Damian's questions hammered in Lila's ears. His fingers clamped her wrist so hard that she thought he'd snap it.

She tore herself free and said, her voice cold enough to burn, "None of this has anything to do with you."

His anger burned hotter. "Nothing to do with me? Lila, even if you're throwing a fit, there's a line. You're really pulling this on me over a few petty things? Or have you grown a backbone now? Don't forget who you are!"

Lila let out a soundless laugh, her voice still cold. "And who exactly am I? Mr. Cross, did you forget that we already broke up?"

Damian's fist tightened, his veins standing out along the back of his hand. With him, Lila had always been meek and gentle, never daring to talk back, but that night, she kept defying him.

"I never agreed to your so-called breakup."

He closed the distance, caught her jaw in a hard grip, and spoke in a low, furious voice. 

When Lila replayed every sweet moment between her and Damian in her mind, it all curdled into shame. The sting lit a fuse. She jerked her knee upward, driving it toward his groin with all her strength.

But he was faster. His hand shot down, trapping her defiant knee. Without uttering a single word, his other hand went for her gown.

The fabric tore with a sharp rip and slid from her shoulder to her chest, baring a wide swath of skin. Just below her collarbones, a few hickeys that hadn't fully faded pulled his gaze.

He was the one who had left them that day.

Damian's eyes went dark, his thumb grinding down on that spot in punishment. "Look at you. You're still wearing my marks. And you're breaking up with me?"

Lila stilled. Mockery sparked in her eyes as she met his lust-clouded gaze. "Mr. Cross, are you sure those are yours? Come closer and breathe it in. That's not your cologne. Mr.

Rhett gave a slight nod and said, "We talked this morning."

Recognition clicked for Lila, and she finally understood why his voice sounded familiar. He was the grandson of Jacob's old friend.

She had already thought that Rhett was impressive just for running the research center, but seeing the way everyone deferred to him made it obvious that his family and status were anything but ordinary.

She kept her eyes off Serena and Damian, then gave a nod. "I really appreciate it, Mr. Draven."

Only then did Rhett step forward, steadied Lila by the arm, and guided her upstairs.

It took Serena a while to come back to herself. She couldn't believe it—Lila, the daughter she had hidden from prying eyes, actually knew Rhett.

Damian's expression soured further. He kept his eyes on the two of them heading upstairs, unable to shake the sense that something was slipping beyond his control.

When did Lila have another man?

Meanwhile, Lila stepped into the lounge with Rhett at her side. He left the door open to avoid stirring gossip and asked a hotel staff member to bring a first-aid kit immediately.

"Go ahead and tend to your foot," he said.

The consideration he showed took Lila by surprise. She thought that he was remarkably attentive for someone who came off as distant.

She murmured a thank-you, slipped out of her heels, tucked up her leg, and smoothed ointment over the sore spot. Only then did she realize that her ankle was already swollen, and even the softest touch sent pain lancing through her.

Head bowed, she worked the ointment into her skin and bore the sting, unaware that Rhett was watching her, his gaze shadowed.

He was only here on hotel business and hadn't counted on running into Lila. He certainly hadn't expected Jacob's standout student to be so gentle, almost meek.

She had let people push her around without saying a single word. Could someone like that really stomach the demands of medical research?

Based on what had just happened, Rhett thought that he understood the choice Lila had made. Her quiet gasp pulled him out of his thoughts, and a sliver of doubt about her slipped in.

Lila finished applying the ointment and finally looked up, feeling a little embarrassed. "Thank you for today, Mr. Draven. I wasn't expecting to see you, and I don't have the paperwork on me. We might have to take care of it tomorrow."

Rhett didn't follow her lead. "Why do you want to join Syntrex Research Center?"

Lila blinked, surprised that he would ask her that question first. She had rehearsed her answer, though. "I want to devote myself to medical research for the good of humanity, to save—"

Rhett cut in. "You want to run away."

Lila stiffened when she heard that.

His gaze pinned her, as keen as a hawk's. It was as if he could see right through her. "If this is just your attempt to leave your current situation and you made a rash call, then I suggest you think it through again."

With that, he rose and headed for the door.

"Syntrex Research Center isn't a place to clear your head. Medical research is monotonous work, and it takes real grit."

Lila watched Rhett go, her hands curling into fists before she could help it. She hadn't expected him to see straight through her on their first encounter.

She could admit that her decision was partly about getting away, but she didn't think that she lacked the grit for the work or the chops for research. Even so, faced with his pointed challenge, she found herself at a loss for words.

Lila sat in the lounge for a long while before she pushed herself to her feet and limped out. The welcome dinner was over, and she had no desire to go home.

Her suitcase was already at the hotel, so she took a cab straight there. She had just arrived at her hotel room when her phone rang. Damian's photo lit up the screen.

Only then did she see a stack of missed-call notifications from Damian, Austin, Serena, and Aaron. She declined the call.

Earlier, she had thought that she owed Damian a goodbye. But now, she was past caring. She didn't even want to hear his voice.

Before long, footsteps echoed in the hallway, then a knock sounded at the door.

Lila snapped back to herself, assumed that it was hotel staff, and opened it on instinct, only to find a tall figure on the threshold, anger radiating off him. She froze when she saw his face.

Why was Damian here?

She tried to step back, but he caught her wrist and yanked her closer.

"Why didn't you answer the phone?"

The familiar scent of tobacco hit Lila.

Damian's face was stormy. "What's going on between you and Rhett? How long have you two known each other? Why was he looking for you today?"

Damian's questions hammered in Lila's ears. His fingers clamped her wrist so hard that she thought he'd snap it.

She tore herself free and said, her voice cold enough to burn, "None of this has anything to do with you."

His anger burned hotter. "Nothing to do with me? Lila, even if you're throwing a fit, there's a line. You're really pulling this on me over a few petty things? Or have you grown a backbone now? Don't forget who you are!"

Lila let out a soundless laugh, her voice still cold. "And who exactly am I? Mr. Cross, did you forget that we already broke up?"

Damian's fist tightened, his veins standing out along the back of his hand. With him, Lila had always been meek and gentle, never daring to talk back, but that night, she kept defying him.

"I never agreed to your so-called breakup."

He closed the distance, caught her jaw in a hard grip, and spoke in a low, furious voice. "You're the one who wouldn't let up, chased me down, and confessed to me first. You think you can ju

Chapter 8 The Way You Like It