C12 He Was Annoyed

"Katie, if you play your cards right with me, maybe I can lend you a hand," he hinted, suggesting that he still had lingering feelings for her. If she reciprocated with some goodwill, perhaps he'd be inclined to assist her.

"Do you really think that's possible?" Katie asked, her smile barely there as she regarded the shameless man before her. She marveled at how his brazenness had previously escaped her notice.

"If you're willing..."

"Despicable," Katie retorted, her annoyance intensifying. She fixed him with a frosty glare.

This man was utterly shameless.

Just yesterday, he was all lovey-dovey with Caroline, yet today, he was making advances toward her.

"Do you really hate me that much?" Waverly asked as he watched her attempt to leave. He stepped closer, capturing her wrist and drawing her into his arms.

Katie offered no resistance, yet her eyes brimmed with disdain.

"It's not hate, more like... revulsion."

"You..." Waverly looked down at the woman he held, his ego bruised. He tried to lean in for a kiss, unwilling to accept that he couldn't captivate Katie.

When they had split, she hadn't cried or caused a fuss, just faced it all with poise. And now, she remained just as composed. It was more than he could bear.

"Smack!" Katie's hand shot up, delivering a sharp slap across his face. She stood tall, her gaze cold and defiant.

Stunned by the slap, Waverly clenched his fists and reached for her face, leaning in again.

"What's going on here?" At that moment, a sports car sped up, and a soft female voice followed the sound of high heels.

"This shameless thing actually tried to seduce me," Waverly claimed, shoving Katie away as he cursed, his voice betraying his guilt.

Caroline was his patroness, not someone he could afford to upset.

"Haha." Katie heard his vile words but remained unfazed, responding with a few chilly laughs.

"Katie, I never thought you'd remain as shameless as you were," Caroline stood before her, looking down with a derisive sneer.

Waverly moved in, tenderly taking Caroline's hand.

"Why bother with someone like her?"

Caroline shifted her gaze to Waverly, a faint smile playing on her lips as she pointed to his mouth, "If you dare cross me, I'll destroy you."

She wasn't foolish; Waverly's actions earlier had made the truth crystal clear.

Yet, in this setting, she was desperate to reclaim some semblance of pride.

"Birds of a feather," as the saying goes.

"Katie, believe me, I won't hesitate to tear down your house today," Caroline spat out, her voice icy with rage.

Katie's chest tightened. Her pride stopped her from yielding, but was it worth losing her home over?

"Miss Howard!"

Suddenly, a magnetic voice called out from behind her. Katie turned and found herself pulled into a comforting embrace.

She inhaled a crisp scent laced with a faint trace of tobacco—a familiar fragrance.

"Mr. Russell?" Caroline's complexion turned ashen, and Waverly's look towards her was filled with odd curiosity.

She stood there, taking in the man's imposing presence beside her. Stunned, she pondered his reason for being there. Was he here to take pleasure in her humiliation?

He had thrown her out that morning, only to follow her here, arriving just in time to see her besieged by two foes. Was this the satisfaction he sought?

Jabe's eyes locked with hers, sensing the emotional tumult within. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze drifting over the other two.

She inadvertently met his penetrating gaze.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her brow creasing with concern. His interference was the last thing she expected.

Her patience was wearing thin. Caroline's arrogance was unbearable, Waverly seemed to relish the chance to mock her, and now Jabe—what was his angle?

"Am I not allowed to visit your home?" Jabe whispered, his thumb lightly brushing her lips, the coarse texture making her tremble.

What was he suggesting?

The trio present each pondered the implication.

Katie had been to his house? Waverly clenched his fists, his eyes never leaving his ex-girlfriend.

His gaze turned steely, his thumb assertively caressing her lips. Watching her complexion turn pale, he moved in even closer.

"Mr. Russell, please, show some decorum," she implored, retreating a step and batting his hand away. She bit her lip, striving for calm.

Yet, a surge of panic welled up inside her, her heart sinking with apprehension.

"Decorum? You had the audacity to post our photos online, and now you speak of decorum?" he said in a low, commanding tone, pulling her firmly into his embrace, their bodies suggestively close.

Caroline tried to step forward, but Waverly pulled her back, both of their faces etched with concern.

It was important to note that the demolition hadn't been approved yet! If Jabe discovered she'd taken matters into her own hands, he'd definitely make her pay for it.

How did Katie get entangled with Jabe, anyway?

"Don't talk nonsense." She had no idea what he was talking about. She had only just returned, taken a quick shower, and gone for a short walk when she ran into these people looking to cause trouble.

The previous night's passion lingered; being close to him, breathing in his scent, her blood surged and her heart throbbed.

Jabe squinted his dark eyes, taking in her moist gaze before dominantly pressing his lips to hers.

"Umm..." Her eyes shot open, her mind blanked out, with one thought piercing through the haze: she had been kissed, forcefully kissed by him.

Caroline stood there, stomping her foot in vexation and pushing Waverly aside, feeling deeply disappointed in the man she was with.

She had long admired Jabe, but never found the opportunity to get close. Now, to her horror, she saw the man she yearned for passionately kissing her arch-rival right there on the street.

"Mr. Russell..." Volney ran up, coming to an abrupt stop like hitting an emergency brake, his eyes wide with shock at the sight unfolding before him.

He had only gone to deal with some matters online and had not expected to see his distinguished employer... engaging in such a passionate display in public.

The woman in Jabe's embrace? None other than the one Volney had ejected from the villa that very morning!

"Stop..." She fought back, feeling as though she was drowning in a sea of hopelessness, directionless, sinking deeper the more she struggled, the astonished shrieks of bystanders grating on her ears.

"Ja... Jabe Lu Mo Fan!" Summoning all her strength, she pushed him away, stumbling into a car, a surge of energy bringing her back to her senses.

Had she really just been caught in a fervent kiss with him at her own front door? Her reputation was utterly ruined, all thanks to him.

"How can you be so completely shameless?" She pointed at his nose, her voice filled with disbelief and fury. She had merely taken a few secretive photos of him; did that justify him pursuing her to her doorstep and violating her?

She hadn't yet held him accountable for what happened last night.

Jabe Russell realized he had lost control, feeling like a guilty party as he witnessed her look of distress.

Katie's eyelashes trembled violently, her lips quivered, and the corners of her eyes were damp. Staring defiantly, she vigorously wiped the tears away and held her head high as she faced him.

"Do you think I'm not down and out enough for you? Do you want to add insult to injury?" she demanded, gripping his arm firmly, trying to drag him forward with her.