Chapter 406

Yao’s ears flushed crimson.

Alarieka mistook it for embarrassment at being caught.

With that, Alarieka tactfully waved and turned to leave.

Okay?

She actually asked “okay”?

Yao’s lungs were about to explode.

He finally stopped holding back, wrenching Yingying away.

“Alarieka Huston, stop!”

“Yao.”

Sophia was thrown against the wall, her arm slamming hard onto the stone slab. A sharp pain shot through her as she cried out in hurt frustration.

Victor’s shout didn’t help; it only made Alarieka walk faster.

“Alarieka!”

Victor gritted his teeth in anger and moved to chase her.

Sophia rushed over, grabbing Victor’s arm: “You can’t leave!”

Victor frowned and shoved her off, his voice unnaturally stern: “Stay right here!”

Sophia got pushed into the room as Victor immediately shut the door and sprinted after Alarieka.

Victor caught up and spotted the woman by the elevator, his heart instantly leaping into his throat.

He rushed over, grabbed the woman’s wrist, and turned her to face him.

“Alarieka.”

Alarieka blinked. “Shi Yao, what are you doing here?”

She suppressed a laugh. “It’s fine, you don’t need to come with me. You should stay—”

Shi Yao’s eyes held tension as he stared intently at her. “Alarieka, you’ve got it all wrong.”

Alarieka paused for a few seconds. “What?”

Shi Yao’s throat tightened. “Xie Yingying–that girl you mentioned–it’s not what you think. We’re not dating. Don’t misunderstand.”

He kept his eyes locked on Alarieka’s face, searching for the slightest shift in her expression.

But he found no trace of relief or happiness there.

An indescribable weight settled in Shi Yao’s chest. “Alarieka, say something.”

Alarieka asked, “You’re not involved with her?”

A flicker of hope sparked in Shi Yao. “No, we’re just friends. Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t like her.”

Alarieka blinked innocently, smiling. “Shi Yao, that’s not fair. If you don’t like her, why were you holding her? You two clung together for ages. Shouldn’t you claim responsibility?”

Shi Yao tightened his grip on her wrist, stunned. “What are you talking about?”

His voice hardened as he watched her impassive face, frustration swelling in his chest. “Alarieka, are you saying you want me to be with her?”

“Why aren’t you angry? Shouldn’t you be questioning me? Shouldn’t you hit me?”

He seized her hand before she could react, slapping it against his own cheek with a sharp smack.

“Hit me! Go on! Why won’t you?”

Alarieka stared blankly, bewildered by his outburst and the sudden slap. “What are you saying? I don’t understand.”

As Shi Yao tried to force her hand against his face again, she yanked her palm free. “Shi Yao, have you lost your mind?”

His fringe fell over his brow, shadowing eyes that usually held depth but now brimmed with hurt as he gazed at her.

After a heavy silence, he murmured, “Alarieka, how can you say that?”

For some reason, his eyes reminded her of a wounded puppy’s.

“What did I say? If it’s not true, then I was mistaken. Stop looking at me like that. I won’t mention it again, okay?”

Shi Yao stepped closer, lowering his head. “Thinking that way about me… it hurts.”

Alarieka’s mouth twitched. “Then I won’t think it.”

Suddenly, his eyes flashed with resentment. He emphasized each word: “Alarieka, I’m single. Single. Understand?”

Alarieka nodded rapidly. “Got it. You’re single. An eligible bachelor.”

His resentful gaze didn’t waver. “I’m not with anyone. She threw herself at me. I couldn’t push her off. Do you get it?”

“Got it, got it.”

“How could you say I’m seeing other women? You saw me hugging someone else, how could you just run off? Even said you’d bless us?”

Chapter 407