Chapter 56: Intruder

“You’re insane!” Ellis snapped, backing away to increase the distance between herself and Easton. The last thing she wanted was to be anywhere near this disgusting excuse of a man. Just being close to him felt like bad luck.

But Easton, watching her retreat as if he carried some kind of plague, felt an inexplicable irritation rising in his chest. Maybe she was just throwing another childish tantrum. Either way, he was done with it. Reaching out, he grabbed her arm and yanked her forward.

Off guard, Ellis stumbled straight into his chest. She had barely registered what happened when a firm grip tightened around her waist. Before she could struggle, his deep voice murmured against her ear. “I’m insane? I can’t get hard?”

Her face burned with rage. “You’ve gone three days without a beating, haven’t you?!”

“Who was the one climbing into my bed? And who was the one begging me to go faster, then slower, at the estate?” Each sentence dripped with growing displeasure. By the time he finished, his irritation had turned into something heavier, almost tangible, like the heat of his breath against her ear and neck.

Disgusted, Ellis tried to break free, but as if anticipating her every move, Easton wrapped his other arm around her waist, trapping her completely. She gritted her teeth and lifted her chin defiantly. “Let me go!”

“What, now that we’re off the bed, you don’t recognize me anymore?” Easton’s gaze bore into hers, sharp and unwavering. “Want me to remind you how you used to please me? Or do you want to see what happens when you keep mouthing off?”

A faint blush crept up her ears. Was it anger? Embarrassment? Whatever it was, she looked far more expressive now than she had the last few times they had met. Back then, the moment she saw him, she would avert her gaze, her face barely masking her impatience. This was better.

Before, he never realized how dangerous habits could be. But now, faced with such a stark contrast, he did. He had grown used to Ellis clinging to him. She was like some spineless little creature, always sticking to him like a koala, her bright, wide eyes filled only with him. At times, he had found it annoying. He had pushed her away, ignored her. But she had never taken the hint. She had kept coming back, oblivious to how ridiculous she looked.

Now, she was different. She wanted nothing to do with him. And those bright, shining eyes of hers? They had dulled. As if covered in dust, as if they no longer saw him clearly. And worse—she no longer looked at him at all.

“Rotten cucumber! You—” Furious, Ellis clenched her fists, ready to punch him square in the chest. But before she could land the hit, his hand caught her chin, tilting her face up sharply. For a moment, they locked eyes. Easton’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Rotten cucumber? Watch your manners.”

She never called him by his name. And now, instead of calling him anything normal, she had given him some idiotic nickname? He was beyond displeased.

“I don’t have manners! Let me go!” Ellis shouted, punching his chest repeatedly. She thought she was hitting hard. To Easton, it felt like nothing more than a tickle.

“Words have consequences,” he said, easily catching both of her wrists.

“You—” Ellis was seething. Before she could unleash a fresh round of curses, she caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Casey stood at the entrance of the house, staring at them in confusion. Ellis wasted no time. She turned toward Casey, shouting, “Help! There’s a pervert!”

Hearing that, Easton followed her gaze. The boy in the doorway was staring at them with an unreadable expression. A teenager. A face that vaguely matched the one in the picture Morty had sent. Who was he? And what was Ellis’s relationship with him?

The moment Easton’s focus wavered, his grip loosened slightly. That was all Ellis needed. She yanked herself free and dashed behind Casey, using him as a human shield. Casey had just finished a long day of experiments. He had planned to step outside for some fresh air. Instead, he walked into whatever this was. At first glance, it had looked like Ellis was tangled up with some man. His house being used for romance?

If it was romance, why would she be calling for help? And why did she look so afraid? Casey frowned, glancing at her from the side. “Idiot, are you saying the man who just held you is a pervert?”

Ellis’s hands twitched. Great. Another person she wanted to punch.

“I’m not an idiot! Stop calling me that!” she snapped before glaring at Easton. “He is a pervert! Do you know him? If not, call the cops! Let him enjoy a nice night at the station!”

“I don’t know him,” Casey replied, his voice neutral.

Ellis’s eyes narrowed. If Casey didn’t know Easton, then why the hell was Easton here? She recalled what he had said earlier. It was as if he had assumed she lived here. As if he had been looking for her. Or maybe not. Either way, she wasn’t about to play along. She looked Casey dead in the eye. “Call the cops.”