“Bianca Scott.” Dave interrupted her before she could explain, his gaze intense. “I need a straight answer. Is this really your final decision?”
Bianca felt a jolt of clarity, abruptly grounding her thoughts. Hadn’t she decided to set a firm boundary with him from the start?
This was her chance to be clear. Why was she hesitating?
Her fists clenched, and tears welled up in her eyes. She struggled to stay composed, meeting Dave’s gaze with a forced smile. “Yes, Mr. Evans, I’ve made my decision.”
Dave looked into Bianca’s eyes, now guarded, and asked her, “If you’re sure about your decision, why are you still wearing the necklace I gave you?”
Bianca was taken aback. She wriggled free from the grip of the two men and touched her neck. It was then she realized the red diamond necklace was still there.
With determination, she took off the necklace and placed it in Dave’s hand. “I promised to return this to you when you returned. From now on, we… we don’t owe each other anything.”
Dave heard her words and felt a surge of anger.
She couldn’t possibly make up for everything he had done for her without even realizing it. How could she think they were even?
Dave grabbed her wrist firmly and said, “Bianca, I need to talk to you in private. Come with me now.”
Bianca hesitated, looking at the people outside the door, feeling unsure.
“Don’t force her. She’s already said she’s not involved with you anymore. She’s not going anywhere with you,” Blake insisted, gripping Bianca’s arm and staring coldly at Dave. “If you don’t let her go, I’ll call the security.”
Dave gave a disdainful snort and pulled Bianca forcefully into his arms.
He held her shoulders tightly and glared coldly at Blake. “You have no right to interfere between us.”
“I’m involved now. What are you going to do about it? This is the last time I’m going to ask. Let her go,” Blake said firmly, standing his ground. The tension between them grew deeper.
Bianca saw Dave’s face darken as if he was ready to fight Blake. Knowing Dave’s strength, she doubted Blake could handle a confrontation with him.
With Dave clearly wanting to say something, this was a crucial moment to find closure.
Bianca slipped out of Dave’s grasp and faced Blake. “Blake, I need to talk to Mr. Evans. It’s time for me to go.”
Surprised, Blake looked at Bianca. “Are you sure about this, Bianca? If he tries anything…”
Bianca smiled reassuringly. “Blake, he’s not like that. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”
“But…”
Before Blake could say more, Dave whisked Bianca away without hesitation.
Among the stunned onlookers, Blake stood still, his hands clenched tightly.
“What a spectacle,” Zoey remarked with a grin, leaning against the door. “Even though things didn’t go as planned today, I’ve achieved my goal.”
Watching where Bianca and Dave had disappeared, Natalie gritted her teeth. She couldn’t help but wonder what made Bianca so special that these two handsome men were fighting over her.
Despite her own beauty and fame, Natalie couldn’t understand why this man seemed uninterested in her.
However, Bianca mentioned that the man’s last name was Evans. As a highly sought-after actress, Natalie often attended elite business events and was familiar with many influential families in Edenfield.
There was something intriguing about that Evans guy. Could he be linked to the Evans Group, leaders of the mysterious four families?
But Natalie quickly dismissed the idea as far-fetched. Members of the Evans Group were powerful and rarely interacted with ordinary people like Bianca. How could they have any connection to her?
Frustration gnawed at Natalie, and she vowed to get what she wanted, even if it meant taking it from others.
Meanwhile, Dave had led Bianca quite a distance away from the club.
Feeling Dave’s insistence, Bianca pulled away from him, stopped, and rubbed her wrist where his grip had left a red mark. “Mr. Evans, where are you taking me? It’s just us now. If you have something to say, say it.”
Dave turned around, and they stood on the nearly empty street, illuminated dimly by a lone streetlamp casting long shadows.
He looked deeply into Bianca’s eyes.
“Bianca, I need to know why. Why do you keep pushing me away? What did I do wrong?”
Bianca bit her lower lip thoughtfully.
It wasn’t anything Dave had done. He was just too perfect.
His excellence felt like a trap to her, as if she was already ensnared in quicksand. Escaping seemed futile and would only lead to more pain.
After experiencing betrayal before, Bianca had become like a snail, retreating into a tough shell. Inside, she was fragile, easily broken by the slightest touch.
The idea of him rejecting her was unbearable.
She kept her emotions hidden from Dave, wanting to maintain dignity for both of them. She didn’t want to expose her heartache or give him the power to hurt her further.
So, she chose to keep her distance before things could get worse.
She clasped her fingers tightly and looked up at him. “Mr. Evans, I’ve said it before. I… I don’t deserve you. You’ll find someone better. Like Miss King, for example. She’s rich, beautiful, and likes you. She brought you to see me today, right? Have you two already… Hmm.”
Before she could finish, Dave silenced her with a deep kiss.
Dave hugged Bianca tightly and kissed her deeply, leaving her breathless.
All the emotions Dave had kept inside came pouring out at that moment.
His usual calm and sharp demeanor completely melted away in front of her. It was like his whole soul was crying out.
He wasn’t ready to let her go.
Bianca was stunned by the kiss, but she gathered herself and pushed against his chest, gently pushing him away before things got out of hand.
“Dave Evans, stop!” Bianca exclaimed.
Dave chuckled wryly and said, “Before someone faces the consequences, they deserve to know what they did wrong. Today, you’re judging me. Don’t I deserve to hear why? You could say you’ve fallen for someone else, or you want someone wealthier, or maybe that I’m not good enough. But you can’t just shut me out without explaining. I need an answer today, or I won’t let you go.”
Bianca clenched her fists. She hadn’t expected Dave to be so persistent. She didn’t want to respond, but his insistence pushed her to her limit.
Fine, if he wanted a reason, she would give him one!
Gritting her teeth, Bianca looked up and said, “Alright, I’ll tell you the reason…”
“What a coincidence!” Just as Bianca was about to explain, a harsh voice interrupted her.