she heard Damian say, "Mr. Long is so interested in my woman. Isn't Ms. Bergstrom jealous?"
Esme smiled. "Do you think I'm that petty, Mr. Hearst? On the contrary, I support his interest in making friends."
Hendrix felt proud, almost whistling. "Mr. Hearst, are you reluctant to introduce her because I was right?"
Damian's long fingers brushed his brow. "Mr. Long has coveted my woman more than once. Naturally, I have to be cautious."
Hendrix almost cursed. "Who are you disgusting? I don't care for your women, all big-breasted and brainless, embarrassing."
Like Trinity, the top trending topic. What a joke.
Ashley couldn't take it anymore. She stepped forward, forcing a smile. "Mr. Long, Ms. Bergstrom, what a coincidence to see you here for dinner."
Hendrix almost fell out of his chair, staring at Ashley. "Why is it you!"
Esme was also too shocked to speak, but seeing Damian's faintly smiling expression, she understood everything.
It wasn't her and Hendrix teaming up to mock Damian; they had been easily played by him.
Ashley walked to Damian's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, like a perfect couple, shining brightly in the dazzling light. "It's me. Is there a problem?"
"Of course, there's a problem! You... he... you two..." Hendrix was so angry he could barely speak, the word "date" stuck in his throat, refusing to come out. "What the hell is going on with you two!"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
