At the sound, everyone looked up. Not far away, Evan York was approaching with deliberate steps. He wore a dark blue suit, his features refined and chiseled, and he exuded an air of noble authority. He walked over, extended a hand, and carefully helped the fallen woman to her feet. "Are you alright?" Once Chloe Preston was steady, she nodded. "Yes." Zoe Chadwick paused for a second before speaking. "Y-Young Master Yates?" Evan York gave a soft chuckle and looked up at her, his voice as cold as if it were laced with poison. "Eldest Miss Chadwick, you’re quite audacious. Daring to strike someone on my turf?" The Chadwick Family was recognized as a top-tier powerhouse with countless enterprises, so Zoe Chadwick usually had the capital to be arrogant. Compared to the influence and wealth of the Yates Family, however, she was out of her league. Zoe quickly tried to explain herself. "Young Master Yates, this bitch bumped into me first! She even ruined my gown!" "Bitch? Then what does that make you?" A cold laugh echoed from nearby. Holding a wine glass, Connor Sutton strolled over with casual grace. His gaze was languid as he protectively positioned himself in front of Chloe Preston. Zoe was taken aback. "P-President Sutton?" Everyone in their circle knew that Connor Sutton was a ruthless man not to be trifled with. In business, he was utterly unscrupulous, and his treacherous, suspicious nature had earned him a reputation as a notorious villain. Connor glanced at the red mark on Chloe’s face, then turned to Zoe with a chilling smile. "Miss Chadwick, you’ve got some nerve. Daring to hit my friend is the same as slapping me in the face." "N-No..." Just as Zoe started to explain, Ivy Lane rushed over, having heard the commotion. She grabbed Chloe Preston’s arm and asked, "Chloe, what happened?" Chloe shook her head. "I’m fine." But Ivy immediately noticed the red mark on her friend’s face, and her own eyes reddened. "You were hit?" She lifted her head, glaring at Zoe. "Was it you? Did you hit my Chloe?" Zoe sized her up from head to toe. "So what if I did?" The next second, a loud slap landed squarely on Zoe’s face with considerable force. Zoe felt a fiery sting and clapped a hand to her face, her eyes blazing with anger. "Hey! Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the right to hit me!" She knew every prominent young lady in Kryton, but she had never seen this woman before. She was clearly a nobody from an insignificant family. "She is my companion." Leo Sterling walked over, his presence radiating a cold aura. He wrapped an arm around Ivy Lane’s waist, his gaze frigidly indifferent. "My people have the right to hit whomever they please." Ivy trembled, a faint blush rising on her cheeks as she felt the scorching heat of his large hand on her waist. Zoe froze. In the next moment, the entire area fell deathly silent as a murderous chill swept through the air. The reason was simple: everyone had noticed the other man standing behind Leo Sterling. Someone murmured, "You’ve got to be kidding me. Eldest Miss Chadwick just hit someone, and she actually managed to rouse this titan?" "That magnate loves his peace and quiet and always hates meddling. Why is he making an exception to join the spectacle today?" Zoe noticed him too, and her heart began to pound. "Mr. Xavier..." Donovan Xavier lifted his gaze. He stood tall and imposing, his cold eyes sweeping over the surroundings in silence. Then, his eyes landed on Chloe Preston, and he walked toward her without the slightest hesitation. When Chloe saw it was him, her own eyes widened slightly. Donovan Xavier walked up to her and leaned down. Visibly suppressing his emotions, he gently touched the blood at the corner of her lip. "Does it hurt?" "Tell me the truth," Donovan’s voice grew a degree colder. Chloe pressed her lips together. "A little." Donovan said nothing more. He turned, his dark eyes sharp and frosty as they locked onto Zoe’s. Everyone held their breath. This was a man no one in all of Kryton dared to provoke—a top player in both politics and business, known for his ruthless methods, profound scheming, and influence in both legitimate and underworld circles. In the few days since he had returned to take over the Xavier Group, he had already turned the entire business world upside down. Such a fierce and heartless man, yet he was also astonishingly handsome. A true prodigy, his mere presence was enough to capture everyone’s attention. He possessed a natural and unrivaled nobility. Countless women in Kryton were utterly smitten with him. They would rack their brains, desperate for a chance to be his, even for a single night. Zoe was no exception. Noticing his persistent gaze on her, her cheeks flushed with a girlish coyness. The next moment, Donovan Xavier strode toward her. His gaze was half-lidded, his posture commanding, radiating an effortless authority. "Bold of you. How dare you hit her? Hmm?" His tone was sharp and glacial. Frightened, Zoe began to tremble and could only stammer, "I... I..." Donovan’s lips curled in a semblance of a smile, but his eyes were like ice. "Are you afraid of me?" Donovan’s aura became dark and oppressive. He leaned in close, sneering, "If you’re so afraid of me, then how did you dare to touch my woman?" Zoe’s eyes widened in shock, and she stumbled back a step. "W-What?" Did I hear that right? That woman... is his! Donovan regarded her coolly, his gaze sinister and his tone heavy with an unspoken threat. "Do you know the consequences for touching what’s mine?" Trembling, Zoe swallowed hard. Donovan said, "No need to be nervous. I don’t make a habit of hitting women." "By the way, what was your father’s name again?" Thoroughly intimidated by his overpowering presence, Zoe stammered, "M-Morgan Chadwick." Donovan nodded and gave a chilling smile. "I’ll remember this. Your father really raised a wonderful daughter." "As for the mess you’ve made, your father can be the one to clean it up!" After casually tossing out that sentence, he turned, swept Chloe Preston into his arms bridal style, and left. The crowd erupted into discussion. "Damn, what’s that woman’s background? She got Mr. Xavier, President Sutton, and Young Master Yates to all back her up at once!" "That’s Donovan Xavier we’re talking about! The man has boundless power. Tsk, it looks like the Chadwick family’s glory days are over!" "Looks like we’d better stay far away from that woman from now on. Who would be suicidal enough to mess with Master Xavier’s people!" 「Later, a saying began to circulate throughout Kryton: if you offended Donovan Xavier, you might be saved by pleading with Chloe Preston. But if you offended Chloe Preston, you were facing certain doom.」 Of course, that was a story for another time. Back in the present, Donovan placed Chloe on a sofa beside him and carefully reached out to examine the wound on her lip. Seeing how tense he was, Chloe smiled. "It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt that much." Donovan frowned and gently flicked her on the forehead. "This is what happens when you wander off alone. You get yourself hurt." Chloe pouted. Just then, Evan York walked over and placed a first-aid kit on the table. Without a word, he silently turned and left. Donovan glanced at the kit before opening it. Noticing the people coming and going in the banquet hall, Chloe pursed her lips. "I... I can do it myself. So many people are watching." Donovan raised an eyebrow. "It’s not like we’re doing anything scandalous. Come here. Sit on my lap." Chloe hesitated, not moving for a long moment. The source of this content ɪs Nove1Fire.net Donovan had no patience for her coyness. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace, settling her onto his lap. Chloe’s entire body went rigid. Acting perfectly natural, Donovan took the ointment, dipped a cotton swab in it, and began to gently treat her wound. Chloe’s heart began to race, and her face flushed red once more. Noticing her reaction, Donovan leaned close to her ear and deliberately lowered his voice to a whisper. "Thinking naughty thoughts, hmm?"