Their Punching Bag Became The Storm novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80 Ryan Wipes Whitney’s Hands

Elian’s fans thought, ‘So Whitney isn’t seducing Elian. She’s abusing him? It doesn’t seem likely. Whitney has been nothing but sweet to Elian these past two days, and he clearly adores her, following her around like a puppy. Why would she hurt him?

But then they remembered how badly he’d thrown out his back on that final challenge. He could barely stand straight on camera earlier. If Whitney was taking advantage of him now, he had zero ability to fight back.

They didn’t want to believe it. Yet reading those logical, well–supported theories in the chat, and seeing Emily’s genuinely frightened expression, they couldn’t help but feel a knot form in their stomachs.

Darian studied the live comments and decided to take the main camera over for an impromptu check.

He absolutely trusted that Whitney wouldn’t lay a finger on Elian inappropriately. He wasn’t worried about catching

anything scandalous either. After all, Nora was at Ryan’s place too, not only Elian.

A surprise visit would boost the drama and clear Whitney’s name at the same time, saving the uninformed online audience/ from being manipulated by the trolls.

The show’s buzz had been climbing higher every day, basically trending nonstop. They had Whitney to thank for that. Plus, with her connection to Ryan, Darian naturally found himself leaning in her favor.

When the viewers heard Darian announce a surprise raid to see what Whitney and Elian were up to, they were all for it, urging him to hurry. The longer he waited, the more they feared they’d miss whatever was about to go down.

So Darian grabbed the main camera from the gathering point and headed toward Ryan’s residence.

He’d only planned to bring one cameraman. Any more people and it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.

But when Emily saw Darian leaving, she asked to tag along with a serene, gentle smile. “I believe Whitney isn’t that kind of person, but I’m also a little worried about Elian.”

Saying she believed Whitney while also expressing worry. She wasn’t basically implying Whitney had definitely done something to Elian.

Darian glanced at Emily. After years in the entertainment industry, he could read her petty scheming from a mile away. He said nothing and let her follow.

Where Emily went, Chase naturally followed, assuming his usual knight–in–shining–armor stance, as if protecting Emily from being bullied by Whitney.

Darian and the cameraman had just reached Ryan’s door.

Darian was about to push it open and send the camera in for a close–up when his hand never even touched the handle. Then the door swung open on its own, and Elian came bouncing right out.

Elian clearly hadn’t expected a crowd blocking the entrance. He plowed straight into the cameraman.

Luckily, his reflexes were sharp. He steadied himself mid–collision and grabbed the cameraman’s arm, saving both the man and his equipment from crashing to the floor.

“What happened? What’s going on?” Nora’s soft, sweet voice called from inside.

Nora came pattering out. When she saw the group at the door, her pretty face registered pure surprise. “Darian? What are you doing here?”

Darian cleared his throat. “Nothing much. We heard Elian screaming earlier and came to check it out.”

As he spoke, his eyes darted past them into the room, scanning left and right for Whitney and Ryan he’d expected to catch

on camera.

“Oh.” Nora moved to the doorway and steadied Elian, who had nearly toppled over with the cameraman. “I told you to stop yelling. See? You’ve summoned the entire crew.”

After steadying himself and the cameraman, Elian rolled his hips experimentally. “If I could’ve helped it, I wouldn’t have screamed.”

Nora reached over and pinched his side hard, rolling her eyes.

Elian kept rolling his hips and grinned. “It doesn’t hurt at all.” After the torture Whitney had just put him through, Nora’s pinch was child’s play.

Darian blinked. He thought, ‘Wait. Elian had been clutching his back earlier, barely able to stand straight. How is he suddenly fine?

Chapter 80 Ryan Wipes Whitney’s Hands

“Earlier, the on–set medic barely touched him before, and he’d screamed bloody murder, refusing to let the doctor come fear

him. His back hasn’t even been treated yet. And now he can let Nora pinch him without flinching?‘

“What’s everyone doing crowded at the door?” Whitney’s voice, lazy and unhurried, drifted from the bathroom.

Whitney showed up in a simple tracksuit, yet she still looked absolutely stunning. She strolled over, radiating an effortless, laid–back energy. When she entered the frame, her looks alone practically made everyone stop breathing.

Darian eyed her up and down. Clothes normal. Expression normal. He thought, ‘Good. I have called it right.‘

Darian had just let out a breath of relief when a low, magnetic voice came from inside the bathroom. “Your hands are still wet”

Then Ryan emerged, tall and lean, a white towel in hand. He took Whitney’s wet hands in his and wrapped the towel around them, carefully drying each finger one by one.

Darian was speechless. The rest of the group was just as stunned, totally lost for words. The viewers in the livestream were also caught off guard.

They thought, ‘Wait, are we seeing things? Ryan is actually tending to Whitney, drying her hands? Is that actually Ryan? Emily, who had squeezed in behind Darian after hearing Whitney’s voice, had originally pushed forward intending to ask what Whitney and Elian were doing, trying to steer things in a suggestive direction. Instead, she was met with the sight of Ryan drying Whitney’s hands.

Emily’s face went deathly pale. A violent hatred flashed in her eyes. She thought, ‘This morning, Ryan rejected me in the most humiliating way. Now he is treating Whitney like this. Isn’t he basically stomping all over my pride?‘

Emily’s eyes turned bloodshot, and a metallic taste rose in her throat. Overwhelmed by shame and resentment, she completely lost control.

Without thinking, she spoke up in a shrill voice. “Whitney, what were you doing just now? Hearing Elian scream so miserably, I’m still a little scared. Although you usually…”

She caught herself, as if suddenly realizing she’d nearly said too much. She quickly covered her mouth and changed her tune. “If Elian did anything to upset you, I’ll apologize on his behalf. Please don’t make things difficult for him.”

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