The Rise of a Master: It Starts With Rejection

While Natalie furrowed her brows in thought, Felix's heart sank. The surname "Earnhart" was far too distinctive for him not to make a connection. Moreover, if Atlas was pestering Natalie, it meant they were likely of similar age.

Felix had every reason to suspect it was the same guy who had come looking for him in the capital last time.

"Never mind. That guy is relentless-it's impossible to avoid him anyway," Natalie said firmly.

The messenger nodded and vanished.

Natalie turned back to Felix, only to be startled by the look on his face.

Felix was openly staring at her with a roguish gleam in his eyes, the kind of gaze

that made her feel as though she weren't wearing any clothes.

"Are you deliberately getting close to me, miss? Do you have a little crush on me?" he asked.

For a moment, Natalie felt dazed. It was as if she were suddenly speaking to a completely different person.

"You've got it all wrong," she replied. "I was just asking a casual question."noveldrama

However, Felix's gaze grew even more brazen. He even reached out toward her hand, which she quickly dodged.

"Come on. We're both adults. Let's drop the pretense. If you really want answers, why don't we take it to the bedroom and have a... thorough discussion?"

"You-"

That crossed the line. Natalie was furious, her hand frozen midair, trembling with the urge to slap him. "You shameless scoundrel!"

She couldn't wrap her head around it. How could this man be so vulgar? If she weren't still trying to figure out his relationship with Delilah, that slap would've landed long ago.

In all of Martial City, who would dare speak to her like that? After all, she was one of the city's Top Ten Menaces. Felix was undoubtedly the first.

Watching her storm off, Felix let out a sigh of relief. It couldn't be helped. That was the only way to quickly make her leave. If she stuck around and brought Atlas into the mix,` there'd be no peace for him moving forward.

Though he wasn't sure who would win if they clashed again, there was no denying the power of the Maximus family. Right now, Felix had no way of contending with them.

Once his business at Harmony Clinic was finished, Felix called Delilah. "Madam Goddard, could I borrow a private room to study the medical texts?"

Delilah immediately sensed something was off. Felix should've been heading back to his own clinic by now.

"Alright. Go find Nellie. She'll make the arrangements."

Hiding out in a secure room at Harmony Clinic was the safest option until Atlas left. Until then, the danger wasn't entirely gone.

That evening, in a villa in North City, Natalie was venting her frustrations to Bern, who had just returned. "Please don't make me talk to Felix anymore, Grandpa!"

Bern frowned. "What happened? That kid clearly has a close connection with Delilah. If you don't get the information, who will?"

Getting anything out of Delilah was impossible. He'd spent an entire drinking session with her today and learned nothing. All he could tell was that she was in an exceptionally good mood, likely the best in years. That only made the situation even more suspicious.

"That guy is a complete pervert! His gaze is lewd, and his words are disgusting. don't want to see him again, let alone a second time. Dealing with Atlas alone is already

driving me insane, and now, you're adding Felix into the mix? Spare me, please, Grandpa!"

Bern's face darkened. "Nonsense! How many years has it been since we've seen Delilah like this? I have to figure this out.

"Here's the plan. The Maximus family's patriarch recently asked me to refine a pill for him, and I was planning to deliver it once I left North City. Now that Atlas is here, why not take advantage of the situation?"

Hearing that, Natalie felt slightly better. As unbearable as Felix was, Atlas was even more detestable.

"Fine. I'll find another chance to talk to Felix."