Chapter 19
The atmosphere turned tense instantly. Even Richard could sense how terrifying Dylan had become.
Outside, Audrey remained calm, showing no fear of Dylan, acting as if he was nothing to her.
Simon got out of the car, and Audrey shifted her gaze from Dylan to check if Simon was hurt. “Are you okay?” she asked, concerned. Simon was here to help her, and if he got hurt, she’d feel guilty.
“I’m fine, Simon replied, waving it off. He had reacted quickly when Dylan’s car sped toward him, minimizing the damage. Though the crash seemed deliberate, Richard had reduced speed at the last moment. Simon was surprised to see that the behind this was none other than Dylan Clifford.
person
But Simon quickly figured out what was going on, so he shot a strange look at Audrey. He had heard about Dylan and Audrey’s situation before, though not in great detail. Still, he never imagined someone like Dylan would actually get jealous. He knew Dylan must be jealous because he could see possessiveness in his eyes.
Dylan stepped out of his car. His usual aloof demeanor now radiated anger, making him even more intimidating. His cold eyes glanced over Simon as he coldly said, “Simon, why didn’t you tell me you were in Northville? Sorry about my subordinate. He mistook the brake for the accelerator. If I’d known it was you, I would’ve invited you to join Audrey and me for dinner. I’ll cover your car repairs.”
Richard, taking the blame, bit back his explanation. As an experienced driver, he’d never mix up the brake and the accelerator.
Dylan didn’t care about his subordinate’s thoughts. He kept his gaze on Simon, his possessive tone causing Audrey to frown slightly..
Simon gave Audrey a knowing look, then turned to Dylan and said, “Mr. Clifford, you’re always so busy. I wouldn’t want to bother you. The car repair costs aren’t much. I’ve got it covered. Besides, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to join Audrey and me for dinner, would it?” Hearing this, Dylan’s face darkened even more..
Simon, pretending not to notice, smiled at Audrey and said warmly, “It’s late. Brian needs to sleep. You and Brian should go up.”
Audrey gave Simon a warning look, signaling him not to say anything else. She understood Simon’s intent to provoke Dylan but didn’t find it necessary: “It’s late. You should go. Drive safely,” she urged, fearing Simon might say more.
In Dylan’s eyes, this looked like concern and affection for Simon from Audrey. It fueled his anger, making him want to take Audrey away immediately.
Seeing Dylan’s reaction, Simon felt amused. He realized that even Dylan would lose control to jealousy. Clearly, the crash wasn’t an accident but a spur–of–the–moment act by Dylan. Jealous men were unpredictable!
Simon knew staying longer would annoy Audrey. He sighed and said, “Alright, I’m leaving.” He then affectionately ruffled Audrey’s hair, carning a warning glare from her.
Simon coughed awkwardly and shifted his hand to Brian’s head, ruffling his hair gently. “Brian, say goodbye to Daddy. I’ll visit you again soon.”
Brian, understanding the act, sweetly responded, “Bye, Daddy! I’ll miss you!” He gave Simon a kiss on the cheek.
Feeling Dylan’s jealousy, Simon felt satisfied. He got into his car and drove off with a
smile.
With Simon gone, Audrey didn’t want to linger. She turned to leave with Brian.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Dylan, his lips pressed into a thin line, grabbed Audrey’s wrist and demanded, “What’s your relationship with him?” Jealousy made him even scarier, his eyes fixed coldly on Audrey.
Audrey laughed coldly. “What’s it to you?” Her meaning was clear: Dylan had no right to know her relationship with Simon.
“I forbid you from dating him!” Dylan, consumed by jealousy and anger, couldn’t stand the thought of Audrey with Simon.
“Who I date is none of your business. Let go!” Audrey replied icily.
“Don’t push me, Audrey,” Dylan warned.
Seeing Dylan about to overstep, Brian stepped in front of Audrey, shouting, “Let go of Audrey, you bad guy!” Brian’s face, so much like Audrey’s younger self, made Dylan hesitate, loosening his grip slightly.
Audrey pulled Brian back and said, “Don’t ever do this again.” She then turned and left with Brian.
Dylan stood there, watching them go, his face dark under the dim lights. His tall figure looked lonely and forlorn.
Dylan had always thought of himself as rational and cold. If not, he wouldn’t have sent Audrey to prison seven years ago after she nearly killed his mother. But tonight, seeing Simon and Audrey together, his calm and rationality shattered. For the first time, he acted out of sheer jealousy, losing his composure completely. Dylan let out a self- mocking laugh.