"It's late. I'm heading back first. Figure it out yourself."
Janelle stated coldly.
Erik clung to her hand, refusing to let go.
"No. I don't like being alone."
Janelle was utterly exasperated.
"Let me go. How are you supposed to calm down like this?" Wasn't staying away from her the best thing for him right now?
"I won't let go." His refusal was blunt and shameless.
Erik wasn't the least bit bothered that she'd noticed his desire. After all, he harbored intense desire for her – that constant urge to pin her down. Wasn't that the strongest attraction between a man and a woman?
"Feeling better?" He didn't ask why she was upset. A guarded girl like her wouldn't easily confide in others.
"Much better." After the cathartic fight, she genuinely felt tired now. All she wanted was to go back and sleep soundly.
Seeing her fatigue, Erik picked up his shirt from the side and put it on, then walked out with her.
As they exited, they saw the Chinese boxer from earlier waiting outside. He hadn't even tended to his wounds yet!
"Excuse me, could I apprentice under you? I know my potential is mediocre, but I promise I'll work incredibly hard."
The boxer's name was Bruce. He'd been passionate about boxing since childhood but had hit a plateau he couldn't break through. Seeing Janelle today felt like glimpsing hope.
"Master, please, you must take me on!" Bruce practically wanted to kneel before Janelle.
Janelle raised an eyebrow.
What had she even done?
"Sorry, I don't take students," Janelle refused him directly.
Rejected, Bruce looked like he might cry. He'd finally seen hope, only to be disappointed again.
"What's a grown man crying for? I come to this gym occasionally to spar. If we meet again, I can have a match with you." She wouldn't take a disciple, but giving a few pointers was possible.
"Really?! Okay! I'll wait for you here!" Bruce's hope, which had just died, surged back to life.
"Let's go. You're tired," Erik reminded Janelle.
Janelle nodded, and the two left together.
The other boxers nearby hadn't witnessed the earlier scene. Seeing Bruce so excited, they couldn't help commenting.
"Bruce, I know you've hit a wall, but you can't just grasp at straws! That girl looks younger than you! She seems so delicate and frail – what could she teach you?"
"Yeah, Bruce, honestly, your potential really is limited. Maybe forget about competing and just go back to farming, for all we care."
The two speaking boxers were top seeds in the gym and utterly looked down on someone with Bruce's average talent. Without innate skill, hard work alone was useless.
"Someday, I will beat you!" Humiliated by their disdain, Bruce declared defiantly.
"Oh yeah? Well, you'd better try hard then! Being invincible is just so lonely!"
"..."
Bruce, still injured, didn't want to waste time arguing. He turned and walked away. He didn't even know the girl's name, but in that moment, he truly felt like he'd seen a glimmer of hope.
"Want to come to my place?"
The car had entered the gated community. Erik sought her opinion.
Janelle shook her head.
He didn't insist, driving her back to the Rovellas manor.
"Get some good sleep."
Erik got out to see her off.
"Mm. Goodnight."
Janelle said it and walked straight inside.
Erik stood where he was, watching her retreating figure until the light in her room came on. Only then did he drive away.
Back at his villa, Bryan was still awake, sprawled on the couch playing video games.
"Erik! How'd it go? Where'd you go for your date?" Bryan asked, multitasking between gaming and gossiping. Erik had never dated before, and Bryan was curious where a man like him would take someone.
"Street racing. Boxing gym."
Erik spotted a bottle of red wine on the coffee table, grabbed a goblet, and poured himself some.
"What?!" Bryan was stunned. His momentary distraction got his character killed in the game.
"What kind of normal person goes street racing and to a boxing gym for a date?! Is your lady really that intense?!" She was a stunning beauty! How did their date end up in places like that? And Erik came back looking utterly smitten.
"Problem?" Erik took a swig of wine, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow. It was incredibly alluring.
Bryan immediately shook his head. "No problem! Whatever makes you happy, Erik!" Clearly, people like Erik even had surprising date locations. Erik finished his wine and stood up to shower. He'd worked up a sweat and needed a proper wash. "Get some sleep soon. Don't stay up all night gaming."
Bryan had been with him a long time, but he was still a teenager who enjoyed typical youthful pastimes.
"Okay, got it." He might ignore his own parents, but he listened to Erik.
Back in his suite, Erik stripped off his black shirt. Bare-chested, he sent Janelle a text:
[Sweet dreams!]
Whatever had upset her today, he hoped she'd have good dreams tonight. The way she looked having nightmares was heartbreaking; he wished she'd never have one again.
Janelle came out of the shower and saw Erik's text.
She didn't reply. She turned off her phone and went to sleep.
Erik came out of the shower and checked his phone. No reply.
"Heartless little vixen."
Getting into this girl's heart wouldn't be easy. But since he wanted her, he would have her, no matter how long it took.
That night, Janelle slept soundly. She woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
She picked out a black women's suit to wear; she had to go to Blue Whale today.
Leaving her room, she ran into Lillie, who was also heading out.
"Janelle, morning." Lillie wore a smile. Of course she did. No matter how hard Janelle tried, Blue Whale would ultimately be hers.
Janelle couldn't be bothered to acknowledge her. She went straight downstairs.
Janelle shrugged inwardly.
In the dining room, Westin and Amber were already having breakfast.
Seeing Janelle enter, Amber immediately stood up.
"Janelle, come have breakfast! Everything's ready." In front of Westin, Amber always played the perfect hostess.
"The sight of you makes me sick. I've lost my appetite." Janelle wasn't buying the nice act.
"Janelle! Your stepmother is just being kind! What's this attitude? If you want to be part of this family, watch your tone!" Westin defended Amber. No matter how much he played around outside, he still claimed to love Amber.
Janelle found it laughable. Rolling around with his secretary, yet still playing the devoted husband? Disgusting.
Ignoring the pair of them, Janelle turned and saw the butler. Nowadays, the butler trembled at the sight of her.
"Y-y-young Mistress," the butler stammered, his smile more like a grimace.