C15 I Am Scared Witless

Undoubtedly, it was a warning—a warning against her defiance and capriciousness.

He watched the innocent and lovely girl before him with a smile. Her fragile and helpless demeanor stirred a protective instinct in any man who saw her.

Yet, in Zorin's eyes, he yearned to crush this delicate flower until its petals wilted and died.

Even the most beautiful things must face decay, and beneath the surface lay a nature so vile it was sickening.

"Junior Sister Fowler, perhaps you should have something to eat before you rest. You look quite pale. Or maybe I should take you to see a doctor first?" Thayer inquired with genuine concern.

But Juno detected an undercurrent of danger and instinctively sought to maintain her distance from Thayer. "No need, thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Slater. I think I'll head back now."

As she turned to leave, Zorin's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Junior Sister Fowler, you must be hungry."

That single sentence halted Juno in her tracks, her fingernails digging into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped indentations.

She restrained herself from meeting Zorin's gaze, fully aware that he was unhinged, and that she had foolishly entangled herself with this madman, becoming his prey.

"Senior Brother Slater is correct," Juno acknowledged, her voice tinged with raspiness.

Zorin offered a smile and stepped aside. "Then please, get in the car."

Juno paused momentarily, then slowly made her way to the rear seat and settled in.

The car window created a barrier between their gazes, while the subtle aroma of cigars mixed with the scent of cologne lingered in the air.

Men have a penchant for luxury cars, often flaunting them alongside beautiful women as trophies.

The car's heater was on, but it couldn't ward off the chill enveloping Juno. She could feel the piercing gaze through the rearview mirror, scanning her from head to toe, sending shivers down her spine.

"Junior Sister Fowler, you're quite attractive; you must be quite popular at school, right?" Zorin's voice, laced with mockery, seemed to cut through her anxiety, "Such a delicate appearance must score highly on the deceitfulness scale with the boys."

Juno's eyes drifted to the scenery outside the window, delaying her response.

Fowler seldom engages in social activities at school. She's known as the untouchable beauty—popular yet unapproachable. Thayer sat in the passenger seat, intently reviewing the documents in his hands, exuding an aura remarkably similar to Zorin's.

However, Zorin's mild demeanor had become a strategic asset in the corporate world. He wielded his influence subtly, without overt aggression, yet with an underlying cool detachment.

Thayer continued to peruse the files, teasing, "Big brother, you've taken a sudden interest in Fowler. Could it be that she's caught your eye?"

Zorin chuckled at the comment. His fingers tapped idly on the steering wheel, inadvertently setting a rhythm that made Juno's heart skip a beat.

"Senior Brother Slater, you must be kidding," Juno remarked. "Why would someone like you fall for an ordinary person like me?"

"Not necessarily," Zorin replied softly, with a smile. "But it seems Junior Sister Fowler lacks confidence in herself. You're beautiful; do you really fear being overlooked?"

Juno smiled demurely, her gaze lowered, yet her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.

Secretly, she preferred remaining unnoticed by Zorin to the anxiety she felt now.