The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet

Ethan gingerly touched his throbbing eye, wincing at the sharp pain that greeted his fingertips. "Damn, she really packs a punch," he muttered to himself.

"Who told you to catch me? Where did you think you were touching just now?" Lydia's voice rose, her chest heaving with anger.

The thought of being touched in places no one had dared to before, especially by a man, filled her with indignation and a sense of violation. The idea alone made her blood boil, her thoughts racing with visions of retribution.

Hearing her, Ethan's mind raced back to the moment of contact, the unique sensation making him suddenly sheepish. "It was all so chaotic, I... I wasn't really thinking..."

"Not the truth, huh?"

"Ow!" Another punch landed in Ethan's gut, eliciting a pained yelp from him.

Struggling to lift his gaze, he saw Lydia's fist raised again, this time aimed at his face. Panic set in, and Ethan braced for impact, shutting his eyes tight.

But instead of pain, the sound of a ringing phone halted Lydia's wrathful arm mid-air.

With a fierce glare, Lydia withdrew her fist and fished her phone from her pocket.

"Hello?" Her voice was laced with barely contained fury.

"Lydia, I sent someone over to see you. His friend's sick and he needs your help. Did he make it there?" Thalassa's voice came through the phone, concerned yet calm.

Lydia paused, her eyes darting to Ethan still kneeling before her. "Was it you who was sent by someone?"

Ethan, seizing the opportunity, quickly confirmed, "Yes, it's me. Thalassa asked me to find you."

"Shut up!" Lydia snapped at him, her gaze sharp.

Even if Thalassa had sent him, his earlier transgression was unforgivable to Lydia.

"Lydia, is he there with you?" Thalassa's voice broke through Lydia's irritation.

"He's here, I've got it from here," Lydia replied curtly, ending the call.

With a cold stare, she turned to Ethan, "So, how do you propose we settle this?"Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

Ethan looked up at her, noting the fierce determination in her stance. He knew better than to expect any leniency.

Glancing from Lydia's formidable expression to his own vulnerable state, he instinctively shielded himself.

"I was just at the doorstep when

your lab experiment exploded,

sending you flying out. There was no

escaping or avoiding it. I meant to

push you away, but ended up catching you in... well, a rather

awkward manner."

"Enough! Another word and I'll cut your tongue out!" Lydia's anger flared at his admission, her cheeks flushing with rage.

Ethan immediately fell silent,

bet

pleading, "I'm sorry, truly. How about you hit my hands? They're the guilty ones, after all."

"Oh, using your hands as a scapegoat? Fine, I'll chop them off!" Lydia seethed, grabbing Ethan's wrist with a grip that threatened to snap bones.

"Wait, wait, wait! My mistake, I'll pay you, whatever amount you want, just spare me," Ethan blurted out in sheer panic.