Durrell Landon looked down at her, lifting her chin with his right hand, gently rubbing her rosy lips with his fingers:
"You are so cruel."
This was indeed the first time he had met a woman like this, calm to the point of apathy, as if all the emotions in the world had nothing to do with her. Yet, she had ignited his heart.
At this moment, her phone rang, piercing through the silence of the room, disrupting the strange atmosphere between the two of them.
She pushed away the hand that was restraining her, took out her phone from her pocket, and glanced at the incoming call.
It was Alexander Skylane.
She walked out of the room and pressed the answer button.
"Is there something you need?"
"Quiana, you promised me you'd attend the branch company's banquet, right?"
She thought for a moment; there seemed to be such an agreement.
She lightly responded with "Hmm."
"I promised you, I won't go back on my word."
Upon hearing her agreement, Alexander Skylane's tone became noticeably more cheerful: "The date for the banquet has been set. Where are you staying now, so I can send you the invitation?"
Quiana Sutton: "..."
She definitely couldn't say she was currently staying at Imperial View Manor.
She mentioned an address, and they agreed to meet at Between Clouds and Waters.
After hanging up, she was about to return to her room when she turned around to see Durrell Landon leaning against the doorframe, looking at her calmly. But inexplicably, her feet felt cold, and instinctively she wanted to leave. Before she could, he suddenly closed in on her, grabbed her by the waist:
"Who were you just on the phone with?"
Looking into the man's deep eyes, as if they were whirlpools, her scalp tingled.
Quiana Sutton wanted to break free from his grip, but his hand was like an iron clamp, leaving her no room to move. Annoyed, she shouted:
"Let go!"
Durrell Landon repeated his question: "Tell me, who were you just on the phone with?"
Seeing Durrell Landon's persistent demeanor, unwilling to give up without an answer, she said a name helplessly:
"Alexander Skylane."
As soon as the words were out, Durrell Landon slightly loosened his grip, then suddenly seized her by the back of the neck and kissed her on the lips.
The taste of wine permeated around her lips, leaving her unsure whether it was the alcohol intoxicating her or the person. Her heart raced uncontrollably.
She disliked being out of control and bit his lip fiercely. Both tasted blood.
Durrell Landon winced in pain and instinctively let go of her, covering his lips.
Gaining her freedom, Quiana Sutton immediately took a few steps back:
"You're drunk. I don't want to do these things with a drunk person."
Watching her retreating figure, which seemed to carry a hint of fleeing, he indifferently wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb.
He recalled that his elder brother had sent an invitation. It was Alexander Skylane who had specifically invited the Landon Family for the celebration of the Aisha Group's official establishment in Capital City. Although he hadn't been interested initially, he now changed his mind.
Quiana Sutton returned to her room and took a cold shower to calm herself.
She never believed there was real sincerity in this world.
Playing games was fine, but if truly falling in love with someone, she would never allow it.
A painful lesson once was enough.
The moonlight in the night sky now seemed dimmed, hiding behind the clouds with misty veils.
...
The next day.
When Quiana Sutton came downstairs, she saw Charles Foote, who hadn't appeared in the manor for a long time.
At this moment, he was saying to Durrell Landon:
"Durrell, I've already repaired the surveillance video of the car accident site, but the only problem now is that the perpetrator has already gone abroad, and The Raven can't catch him for the time being."
After listening, Durrell Landon's expression didn't change at all, he just said lightly:
"Is that so?"
"Having made such thorough preparations in advance clearly shows the other party came prepared."
After saying this, he glanced at the perpetrator's information, casually putting it aside.
"He's just a pawn. Since he wanted to kill me, and I'm still alive, the person behind him will reveal themselves sooner or later."
At this moment, he saw Quiana Sutton not far away, his gaze tightly locked onto her.
As he looked at Quiana Sutton, she also glanced at him and quickly averted her eyes.
His expression showed a momentary coldness but didn't manifest outwardly, he casually asked:
"Are you coming back tonight?"
Charles Foote: "..."
He had only been at The Raven for a few days, and yet he felt the atmosphere between these two had become strange.
Like a husband asking a wife who wants to go out.
A typical husband...
Why did he find it odd? This term didn't quite match Durrell Landon's character, yet strangely, at this moment, it seemed fitting, even stirring some longing in him, which he quickly dismissed.
Durrell Landon's tone sounded extremely gentle at this moment, but Quiana Sutton inexplicably recalled a saying, gentle knife, cutting through the intestines and bones, making her scalp tingle.
Though not particularly wanting to answer, she didn't want to stir up trouble either.
"I'll be back."
Hearing her response, his expression seemed to soften a bit:
"Then go early and return early."
Quiana Sutton: "..."
She said nothing further, merely turning to leave.
Charles Foote sat nearby, watching their reactions, maintaining his pose without moving, his expression complex as he looked at Durrell Landon.
He was being a bit too obvious.
After Quiana Sutton left, Charles Foote finally spoke: "Durrell, are you determined not to divorce?"
"Of course."
"If not planning to divorce, then are you planning to go public?"
"When the time is right, I will go public."
Upon hearing an expected answer, Charles Foote found no relief in his expression.
"Durrell, if you insist on being with Quiana Sutton, have you considered what you'll face? The old man won't agree, and he might even cause trouble for Quiana Sutton, possibly… you'll lose everything from the Landon Family."
Among the descendants, the old man was most intolerant of Durrell Landon breaking free from his control.
No matter what kind of person Quiana Sutton was, she clearly didn't fit the standard chosen by the old man.
Before knowing Quiana Sutton, Durrell Landon was indifferent.
But after meeting Quiana Sutton, everything seemed to have shifted off track.
Durrell Landon's eyes held a trace of disdain,
"So what if I lose it all? I've never put the Landon Family's possessions in my sights…"
A hint of surprise flashed in Charles Foote's eyes, but the answer seemed inevitable.
Outstandingly talented, overwhelmingly arrogant, that's the true Durrell Landon!