Chapter 164

Abby was touched. Jonathan had remembered she hadn't eaten dinner and saved her some food. But upon closer inspection, her face fell. It was the snake egg she'd hidden under Cynthia's bed.

Fear washed over Abby. She looked at Jonathan uncertainly. "Jonathan, what does this mean?"

His face was cold. "Eat this, and we'll forget about the egg. Otherwise, you'll be trending online tomorrow."

Abby's face went white. She wanted to trend, but not like this. If the live-room audience found out she'd hidden a snake egg under Cynthia's bed, her life would be ruined. But she couldn't bring herself to eat it. The thought made her stomach churn.

Jonathan remained calm, his tone mild. "This is attempted murder. I can ensure you spend your life in prison."

Abby's expression showed disgust and immense fear. She hadn't expected such serious consequences, yet she still hesitated. She thought, Why does everyone protect Cynthia? Jonathan, you don't get along with her, so why are you shielding her?

Jonathan's voice was calm but cold. "Her issues with me are none of your concern."

Abby cried, "I didn't expect the snake to appear! I just wanted to prank her."

Jonathan smirked coldly. "And I'm just kidding. Eat it."

Abby shook her head, watching him hold the egg. "Cynthia wasn't hurt, and she hit me! Look at my face; she could have broken my bones!"

Abby pleaded, "Please spare me! I was wrong, and I won't do it again. Haven't I been punished enough?"

Jonathan took a step toward her. "Right now, it's just the egg. Hesitate, and you'll eat the snake too. I have my ways."

Abby looked into his cold, calm, handsome face—almost godlike, yet calmly mad. A quiet, intense anger radiated from him, more terrifying than a storm. She could feel herself being crushed.

She took hesitant steps backward, but he advanced. She realized she couldn't win. Jonathan was a calm lunatic, instilling fear unlike anything she'd felt before—even more terrifying than Cynthia's near-attack.

Focusing on the egg, Abby steeled herself. She snatched it, closed her eyes, and swallowed it whole.

Friday, November 8th

Chapter 164

The whole snake egg, unchewed, lodged in her throat. Its thin, hard shell prevented it from going down. She'd swallowed too quickly. No matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't budge. She grabbed her throat, coughing, but it was useless.

Her face turned bluish-purple from suffocation. She couldn't breathe. She rolled on the ground, her eyes bloodshot, about to pop out. Silently, she pleaded with Jonathan. She tried to scream, but no sound came.

Eventually, she lay still. Jonathan timed it perfectly. He glanced at his watch, frowned, and crouched beside her. He picked up a coconut and thumped her hard on the back.

Perhaps it was the pain, but Abby, who had fainted from lack of oxygen, opened her eyes. The snake egg made a gulping sound as it slid down.

She sat up, gasping for air. The purplish-black color of her face gradually faded, though it remained ashen. She had almost died. She looked up at Jonathan.

"Abby, if you ever hurt Cynthia again, I'll make sure you can't live or die peacefully," he said.

At that moment, Abby realized something. Jonathan, the person you like is… Her throat felt raw. It dawned on her: Jonathan wasn't interested in Nina; it was Cynthia.

She'd never seen that expression on his face before—intense emotion, like a raging flood. He'd never felt that way about Nina; his relationship with her was more like a senior's care for a junior. But with Cynthia, his eyes shone differently. It drove the composed gentleman to madness, filling the restrained man with a desire to possess.

Jonathan truly liked Cynthia. But Abby couldn't speak; his gaze was cold and sharp, as if he might slit her throat. She was genuinely terrified.

"Get out!" Jonathan said.

Abby scrambled away. Nearby, Alex and Nina witnessed everything.

Nina felt weighed down. Too much had happened.

Alex spoke. "So Jonathan likes Cynthia…"

That sentence cut Nina. She had seen it too.

Nina tried to convince herself. "Jonathan doesn't like Cynthia; they can't stand each other."

Alex chuckled. "Have you ever seen someone who hates another person defend them like that?"

Alex looked at Nina. "Nina, how long are you going to keep fooling yourself?"

Friday, November (continued)

Chapter 164

Nina's eyelashes fluttered; her eyes filled with tears. She bit her lip and remained silent.

Alex grabbed her hand. "Nina, I'm the one who truly likes you. As long as you accept me, you won't be wronged."

A hint of slyness flashed in Alex's eyes. He'd made a bet to win Nina over in three days. It was only day one, and he was almost successful.