CHAPTER 569: CHAPTER 557

Ace did not miss Joanna’s fidgeting, but misunderstood it as her craving a cigarette.

Frowning, he lectured her like a father would, "You’re a woman, but you smoke?"

His judgy tone pissed Joanna off, and she straightened herself menacingly as she snapped,

"What’s wrong with women smoking? Why are men allowed to do it, but not women?"

"Men are different from women,’ Ace said stubbornly.

"In what way?" Joanna demanded sharply. "From my perspective, women can do anything men can, but men can’t do everything women can. In that respect, women are nobler than men!"

"How so?"

"Women are more empathetic, sentimental, and kinder. Most importantly, they can bear children, and men can’t. Think about it—every human being came from a woman, so why are men allowed to smoke but women aren’t?"

Ace actually could not come up with a retort against Joanna’s eloquent logic, and she snorted. "See? Can’t argue against that, can you? Give me a reason if you think of one that’s reasonable."

Seizing the moment while Ace was spaced out, she snatched a cigarette from his box

and ignited hers with his.

This time, Ace did not stop her. He somewhat agreed with her perspective that women were nobler than men, as they were an amalgamation of that which was beautiful, while men embodied bloodlust, death, and violence.

As Joanna smoked, she leaned very close to Ace. Their faces were so close that they

could feel the other’s breath on their skin. It was a delicate exchange, as addictive as

nicotine-one could get lost in it without realizing.

"I smoke because I’m frustrated. What reason do you have to smoke?" Steafan asked Joanna, staring at her through the smoke with a penetrating gaze.

Why did he feel like he had stared at her beautiful face countless times, and yet completely forgot about it?"

"I’m frustrated too," Joanna rasped, closing her eyes after slowly calming herself.

"What’s frustrating you?" Ace asked, his eyes sharply studying her. ’I don’t think Jovan would leave you frustrated. Don’t you agree?"

He knew very well what Jovan was-plain Janes would certainly go crazy for him, but it didn’t make sense that a strong, independent, and smart woman like Joanna would do the same.

That was why he had a hunch that Jovan was just a diversion. She was probably carrying more secrets than she let on, and it was those secrets that compelled her to walk into his trap.

"You’re wrong. I’m not as complicated as you think—Jovan is my only concern, and all I want for him is to live his days in peace and bliss..." Joanna spoke quietly as she stared at the cigarette between her fingers, and added quietly, "I’ve only taken a liking to the scent of nicotine over the last few years-it offers me brief respite."

Jovan was a burden, but she would only be fine if he was, because it was Ace who had done this to her.

However, those words left Ace incensed. He snuffed his cigarette and leveled an icy glare at her, then demanded through clenched teeth, "You love him very much, is that it?

"Yes, that’s how much I love him. So please set us free, Mr. Moran!" Joanna clearly felt Ace’s rage, but she felt no fear, and instead repeatedly challenged the limit of his patience.

"In that case, get ready for a world of pain!" Ace snapped, his eyes ablaze with rage even as he snatched her cigarette and snuffed it out violently.

"What are you doing?!" Joanna exclaimed, shifting backwards and putting her hand on the door handle, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

"Weren’t you acting all noble and ready to give up everything for him? Having second

thoughts now, are we?"

"No, I just... wanted to prepare mentally."

"Don’t worry, I won’t kill you," Ace said, his gaze dangerously possessive as he held her dainty chin with his long fingers. "I’m only interested in your body."

"You’re sick!" Joanna’s face flushed, and she turned to open the door to escape the

awkward, suffocating space inside the car.

She didn’t expect Ace to lock the door before she could.

"If you’re not having second thoughts, why run?" Ace growled, approaching her like a

beast on the Moran, his handsome face nuzzling her neck, and his lips brushing against her fair skin as he rasped, "If you love him so much,it’s not too much if you sacrifice your body for his freedom, don’t you think?"

"A-Are you sure about this?" Joanna seemed paralyzed, her body so stiff it could not move, even though her blood was almost boiling.

"What, do I look like I’m kidding?" Ace’s voice was quiet, and his hot breath fanned her skin—the very image of temptation.

"What if I refuse?" Joanna pursed her lips as her heart pounded—this was the closest they had been for half a year, and she would be lying if she said that she was not getting a little eager.

There were claims that when you loved someone to bits, even your skin and muscles would remember them... and it was because of those memories that you would inevitably react.

It certainly applied to Ace too.

The first time he saw her in Northern Varangia, his desire for her surged like a tidal wave.

He wanted her... in the truest sense of the word!

Even if he had forgotten her, his body still remembered hers from sheer instinct...

"If you say no, I will kiss you until you say yes!" And with those words, Ace pressed his lips to hers without waiting for her to respond.

"Mmph..." Joanna did not expect him to be so direct, and was dumbstruck.

He pinned her against the car door, his aura dominating as he claimed her lips so fiercely that it was almost like he was trying to take her breath away.

As the kiss stretched on, the interior of the car began to heat up...

Both of them knew very well that this was wrong, but neither of them wanted to stop.

Perhaps it was that so-called muscle memory at work, and their brains could no longer control their bodies...