Chapter 142

Violet was dizzy from Lucius’s abrupt pull. She found herself collapsing onto the sofa by the time she regained consciousness.

Lucius towered over her. His piercing stare was murderous.

Reacting instinctively, she recoiled, her eyes betraying fear. She was no stranger to his ruthless side.

Her retreat only worsened his irritation. His mood soured as he accused, “You’re here to use me, aren’t you?”

His accusation had pained undertones and sounded almost childlike.

Violet felt a twinge of guilt and tried to explain. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Since you’ve come to use me, let’s make a deal. I can spare them, but what’s in it for me? What can you bring to the table to make it worthwhile?”

Lucius then lounged on the sofa, adopting a businesslike demeanor.

He sprawled his arms across the back of the sofa, appearing relaxed. His earlier anger ostensibly dissipated as he started treating Violet as if she were non–existent.

Violet was overcome with an unexplainable sense of disappointment. She sat motionless with her head lowered, biting her lip repeatedly.

He warned, “My patience is limited. Those people will be gone if you don’t give me a satisfactory answer within a minute!”

Violet tasted the metallic tang of blood from biting her lip too hard.

“Are they not worth anything to you?”

His tone was cold and laced with mockery. “If so…”

“That’s not what I mean,” Violet interjected quickly, “I have nothing to exchange, and you won’t find value in anything I could offer.”

What could she possibly give to someone who had everything?

“At least you’re self–aware.” Lucius snorted.

Violet’s anguish was’amplified by his comments. She bit her lip again, this time harder.

+15 BONOS Lucius was drawn to the sight of blood on her lip. Instinctively, he reached out and commanded, Let go!”

Violet was perplexed. She raised her eyes to meet his. Lucius could see the tears welling up in her eyes at that moment, and it crushed his heart.

“Let go!” he ordered again, his voice now husky and low.

Abruptly, he leaned down, capturing her lips in a firm kiss.

She was stunned. Violet could not understand what was going on and parted her lips in disbelief.

The salty taste entered Lucius’s mouth, kindling a fire within him and motivating him to deepen the kiss, claiming her mouth entirely.

Violet stared wide–eyed at the man taking liberties in her space, bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

How had things taken such an unexpected turn?

Lucius’s strong arms were beside her, and they pushed her further back onto the sofa. She could not keep her balance and fell.

He leaned forward, and his weight nearly crushed her. Pent–up resentment drove his actions.

which grew too ferocious and intense to express.

Violet felt breathless, her thoughts clouding over, unsure of how to react. Eventually, she closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment.

As she regained her senses, the kiss had ended.

Lucius sat at the other end of the sofa, his gaze icy.

“Violet, you really are something, fainting from a kiss,” he remarked. His tone was harsh, yet his lips curled in a playful smirk, his demeanor less rigid than before.

Embarrassed, Violet’s cheeks reddened as she sat up. She touched her neck in disbelief. She had actually fainted.

Lucius ordered unceremoniously, “Stay there!”

Still dizzy from the sudden movement, Violet gazed at him in confusion. Her mind felt as if it had shut down after passing out.

Lucius bent over her, pressing her firmly against the sofa, his voice escalating from impatience into a growl, “Are you deaf?”

Violet’s ears twitched at the ominous tone.

+15 BONOS Frozen on the sofa, she lay motionless, her body rigid with tension, as she watched him defensively.

Lucius was furious because he could feel her tension and wariness easily. He averted his gaze. and threatened, “If you keep glaring at me like that, I’ll stand by my decision to fire them!”

Unable to figure out how to appease him, Violet quickly shut her eyes.

Slightly satisfied, Lucius picked up the phone and commanded, “Reinstate those who were terminated, for now.”

Violet was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. She opened her eyes and her mouth in disbelief.

speechless.

“Where’s your gratitude?” Lucius asked coldly after hanging up.

Violet sat up and sincerely offered her thanks. “Thank you.”

He responded with a dismissive hum, “Quite a simple thank–you.”

She explained nervously, “I do want to express my gratitude, but I’m not sure how.”

“Give yourself to me,” he suggested bluntly.

Violet was shocked, her mouth agape.

“How about that? Something wrong? Remember, I paid a billion dollars for you. You couldn’t refuse if I ordered you to strip and serve me right now!”

His words, a reaction to her astonishment, were harsh.

Was being with someone like him really something to feel bad about?

Her expression turned somber again. His comments had deflated her spirit. She softly pinched her fingers but could not say anything.

Lucius interpreted her silence as reluctance to be with him, his expression turning icy as he commanded, “Get out!”