Chapter 78: I Don't Want to Owe You

A red handprint appeared on Kelvin's handsome face, shocking and alarming. He touched his face, his dark eyes fixed on Cheyenne, and gritted his teeth. "You're the first!" he said, meaning the first woman to slap him.

Cheyenne didn't know why she'd slapped him, but his earlier words had angered her. The whole world could doubt her, but not Kelvin. Lifting her chin, she met his furious gaze. "You deserved it," she said firmly. "Who told you to slander me?"

"Did I?" he asked.

He took large steps toward her, his imposing presence forcing her to retreat.

"Is it because I said you were charming?" he asked, advancing as she flinched. Her bare feet, on the icy grass, made her bite her lip to stifle a cry of embarrassment and prevent herself from fleeing. He continued to approach, his voice low and magnetic. "Or is it because I said you were willing to be supported by one sugar daddy after another?"

He took another step. Cheyenne's heel struck an obstacle—a step. There was no turning back.

"Answer me!" Kelvin shouted, his hand grasping her chin, his eyes on her face. Seaweed-like curls cascaded down, a rose falling from her hair, crushing the grass as water droplets splashed before settling.

"Ah" Cheyenne murmured, forced to meet his gaze. The clarity and stubbornness in her eyes were unlike the woman he remembered. What had she been like before? He thought back to a summer afternoon five years earlier. Seventeen-year-old Cheyenne, in her second year of high school. Their families had discussed their marriage, and she'd sat beside him, smiling brightly. Her eyes had been full of laughter, brighter than the summer sun. Returning to the present, he saw a chilling smile in her almond-shaped eyes—a smile that made him uneasy.

"Kelvin," she said softly but clearly, "I once gave you my heart. For you, I sacrificed so much, becoming as lowly as dust."

He sneered. "As lowly as dust? A gold digger like you…"

He wondered where she'd learned to act so well. Was that what she truly was, in his eyes?

Cheyenne felt a pang of sadness, but realized it no longer mattered. "Never mind," she said. "We have nothing to do with each other now. You can be with your childhood sweetheart, Miss Berry. I'm free to be with whoever I want." She added sarcastically, "And whoever that is, it's a lot better than being with you."

She shook off his hand, tossing her head as strands of hair slipped through his fingers like silk, sending a tingle through him. She giggled, lifting her dress to leave.

"Wait, don't move!" Kelvin's temper flared. She dared to claim other men were better than him? Then he saw a bright red venomous snake coiled at her feet, and his expression darkened. Even if he hated her, he couldn't let her be bitten.

Cheyenne, stubbornly refusing to listen, stepped to the left. She felt something cold and soft beneath her foot—the venomous snake she'd seen earlier. It wasn't supposed to be in a glass box!

"Hiss…" The snake spat its tongue, raising its head to strike.

"Ahh! Help me!"

"I told you not to move, you idiot!!!" Kelvin's gaze froze as he swiftly scooped her up just as the snake lunged, biting his hand. She heard him groan, his brow furrowed, his face darkening with anger.

"Kelvin, are you okay?" she asked. Why had he risked being bitten to save her?

His lips turned blue, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Just… just go away!" he forced out.

The pain overcame him. He fell to one knee.

"Ugh."

Cheyenne almost fell, but he held her. "Kelvin! Wake up! Don't close your eyes. I'll save you." She tore a piece of her skirt.

"Shh…"

The sound must have been loud enough; he lifted his head, his eyes narrowed on her.

"Take off your clothes."

"Cheyenne…"

Before he could finish, she yanked open his jacket. He removed his cufflinks, rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular arms. His veins bulged visibly. She stared coldly at him, patting his hand. Black blood flowed from the wound. She gripped his hand, squeezing out the venom, then lowered her head, under his astonished gaze. Her lips covered his hand.

He stared at her, at her trembling eyelashes, the hint of tears in her eyes.

"You're crazy!" he said. "This is a venomous snake!"

Cheyenne lifted her head. "Pfft…" She spat out the poisoned blood. Again covering his hand with hers, she said, "Kelvin, I don't want to owe you anything. You saved me; I'll help with the venom. We're even."

Kelvin should have felt happy, but a complex emotion welled up in his heart.