Chapter 114 Lauren Strikes Back
до Even now that she was out, he still wouldn’t let her go.
Chapter 113 Kenneth Crosses the Line
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Lauren’s heart thundered in her chest. She clutched the fabric of her shirt so tightly that her nails nearly pierced her skin.
Felix’s voice came low and firm. “My fiancée.
The moment those words hit her cars, Lauren’s heart went wild–beating so fast it felt like it might burst right out of her throat.
She pressed even closer against Felix’s chest, and there was–his strong, steady heartbeat thumping right against her cheek, syncing with her own erratic one in a strange kind of rhythm.
The air around them shifted, suddenly thick with tension. It was like everything stopped moving–even
sound.
All that remained was the sharp rhythm of their breaths and the heavy beat of their hearts.
Kenneth’s expression froze. That smooth smile of his filtered and turned stiff.
But he kept staring at Lauren, eyes scanning her with more intensity. The longer he looked, the more convinced he became that she was someone he knew. The feeling wouldn’t let go.
Finally, he couldn’t keep it in. “So this is Mr. Brooker’s fiancée. A pleasure. I’m Kenneth.”
Lauren froze, clinging to Felix. She didn’t dare speak–not even a whisper. If she did, Kenneth would recognize her voice in an instant.
Felix’s eyes narrowed, danger flickering behind them. My fiancée isn’t feeling well. She won’t be able to say hello, Mr. Kenneth.”
Without missing a beat, he slipped one arm under Lauren and lifted her effortlessly into his
She instinctively looped her arms around his neck, her face buried tightly into his chest.
In one smooth move, Felix used his free hand to open the car door.
s arms.
Kenneth stepped forward, clearly trying to get a look at who Felix was holding. But Lauren kept her face. completely hidden, giving him no chance to see.
A second later, Felix gently set her down in the back seat. He leaned in close, his upper body hovering directly above her.
They were so close now–close enough that she could feel his breath against her neck, warm and steady. It sent a jolt through her chest and her heart began to race all over again.
Her face flushed with heat. Her wide eyes were filled with panic and confusion.
Felix leaned in even closer and spoke softly near her ear. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
His voice was calm, warm, and sure–like a lifeline. And just like that, something in Lauren’s panicked heart began to settle.
Felix straightened up, stepped out of the car, and shut the door behind him with a solid thud.
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Chapter 113 Kenneth Crosses the Line
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Then he turned to face Kenneth, and his expression tuned icy–like a knife slicing through the cold night. “Mr. Kenneth, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now
He moved toward the driver’s side.
kenneth’s eyes stayed locked on the car door, a flash of unwillingness breaking through his otherwise calm demeanor.
He couldn’t see a thing through the tinted glass, but his ut told him exactly who was in that car.
It has to be Lauren,
Suddenly, he stepped forward and yanked the door open.
A rush of cold air swept into the car. Inside, Lauren flinched in fear, her body curling in on itself.
Kenneth leaned in, trying to get a look at her face–but before he could even focus, Felix’s fist slammed into his jaw.
Kenneth stumbled back several steps, catching himself just in time. He wiped the corner of his mouth and saw blood on his fingers.
He was part of the Gray family–Hoverdale’s elite. He was used to people treating him with nothing but respect. No one had ever dared hit him in public.
Sure, he knew Felix was the bossman to the Brooker family in Balewood, someone not to mess with. But getting punched in the face like that? That was too much.
Rage took over. He charged forward and landed a punch on Felix.
Felix didn’t hold back either. He hit back without missing a beat.
Lauren clung to the edge of the car door, her fingers digging in so hard they turned white. Her eyes stayed, locked on Felix and Kenneth as they fought, the sound of fists slamming into flesh hitting her like hammer blows to the chest.
Her heart was racing.
This is all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Mr. Brooker wouldn’t be getting hurt right now.
From the very first time she saw Felix, she could tell he wasn’t like the other spoiled heirs from wealthy families. He was different–refined and thoughtful.
When she’d choked on cigarette smoke, he’d apologized right away–and after that, he never lit another cigarette around her.
When she’d tried to take her own life, he’d stopped her and even handed her a bottle of wine worth 70,000 dollars without a second thought.
When she nearly died from alcohol pois he rushed her to the hospital and paid for everything.
She never believed he wanted anything from her. She had no money, no beauty, and was constantly sick. There was nothing about her that someone like Felix would need.
The only reason he treated her so well was because he was a truly decent person–someone
with real
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Chapter 113 Kenneth Crosses the Line
compassion.
And now that same person was being punched by a n
Guilt twisted in her chest–and underneath it, a burn
When she was in prison, he made sure she suffered.
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Chapter 113 Kenneth Crosses the Line
compassion.
And now that same person was being punched by a man
Guilt twisted in her chest–and underneath it, a burning
When she was in prison, he made sure she suffered.
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Chapter 113 Kenneth Crosses the Line
compassion.
And now that same person was being punched by a maniac like Kenneth because of her.
Guilt twisted in her chest–and underneath it, a burning hatred for Kenneth took root.
When she was in prison, he made sure she suffered.
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He knew she wasn’t the one who put Elaine in a coma. But that didn’t stop him from hunting her down like it was personal.
And now, he was attacking Felix right in front of her–ke he owned the world.
Lauren’s mind reeled with flashes of every memory she had with Felix.
She might’ve been afraid of Kenneth–terrified, even–but her hatred was stronger now. Strong enough to drown the fear.
Her eyes darted around the car in a frenzy until she sported a wrench sitting in the corner.
She grabbed it without thinking, threw the door open, and stepped out behind Kenneth.
Just as Kenneth raised his hand for another blow.
Lauren didn’t hesitate. She brought the wrench down with everything she had, slamming it straight into the back of his head.
Kenneth was hit with a wave of searing pain. Everything went black as he lost control and hit the ground
hard.
Lauren stood frozen, staring at him. Blood spread quickly beneath his head, and in that moment, all the fire and rage inside her vanished–reason came crashing back.
Her hands were shaking so badly she couldn’t hold onto the wrench anymore. It slipped from her grip and hit the pavement with a loud clang.
Her eyes were wide with fear. Her teeth chattered. Her Ups had gone ghost–white from shock.
Her knees buckled. She could barely stay upright.
If Felix hadn’t moved quickly and caught her, she would’ve collapsed right then and there.
There was a time when she hadn’t feared drawing blood from the Bennett family. She’d been so broken, so desperate, that dying with them had felt like peace.
Back then, her world was pure darkness. No future. No reason to keep going. She hadn’t cared what it cost.
But now… everything had changed.
She knew she had real talent with embroidery. Her work had value. Her future wasn’t bleak anymore.
She could use that gift to earn a living, to rewrite her story–and to give Marilyn and Mia a life filled with comfort and dignity.
And once you’ve tasted even the faintest trace of hope who would choose death?
“Mr. Brooker, am I… am I going to jail? I don’t want to go back…”
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She would rather die than ever step foot in that place again.
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Felix spoke in a low, calming voice. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this. Just get in the car
Lauren nodded, her whole body still shaking, and slipped into the passenger seat.
Felix called 911 and then stood silently next to Kenneth waiting
He didn’t leave until the ambulance had taken Kennethaway. Then he got back in the car and drove Lauren home.
The car pulled slowly into the garage at the Brooker vi
Lauren sat there, still tense, her emotions all over the pace.
Felix glanced at her and didn’t say a word. He didn’t rush her. He just stayed in fils seat, keeping her
company.
It took a long while before Lauren finally began to calm down.
She looked over at him, her voice unsteady. “Mr. Brooker, I mean it–if something happens to Kenneth, I’ll take the blame. I won’t drag you into it.”
Felix turned and met her eyes. There was a quiet sigh in his breath, and his voice was soft. “I told you. Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”
Tears spilled from Lauren’s eyes right then and there. No one had ever said anything like that to her before.
Even if it was just meant to comfort her, it filled her with warmth–and left her deeply moved.
Felix wasn’t exactly used to comforting girls. He didn’t know what to say, so he just grabbed a few tissues from the box on the passenger seat and handed them to her.
“Come on, don’t cry. If Grandma sees your eyes all red and puffy, she’ll get worried.”
Lauren’s tears slowed immediately. She thought of Madam Kate–kind, loving, always checking on her with the gentlest voice, treating her like family. If she saw Lauren like this, there was no way she wouldn’t
worry.
Lauren took the tissues quickly and wiped her face. She inhaled deeply a few times, forcing herself to hold back the rest of the tears. Then she looked up and gave Felix a small smile.
It wasn’t a strong smile–it was thin and shaky, worn down by everything she was feeling. There was tiredness in it. A little fear too.
Felix saw right through it. He knew her thoughts were still stuck on Kenneth–the blood, the fall, the impact.
Unless she got word that Kenneth was okay, she wouldn’t be able to relax, not even for a second.
With a sigh, he picked up his phone and called Josh. He asked him to head to the hospital and find out how Kenneth was doing.
Neither of them said a word. The car was silent, the air between them weighed down with tension.
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Chapter 114 Lauren Strikes Back
After about fifteen minutes, Felix’s phone rang.
It was Josh.
He answered and put it on speaker.
“Mr. Brooker, Kenneth has a mild concussion. He’s going to be fine. No danger to his life.”
Once the call ended, Felix turned to Lauren. “Feel better now?”
Lauren gave a small nod. A flicker of relief finally crossed her face. “Thank you, Mr. Brooker.”
Felix smiled warmly. “Think you’re ready to get out of the car?”
Lauren gave another small nod, this time a little embarrassed.
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