Chapter 29: Chapter 27: Kissing

Shane Sterling leaned in close, their breaths mingling.

Isla Prescott was startled again. The cup of soy milk in her hand became a shield. She clutched it tightly and leaned back quickly against the chair, re-establishing a normal social distance from Shane Sterling.

“Answer me,” Shane Sterling said.

“It’s not that I was upset. It was just an opportunity to contribute.”

“Do you realize you nearly got yourself killed?”

“Nearly, but it didn’t happen, did it?”

“Don’t do it again.”

Shane Sterling usually had such a playful, devil-may-care attitude that it was easy to forget he was a dominant CEO type. His sudden, intimidating command made Isla Prescott feel like this persona was a perfect fit.

Compared to the rakish playboy, his dominant CEO persona had a charm all its own.

Isla Prescott came to an inopportune conclusion. ’A man’s ability to pull off a persona really does depend on his face. With a face like Shane Sterling’s, he could probably master any role—older or younger, the dominant ’wolf’ type or the sweet ’puppy’ type.’

Seeing her distracted, Shane Sterling flicked her on the forehead. “Did you hear what I said to you?”

Isla Prescott rubbed her smarting forehead. “I heard you.”

’I doubt anything this thrilling will ever happen again anyway.’

Before the two of them could finish breakfast, a black SUV pulled up at the villa’s entrance.

Morgan Hayes had arrived.

Morgan Hayes opened his door and got out. Immediately after, Annabelle Leighton emerged from the passenger seat on the other side.

They had come together.

“Isabelle!” Annabelle Leighton ran to Isla Prescott’s side the moment she walked in. “Are you okay?”

Isla Prescott gave her a smile, not wanting to recount the previous night’s terrifying ordeal. She just answered lightly, “I’m fine.”

“I wanted to come see you last night, but Shane Sterling wouldn’t let me. He said I’d just be in the way.” Annabelle Leighton shot a resentful look at Shane.

Shane Sterling frowned. “You’ve got some nerve. I asked you to look after her while I was on my business trip, not to send her to her death while I was away.”

“Well, she wanted to repay her debt to you.”

“There’s no need.” Shane Sterling glanced at Isla Prescott, his eyes cold. “As of today, we’re even.”

Annabelle Leighton tutted at Shane, then wrapped an arm around Isla’s shoulder. “Isabelle, don’t mind him. He’s just worried about you. You have no idea, he was in the middle of his trip when he found out you were going to that business dinner with Wendy Bell. He arranged for a private jet to fly back that very night…”

“If your mouth is free, eat an egg.” Shane Sterling cut Annabelle off. He picked a hard-boiled egg from a plate. “Do I need to shut you up myself, or will you do it?”

Annabelle Leighton instantly fell silent.

’Shane Sterling isn’t the least bit gentle with Annabelle Leighton,’ Isla Prescott thought. ’They should be equals, but Annabelle seems a little intimidated by him. As an observer, I can’t sense any sweetness between them at all. Still, every couple has their own way of interacting. Perhaps they’re more intimate in private.’

After Shane Sterling and Isla Prescott finished breakfast, the four of them moved to the living room.

Morgan Hayes brought some good news. Wendy Bell and President Vance had been arrested. The police had also found Chloe Kerr and the others who were being held captive in the basement of The Crescent Hotel. The five girls were now hospitalized, and a psychologist would be getting involved soon.

Because Isla Prescott had put herself on the line, the police now had ample reason to investigate the Meritopia Song and Dance Troupe. And that troupe was enough to put pressure on the Aevis Group, forcing its hidden, illicit businesses to surface one by one.

“Miss Prescott, we owe you a great deal for this,” Morgan Hayes said.

“Yes, Isabelle! You’re so brave. From now on, you’re my idol!” Annabelle Leighton’s eyes sparkled, her admiration obvious.

Isla Prescott felt a little embarrassed by the praise. “I didn’t really do much.”

“What more did you want to do?” Shane Sterling cut in grimly. “Why don’t we just have Officer Hayes hand the case over to you? You can investigate it yourself.”

Isla Prescott: “…”

—

After Morgan Hayes finished taking Isla Prescott’s statement, he prepared to leave.

Annabelle Leighton immediately said she was leaving too.

Isla Prescott needed to get back to her university, so she asked Morgan Hayes, “Officer Hayes, would it be possible to get a ride with you?”

Before Morgan Hayes could answer, Shane Sterling refused for him. “It’s not convenient. The police station isn’t on the way to your university.”

“You can just drop me at a subway station.”

Shane Sterling: “There’s no subway near here. It’s on my way. I’ll take you.”

Isla Prescott didn’t really want to be alone with Shane Sterling, especially with Annabelle right there. She didn’t want Annabelle to get the wrong idea. But to her surprise, Annabelle chimed in, “Isabelle, just let Shane take you.”

“Then what about you, Miss Leighton?”

“I’ll go with Officer Hayes.”

Isla Prescott felt that something was strange, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Seeing Isla Prescott’s hesitation, Shane Sterling suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek. “What? Is getting a ride from me such a terrible imposition?”

’Shane Sterling must be insane,’ Isla Prescott thought. ’His girlfriend is standing right here, yet he’s still getting handsy with another woman!’

She quickly took a step back and glanced guiltily at Annabelle Leighton. But Annabelle didn’t seem to have noticed Shane’s action at all; her attention was entirely focused on Morgan Hayes.

’This couple has a way of completely disregarding each other that’s almost liberating.’

After Morgan Hayes and Annabelle Leighton left, Isla Prescott felt she couldn’t stay much longer either.

“Sean, when are you leaving?” she asked.

“In a minute. I’m going to grab a file from the study. Wait for me.”

“Okay.”

Isla Prescott said goodbye to Mrs. Zane and went to the courtyard to wait for Shane Sterling. As she stepped into the courtyard, she noticed that Morgan Hayes’s car was still parked outside the gate.

’They haven’t left yet?’

Isla Prescott tilted her head to look. A casual glance turned into a shock so profound her heart nearly leaped out of her throat.

Annabelle Leighton had grabbed Morgan Hayes and was kissing him!

’Oh my God, what is this plot twist?’

Isla Prescott’s first reaction was, ’Oh no, Shane Sterling is being cheated on again! I absolutely cannot let him see this, or he might actually jump off a building!’

Speak of the devil. Shane Sterling came out just then, file in hand.

“Let’s go…”

“Wait!”

Isla Prescott strode toward him and raised her hands to cover his eyes.

Their height difference was such that she had to stand on her tiptoes to completely block his view.

She was in such a hurry that she misjudged the distance, pressing her whole body against his. But she couldn’t worry about that now.

Shane Sterling felt a rush of fragrant air, and his world went dark.

“What’s wrong?” He tried to pull her hands away.

“Don’t look! Just don’t look yet.”

As Isla Prescott spoke, she glanced back to see if Annabelle and Morgan had separated. To her disappointment, they were still kissing.

“What on earth is going on?”

Shane Sterling had a contrary streak; the more Isla Prescott tried to stop him from looking, the more curious he became. And when it came to strength, she was no match for him. He easily pulled her fingers away.

“Th-that…” Isla Prescott was so nervous she stammered.

She had a tendency to feel second-hand embarrassment; when she witnessed others in an awkward situation, she felt even more awkward than they did.

To Isla Prescott’s surprise, Shane Sterling’s expression didn’t change at all.

He only glanced at Annabelle Leighton and Morgan Hayes before calmly turning his gaze back to Isla’s face.

“I’m over eighteen. Is there really any scene I’m not allowed to see?” His tone was calm and unflustered.

Isla Prescott was astonished. “Aren’t you sad?”

“Sad about what? That they’re kissing at my gate without telling me?”

Isla Prescott was even more stunned. “Isn’t Miss Leighton your girlfriend?”

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