Talented Heiress: A Rose With Thorns

A Rose 446

“Wilson, please… don’t…” Victoria’s voice cracked as her face her eyes, and she was barely holding herself together.

w impossibly pale. Tears were pooling in

Wilson didn’t even flinch. His cold, strikingly handsome face remained hard as stone, showing no mercy.

“Wilson.” Yvette’s voice was soft, but it cut through the tension like a knife. Instantly, the fury that

surrounded him vanished, and without a word, he was back at her

Lionel, still on his knees, let out a shaky breath. His face was ghostly white, his body trembling with relief.

Wilson had been seconds away from ending him. Lionel knew that if Yvette hadn’t called him off, he’d be dead already.

W

And the thing that terrified him the most? He hadn’t even ned Yvette. The murderous intent Wilson

had unleashed was just from the threat. If he’d actually laid a hand on her…

He didn’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened. Who knew Yvette had such a hold on Wilson?

“Take her to the hospital,” Yvette said coolly.

Her fingers slipped into Wilson’s larger hand, a small gesture meant to calm him down. She glanced at Victoria, pale and trembling, blood seeping from her scraped knees.

Yvette had pushed her, sure, but it hadn’t been that hard. Just a nudge. Still, Victoria had fallen harder than expected. Yvette wasn’t about to walk away from that without owning up.

Wilson’s fury simmered but didn’t die out completely. His cold, dangerous gaze remained locked on Lionel, practically daring him to make a move.

“Lock him up in the dungeon,” Wilson ordered. “Let him pay for this.”

Everyone knew what that meant–unimaginable torture, the kind that would leave one praying for death. Only the worst offenses were punished that way.

Samuel’s skin crawled at the thought of it. He shot Lionel a glance of pure pity before nodding.” Understood, Mr. Quinn.”

Lionel might survive, but if he did, he’d never be the same again.

“Wilson, please,” Victoria’s voice trembled, her eyes red with unshed tears. “Lionel only acted out of fear for me. He wasn’t thinking. If you need to punish someone, punish me. Just… Don’t hurt him.”

Her soft, broken sobs made her look so fragile, the kind of sight that would make anyone’s heart soften. “Wilson, he’s already injured. If you send him for punishment, it’ll kill him! He can’t survive it!”

But Wilson remained cold, unmoved by her pleas. His jaw tightened, and without even sparing her a glance, he turned to Samuel. “Take her to the hospital.”

Samuel, clearly uncomfortable but knowing better than to argue, gave a respectful nod. “Yes, Mr. Quinn.” Victoria was practically forced into the car, her tear–filled eyes wide with desperation. She

opened her mouth as if to say something else, but Samuel swiftly closed the door, and her words were swallowed by the slam.

“You’re not going to check on her? She looks pretty bad…” Yvette’s voice faltered as Wilson’s hand clamped down on her chin.

“Do you even hear yourself?” Wilson’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, his anger palpable. “You want

me to go be with another woman?”

Most women would be seething with jealousy, but not Yvette. Instead of feeling betrayed, she was actually suggesting he comfort Victoria. Did he really mean so little to her?

“Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

Yvette hadn’t anticipated her words would strike such a nerve. Realizing her mistake, she quickly pressed herself against him, her slender arms wrapping around his firm waist.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I didn’t mean it. Please, don’t be angry with me.”

“Don’t think this gets you off the hook,” Wilson said, his hands gripping her waist with a firmness that made it clear he was still upset.

Yvette, sensing his anger, bit her lip and then stood on her tiptoes to give him a quick, gentle kiss. She really knew how to calm him down.

Wilson’s irritation seemed to melt away almost instantly. His grip on her waist tightened, and his voice, though still deep and gravelly, held an edge of vulnerability.

“Baby, don’t ever push me toward someone else again, he said.

Yvette nodded, her eyes earnest. “I won’t.”

Wilson’s gaze softened as he looked at her, but the gravity of the situation soon returned to his features.

He spoke in a low, unwavering tone, “I promise you, Yvie, something like this will never happen again.”

A sleek black Porsche eased to a halt in front of Jubilife University. The door swung open, and a group of imposing men stepped out. At the head of the group was Adam, whose commanding presence was impossible to ignore.

“You all insisted on tagging along to pick up Yvie,” Adam said. “But let me warn you–act civilized! Don’t scare her!”

Civilized?

The group of tough guys exchanged puzzled glances, clearly bewildered by the term. Did Adam even know what that word meant?

“If any of you mess up my flawless image in Yvie’s eyes,” Adam warned, his voice low and intense, “I’ll deal with you myself!”

“Got it, captain!” they responded, half–heartedly.

Though they agreed, whispers of disbelief and amusement quickly spread among them.

“Captain, with Yvie looking like she does, I bet she’s got a bunch of guys after her at school, huh?”

“That’s a given! Yvie’s like a goddess–she’s got that fierce, cool vibe. It’s, not just the college guys who’d be into her.”

“Cut it out!” Adam snapped, his irritation clear. “Yvie’s still a kid. She’s not getting into relationships yet!” His sister was too remarkable for anyone to be worthy of her. Any guy who dared to get close would have to deal with him.

Seeing Adam’s rising anger, the rest of the team quickly shifted the topic.

“Man, these college kids today, making out right by the campus gate–talk about a public display of Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“Yeah, talk about being hit with a face full of PDA… Wait a minute–Captain, isn’t that our sister over there?

“Who the hell said she’s your sister? She’s my sister, and mine alone!”

Adam’s anger erupted. When he saw Yvette’s face, his rage intensified even more. “What the hell? Who’s the idiot hugging my sister? I’m going to break his damn hands!”