CHAPTER 19: CHAPTER 19: SHE ACTUALLY KISSED HIM FIRST?

「Two hours later.」

Chloe Preston drove all the way home.

As soon as she arrived at her front door, she noticed a group of burly, rough-looking men blocking the entrance, each holding an axe.

The look in Chloe Preston’s eyes turned cold. She sighed. "Alright, spill it. How much did my dad lose this time?"

While at The Xavier Residence, she had received a call informing her that her father had run up another debt at the casino and urging her to return at once to pay it.

The man in the lead was Ethan Irving. He stepped forward and announced, "Four million, eight hundred thousand!"

What? That much money?

Chloe Preston sucked in a sharp breath, gently biting her red lip and feeling a painful pinch.

She was at her wit’s end with her dad! Did he think he was some gambling god? He lost nine times out of ten, and every single time he came back with a massive debt for her to pay! The worst time, he owed over thirty million and called her from the casino, crying and begging for her to bring the money. What a good-for-nothing. So pathetic.

If this kept up, the two of them would be reduced to begging on the streets with a broken bowl.

Ethan Irving asked, "Miss Quinn, are you going to pay or not?"

"I’ll tell you straight: your father is being held at the casino right now. If I don’t go back with the money today, we’re going to cut off one of his hands!"

"Then cut it off," Chloe Preston said indifferently. "Make it quick. Better yet, cut both of them off. That way, he won’t be able to gamble again."

At her words, everyone present was stunned.

Ethan Irving thought he must have misheard. He spoke in shock, "I never thought there could be such a heartless daughter in this world!"

Anyone else would be scrambling to scrape together the money, desperate to pay off the debt at any cost.

Chloe Preston heard him but said nothing.

If only she could truly be that heartless. Maybe then she could live a little happier.

Then, she spoke up, "Give me the account number. I’ll transfer every last cent over shortly."

Luckily, she owned a small company that sold jade and had earned enough to cover these debts. Otherwise, on her salary as a doctor, she couldn’t have come up with that much money even if she sold herself.

After getting the account details, Chloe Preston felt utterly exhausted. She moved to open the door and go inside.

Her figure was stunningly curvaceous, and she was exceptionally beautiful and alluring. Paired with the red mermaid-style slip dress she wore, she exuded a fiery charm. The men who saw her felt their souls drift away, unable to tear their eyes from her. Her waist, in particular, was so slim it was breathtaking.

Ethan Irving watched her, swallowing hard.

The moment Chloe Preston stepped inside, her arm was seized, and she was slammed against the door.

Ethan Irving leered at her, licking his lips, his eyes burning with desire. "Miss Quinn, you’re so beautiful. How about we become friends? Hmm?"

Chloe Preston’s face turned cold, her voice icy and fierce. "Get lost!"

"Tsk, tsk. So feisty. I like it!" Ethan Irving chuckled.

Chloe Preston struggled desperately but couldn’t break free from his grip.

He started this, so he can’t blame me for being ruthless!

The next second, she unexpectedly lifted a slender leg, and her high-heeled shoe slammed directly into the man’s groin.

A heavy kick. Mmm, that probably just ended his family line.

The man let out a pained HOWL and collapsed to the ground, cold sweat beading on his face.

Chloe Preston glanced down at him, her eyes cold as she frowned slightly.

Was that too heavy-handed? What if he tries to blackmail me over this?

Ethan Irving, writhing in immense pain, turned his head and glared at his men standing outside. "Are you all dead? Tie her up for me!"

His subordinates nodded, all trying to stifle their laughter as they moved forward to restrain Chloe Preston.

Chloe struggled, glaring at them coldly. "Do you want to lose your manhood like he did?"

The men all flinched.

Just then, Ethan Irving struggled to his feet, strode forward, and slapped Chloe Preston across her left cheek.

Chloe Preston’s lip split, and she tasted blood. It hurt...

Ethan Irving yanked her up by the hair, pulling it tight. "Bitch, you dare kick me? Are you asking to die?!"

"You dress like that to seduce men, so why act so pure!" he snarled. He raised his hand high, preparing to strike her again.

The anticipated pain never came.

A large, well-defined hand seized his wrist and twisted it sharply backward. The distinct CRACK of bone breaking could be heard.

Ethan Irving screamed in agony, his face contorted. "Who the fuck are you?! Let me go!"

A man’s frigid voice sounded, laced with a chilling coldness. "Let go? Fine, I’ll grant your wish."

He released his grip, then drove a foot into the man’s abdomen, sending him flying a meter back to crash onto the ground. Ethan Irving nearly sprayed a mouthful of blood.

Donovan Xavier’s eyes simmered with a dark, suppressed fury. He casually straightened his cuffs, his expression like ice. He turned, strode forward, and swept the woman into his arms. His demeanor instantly softened, and his voice was hoarse. "Sorry, I’m late..."

"Were you scared?"

Chloe Preston leaned into his warm embrace, inhaling the faint scent of sandalwood on him. Her eyes couldn’t help but redden. Her nose suddenly tingled. She moved her lips slightly. "I’m okay... Now that you’re here, I’m not scared anymore..."

Donovan Xavier gently let her go. His gaze fell on the blood at the corner of her lip, and a crimson glint flashed in his eyes. "They hit you?"

As he asked, he turned, strode over, and hauled Ethan Irving up from the ground. He clenched his fist and slammed it into the man’s face.

Donovan Xavier’s eyes were sharp and frigid, his entire presence radiating a terrifying aura, as if he might kill the man in the next second. "She’s my woman. I can’t even stand to see her cry, but a piece of trash like you dared to hit her?"

"How dare you!"

He punctuated his words with another punch, and then another, beating the man until he was bloody and unconscious. He had always been calm and self-possessed; it was rare for him to lose control like this.

Seeing this, the surrounding goons charged at him with their axes.

Donovan Xavier kicked them away. His punches were like the wind—fast, precise, and ruthless—landing on each of their faces. After so many years as a narcotics officer, every move was expertly trained, built on speed, accuracy, and force.

The men were beaten until their faces were black and blue. They began to beg for mercy. "Bro, we were wrong, we were wrong! I’ll kneel for you, okay?!"

"Bro, please don’t hit the face! I make a living with my looks!"

"Bro, go beat Ethan Irving! Beat him to death for all we care! We’ll even help you!"

Worried he might actually kill someone, Chloe Preston rushed forward and grabbed his arm. "Stop! You’ll kill him!"

"Then let him die!" Donovan snapped.

A flare of anger shot through Chloe Preston’s heart.

If he dies, Donovan will go to jail! And he calls himself a cop. What a legal illiterate!

She shot a look at the men on the ground. "What are you waiting for? Get him out of here!"

Donovan watched them leave, his brow furrowed in a cold line. He instinctively moved to follow.

Chloe Preston slammed the door shut.

She rose onto her tiptoes, hooked his tie with her fair, delicate hands, and leaned in, raising her head to kiss his cold lips. She lacked a man’s technique; her lips just pressed lightly against his.

But Donovan’s breathing hitched, the veins on his arm bulging as his mind was thrown into chaos.

She’s actually kissing me?

Donovan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He lifted her with one arm and pressed her against the cold wall.

The temperature in the room seemed to rise, getting hotter and hotter.

He bent down and crushed his lips against hers.