Hearing such shameless words from her, Dominic found himself caught between letting go and holding on. He just stared at her, jaw tight, saying nothing.

Watching her fiancé get physical with Claudia to "protect" her filled Belinda with secret delight. Even with water dripping down her face, she couldn't bring herself to care.

But then she noticed where Dominic's hand was—wrapped tight around Claudia's bare arm, fingers pressing into that pale, exposed skin. The sight made her stomach turn.

"Dominic, just ignore her," Belinda cut in. "She's crazy, completely unhinged. There's no telling what she'll say or do next. Let her go—don't dirty your hands on someone like her."

"She's right, Dominic," Victoria chimed in, eager to pile on. "I know you can't stand seeing our Belinda bullied, but you don't know the half of it. Ivan's eldest daughter picked up all sorts of bad habits abroad—smoking, drinking, pills, sleeping around. Her own father can't control her. For the sake of family peace, we've all just learned to tolerate it."

Dominic seemed deaf to the mother and daughter buzzing in his ear. His eyes stayed locked on Claudia's face, his hand still gripping her slender white arm...

Claudia was losing patience. She moved to pry his fingers off, but then her gaze fell on that familiar hand—large, strong, unmistakably masculine—and she changed her mind.

Instead, she placed her own hand over his, stroking the back of it with deliberate softness while meeting his eyes with open challenge.

It worked. Her brazen flirtation in front of everyone clearly unsettled him. He released her arm like it burned, disgust flickering across his face.

"Fine, just get out already!" Belinda snapped, unable to hold back any longer after watching Claudia touch him. She dropped all pretense, latching onto Dominic's arm possessively. "If you want to throw yourself at men, go find someone else. Stop disgusting my fiancé—he's not someone trash like you gets to touch!"

Claudia let out a cold laugh.

She thought of all those heated nights with this man, then looked at the picture before her now—the doting fiancé with his bride-to-be on his arm. The irony was almost too much.

Rich people really knew how to play their games.

She had no interest in sparring with these snakes any longer. With one last glance at him, she turned and walked out without looking back, spine straight, determined not to look like a stray dog slinking away with its tail between its legs.

She climbed into her blue Porsche Panamera and slammed the door hard.

After a smooth reverse and turn, she floored the gas and tore away from the villa.

One hand on the wheel, driving on autopilot, her mind kept replaying the confrontation at the Walker house. Especially his face—it haunted her like a ghost she couldn't shake.

By the time she got home, it was already eight o'clock.

She lived alone in an ordinary residential complex, in a ninety-square-meter condo. The place had cost under five million, fully paid off and furnished.

It couldn't compare to the Walker villa's sprawling luxury, but this was her real home in this city—the only place that gave her comfort and a sense of safety.

Her German Shepherd—smart and fierce—bounded over to greet her the moment she walked in.

She played with the dog for a while, then curled up on the couch to chat with her best friend overseas for about ten minutes. When her stomach started growling, she ordered delivery on her phone.

After her shower, she pulled on her pajamas and checked her phone—the food had arrived and been left at her door as requested.

Without thinking twice, she opened the door to grab it.

The moment the door cracked open, it was shoved wide from outside. A man forced his way in.

Claudia caught that familiar, sharp scent of his before she could even speak. Then rough hands pushed her backward, and she landed on the couch.

"What the hell—"

She couldn't help cursing as she met Dominic's dark, predatory eyes. "You followed me home again? What do you want now?"

Dominic walked up to her, his tone demanding answers.

"Claudia Walker. Didn't I warn you to stay out of my life? What the hell were you doing making a scene at the Walker house?"

"..."

Claudia blinked, caught off guard for a second.

Then she scoffed. "You're hilarious, Mr. Quinn. The Walker house belongs to my so-called biological father—this is my territory. If anything, you're the one invading my world. I could call the cops right now and report you for trespassing."

His handsome face darkened further...

His tall frame moved closer without her noticing, so close his suit pants were practically in her face. His hand shot out and gripped her chin.

"...Since you know about my connection to the Walker family, you'd better keep what happened between us to yourself." His eyes were cold as ice. "Especially around Belinda. Not a single word."

She let his large hand hold her jaw, her beautiful eyes locked onto his without flinching.

"Oh really?"

She showed no fear, her expression taunting. "And what exactly can't I tell her about 'us'? That we've tried every position in the book? Or that we've done it in every place imaginable?"

"..."

Dominic's grip tightened in anger. Part of him wanted to just squeeze the life out of her and be done with it.

But in the end, he released her with disgust and walked out to the balcony, lighting a cigarette. The smoke drifted around him as if he was trying to calm the chaos inside his head.

Claudia lounged lazily on the sofa, watching his earlier outburst replay in her mind. She couldn't help but smirk.

So Belinda, his fiancée, must really matter to him.

Why else would a man as busy as him chase her down the moment she left, just to threaten her...

Hah.

She looked at his silent silhouette smoking on the balcony, wondering what the hell he even wanted from her.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a WeChat notification. She checked—it was one of her backup guys asking if she was free for a late-night bite.

She'd saved his contact as "A-Zhou."

Without much hesitation, she accepted the invitation.

Pulling herself out of the earlier mess of emotions, Claudia walked over to Dominic and started kicking him out. "Alright, Mr. Quinn, I've got somewhere to be tonight. No time to play with you."

She leaned against the balcony window, a cold smile on her lips.

"Since we settled our accounts long ago, I know exactly what to do. Who you marry has nothing to do with me. And me? I've got a date. You can leave now."

She'd said dozens of words, but he seemed to have only heard one: date.

His sharp gaze cut into her, anger mixed with mockery. "Found a new sugar daddy already?"

"Yep."

Claudia said it lightly. "Got myself a 'little brother.' Also a rich heir. Tall, built, at least ten years younger than you—practically radiating youthful energy."

He took several hard drags of his cigarette, then crushed the butt into the ashtray. "..."

His mood turned foul.

He didn't even know why he'd come here tonight.

All he knew was that every word out of this woman's mouth made him want to strangle her.

A nameless fire rose from his chest, spreading through his organs...

Then Claudia's phone buzzed again. The guy was asking where they should meet.

She held her phone and started recording a voice message. "Anywhere's fine, you pick. That music bar from last time was nice. Yeah, when you get there—"

Before she could finish, the man in front of her snatched the phone right out of her hand.

BANG—he hurled it into the trash can several feet away like he was throwing out garbage.

"..."

It took Claudia a few seconds to process what just happened. When she did, she exploded. "What the—are you insane?!"

She moved to retrieve her phone, but before she could take a single step, his rough hand grabbed her arm and shoved her down onto the sofa.