Chapter 96

After Bruce left, Roxanne stomped her feet, tears welling up. "I don't need you to send me!" she shouted at the driver, then ran angrily from the car park. She had waited for Bruce all afternoon and was hurt by his apparent disregard for her feelings. Feeling angry, she called Gavin. Whenever Bruce mistreated her, she sought comfort from Gavin.

Gavin was thrilled by her call and immediately rode his motorcycle to pick her up. Meanwhile, Bruce drove aimlessly, eventually—strangely—ending up at the Haynes Group building after circling the elevated highway twice. Knowing Joanna likely still worked late (it was only after eight o'clock), he wanted to check on her injuries.

He saw Joanna's car was still parked downstairs and the office lights were on. However, instead of going inside, he remained in his car, smoking and waiting.

At ten o'clock, Joanna finished work. Realizing it was late—most employees had left, only a few programmers remained—and feeling her eyes strain, she shut down her computer. The morning's altercation with Bruce, coupled with a long workday, left her exhausted. Though focused at work, she felt dizzy upon standing and slumped back into her chair.

After recovering somewhat, she struggled to her feet and went to the elevator. A minute later, she entered, leaning weakly against the wall, unable to stand steadily.

Downstairs, Bruce, having waited two hours, saw the elevator doors open. A weakened woman slowly emerged; it was Joanna, looking extremely tired and breathless. Seeing this, Bruce felt a pang of sadness and remorse. He left his car and quietly approached her.

Joanna weakly reached for her car keys in her handbag, the effort taking considerable time. She pressed the unlock button and struggled to open the car door. Before she could fully enter, the door slammed shut, jolting her against the car. Frightened, she assumed she was being robbed, remembering Ingrid's threats and the possibility of hired thugs.

"How can you drive in your current state?" Bruce said.

Joanna's heart pounded. "Bruce, what are you up to again?" she asked.

He simply stared coldly. Her anxiety growing, she tried to open the car door. She was terrified of him.

Bruce held the car door shut with one hand and grasped her wrist with the other, pulling her into his embrace. Fear filled her eyes. "Bruce, what are you going to do?" she asked.

He didn't answer, his gaze falling on the bruises on her neck—two faint scabs marred her slender skin. He remembered his inexplicable urge to bite her, a compulsion he'd never felt with other women.

"Does it hurt?" he asked, gently caressing the wounds.

Joanna flinched, trying to pull away. "Let go of me! Don't touch me!"

Her resistance only intensified his agitation. His expression hardening, he pinned her arms against the car door. "Don't move!"

Joanna breathed deeply, fear evident in her eyes. "I beg you, Bruce, don't touch me again!" Her resistance only fueled his desire to possess her completely. A brutal glint appeared in his eyes, yet his tone remained gentle. "Why are you so afraid of me?" he asked.

"Um… can you please let go?" she pleaded weakly, fearing more violence.

Seeing her vulnerability, his hostility lessened; he released one hand. Joanna broke free, her eyes filled with hatred. She silently reached for her bag.

"I don't think you're well enough to drive," Bruce said. "Don't…" (The final sentence is incomplete and contains a website advertisement, which has been omitted.)