Chapter 68

Gage made a grab for Elysia with his greasy hands, intent on pulling her into a hug.

Elysia quickly stepped back, her heart pounding. “Touch me again, and I’ll scream for help!”

“Scream? Go ahead,” Gage sneered, a leering grin spreading across his face. “I’d like to see who’d dare stop me. Tonight, if I don’t have my way with you, I’ll eat my hat!”

With those words, Gage lunged at Elysia like a predator.

But as fate would have it, his foot slipped, and he met the floor with a less–than–graceful thud.

“Fuck!” Gage cursed, wincing in pain.

Seizing the moment, Elysia dashed towards the bathroom door to escape.

Gage scrambled to his feet and grabbed a bottle of hand soap, hurling it at the back of Elysia’s head.

The soap was in a fancy white porcelain bottle, and had Elysia not dodged in time, it would have surely cracked her skull open.

Elysia stood frozen, staring at the shattered white porcelain on the floor, gasping for breath as she faced Gage. His lustful demeanor was bad enough, but his violent tendencies were even worse.

“If you try running again, I swear I’ll finish you,” Gage threatened, his voice laced with fury. He had failed to bed Elysia multiple times, and it was driving him mad.

The more unattainable she seemed, the more he wanted her.

Fuming with rage, Gage approached Elysia, looking at her as if she were his prey, his to claim.

Elysia ran for her life. She had hoped to find help from the hotel staff, but the hallway was eerily deserted. She couldn’t risk leading Gage back to her room, not wanting to endanger Blossom and the three little ones.

Just then, a door to one of the private rooms swung open.

Without a second thought, Elysia darted inside and slammed the door shut behind her. She braced herself against it, panting, “Help! There’s an attack!”

The bustling room fell silent at her sudden appearance. The eyes that turned to her showed surprise, then shock, and a hint of something more profound.

Elysia was undeniably beautiful, with an exceptional poise about her. Raised in the countryside, she had the pure and unblemished look of a pristine gemstone, untouched by society’s harshness, invoking an almost instinctual desire to protect her.

2012 D Tarquin was sitting at the head of the table and puffing on a cigarette when Elysia burst in. He furrowed his brows. He had come for a meal, and here she was again, after swearing she’d leave that day. How ironic!

Keaton was seated beside him, and the moment he saw Elysia, his eyes narrowed into slits. As a notorious playboy, he was immediately smitten with her.

Without even a glance at Tarquin’s expression, Keaton stood up and approached Elysia. What’s wrong, miss? What happened?”

Booker and Upton also stood up, but Keaton waved them off dismissively.

“Sit down, guys. With those faces, you’ll only scare her more.”

Booker and Upton exchanged a resigned look. It was clear Keaton was enchanted, and the others could only regretfully step back.

Though they were all well–off bachelors, none could compete with Keaton when it came to wooing women.

Keaton was the talk of Jindale City, with a love life more varied than a diner’s daily specials. Not only was he wealthy, but he had the looks to match: a towering six–foot–three frame, broad shoulders, and legs for days.

And despite his pretty–boy face, he was far from effeminate. Like Tarquin, he was into fitness, lean but muscular.

Any woman would struggle to resist such a man.

Admitting defeat, the others let Keaton take the lead. However, just as Keaton reached Elysia’s side, something stopped him dead in his tracks.