Chapter 358

Stephanie forced a smile, a mixture of confusion and frustration. She tried to yank her hand away from Sebastian’s, but he held on tight. Unable to break free, she whispered into her phone, “Ella, what’s going on? What do you mean? You just had your first kiss?”

Stephanie felt utterly bewildered, her mind racing. ‘I thought Lorenzo gave her a ride after the airport mess, no? Who would dare force a kiss on Ella with his intimidating presence? There’s no other explanation—she wouldn’t be crying otherwise.’

Ella’s voice trembled with sobs. “It was Lorenzo. He kissed me. Stefi, ask Sebastian if all his friends are that shameless?”

Stephanie’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Lorenzo? What the hell?’ Her mind spun with questions. ‘Weren’t things supposed to be dangerous? Why would Lorenzo kiss her in a situation like that? Even though he’s always been a playboy, he shouldn’t have gone that far.’

Before she could respond, Ella pressed on, her voice rising in anger. “If everyone around Sebastian is like that, what about him?”

Stephanie’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced at Sebastian. His face had darkened, and it was clear he had overheard every word.

“Are you even listening to me?” Ella’s frustration boiled over into anger, her words tumbling out in a jumbled mess.

Elliot, walking behind Stephanie and Sebastian, heard Ella’s outburst and instinctively glanced at Macro. ‘There are quite a few people who can’t keep their mouths shut in this world,’ he wondered.

Feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over her, Stephanie stammered, “What are you talking about? Sebastian is a really nice guy.”

She wasn’t as confident as she seemed. Her mind was full of all the flirtatious things he’d done and said. He could be really sweet. But now that they’d crossed that line, he could be quite the “bad boy.”

Stephanie shook her head. “Aren’t we talking about Lorenzo? Just stick to the point. What really happened?”

‘Lorenzo can be a real jerk sometimes. Ella’s my best friend. Does he really not care who he’s messing with?’ she wondered.

Stephanie smacked her forehead. “Oh man, I shouldn’t have let him take you home.”

She wondered, ‘Oh my, I forgot he’s such a playboy. He’s always surrounded by different girls, but wait… they’re always the busty, long-legged type. Ella doesn’t fit that mold at all. What was Lorenzo thinking?’

‘No, that’s not right. Sofia mentioned before that Lorenzo was just playing along with those women. He has really high standards when it comes to women. Even if someone catches his eye, he’d just take a second look and never make a move.’

‘We even wondered if he’s impotent… Why else would he only look but never touch? And even in that case, he could enjoy those hot bodies. Ella… well, she definitely doesn’t fit his usual criteria.’

Ella sniffled, crying, “Things were complicated back then.”

Stephanie hesitated. “Oh, do you think he might not have done it on purpose?”

Ella shook her head firmly. “He definitely did it on purpose.”

Stephanie was left speechless.

Ella recounted the chaotic situation over the phone. The airport was packed with thugs, and she and Lorenzo had been scrambling from one hiding spot to another. They eventually ended up in a warehouse, where about twenty thugs barged in.

Without a second thought, Lorenzo threw her to the ground and covered her with his body. The situation was intense, and with the way they looked, it appeared as if they were making out. The thugs seemed to catch on and left them alone.

“Back then, my clothes were all torn up, and the kiss was… it was real,” Ella said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “A real kiss, huh?”

Ella groaned in exasperation, “Ugh! I’m so mad!”

Stephanie tried to reason with her. “You guys were just trying to get out of danger. It wasn’t serious.”

“How could it not be serious? Do you even know where he touched me?” Ella retorted.

Stephanie hesitated. “Where did he touch you?”

There was silence on the other end of the line, broken only by Ella’s rapid breathing. She was clearly fuming.

Stephanie could almost picture the scene in her mind—how Lorenzo had to make it look convincing for the thugs. “Are you safe now?” she asked gently.

“Yeah, I’m safe. He’s gone now,” Ella replied, her voice softening.

Stephanie pressed on. “Didn’t you ask him for some kind of promise or something?”

“I was too scared to do that,” Ella admitted quietly.

Lorenzo’s fierce, deadly demeanor had left her too intimidated to say a word, let alone demand anything from him. Even if he had offered a promise, Ella wouldn’t have dared to accept it.