Free Web NovelChapter 31: Chapter 31: Georgia, Be Good and Listen to Me
The text message was no different than usual. Perhaps it was her guilty conscience, but his tone seemed cold to her.
Utterly frantic, Georgia Thorne finally found Zane Lennox.
More accurately, he was the one who called her, saying he was waiting downstairs from her dorm.
The moment she saw the text, Georgia Thorne shot downstairs like a gust of wind.
Before she could even catch her breath, she saw Zane Lennox approaching her, walking at a leisurely pace in a clean white shirt.
"It’s only been three days. Are you that eager to see me?" A charming smile spread across Zane Lennox’s face as he reached a hand toward Georgia Thorne.
Georgia Thorne’s expression soured. "Zane Lennox, you...!"
"If you don’t want everyone to keep staring, you’d better not provoke me," Zane Lennox suddenly whispered, leaning close to her ear.
Just as he said, his appearance had drawn the gazes of everyone around them.
Georgia Thorne glared at him, but he simply smiled, grabbed her hand against her will, and pulled her away.
Only when they were out of sight did Georgia Thorne wrench her hand free. "I’ve done nothing to you! Why won’t you just leave me alone?"
Her furious question didn’t seem to anger Zane Lennox at all.
The smile on his handsome face only deepened. "Georgia Thorne, your parents invited me over to your house today. Don’t you think it would be better if you came with me?"
Georgia Thorne’s eyes narrowed. She took a deep breath. "What did you just say?"
"Georgia, be a good girl and do as I say. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what sort of nonsense might slip out in front of your parents tonight."
’There’s no way Zane Lennox likes me. From the moment he first saw me, he thought I was a woman with ulterior motives.’
’With such a bad first impression, how could he possibly fall for me after just a few meetings?’
’I just can’t figure out what he’s trying to do!’
Zane Lennox was using what he had on her to threaten her, forcing her to go back to the Thorne family home with him.
’What a despicable bastard.’ Fuming, Georgia Thorne reluctantly got into his car.
The drive was silent. Georgia Thorne kept her head turned, staring out the window the entire time.
When the car stopped in front of the Thorne family home, Georgia reached for the door handle, only to find the doors were still locked.
She whipped her head around to hear Zane Lennox’s chilly voice. "Finally decided to look at me, have you?"
Georgia Thorne gritted her teeth. ’He did that on purpose.’
"Zane Lennox, do you really find me that disgusting?"
’Does he think it’s fun to toy with me like this?’
At that moment, Georgia Thorne truly hated Zane Lennox with every fiber of her being.
Zane Lennox froze for a second. ’Disgusted with Georgia Thorne?’
’He couldn’t quite describe his feelings for her. All he knew was that ever since he found out about the other man, he’d been filled with a rage that never subsided.’
He unlocked the doors, and Georgia Thorne scrambled out of the car, unable to wait another second.
「The Thorne Residence」
Georgia changed her shoes, saw Jared Thorne and Hayley Sullivan, and mumbled a greeting.
The smile on Hayley Sullivan’s face vanished the moment she saw Georgia.
She was just about to question her when she saw a man appear from behind her.
It was Zane Lennox.
Her expression changed in an instant. Hayley Sullivan was suddenly all smiles. "Georgia, you silly girl! Why didn’t you tell your father and me you were bringing your boyfriend home?"
Georgia’s brow furrowed. She shot a look at Zane Lennox. ’Didn’t he say her parents had invited him?’
Zane smiled faintly, his tone toward Hayley Sullivan perfectly pleasant. "Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. Thorne, it’s been a while."
"Come in, come in! What are you doing just standing there? Have a seat!" Jared Thorne immediately stood up. ’He hadn’t expected such a wonderful surprise today.’
Watching Hayley Sullivan fawn all over Zane Lennox, Georgia immediately understood. ’I’ve been tricked!’
’This whole thing about an invitation was a complete lie!’
She clenched her fists, a vein throbbing on her forehead. The urge to punch someone was becoming overwhelming.
But when Hayley Sullivan glanced back at her, the fight went out of her instantly.
"Georgia, where are your manners? Come over here and pour some tea for Zane!"
Georgia mumbled an acknowledgment, brewed a pot of tea, and set it on the coffee table.
Her eyes met Zane Lennox’s, which were brimming with amusement. She ground out the words through gritted teeth, "Enjoy your tea."
’The water was scalding hot. I hope he burns his mouth until it’s raw!’
Zane just smiled. "Georgia, darling, I should be the one pampering you. How could I let you do something like pour tea?"
Zane wasn’t a fool; he could see the murderous look in Georgia’s eyes. He pulled her down by the wrist to sit beside him and picked up the cup she had just poured. "You drink it. I’m not thirsty."
"No, thank you," she refused politely, forcing a smile for her mother’s sake.
"Georgia, Zane is being so good to you. How can you be so ungrateful?" Hayley Sullivan shot her a pointed look.
Fuming, Georgia reluctantly took the cup, but the hot tea scalded her. The cup slipped from her grasp and fell, splashing scalding water all over Zane’s hand.
Georgia had a first-aid kit in her room, so she led him inside. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
Unused to having a man in her room, Georgia grabbed the kit and told him to sit in a chair.
"Aren’t you going to treat it for me?" Zane Lennox glanced at the first-aid kit on the desk, then lifted his gaze to her. "I did get hurt because of you, after all."
Georgia pressed her lips together, reluctantly walked over, and opened the kit.
They had run it under cold water immediately, but now it needed some burn cream to prevent blistering.
Zane’s fingers were long, like a basketball player’s, but now his hand was red from the scalding water.
’To be honest, she really hadn’t expected him to try and shield her.’
She dabbed the cool ointment bit by bit onto his long fingers and the back of his hand.
Her fine brows furrowed in concentration. She applied the cream with the lightest of touches, afraid of hurting him.
Zane kept his head down, watching her focused expression as she tended to his hand.
Under the warm light of the lamp, he suddenly found her look of intense concentration quite pleasing.
The moment she finished, however, her expression reverted to one of disgust.
She packed up the kit. "You should go downstairs now."
Zane kicked the cabinet to his right. The lock on it rattled against the metal, making a crisp sound.
"What’s in here? Important enough to lock?"
Georgia’s heart leaped into her throat. She rushed over. "It’s none of your business!"
’Inside were her deepest secrets.’
Panicked, she urged Zane to go back downstairs.
「Downstairs」
She heard Amanda Thorne’s voice. ’What is going on today?’
Sure enough, when Georgia saw Elliot Sheridan sitting on the sofa, she froze as if she’d been struck by lightning, unable to move from her spot on the stairs.
Zane, who was right behind her, paused and teased, "What’s wrong? It’s just a few more steps. Do you need me to carry you down?"
Zane casually took Georgia’s hand and led her toward the living room.
Georgia didn’t even register how she got to the living room; her legs weren’t listening to her anymore.
By the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting across from Elliot Sheridan.
Her eyes were wide, seeing only him.
A single thought echoed in her mind: ’I’m so screwed.’
No one else in the room knew about the relationship between Georgia and Elliot.
Georgia hadn’t known Elliot would be here today. If she had, she never would have come home.
With the true guest of honor now present, they all began to eat dinner.
Georgia sat next to Zane, directly across from Elliot.
While Jared Thorne doted on Elliot, he also reminded Georgia to take care of Zane. "Georgia, don’t neglect your boyfriend!"
Georgia looked up, about to deny that Zane was her boyfriend.
But under the table, Zane nudged her leg with his foot, a silent reminder of his earlier threat.
’What was she supposed to say? That Elliot is the other man she’s been seeing?’
’If she said that, tonight’s dinner would be anything but peaceful.’
Georgia forced a laugh and told Zane to eat more.
Zane seemed to relish it. "You’re so thoughtful, Georgia."
Georgia kept her head down, sneaking glances at Elliot out of the corner of her eye.
Her eyes met his faint, almost imperceptible gaze, and she saw the cold fury brewing in their dark depths.
