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Chapter 6

Blair fought with everything she had, but Jedd didn't stop. He leaned in, trying to kiss her. Blair turned her face away, burying it into her shoulder to keep him from touching her. Furious, Jedd grabbed her chin with brute force. Just as he forced her face toward him, she sank her teeth into the soft flesh between his thumb and index finger. Her bite nearly tore a chunk from his hand. A vein pulsed violently at his temple as rage exploded through him. He raised his hand, ready to strike her across the face. But something in his peripheral vision made him pause. A phone screen was still lit nearby. When he saw the name, his chest tightened. It was a call to Gregory. The call had been connected the entire time, yet the line was eerily silent. There was no voice on the other end. Jedd hesitated, then figured that Gregory really had washed his hands of her. He ended the call without another thought. There was a sharp, broken gasp from Blair, followed by the cold, flat tone of the line disconnecting. Gregory was walking briskly through the parking structure when the sound cut out. Behind him, his assistant, Stephan Taylor, felt his own breath catch in his throat. He could see the moment when Gregory's mood had plummeted. Gregory said nothing for a few seconds. Then, he started to speak in a low, cold voice. "Contact—" He stopped himself. "No. I'll go over there myself." A pulse throbbed at his temple. That frantic, choked voice echoing in his mind pushed him faster. His strides lengthened and quickened. Back in the room, Jedd tilted Blair's chin up and forced wine into her mouth. The liquid spilled down her jaw, soaking the front of her dress, tracing every curve of her chest. He swallowed hard, his jaw twitching with restraint. He tossed the glass aside and climbed on top of her. But just as he leaned in, a series of loud, pounding bangs hit the door. Within seconds, the door burst open with a crash. Jedd froze, blinking at the sudden noise. He turned toward the entryway. The door now hung wide open. A tall man stood there, frame rigid and imposing, blocking out almost all of the light from outside. Gregory's eyes locked onto the couch, and the young woman sprawled across it. Blair sat curled up on the couch, arms around her knees. Her dress had slipped from one shoulder, revealing pale skin streaked with angry red marks. Her eyes were brimming with tears. She didn't react at first. After a few seconds, she slowly turned her head and blinked once. A few tears slid down her cheeks, falling like loose pearls from a broken string. Something slammed hard into Gregory's chest. His pupils contracted, and anger surged up his throat without warning. His lips pressed into a tight, grim line. Fighting to stay in control, he shrugged off his jacket and gently draped it over Blair's shoulders. "M-Mr. Croft... Ah!" Jedd suddenly cried out in pain as Gregory kicked him hard in the knee, forcing him to the floor. Clutching his leg, Jedd's face twisted in agony, but he bit down on his lip and didn't dare make a sound. Without another word, Gregory reached out and scooped Blair into his arms, lifting her gently from the couch. As he walked past Jedd, his tone turned icy, every word laced with warning. "The Pierson family is truly cursed to have you. I'll settle this with you later." Jedd kept his head down, not daring to speak. But Gregory's words struck hard, and Jedd could feel his stomach turn. The moment Gregory left, Jedd fumbled for his phone, his hands shaking as he dialed Beatrice. "Bea, you have to help me this time. Gregory said he's coming after me. I don't care if something happens to me, but if this drags you down too—" "Useless fool." Beatrice cut him off. From his words, she knew the plan had failed. And now, Gregory was out for blood. She pressed her fingers to her forehead, trying to stay calm. "I'll take care of it. Nothing will happen to you." … Gregory brought Blair back to his place and called a private doctor to examine her. Only after confirming she wasn't seriously hurt did the tension in his brow ease slightly. Then, as if remembering something, he picked up his phone and made a call. The line connected quickly, and Gregory got straight to the point. "Put the Nangrade project on hold. And bring Jedd Pierson to me." Behind him, there was movement on the bed as he hung up. Blair had just woken up. Gregory reached out and gently brushed her forehead. Her dark hair spilled across the pillow, making her face look even paler in contrast. A subtle warmth clung to her, familiar in a way that unsettled him. Something shifted in his chest, and his voice dropped instinctively. "You're awake. Does anything hurt?" Blair instinctively wanted to call him by the name she always used, but the words caught in her throat. After all, they no longer had anything to do with each other. She turned her head away and forced herself to speak evenly. "I'm fine, Mr. Croft. Thank you for earlier." The hand resting against her forehead froze when she called him "Mr. Croft" so distantly. Gregory slowly pulled his hand back. His jaw tensed, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. A strange chill ran down his back, stiffening his entire frame. Blair felt a wave of unease rise inside her. She avoided his gaze like a startled bird. His fingers suddenly caught her chin, forcing her to face him. Her small face tilted upward, held in place as she met his gaze that was sharp enough to slice through her. Gregory's lips curved. "What did you just call me? Say it again." Blair had never seen him smile like that. It wasn't warm but sharp and unsettling, like a wolf baring its teeth before the kill. Was that why he was angry? Because she called him Mr. Croft? But what else was she supposed to call him? Had he forgotten that he was the one who ended things? And the one who left her to be humiliated? Pain shot through her chin, but she bit down hard, holding back tears. Her lips trembled as she forced herself to speak. "Mr. Croft, you're hurting me." A heavy pressure settled in Gregory's chest, refusing to let go. This was what he wanted, wasn't it? For Blair to understand her place and to draw a line between them. But instead of satisfaction, all he felt was frustration that only grew heavier. He had only meant to teach her a lesson. To make her see where she went wrong and correct it. He never intended to cut her off for good. But now, faced with her quiet defiance, he realized she had taken him at his word. If that's what she wanted, it was fine by him. Gregory let her go and stood tall, his whole body radiating coldness. "If you want things clean between us, then let's settle the score."

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