Chapter 99
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He idly twirled the wine glass in his hand, his gaze growing more penetrating as a slow smirk played on his lips and his voice dropped an octave. Then I’ll keep Mr. Sylvan’s contact details for now. If I need anything. I’ll reach out.”
As he spoke, Kellan extended his phone, though his peripheral vision remained fixed on Zind, never wavering
The prickling sensation of being watched made Zina furrow her brows, but she forced herself not to react. She kept her head down, doing her best to fade into the background.
Yet, Kellan’s gaze remained stubbornly fixed on her.
Kellan’s voice dripped with deliberat
allure as he deliberately set his glass down right next to Zina’s.
“Miss Sinclair, he murmured, ‘do we know each other? You seem familiar
Suddenly. Kellan’s voice rang in Zina’s ear. She jerked her head up, meeting his deep, intense gaze.
Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to speak. “Of course, everyone knows Mr. Carter’s reputation.”
That’s not what I meant. Miss Sinclair, you bear a striking resemblance to someone I know,” Kellan continued in his unhurried tone, idly twisting the ring on his finger, his eyes glinting with amusement.
“Oh, so you two are acquainted. Well, that makes things much easier for us,” said Andy.
As soon as Andy stood up, Kellan shot him a piercing glare.
Andy froze mid–motion, his smile twisting into an awkward grimace. The hand he had raised was awkwardly redirected, and he ended up offering a toast to Wade instead.
Meanwhile, Kellan’s gaze remained locked on Zina, unwavering.
His scorching breath washed over her, laced with that signature icy edge, slowly enveloping her until there was nowhere left
to hide.
Zina pursed her lips and looked up, only to plunge straight into the depths of his obsidian eyes.
“Mr. Carter,” she said through gritted teeth. “this isn’t appropriate.”
“Is that so?” he said. Kellan closed in again, watching her space shrink, his gaze darkening.
But just then, Zina, who had been dodging his gaze, suddenly locked eyes with him.
Zina blinked her big, round eyes and, with a teasing smile, asked, “Mr. Carter, are you always this intimate with others? Or is this just your preferred way of interacting?”
Catching sight of that infatuated gaze–identical to that of all the other women he’d encountered before–Kellan felt a flash of disgust in his eyes. He turned his head away abruptly.
“No,” Kellan said flatly. “Sorry, Loverstepped.”
At his words, Zina finally let out a subtle sigh of relief. Unseen by the others, she glanced at Kellan from the corner of her
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Chapter 99
eye. “He’s really not paying attention to me anymore, she thought, allowing herself to fully relax at last.
After the brief respite, Zina checked the message from Chris on her phone, her expression instantly darkening with renewed
Tension.
The entire meal was especially tense because of Kellan’s presence. Even after it ended, Andy ha
useful information from him.
With his shoulders slumped in dejection, Andy trudged out of the private room.
managed to glean any
As he was leaving, Kellan uncharacteristically paused, casting a subtle glance at Zina before continuing. “Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Wood. I’ll be in Springvale for a few more days, and I’ll consider that cooperation you mentioned.”
Andy’s eyes instantly lit up. “Thank you, Mr. Carter. We’re practically partners.”
Andy was so eager to please that he would have gladly offered himself as Kellan’s chauffeur.
Wade, watching from the side, nudged Zina beside him and whispered, “Don’t you think those two are acting a bit off?”
“Finally noticed, huh?” Zina replied with a hint of teasing.
She forced a wry smile, genuinely at a loss for words to describe her current state of mind.
With one last glance at Kellan–still engrossed in conversation–Zina grabbed Wade’s arm and practically dragged him into the car ahead of the others.
The moment Zina settled into the car, her phone rang.
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