CHAPTER 87: CHAPTER 87: ZANE THORNE, ARE YOU JEALOUS?

For some reason, Natalie Vaughn felt a bit guilty and touched her nose.

Earlier, she had mocked Theodore Langdon for being too timid, afraid of getting beaten by Zane Thorne. But she forgot that someone like Zane Thorne might not spare her either.

After all, the reason she was paired with Theo was because she taught him karate.

Natalie turned her eyes and asked.

"Do you know what ’female one, male zero’ means?"

Zane sat down next to Natalie.

"What does it mean?"

"It means that between Theo and me, I’m the dominant one, and he’s the submissive one."

Even though Zane wasn’t sure what ’female one, male zero’ meant, he did understand dominant and submissive. His expression immediately darkened upon seeing the smile on Natalie’s face, and he snorted coldly.

"You’re quite proud of that, aren’t you?"

Seeing Zane like this, Natalie was initially a bit scared, but then she started to realize something.

It seemed like Zane’s behavior wasn’t just due to possessiveness.

Thinking this, Natalie poked the man’s waist.

"Zane, are you jealous?"

Jealous?

Zane frowned at the word. If Natalie hadn’t mentioned it, he really wouldn’t have thought along those lines. But, being the proud person he was, he refused to admit having such small-mindedness.

He grabbed Natalie’s mischievous hand, squeezing it meaningfully several times.

"Didn’t I tell you not to touch a man’s waist?"

Natalie’s eyelashes fluttered, meeting Zane’s deep gaze. Naturally, she recalled what happened that night.

Because of her curiosity, she had touched the tattoo on Zane’s waist, only to be bitten by this rogue man, allowing him to take advantage of her.

Natalie abruptly withdrew her hand.

"Petty."

Zane nonchalantly brushed off his clothes.

"I don’t care about any Honey Couple or ’female one, male zero,’ dominant and submissive. I don’t want to see any more of those terms, of course."

The man paused, looking at Natalie with deep meaning.

"You’d better not have such ideas in your head either."

Rebelliously, Natalie started acting up.

"What if I do?"

Zane squinted his eyes and suddenly leaned in close to Natalie, grasping her slender waist tightly and pulling her towards him.

"You can try."

His grip was so strong that Natalie felt not only her waist was trapped but also her breath.

Since knowing Zane, she was aware of his strong possessiveness. Back then, without any feelings, he bought a ring to tie her down just because of a stimulus from Xavier Preston.

At this moment, she got paired up with someone else, even if that someone was his brother, he was still extremely dissatisfied.

Their interaction in others’ eyes was like a couple’s playful banter.

Zoe Chandler felt they shouldn’t stay any longer.

Knowing there were still outsiders present, Natalie’s man continued behaving like this, clearly a very self-centered person.

More accurately, he simply didn’t regard them at all.

Besides, who would want to stand by and watch a couple flirt? Isn’t that just bringing dog food to yourself?

So Zoe lightly coughed.

"Nina, we’ll leave first. We’ve pretty much covered everything. Just remember to prepare for entering the group the day after tomorrow."

After speaking, without waiting for Natalie’s response, Zoe immediately pulled Summer Churchill out of the apartment.

Natalie now couldn’t free her mind to care about them. She couldn’t help but try to pry Zane’s hands off her waist. But no matter how much force she used, she couldn’t do it.

Exasperated.

"Did you grow up on beef?"

Such strength!

Zane’s easiness contrasted sharply with Natalie’s desperate struggle.

It was as if he wanted to merge her into his own body.

He wanted her to understand how serious this matter was to him.

His woman shouldn’t be involved in any relationships with other men regarding matters of romantic dynamics.

Natalie’s eyes were red at the edges, slightly opening her mouth to catch her breath from exhaustion.

"Zane, it hurts."

She didn’t want to struggle anymore. She couldn’t win against this man.

Seeing Natalie frown slightly, he relaxed a bit.

"Not calling me hubby now?"

Natalie couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Initially, she really wanted to coax him, but Zane forgot one thing.

Despite her feelings for him, Natalie still hated being bound, especially when she couldn’t fight back.

This made her lose all control.

Moreover, she couldn’t understand what Zane truly felt.

Unless Zane took the initiative to cross that emotional line, she wouldn’t overthink it.

She refused to indulge in wishful thinking any longer.

Natalie remained silent, keeping a small, stern face, and Zane naturally noticed her displeasure.

He had come back wanting to see her lively side, to ease the tension between them, not for this situation.

Zane released his hand and pinched the tip of Natalie’s nose.

"Weren’t you just saying you’d take me down?"

Natalie: ...

Isn’t Zane just annoying, rubbing salt into her wound?

"How about I have a fight with you?"

Natalie knew the disparity in strength between her and Zane, but she wasn’t afraid. She wanted to see just how wide the gap was and whether she could close it through intense training.

Upon hearing this, Zane just chuckled, gently patting the back of Natalie’s head.

"With your little arms and legs, you need more practice."

Natalie immediately knocked his hand away.

"Don’t underestimate me."

She might not win against him, but at least she could make him suffer a bit.

Zane hummed in agreement.

"I don’t underestimate you."

"So, are we fighting or not?"

"No fight."

Natalie: ...

Isn’t that underestimating her?

So angry!

But he indeed has the right to look down on her.

Natalie had always been the one with the upper hand, never putting others in her eyes.

Now, this feeling... really sucks.

Natalie, furious, kicked at Zane with her leg.

"Stay away from me."

Zane watched the sulking Natalie with a twinkling smile in his eyes.

He sighed internally.

Women are indeed fickle.

Just back, she had been affectionately calling him hubby, clinging to him, refusing to let go. And now, she’s kicking at him fiercely, telling him to keep his distance.

But that’s exactly what makes Natalie interesting.

She can play nice to achieve her goals, but if he irritates her, she won’t hesitate to throw a tantrum regardless of her aims.

Thinking this, Zane chuckled softly.

Natalie looked at him, puzzled.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Laughing because you’re cute."

Natalie: ...

So strange, Zane can actually say nice things!

So happy, I want to laugh.

No, I’m still angry.

Natalie tried hard to suppress the smile threatening to lift her lips.

She turned her head and lifted her chin.

"Tch!"

Zane’s eyes sparkled with more amusement.

"Hand me your phone."

"Why?"

"To smack those loudmouths in the face."

Them?

Who are they?

Natalie didn’t know, but she really wanted to see the face-slapping, so she handed the phone over.

Zane took their selfie from the civil registry yesterday and sent it to himself, then took out his phone, saved the photo, and posted it on his social media, the entire sequence done seamlessly.

There was no caption in the post.

Natalie understood.

Zane was showing off their relationship, slapping the faces of those who bet in her social circle that he wouldn’t respond.

Great, even happier now.