Chapter 58: Biting Back

Ellis’s strength was limited, and the smooth leather of his shoes absorbed most of the impact. Easton didn’t feel a thing. He lifted her chin with one hand, forcing her to look at him. “Even if you’re not living together, you shouldn’t be here. From now on, you’re not allowed to see him.”

At that moment, Ellis was certain Easton had serious issues. Controlling her whereabouts? Deciding who she could and couldn’t see? Does he have nothing better to do?

“You live by the sea or something? Why are you trying to control the tides?” She slapped away his annoying hand, wishing she had Bree’s skill at scratching people’s faces with her nails. She’d love nothing more than to turn Easton’s smug face into a scratched-up mess.

“You think I want to control you? If some people hadn’t sent me pictures of you with that guy, warning me to watch out in case you cheated on me, I wouldn’t have come here.”

Easton didn’t actually believe Ellis would do something as stupid as betraying him, but knowing her, she was definitely up to something reckless. His real reason for showing up was to figure out her connection to that teenager. But now, he didn’t even care about that. What really got to him was how that guy was shielding her, the way he spoke, and most of all, how Ellis actually sought protection from him.

At the mention of cheating, Ellis didn’t just get mad—she exploded. This scumbag had the nerve to bring up cheating?

“Who took the pictures?” She had never felt such a strong urge to murder someone.

“That’s not important.” Easton barely spared a glance at the car parked near the entrance before scooping her up into his arms. Ellis let out a startled yelp at the sudden lift. The moment she processed what happened, she got even angrier. “You!”

Ignoring her protests, Easton shoved her into the car and signaled the driver to go. Without needing a direct order, the driver smartly pressed the button to raise the partition. As the scenery outside blurred past, Ellis turned toward Easton, her face full of fury. “What the hell are you doing?”

“Taking you away,” Easton answered calmly, his usual aloofness returning, as if none of this had happened. Just four words, but the way he said it—like he was doing her a favor—made her blood boil.

“Stop the damn car!”

Easton acted like he didn’t hear her. He had barged into her life, messed up her work, and now he was making decisions for her? Ellis wasn’t about to let this go. Without thinking, she reached out and grabbed his tie, yanking hard. Anger clouded her mind, stripping away any remaining patience. She wasn’t completely out of control, but she definitely wanted him to get a taste of suffocation—to know what happened when he pissed her off.

It was his fault for provoking her. He had no one to blame but himself.

But before she could really tighten her grip, Easton saw through her intent. Before she could pull harder, he caught both her hands, easily restraining them in his own. His voice carried a mocking edge. “Oh? Planning to murder your husband?”

Otherwise, I would’ve strangled you in your sleep!”

She was obviously speaking out of anger, but Easton didn’t take her words seriously. Instead, he gave her a once-over before effortlessly pulling her into his arms, as if she had willingly thrown herself there.

“Getting sharper with that mouth of yours.” His voice was casual, his posture arrogant. That condescending attitude made Ellis feel like the biggest fool.

She had enough. No more holding back. If she couldn’t overpower him, she’d outsmart him. Without hesitation, she parted her lips and bit down hard on the back of his hand. Pain shot through his hand, sharp and sudden. Easton looked down. She looked like an angry little puppy, sinking her teeth into him with everything she had.

“Hiss.” He instinctively released her hands and pulled his own back. “Ellis, are you part dog?”

Ellis, victorious, smirked. “What I am is none of your damn business!”

Easton glanced at the bite mark—and the faint trace of saliva she’d left behind. His first instinct was to grab a handkerchief; he had forgotten to bring one today. His expression darkened slightly as he wiped the back of his hand against her clothes. Seeing his hand suddenly move toward her, and with that sour look on his face, Ellis’s first reaction was to flinch back. “If you dare hit me, I’ll report you for domestic abuse!”

But instead of getting mad, Easton’s face twisted into something even darker. His expression turned stormy, unreadable. Without a word, he rubbed the back of his hand against her shirt a few times. Right as she was wondering what he was doing, he spoke with pure disgust. “Domestic abuse? What kind of nonsense are you thinking? You drooled on me. What, I’m not even allowed to wipe it off?”

Ellis was speechless. She had almost forgotten—this scumbag had mild OCD. But honestly, forgetting was understandable. She wasn’t a clean freak, and back when they first got married, she had been careful about his quirks, trying not to cross any lines. But as time went on, she got lazy. And since he never made a fuss about it, she gradually stopped caring.

She scoffed coldly. If only she could turn into a llama right now and spit on him as much as she wanted.