Their Punching Bag Became The Storm novel Chapter 104

Chapter 104 Why Are You So Cruel?

Chase and Emily looked really upset.

But that didn’t stop the reporters, who were getting more and more worked up.

Even the reporters who weren’t sent by Ryan could smell a headline in the air.

When it came to profit, the so–called Anderson family wasn’t all that impressive after all.

Since Chase and Emily kept quiet, the reporters jumped right in with their questions.

“Miss Anderson, you always made it look like Miss Harrington was picking on you. Is it because you pushed her down the hill that now she’s out for revenge?”

“Miss Anderson, why did you do it? Is there some bad blood between you and Miss Harrington?”

“Miss Anderson, what’s the real story between you and Miss Harrington? You’re the heiress of the Anderson Group. Why would you be so cruel to hurt someone like Whitney?”

“Miss Anderson, care to explain?”

“Miss Anderson… Miss Anderson…”

Chase and Emily wanted to leave.

But the reporters had completely blocked every possible exit.

They couldn’t pull up with a special license plate like Ryan and make a cool exit with everyone watching.

The other guests, seeing what was happening, were worried the reporters would turn on them next.

They’d ask questions like, “What do you think about all this?” or “Did Emily and Whitney have a lot of drama during filming?” or “What’s Emily really like when the cameras aren’t rolling?”

They couldn’t answer any of that.

No matter what they said, they’d end up looking bad.

So they all took the chance to slip away as fast as they could.

Emily watched as a sea of people surged forward, a barrage of camera flashes lighting up the scene while reporters fired off one sharp question after another.

For a moment, she thought she saw “that person” hiding among the reporters.

That person was shrouded in a black cloak, only their eyes visible; those eyes locked onto her, piercing through the crowd.

Those eyes were cold and venomous like a serpent, coiling around her neck and draining every bit of air from her surroundings,

With a sudden whoosh, all the sounds around her faded.

The world fell silent.

Her vision went black.

In that split second before she lost consciousness, only two words flashed through her mind: ‘It’s over.’

‘I’m finished, she thought.

*****

Inside the car, Whitney watched everything happening at the scene through her phone.

She watched as Emily passed out in Chase’s arms, but the reporters kept swarming around her, accusing her of pretending to faint to dodge their questions.

Chase was furious, throwing out threats, but the reporters didn’t back off at all.

It wasn’t until the ambulance arrived that the reporters finally cleared a path.

Once the ambulance left with Chase and Emily, the reporters immediately gave chase.

*****

On every media platform, celebrity hosts were broadcasting live, vowing to investigate every move Emily made during the shoot and bring the real story to the public.

Questions about the feud between Emily and Whitney dominated the trending topics online.

Whitney turned her head to glance at the man sitting next to her.

Chapter 104 Why Are You So Cruel?

He leaned back comfortably against the soft seat, his head resting slightly toward the window, showing off a long, flawless neck.

At some point, the top two buttons of his shirt, which had once been fastened all the way up, had come undone, revealing his collarbone, both refined and sexy.

Outside the window, shifting patterns of light and shadow danced.

It gave his aloof, almost otherworldly face an extra hint of mystery.

It made his smooth, ivory–white neck and refined collarbone look so irresistible that Whitney felt an urge to lean in and bite him, to claim that flawless skin as her own.

He was a devilishly seductive man with the ultimate temptation.

Whitney shamelessly swallowed hard, unable to control herself.

In the hush of the car, Whitney’s swallow sounded embarrassingly loud.

Ryan cast her a sidelong glance.

His expression was lazy and calm, but the moment his eyes met hers, a subtle warmth seemed to ripple out, as if endless/ affection was quietly spreading.

It felt like he was weaving a net around her, drawing her in, making her want to lose herself in him.

Whitney felt her cheeks flush, and that wild, unfamiliar emotion started to bloom in her chest again.

She cleared her throat, pretending to stay calm as she showed him her phone. “Was this your doing?”

She’d been watching the live stream with the speaker on, so Ryan heard it all.

He gave a nonchalant “Mm” and then said, “Just stating the facts.”

Whitney said, “Oh,” and then put her phone away. “Thanks.”

“No need to thank me,” Ryan replied, and his lips, soft and shimmering like water, curled into a smile that bloomed suddenly, catching Whitney off guard.

It was as breathtaking as a garden bursting into full bloom.

Even the golden sunlight streaming through the window couldn’t hold a candle to his brilliance.

He leaned in, his face coming so close that it filled Whitney’s eyes, every detail magnified before her.

Whitney was completely stunned by his beauty, her mind blank for a moment.

She wasn’t the type to obsess over looks. After all, she’d spent years surrounded by her fellow students, who were all absurdly attractive.

They were so good–looking that it was like every kind of handsome you could imagine had gathered in one place, out of this world, really.

She’d gotten so used to it that nothing fazed her anymore.

But when it came to Ryan, she couldn’t control herself; his looks were on a whole different level, and she was totally captivated.

Honestly, his face hit her like a truck, so stunning that it was almost overwhelming.

Whitney blinked, a little dazed by his looks.

Her thick, raven–black lashes fluttered nervously, like butterfly wings.

Seeing her stunned and dazzled, Ryan was clearly amused; his eyes lit up with a deeper smile, and his features softened, growing more gentle.

He slowly leaned in, bringing his lips close to Whitney’s ear.

His deep, velvety voice brushed against her ear like a feather as he whispered, “You’re falling for it hook, line, and sinker, willingly.”

Whitney didn’t know what to say.

She lifted her hand and pressed it right against Ryan’s impossibly perfect face.

It was barely a touch, gentle and light.

Her palm lingered there, holding his face in place.

Then, with a sudden burst of strength, she shoved him away.

“That’s enough, you!” Whitney snapped.

Chapter 104 Why Are You So Cruel?

She thought, ‘This gag is too much. I can’t deal with it.

‘Seriously, who would call themselves someone else’s fish? My persona!

Ryan was pushed back, ending up against the car window.

But he still turned his head toward Whitney; his elegant eyes were never leaving her, a subtle, gentle smile playing at the corners of his gaze.

The car headed straight for Prestige Manor.

Whitney followed Ryan as they made their way up from the underground garage.

No wonder this place was in the priciest part of Roynfort: every inch of this mansion oozed money, and the air seemed to reek of wealth.

Whitney had always been pretty chill about where she lived.

She’d lived up in the mountains with her mentor.

She’d stayed in luxury mansions in all sorts of cities.

She’d lived in royal palaces overseas.

But honestly, having a comfortable, private place where she could rest without anyone bothering her? That would be better.

Whitney followed Ryan. “So this is Sector S? Is this whole villa yours? And anyone lives next door?”

Ryan turned to her. “Is this your first time here?”

“Yeah, first time,” Whitney said. When she first came back to the Andersons, her fellow students insisted on giving her this place as a welcome gift.

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