Chapter 552

Staring back at me was Edward—his face cold and commanding.

“It’s not Ryan… I really got the wrong person,” I realized, stunned.

“It’s you…” I blurted out, startled, stumbling back.

Edward stared at me coldly, his eyes burning with fury. The next second, he grabbed my hand without hesitation and dragged me toward a black van parked nearby. One of his bodyguards quietly brought my coat and purse into the car.

I tried to resist, wanting to get out, but Edward leaned in and whispered harshly in my ear, “Victoria, is breaking up really that hard for you? Do you have to treat yourself like this?”

“I’m not,” I denied quickly.

Edward let out a cold laugh. “You can’t even tell me apart from Ryan, and you’re still acting tough?”

The car started moving, and I didn’t dare try to jump out. I slumped back in my seat, staring straight ahead.

“Were you following me again?” I snapped, furious. Being watched like that just pisses me off.

Edward glanced out the window with a huff. “I was just worried about you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything stupid,” I said with a bitter smile. “Don’t use that as an excuse.”

Edward sighed. “I’m worried the Chamberlain Family might make things hard for you.”

That snapped me out of my drunken haze. I turned to him, suddenly alert.

Edward was staring at me too, sizing me up. Then, with a hint of annoyance, he turned to the window. “Look at you now—like a woman scorned.”

I brushed my hair back and rubbed my aching head. “You mentioned the Chamberlain Family. Are they really going to make trouble for me?”

Edward said flatly, “I hope I’m just overthinking it, but honestly, you winning over Ryan is basically a blow to the Chamberlain Family’s pride.”

My chest tightened, and I fell silent for a long time.

‘Turns out, some love is just too dangerous to touch,’ I thought bitterly.

Chapter 552

“So… do I need to leave Braylin?” I asked, my voice shaky. This was serious—my life was on the line, and I couldn’t afford to be careless.

“Where would you even go?” Edward raised an eyebrow, chuckling lightly. “Now you want to run? Yesterday, you said you didn’t want to.”

My mind was a mess. Yesterday, he never said anything about running—just hiding. Honestly, that would freak anyone out.

“Please, just let me go home. I need to talk to Ryan about this,” I said, trying to sober up—I really didn’t want to do anything stupid right now.

“If you reach out to him now, it’s like striking a match to a fuse. It’ll blow up into something much worse, you get that?” Edward’s cold voice snapped me back to reality.

I just stared at him, totally blank.

He reached out and softly brushed his fingers across my chilly cheek. “Relax. You’re not completely on your own.”

I pushed his hand away. “I’m not some toy for you and Ryan to toss around whenever you feel like it.”

Edward actually laughed at that, like he found it really entertaining.

But I couldn’t even force a smile. I just closed my eyes, plotting my escape.

“Victoria, the way you think doesn’t fit your age—there’s something about that contrast that’s really attractive,” Edward suddenly leaned in and murmured in my ear.

I went stiff all over, my first instinct to shove him back.

But just as I tried to push him away, he leaned back at the same time—and with the car making a sudden turn, my momentum sent me straight into his lap.

Both of us froze, caught off guard by the unexpected moment.

I found myself sprawled across his lap, completely mortified.

‘Drinking really messes everything up,’ I thought, swearing to myself that unless absolutely necessary, I was done with alcohol.

I fumbled to sit up, but he made no move to help.

My arms felt weak, and it took me a while to finally sit up and lean back against the seat.

Chapter 552

“Since you’re still thinking straight, I’ll let it go that you just mistook me for Ryan,” Edward’s deep voice came from beside me, cool and dismissive.