CHAPTER 17: CHAPTER 17: YOU BIT THIS...

As soon as he finished speaking, Damian Quinn leisurely unbuttoned his collar. Although it was an ordinary action, he made it unbelievably seductive.

"You bit me."

"Young lady, how do you plan to take responsibility for me?"

Looking at the large bite mark on the man’s collarbone, Serena Everett pressed her lips together and blinked nervously.

Did she really bite him?

She had no recollection of it...

"What?" The man’s deep, lazy voice sounded again, slow and enticing, "Young lady, are you trying to shirk responsibility?"

Serena tilted her head and thought seriously for a moment.

Just his face alone was worth her taking responsibility.

After all, she had money and could afford to support him!

Taking responsibility wasn’t such a big deal...

Damian Quinn didn’t know what the girl was thinking. Seeing her lowering her eyes without speaking for a long time, he didn’t continue with the topic. He just raised his hand, gently ruffling her hair, his deep voice as gentle as ever.

"Alright, young lady, I’m just teasing you. Drink the hangover soup, and then go downstairs for breakfast."

Serena didn’t mind his touch. She lifted her enchanting, shimmering eyes to look at him, "Don’t you want me to take responsibility anymore?"

Damian Quinn’s appealing, sexy lips curled into a faint smile, making him look both seductive and ascetic.

"We’ll talk about taking responsibility later. For now, go downstairs and have breakfast."

He was sure there would come a day when the girl would willingly take responsibility...

After freshening up, Serena leisurely walked downstairs, only to see a variety of breakfast dishes laid out on the table, and the milk was the same brand she drank last night.

He even remembered such a small detail...

"I wasn’t sure what you’d like to eat, so I asked the kitchen to prepare a little of everything."

Hearing the man’s gentle explanation, a sudden thrill of excitement surged through Serena’s heart, though it was so fleeting that she couldn’t grasp the feeling.

"Thank you."

She offered a word of thanks, obediently sat down, and slowly began to eat breakfast.

Damian Quinn’s gentle, doting gaze fell on her, silently noting her favorite foods in his heart.

It wasn’t until Serena had almost finished eating and was about to leave that Damian Quinn spoke again.

"I’ve had your bike repaired and delivered here. It’s in the yard, you can take it anytime."

Serena nodded, "Alright."

"Aren’t you going to say something nice to thank your big brother?"

Serena thought for a moment, then managed to squeeze out, "You’re really a good person..."

"Ha." A light laugh escaped Damian Quinn’s throat, his captivating eyes deep and affectionate as they gazed at her, "Young lady, don’t give your big brother the ’good person’ card."

He certainly didn’t want to be just a good person!

Moreover, he had never harbored any good intentions toward her. He had always been plotting against her and couldn’t bear for this young girl to call him a good person.

...

The Everetts.

Cassia Everett had lost face at the banquet yesterday, first embarrassing herself with piano playing, and then being utterly humiliated because of Damian Quinn.

Now she was the laughingstock in the discussions among all the young ladies and socialites! It was all because of that Serena wretch!

Originally, she should have been the one to dazzle everyone with her piano performance and receive their praise, but that Serena wretch had stolen all of it!

Cassia Everett was resentful, her eyes red and swollen from crying, when Niall Everett rushed back to see this scene, and couldn’t help but pause.

"What happened to your eyes? Who bullied you?"

Seeing Niall return, Cassia’s eyes shifted quickly, a plan forming in her mind.

But on the surface, she only sobbed once or twice and shook her head at Niall, "Fifth Brother, you’re back! No one bullied me, let me get you a glass of water!"

"If no one bullied you, why are you crying like this?" Niall frowned, his voice filled with the arrogance of youth, "Tell your Fifth Brother, I’ll take care of it for you!"

He wanted to know who dared to bully someone from the Everett family! Did they think the local tyrant of Imperia didn’t exist?!

Cassia, however, redirected the topic while sobbing, looking so pitiful.

"Fifth Brother, you must be very tired after just getting back. Why don’t you rest for a while?"

Niall was impatient, the more she refused to speak, the more he wanted to know, "I’m not tired, just tell me, who bullied you?"

Seeing him like this, Cassia discreetly smirked but maintained her look of grievance and sadness.

"Fifth Brother, no one bullied me, it’s just that I’m too weak. At yesterday’s banquet, I performed with Sister, and for some reason, she changed the piece without telling me. I wasn’t prepared and made a mistake, embarrassing the Everett Family! Now those young ladies are mocking me behind my back!"

Hearing her grievances, as expected, Niall was furious, throwing away the carefully chosen gifts he had in a pile.

"She’s gone too far, I’m not giving her any of these gifts! Where is she? I’ll make the decision for you!"

Cassia knew his personality well, knowing he had a strong sense of justice and couldn’t tolerate any wrongdoers.

Serena, that wretch, was going to get it this time!

Cassia was secretly pleased but didn’t show it, speaking softly, "Sister went out last night and hasn’t returned since. I don’t know where she went... I’m also afraid to ask her, for fear she’ll find me annoying..."

"What, she’s staying out all night?" Niall grew even angrier, "She just arrived in Imperia, she doesn’t know anyone here, what if she encounters some bad people? No way, I’m going to find her..."

"What do you want to find me for?"

Before Niall could finish, a cool female voice interrupted.

Serena lazily removed her helmet, her porcelain-white face expressionless, and walked in with long, straight legs.

Meeting the girl’s beautiful, upturned eyes, Niall paused, a familiar feeling swelling within him, but he hadn’t forgotten he was supposed to reprimand her and quickly suppressed that emotion.

"Ahem, ahem."

Niall cleared his throat, ready to scold her and make her apologize to Cassia, but before he could speak.

Serena frowned at his posture, her tone light yet undeniably authoritative.

"Stand up straight."

Niall instinctively straightened his chest and sucked in his stomach, standing tall and upright. Realizing what he had done, he was vexed and wanted to slap himself.

He was her older brother, so why listen to her? Now all his brotherly authority was gone!

It was all because of that damned, familiar pressure making him comply instinctively!

And why did her voice sound so familiar?