Chapter 410:

Fiona’s scream for help pierced the night air, grating on the drunkard’s ears. He shoved her to the ground, his clumsy hands fumbling at her trousers.

“Help! Somebody help me!” Fiona cried, fear coursing through her as she struggled desperately. A wave of despair washed over her. Her exposed skin felt cold against the harsh pavement, and a chilling premonition settled in her gut. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the worst.

An unexpected, high-pitched yelp from the man above shattered the oppressive silence.

She peeked through one eye to see him hoisted high in the air, dangling like a trussed chicken. The sight was ludicrous.

Shaking off her shock, Fiona scrambled to her feet and pulled up her trousers. Glowering at the now-pale drunkard, she felt a mix of shame and anger.

“Thank you, sir,” she said, her voice shaky but resolute. “Would you mind calling the police for me?”

The drunkard’s face drained of color. The weight of his actions hit him hard. He hadn’t intended for things to escalate; he’d only wanted to relieve some tension. Now, the prospect of a police encounter filled him with dread.

Jayden, his face obscured by a mask, quirked an eyebrow. Did this woman think he’d babysit her and deal with the police?

With a grunt of annoyance, he delivered a swift blow to the back of the man’s neck. The drunkard crumpled to the ground, instantly unconscious. Jayden tossed the unconscious man aside and dusted his hands off in disgust, clearly eager to leave.

“Wait! I owe you a debt of gratitude. Let me at least—” Fiona trailed off, flustered.

Jayden recognized her as Elyse’s studio mate. He wouldn’t have interfered otherwise.

“No need,” he muttered gruffly.

Staring at Jayden, Fiona noticed his towering stature and robust build. Despite the mask, she found the man who’d saved her undeniably handsome.

Lost in thought, Jayden thought of Elyse, still working late at the studio. He’d come to pick her up.

Sensing his intention to leave, Fiona grabbed his arm, her voice filled with nervous excitement. “Hold on a second! Can I at least get your phone number?”

Jayden brushed her hand away impatiently. “Look, I just helped you. No big deal. Relax.” The thought flickered across his mind that this woman might be trouble.

Flustered by his blunt rejection, Fiona was speechless.

As he walked away, she watched him go, then touched her cheek, a dreamy smile on her lips. It wasn’t a soft touch, but his raw masculinity resonated with her.

“If only I could see him again,” she sighed, gazing wistfully at the ground.

Half an hour later, Elyse emerged from the studio, letting out a tired sigh. Ten minutes had stretched into thirty, thanks to Gavin’s guidance. Her stomach rumbled in protest.

The honk of a car jolted her from her thoughts. Turning, she spotted a familiar car parked at the curb. The window rolled down, revealing Jayden’s handsome face.

A smile spread across her face, and she practically skipped to the car. The door was already open.

“Thank you,” she chirped, sliding into the car beside Jayden. “What are you doing here?”

Jayden shot her a playful glare. “It’s almost nine,” he grumbled.

From the front seat, the driver said, “Mr. Owen hasn’t eaten dinner yet because he was waiting for you. He went out around seven and waited for you to get off work. Very thoughtful, wouldn’t you say?”

“You talk too much,” Jayden muttered, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Elyse’s heart melted at Jayden’s concern. “You shouldn’t have waited,” she said, her voice thick with affection. “I’m starving. Can we go home and eat?”

“Get us home,” Jayden ordered, playfully ruffling her hair.

As soon as they arrived home, Elyse hurried to the dining room. Spotting Tracy, she nervously asked, “Tracy, were you waiting for me to have dinner together?”

Tracy nodded. “Yes, how could I eat without you?”

“Apologies for making you wait,” Elyse said, surprised that both Jayden and Tracy had waited for her.

Tracy glanced at Jayden and teased, “Well, you know, I can do anything your husband can.”

Amused, Jayden remarked, “Really? Can you do everything?”

The extraneous website address and the ".noveldrama" at the end have been removed. The text has been cleaned up for grammar, punctuation, and flow.