CHAPTER 823: CHAPTER 823: SO HE ALSO BELITTLED HER THIS WAY

She lowered her little head, chestnut curls slightly damp hanging on her shoulders, stripped of her usual thorny and striking chill, now she appeared very docile and gentle.

She used to always be so docile and gentle, her smile very sweet, until she changed.

It was probably that night of her 18th birthday when he schemed and took her, destroyed her. That night, she left dragging her suitcase, and when she came back, she had this thorny demeanor.

Justin Xavier slowly stopped his steps. He just stood there, looking at her from afar. He remembered the first time he met her many years ago.

Back then, she was the cherished jewel of the high-status Thorne family. Once, his father Hugh Xavier took him to visit the Thorne family, and Leah Thorne returned with the children from the courtyard after school.

That day, Leah Thorne was wearing a pair of round-toed little black leather shoes, her long hair naturally wavy, her delicate and radiant little face adorned with a bright and dazzling smile.

She was surrounded in the center by those children, all of whom liked her and were eager to talk to her.

One of the children saw him and quickly pointed, "Leah, look quickly, there’s another guest at your house, probably asking your daddy for a favor."

Little Leah turned her head and instantly saw him.

She was different from the other children, without a natural sense of superiority or aloofness. She ran over, her big, soft eyes blinking at him, her voice sweetly calling him, "Big brother, hello, I’ll give you candy."

She handed over a colorful lollipop from her small hand.

In the many years that followed, Justin Xavier always knew that Leah Thorne and he weren’t from the same world, just like the distance between them now, separated by mountains and rivers.

He could only stand on this side, looking at her from afar.

She had grown up in the sunshine, a rose carefully nurtured, while he had grown up in darkness and filth, wanting most to destroy her kind, but at the same time, wanting her the most.

At this moment, Leah Thorne looked up and saw him.

Their eyes met, and Justin Xavier withdrew his thoughts, then set long strides and walked to her side.

Leah Thorne’s gaze fell on the right side of his face. Just now Hugh Xavier slapped him without holding back, so his right cheek was red with a faint palm print, "Did Uncle Xavier hit you?"

Justin Xavier curled his lips, "You saw it and still ask?"

"Why did Uncle Xavier hit you, did you have an argument?" Leah Thorne stepped forward, raised her small hand to touch the red mark on his handsome face.

Justin Xavier stretched out his large hand, grabbing her small hand, his thin lips curling into a wicked arc, "My dad doesn’t allow me to bother you."

"Serves you right! He should have beaten you to death!" Leah cast him a glance and withdrew her hand directly.

At this moment, Justin Xavier noticed her, a small section of pink neck was exposed from her black coat collar, her skin was too delicate, pale and fragrant, and it seemed like she wore nothing inside.

Justin Xavier’s handsome face "brushed" coldly, "Leah, did you really run out without wearing anything inside?"

What do you mean?

Leah stared at him.

Justin Xavier extended his finger, reaching toward her collar.

"Snap," Leah directly slapped his hand away, "Justin Xavier, you’d better behave, don’t keep touching here and there. Don’t forget, you are engaged now."

Leah turned around, ready to enter the apartment.

But Justin Xavier clasped her glossy, fragrant shoulder, forcibly turning her around, then pushed her against the wall.

His actions weren’t gentle. Leah’s delicate back slammed into it, making her furrow her willow brows in pain, her soft and charming features chilled inch by inch, "Justin Xavier, just say if you want to strip my clothes, is that necessary?"

Justin Xavier’s handsome face clouded over; he paid her no heed. He raised his hand and pulled down her coat collar, her glossy shoulder sporting only a thin black spaghetti strap.

"Leah, you really are not wearing anything!" he spat out through gritted teeth.

"..." Is this person crazy? She’s wearing a spaghetti strap nightdress! Does a spaghetti strap nightdress not count as clothes in his eyes?

"Justin Xavier, what upset you again? I’ll wear what I want, what does it have to do with you? Why are you so angry, did I ask you to streak?"

She had just taken a bath when she heard someone knock at the door, so she threw on a coat and went out, is there a problem?

What era is this? Do women have to wrap themselves up tightly before going out? Wouldn’t it be better to spend that time educating men on virtue, to lock up their lower halves?

Justin Xavier felt he wouldn’t be so angry even if he were streaking, his two big hands pressing on her shoulders, his strikingly handsome features shrouded in gloom, "Leah, how many times have I told you, don’t go out showing off, don’t attract other men’s gaze, what would it take for you to listen?"

Leah raised her hand, tucked a lock of silky hair behind her ear, her lazy tone hinted at some fatal allure, "Justin Xavier, it’s my business to be beautiful, I only handle being beautiful, not dealing with those men. Not every woman needs a man, now get lost."

With that, she forcefully pushed him, trying to pry him away.

They say a woman is at her most beautiful when she doesn’t love anyone; these words are indeed true.

Justin Xavier casually rolled his Adam’s apple, his eyes fixed on her, "Do these men include my dad?"

What?

Leah suddenly froze, looking up at him.

In her confused gaze, Justin Xavier curled his thin lips cruelly and spoke to her in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Leah, you know what I’m talking about, right? Back then, my dad was obsessed with your mom, you look a lot like your mom, and even more beautiful than her; my dad is also a man. You dress like this at night to see him, what are you trying to do, hmm?"

"Let me think, if I hadn’t shown up, would you two now be holding hands, or hugging, or maybe you’d invite him into your apartment, two single people, under the guise of adoption, becoming his real... adopted daughter?"

Justin Xavier emphasized "adopted daughter," with a sharp bitter sarcasm.

Leah’s little face suddenly turned pale.

She didn’t even know when the term "adopted daughter" became such a dirty word. Her childhood memories were filled with all sorts of nasty insults from Mrs. Xavier, saying she would climb onto Hugh Xavier’s bed when she grew up.

All these years, she covered her ears, refusing to hear such voices. Sometimes, turning a deaf ear is a way to protect oneself from getting hurt, but now Justin Xavier said the exact same thing as Mrs. Xavier.

Turns out, he saw her that way too.

Turns out, he also regarded her so cheaply in his heart.