Vernon was massive-too many people, too much going on! It was hard to tell whether Felicity might catch the eye of a certain “warrior.”
They said when something becomes huge, everything comes with it. The vastness of Vernon, in particular, meant that there could always be lurking shadows, people watching from the corners.
If she encountered a figure like Maverick Quinn, one of those elite, they would instantly sense her unusual background. Before they knew about it, they might have ignored her, but now, knowing the truth, Kayden Scott wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
Felicity’s heart warmed at his words, touched by his kindness. If he wasn’t fond of her, she couldn’t imagine why he’d go to such lengths.
She opened her mouth to thank him, but before she could speak, Kayden Scott interrupted her. “Alright, enough with the thanks! You’ve said it too many times today. It’s starting to annoy me,” he teased, his tone casual but sharp.
Felicity clicked her tongue, silenced, and decided not to say anything further.
The John Family.
Inside a lavishly decorated room, a young woman lay on a pink bed, the entire room bathed in various shades of pink. The walls, the bed, the floor, even the little teddy bear on the bed-all were in hues of pink. This was Daphne John’s personal room.
She was dressed in a pink pajama set, holding a soft pink panda bear plush toy in her hands. Daphne had been stuck indoors for the past few days, not attending school. There were two reasons: her father had recovered, so the family had been busy with ancestral rites, and her mind was still preoccupied with a certain event that happened recently.
The day kept replaying in her mind, and what frustrated her the most was that she had kissed him.
Her first kiss, stolen by that man!
And what made it worse was that it was she who had initiated the kiss. At the time, she was only thinking about saving her father, but there was a moment when she genuinely wished he would ask for more.
The thought made her feel crazy.
It wasn’t just that he took her first kiss-she had almost been ready to give herself to him, heart and soul.
At this thought, Daphne John’s mind immediately went back to that guy.
Despite wearing cheap clothes, the arrogance on his face was unlike anything most people had.
The air of superiority, the kind that seemed to sweep everything before it, was magnetic, impossible to resist.
There was no denying it-he was somewhat handsome. His indifference to everything around him gave him a cold, almost detached demeanor that only made him more intriguing.
But the most crucial part was his extraordinary medical skills, and his ability to fight.
Her mind replayed that day’s events once more. She had taken the initiative to kiss him. That kiss was so unique-what a rare thing to be able to kiss such an outstanding man! It was truly an experience worth reminiscing about.
Daphne covered her face with the plush toy, laughing into her pillow. This was the first time she felt such yearning for a man. She was wondering when she could see him again.
Love?
Had she fallen for him after that kiss?
Was this one of those TV-like love stories, those improbable encounters?
“Daphne, what are you doing? How could you be pining over a man like this?” she scolded herself.
Outside, countless admirers lined up to win her favor, yet here she was, dreaming of a man who wasn’t even aware of her feelings. If others knew, they would surely find her behavior ridiculous.
It was one thing for a man to fall in love with her-but for her to be the one quietly falling for someone else was unacceptable.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, the door to her room creaked open.
A fashionable woman stood at the entrance, wearing a black shirt and skirt, paired with black stockings and high heels. Her body was perfectly sculpted, and her presence was mesmerizing-she looked stunning, causing anyone to lose their thoughts.
“Mary!” Daphne’s eyes widened in surprise as she jumped up from the bed.
The woman at the door, Mary Mayfield, opened her arms with a smile, and Daphne immediately ran into her embrace.
“Mary, you should have told me you were coming! I could have picked you up at the airport!” Daphne exclaimed, still holding her.
Daphne and Mary Mayfield were first cousins, and Mary’s mother was Memphis John’s daughter. Growing up, Mary had spent a lot of time at the John family home, and the bond between the two was very close. They were the type of cousins who shared everything.
Mary Mayfield pushed Daphne away gently, crossing her arms with mock irritation. “Look at your phone. Do you see how many calls I made?”
Daphne’s eyes widened, and she immediately fished her phone out of her pocket. To her surprise, there were nine missed calls-all from Mary Mayfield.
She hadn’t heard any of them.
“Sorry, Mary, I must’ve accidentally turned the sound off,” Daphne apologized, embarrassed.
Mary Mayfield waved her hand dismissively. “Forget it, I can’t be bothered. Anyway, I heard from Grandpa that you’ve been holed up in your room these days. That’s not like you. Are you involved in some online relationship or something?”
With a sudden movement, she grabbed Daphne’s phone and began scrolling through her social media apps.
Daphne gasped, “What are you talking about? Me? Online dating? Please. You know who I am. I don’t need to do that. At school, guys practically line up to chase after me. Tall, handsome, fit, even some potential nerds and chubby guys. Why would I need an online boyfriend?”
What Daphne John said was the truth. The number of men chasing her at school could indeed form a long line. There were countless suitors who fawned over her, and all of it stemmed from her noble status.
Of course, the most important factor was her stunning beauty.
Mary Mayfield didn’t seem surprised at all by her response. Instead, she focused her gaze intensely on Daphne, eyes narrowing as if trying to see straight through her.
“Really?” Mary’s lips curled into a sly grin.
Daphne blushed. “Ugh, I can’t hide anything from you, you sly fox. Every time you can see right through me.”
Reluctantly, Daphne confessed, “I have fallen for a guy… and he even took my first kiss.” As she spoke, she absentmindedly wiped her lips, her mind immediately flashing back to the scene when she kissed Kayden Scott.
Her face turned crimson, feeling like it was on fire.