Ava Sterling’s steps momentarily halted, and her expression suddenly turned cold and fierce. Jace Kingsley finally caught up. Hearing Joyner’s words, a flash of murderous intent appeared in his eyes. He quickly came to Ava Sterling’s side, wrapping his arm around her: "Ava, let’s get out of here first." His voice was gentle, but if you listened closely, it was different from before, containing a deep, ruthless edge. Ava Sterling curled her lips into a smile, turned around to face Joyner, who looked so fragile and weak lying on the ground. At this moment, everyone around turned to look, witnessing this sudden scene unfold. Ava Sterling felt the gaze of those around her. She lifted her head, looking at the eyes falling on her, some displeased, some dismissive, some with interest, and some indifferent. The arc of her smile deepened. She removed Jace Kingsley’s hand from her, making him frown and instinctively call out: "Ava." His eyes were filled with worry and affection, brimming with concern. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on n0velfire.net Ava Sterling smiled at him: "Don’t worry." There was no sign of pain in her brows, nor any hint of weakness or fear. She was like a sharp blade facing adversity, completely unafraid. Jace Kingsley’s gaze slightly shifted, and he withdrew his hand. Ava Sterling turned her gaze, elegantly stepping towards Joyner, then squatted down. The slit of her cheongsam was high, reaching her thighs. As she squatted, her fair long legs bent, forming an exceptionally graceful arc. Her figure was excellent, with well-defined curves, her posture impeccable, even when squatting her back remained straight. Tonight, to complement her cheongsam, she had her long hair styled up, fixed in place with a Jade Hairpin. No stray hair fell, not even around her ears. Her perfectly black hair was neatly combed, without a trace of mess, making her appear like an elegant, well-educated lady from a grand family. Especially with her smile, she seemed like a magnolia under the moon, so beautiful people dared not blink. Joyner, looking at Ava Sterling’s smile, felt an instinctive fear in her eyes. Her throat uncontrollably swallowed: "You..." Ava Sterling raised a hand, pressed her forefinger to her lips, and softly hushed. Her eyebrows woven with a smile, her slender fingertip just like that pressed against her lip, her mouth corners lifting. At this moment, the surroundings turned silent. The eyes on Ava Sterling started to stir. Some people are born with the ability to captivate without realizing it, to steal your heart inadvertently. Ava Sterling had that talent. Joyner dared not speak, subdued by Ava Sterling’s aura. Ava Sterling, seeing her finally quiet, lifted the finger from her red lips to point at the people watching them, her voice soft and warm: "See, they’re all watching, you should put on a good show." "If you mess up the act, it won’t look good." Joyner’s face instantly turned red and white, awareness returning. Ava Sterling was mocking her, belittling her! Joyner’s nails dug into her palms, the false facade finally torn away, revealing the ugly face beneath. Jealousy, deep jealousy! "Look at your expression, your demeanor, why is your performance getting worse and worse?" "Joyner, you can’t go on ." "Come, let me teach you how to make people pity you." As Ava Sterling spoke, her fingers reached directly for Joyner’s chin, gripping it. She seemed gentle, but her strength was immense, twisting Joyner’s face instantly. Ava Sterling lifted her hand, making Joyner be forced to look up at her, eyes filled with shock and fear, coupled with that twisted face, ugly beyond compare. Ava Sterling frowned displeasedly: "Look at you, why do you still look so ugly?" "Come, I’ll tell you, you should cry now, be pitiful, and utterly fragile, so that people will feel sorry for you, sympathize, and then get angry at me, take a stand for you." "That’s your goal, understand?" Saying this, Ava Sterling’s brows slightly arched, her smile becoming even more gentle: "Come, cry a little." Her hand tightened, making Joyner scream hideously: "Ava Sterling, I will kill you!" How could she endure such humiliation! Joyner’s hands immediately lunged at Ava Sterling, like an enraged madwoman, heedless of everything. Ava Sterling, as soon as Joyner’s hands reached out, quickly released her and stood up, retreating. A series of actions executed seamlessly, so elegantly that it left others unable to react. Jace Kingsley quickly blocked in front of Ava Sterling, looking at Joyner, his gaze shrinking rapidly. Killing intent flashed and vanished. However, Ava Sterling’s release was so sudden, Joyner lost her support and, due to inertia, instantly fell to the ground. She couldn’t catch Ava Sterling at all, and instead, made herself fall. Upon falling, she saw countless gazes fall on her, filled with disdain and disgust. It shouldn’t be . By rights, they should be looking at Ava Sterling this way, not at her... Joyner was stunned for a while, forgetting to react. At this time, Ava Sterling’s smile disappeared. She walked out from behind Jace Kingsley, standing in front of Joyner, eyelashes slightly lowered, looking down at the person on the ground who was panicked, confused, and incredulous. "Joyner, let me tell you, I’m Ava Sterling and I’m not afraid of heaven or earth. Even if The King of Hell himself showed up, I’d fight him. You want to use what happened two years ago to bring me down." "Let me tell you, dream on." Joyner looked at Ava Sterling instantly, her eyes frighteningly red. And with those words, Ava Sterling turned around and walked away. As she turned, her gaze was piercing cold. It made one’s heart shudder. In that moment, she was like the red plum bloom on a cliff, blossoming in beauty, alone, proud, scornful of the world. Everyone watched her, hearts shaken. Especially the people standing on the deck. Through layers of light and shadow, he watched the person standing under the vast halo of light. Arrogant and cold brows, clear and glimmering with cold light, full of thorns, yet also full of light. Snow white, cold and dazzling, yet eternally spotless and unblemished. This was her, Ava Sterling. Ava Sterling headed out, but after a few steps she stopped. Dressed in full black, standing tall on the deck. Behind him was a terrifying black night, without an edge, without a hint of light. The sea wind blew, the waves surged, yet he stood unmovingly. He stood there, though backed by the night, as if the night had enveloped him entirely, but in her eyes, it was he who ruled the night. He was the king of the dark night, silently controlling everything. Ava Sterling’s heart thudded, uncontrollably pounding, the flame in her heart instantly flaring, extinguishing the coldness from her body. Was he outside, waiting for her? Without thinking much, Ava Sterling directly walked toward the man. Joyner watched the person leaving, nails deeply digging into her flesh, eyes red as if about to bleed. Why could Ava Sterling so easily crush her underfoot without mercy, while Ava Sterling remained forever high and unscathed, why! Clearly, Ava Sterling was just a wild weed! A weed that could be easily crushed! How could she do this to her? She can’t, she doesn’t deserve it! She wants to kill her, she must kill her today! In a fit of destroyed sanity, Joyner lunged at Ava Sterling. And at that moment, smack!