"Shh~ Don’t move."

He, however, leaned close to her face and breathed, his voice a whisper only they could hear.

"What in the world are you trying to do?" Holly Sinclair asked angrily, her body trembling uncontrollably.

Tristan Sterling smiled.

He glanced downstairs, almost imperceptibly, his smile cold and cruel.

He had just come out of the bathroom when he saw her standing here, smiling at someone downstairs.

’So gentle and beautiful!’

’How dare she?!’

’How dare she smile so sweetly at another man, right under his nose?’

’Didn’t that smile once belong exclusively to him?’

’Does she have any idea how long it’s been since she last smiled at him like that?!’

’What gives her the right to smile at Brandon Sterling!’

’Next, is she going to transfer her love for me to Brandon too?!’

The more Tristan Sterling thought about it, the more violently the flames of rage burned within him.

"Kiss you."

His eyes fixed on the scene downstairs, he drew close to her lips and unhurriedly uttered two words.

’He would kiss her forcefully, right in front of Brandon.’

’To stake his claim!’

’She was his.’

’In this life, she could only ever be his.’

’No one else should even think about it!’

Holly Sinclair was dumbfounded, unable to believe how shameless he was being.

’This was a balcony, and Brandon was downstairs.’

’If he was going to be a pervert, he could at least pick a better time and place.’

Her face flushed with anger, she pushed him away and was about to leave, cursing, "You’re sick—mmph..."

The next second, he yanked her back viciously.

He held her tight in his arms, sealing her lips with a kiss.

Holly was overwhelmed with a mixture of shame and fury.

’She had no fetish for performing in public.’

’He might be shameless, but she wasn’t!’

She tried to resist.

But the more she struggled to break free, the tighter the man’s grip became.

His kiss was fierce.

It was as if he were punishing her for her disobedience, and at the same time, putting on a show for someone...

The kiss under the moonlight had an indescribable mix of intimacy and passion.

Holly was on the verge of tears from shame and anger, her eyes turning red.

In a fit of rage, she bit down hard.

"Ngh..." the man grunted in pain.

But he didn’t let her go.

The faint taste of blood filled both their mouths.

Tristan Sterling’s expression was terrifyingly grim. His gaze, sharp as an ice pick, once again shot toward the garden, landing coldly on Brandon Sterling.

"Be a good girl. Your dear Brandon is watching."

A cold, cruel smirk appeared on his lips as he mocked her.

Holly understood.

’So he was doing this for Brandon to see.’

She looked at the man’s face, so close to her own, and her heart filled with sorrow.

’He didn’t have to love her, but why did he have to humiliate her?’

’In his eyes, was she really so contemptible?’

Suddenly, Holly went still, no longer resisting or struggling.

She silently endured his wanton kiss.

Downstairs, Brandon Sterling left, his expression crestfallen.

Tristan Sterling saw it all.

He watched until Brandon’s figure disappeared into the night, and only then did he notice the terrifying stillness of the young woman in his arms...

He stopped and looked at her.

He was met with a gaze full of resentment.

"Are you satisfied now?" Holly asked, a layer of ice forming in her eyes.

"What? Does your heart ache for him?" Tristan Sterling sneered, raising an eyebrow. A terrifying hostility emanated from him.

Holly pushed him away and walked back into the room.

She sat on the sofa and looked him straight in the eye. "Tristan Sterling, don’t drag me into your fight with your brother. I have no interest in being your cannon fodder!"

Tristan Sterling’s thin lips tightened.

The atmosphere grew tense.

Suddenly, Tristan’s phone rang.

The phone was at the foot of the bed, and Holly’s gaze immediately fell upon the caller ID on the screen—

Vivian!

Heh~

An uncontrollable sneer crept onto her lips.

Tristan Sterling’s sharp gaze scrutinized Holly’s reaction.

He was trying to see a hint of concern or jealousy on her face.

But there was none.

Her pretty face showed nothing but coldness and mockery.

An inexplicable anger surged within Tristan.

He picked up the phone, answered, and deliberately put it on speaker.

"Tristan, I’m not feeling well. Can you come and stay with me?"

Vivian Linton’s pitiful voice immediately came through the phone.

Tristan didn’t speak.

He just watched Holly coldly.

’He thought that if she just asked him to stay, he wouldn’t leave tonight.’

But Holly remained expressionless, not saying a word.

It was as if his coming or going had nothing to do with her.

"Tristan?"

Vivian Linton called out again, hesitating.

"I’ll be right over."

Tristan finally spoke.

He gave Holly one last look.

She still showed no intention of asking him to stay.

The man, furious and humiliated, turned and left.

SLAM!

He slammed the door on his way out.

...

Tristan Sterling did not return all night.

Fearing that Grandfather would be angry if he found out, Holly Sinclair left the Sterling Manor early in the morning.

She had intended to ask the driver to take her down the mountain, but then she happened to see Brandon Sterling’s car pulling slowly out of the garage.

"Morning."

Brandon lowered his window and greeted her with a smile.

"Morning, Brandon."

"Leaving so early? Where’s Tristan?"

"I have a busy day, so I need to get to my studio early," Holly said, deliberately avoiding any topic related to Tristan Sterling.

Brandon took the hint and didn’t press the matter.

"Get in, I’ll give you a ride," Brandon said.

Holly didn’t stand on ceremony. She nodded and got in the car. "Okay, thank you, Brandon."

Soon, Brandon’s car drove out of the Sterling Manor.

A young woman slowly emerged from behind some bushes. She stared at the back of the car, a cold, jealous glint in her eyes...

The woman took out her phone and dialed a number—

"Do it!"

...

The Sterling Family estate was located halfway up a mountain.

There was a thick fog today, with visibility of less than ten meters.

For safety, Brandon drove very slowly.

After about ten minutes, a black van suddenly appeared ahead, blocking the middle of the road.

It looked like it had skidded and crashed.

Brandon stopped the car, unbuckled his seatbelt, and said, "I’ll go check it out."

"Brandon!" Holly reflexively grabbed his arm.

For some reason, she felt a sudden sense of unease.

On such a foggy day, and so early in the morning, there was hardly any traffic.

And for this van to be stopped so abruptly in the middle of the road... it just felt strange.

"What’s wrong?" Brandon turned back to look at her.

"Don’t go," Holly urged, shaking her head, her Daisy brows furrowing.

But Brandon just smiled, patted her hand, and said softly, "It’s fine. I’ll go take a look. Maybe the vehicle broke down, or perhaps someone needs help."

He looked as kind-hearted as ever, always gentle and good-natured.

With that, he opened his door, got out, and walked toward the van.

The words to stop him caught in Holly’s throat.

’Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive,’ she thought.

But she still felt uneasy and didn’t dare get out of the car.

The heavy fog blurred her vision. Sitting in the car, Holly could vaguely see Brandon walk a full circle around the van.

Then he started to head back.

But suddenly, a dark figure appeared behind him, raising a wooden club high above his head...

"Brandon!"

Holly’s pupils constricted as she let out a terrified scream.

THWACK!

Brandon took a blow from the club and fell to the ground.

The sudden turn of events left Holly completely stunned.

The car door was yanked open.

A large, rough hand grabbed her arm and began to drag her forcefully out of the car.

"Ah! Who are you people? What do you want—"