CHAPTER 14
1255 Words
After hearing Charles’s voice, she asked him to let Ethan know she will not be coming for tutorials, she hanged up the phone, and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
Enchanted Color Bar.
Thrown to the floor, clutching his stomach and groaning in pain, rolling around helplessly.
On the sofa in front of him sat a middle-aged man in his forties, with a round face and a thick gold chain around his neck. He was lounging back with his legs crossed, cursing loudly, "Damn it! Whose woman do you think you can mess with?! If I don’t chop off your little thing today, I’m not Hector!"
As Maya walked in, she immediately heard the foul language and felt disgusted.
Her stomach turned even more when she saw Hector on the sofa, his shiny face and bulging belly nearly bursting out of his shirt.
Davina, seeing her brother in such a pitiful state, felt her legs go weak. If it weren't for Maya supporting her, she would have likely collapsed to the floor. Her voice trembled as she asked, "What will it take for you to let my brother go?"
Hector laughed, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. "I already told you, my woman was keeping your brother as a sugar baby behind my back. If I’m wearing a green hat, he can’t have it easy either. Boys, let’s get to work!"
The men nearby were already growing impatient. Upon hearing the commotion, they cracked their knuckles and approached the struggling Lopez.
Davina watched in fear, trembling all over. Her eyes darted around, noticing that everyone was just watching the spectacle, with no intention of stepping in to help. “If I kneel, will you let my brother go?” she pleaded.
"You haven't even knelt yet. How can I know if I’ll let your brother go?" Hector took a puff of his cigarette, exhaling a cloud of white smoke.
Grinding her teeth and clenching her fists, Davina was about to drop to her knees when Maya stepped forward, grabbing her arm.
She looked directly at Hector and said firmly, “Even if she kneels, you wouldn’t let her brother go. Why make things harder for an innocent woman?”
Hector raised an eyebrow. “It’s a voluntary game; am I forcing her?”
“I see you as a man of significance. This petty matter isn’t worth your time…” Maya spoke calmly and steadily. “Let’s be honest, a woman who is supported by one man while seeking out others isn’t good. Even without Lopez, she would find another man to support her. Lopez is merely a scapegoat. Isn’t it a bit trivial for Mr. Significant to get so worked up over someone like her?”
Hector burst into laughter, his anger dissipating a bit as curiosity took over. "What's your name?"
Maya smirked, fully aware of what was on his mind. "How could plain porridge and simple dishes catch Mr. Hector’s eye?"
Hector's interest only grew stronger. "Plain porridge and simple dishes can be refreshing sometimes, you know."
"Freshness is fleeting; plain food lacks flavor. What appetite can one have for that?" Maya skillfully steered the conversation. "Mr. Significant, you seem like a generous person. Besides, you’ve already taught Lopez a lesson. Can you let him go?"
"Since you’ve put it that way, I have no objections. Here’s the deal: you drink five cups with me, and I’ll let the kid go!" Hector proposed.
Maya locked eyes with him. "Mr. Significant, you seem like an honest man, so I’ll accept your challenge."
At her words, Davina nervously grabbed her hand.
Shaking her head, Maya took the glass Hector offered, tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and downed it in one go.
She continued this for five cups without opening her eyes, feeling the burn in her throat like fire, her head spinning and her legs feeling light as a feather.
Hector indeed kept his word and released Lopez. Turning his attention to Maya, he wore a somewhat sinister smile. "I wasn't finished with what I was saying earlier. After you drink five glasses, if you let me have a taste of you, I'll let you go. Otherwise, you might have saved Lopez, but you won't save yourself.”
Maya shook her head, fighting to stay alert as she gritted her teeth. "You're shameless!"
"And what if I am?" Taking a step closer, Hector
grabbed her chin, examining her. "With those red lips and white teeth, you really are quite the pretty dish."
"Let go of me!" She twisted her body, struggling with all her might, but a woman's strength was no match for a man's.
Davina rushed forward to help, but Hector's men stopped her, preventing her from getting any closer.
Hector yanked Maya into his embrace and started to move forward forcefully.
But just as they took a couple of steps, a lazy yet casual voice floated over. "Miss Cooper, did you take a leave of absence from your tutoring job just to drink with a man?" The sudden voice caught everyone off guard, and they all turned to look.
Hector paused, turning around. Upon seeing the newcomer, he immediately released Maya and stepped forward.
“Mr. Darwin, what brings you here today?"
"Today seems to be just the right time..." Charles didn't look at him, his gaze fixed on Maya’s back as he remarked lightly, "It seems quite lively here."
"Someone didn't understand the rules, so I had to teach them a lesson. I hope it didn't interrupt Mr. Darwin’s enjoyment?" Hector flattered, adding, "I'll cover all the expenses for Mr. Darwin later.”
Whether in business or politics, who wouldn't give Charles Darwin a bit of face?
“Hudson rarely treats others, so let him have his turn..." His voice remained indifferent, but his narrow eyes lifted slightly.
“Miss Cooper, do you plan to stay here and drink, or will you head back to class?"
Maya swayed slightly on the stairs, but when she spotted that tall, familiar figure, her eyes instantly lit up.
Hearing his words, she quickly nodded, her speech a bit unclear but her eagerness unmistakable: "Class..."
How could she let such a golden opportunity slip away?
Hector felt a pang of reluctance in his heart, but his expression remained polite. "Mr. Darwin, I still have some matters to discuss with Miss..."
"Something very important?" Charles’s eyes swept over Hector, interrupting him, his voice low and measured.
Hector found it hard to grasp the meaning behind his words. After a moment of thought, he cautiously replied, "Well, it's not really that important."
"Since it's not, I'll just take her away," Charles said casually, as if he had just made a simple decision. Then, as if a thought crossed his mind, he added nonchalantly, "The final exams are coming up in a couple of days..."
Hector was taken aback again, unsure of how this topic was related to him. It was said that Charles’s thoughts were hard to decipher, and this was no exception.
"Ethan won't have Miss Cooper's guidance; he might not even get into college, Hector. Do you understand?"
The young master of the Darwin family certainly had no worries about getting into college.
Clearly, Charles’s focus wasn't on the latter part of his statement but rather on the woman with the last name Cooper.
Was there some sort of connection between them? If she were a woman Charles had been with, then it must have been quite an experience.
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