Chapter 446
Ella was curled up on the sofa by the window, talking to Stephanie on the phone. Because she was facing the door, their eyes met the moment Lorenzo walked in. When Ella saw the dark look in Lorenzo’s eyes and the displeasure on his face, her hand trembled in fear, and her phone slipped from her fingers, falling to the floor.
‘Didn’t I lock the door?’ she thought, panic surging through her. She was already terrified, but now, faced with Lorenzo—who looked dangerously volatile—she couldn’t hold back her tears. She wrapped her arms around her knees, shrinking into herself, too frightened to move. Her wide, tear-filled eyes remained fixed on Lorenzo’s, brimming with both fear and wariness.
Lorenzo felt a flicker of irritation. He walked slowly toward her, bent down, and picked up her phone. Then, he held it out to her. But Ella didn’t dare reach for it. As he drew closer, a sudden, vivid memory flashed through her mind—Lorenzo shooting someone in the head without hesitation. The image made her body tremble uncontrollably.
Seeing her shoulders shake, Lorenzo narrowed his eyes. “Why so scared?” He hadn’t expected that killing someone would frighten her to this extent. Her timidity annoyed him—especially since there would be far more danger for her to face in the future.
Ella pressed her thin lips tightly together, tears welling in her eyes. She said nothing, just stared at him. Lorenzo tossed her phone onto the coffee table and sat down right beside her. The sudden move made Ella shrink back even further. But she was already pressed up against the back of the sofa—there was nowhere left to retreat.
Without warning, Lorenzo reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Why are you hiding from me?” Ella let out a sharp scream, startled by his sudden action. Lorenzo’s expression darkened further. In a low, threatening voice, he said, “Scream again, and I’ll strip you naked and throw you outside.”
Ella froze. She had been struggling desperately just moments before, but now she didn’t dare move a muscle. Her tear-filled eyes stared helplessly at him. At this distance, he was so close—his overwhelming presence completely engulfed her. In that moment, Ella realized they really did come from two completely different worlds.
Thinking back on it, the people she had known before, even those who schemed and played mind games, were nothing like Lorenzo. He killed without batting an eye. Maybe it was because he had taken lives before, but even when he said nothing, the danger radiating from him was palpable. And now, being so close, Ella’s fear only intensified.
When their eyes met, her gaze shimmering with tears, Lorenzo said coldly, “Don’t cry.” He found women troublesome. “Let me go,” Ella sniffled. She didn’t want to be anywhere near Lorenzo. Right now, all she wanted was to go home.
Lorenzo narrowed his eyes slightly. Feeling his aura grow even more dangerous, Ella quickly added, “Alright. If you want to hold me, then hold me.” As she spoke, she instinctively clutched at the front of her shirt, terrified that if she angered him, he really would rip her clothes off and throw her out.
By now, she understood that this dangerous man wasn’t restrained by Sebastian at all. The moment Sebastian wasn’t around, Lorenzo did whatever he pleased—like a soldier in the field who no longer obeyed his commander’s orders. Even if Sebastian had personally told him to take care of her, Lorenzo clearly had no intention of doing so. Ella felt like she was going to be scared to death.
Watching her timidly lower her head, Lorenzo couldn’t help but chuckle. “How did Stephanie end up with a friend like you?” Having been treated like a princess by Sebastian all these years, Stephanie was bold and fearless, and anyone who crossed her always paid the price. Thinking of Stephanie’s character, Lorenzo was genuinely surprised that she had such a timid friend.
Ella didn’t understand what he meant. At that moment, Lorenzo released her trembling body, stood up, and said, “Go take a shower. Change your clothes.” As soon as she heard him tell her to take a shower and change clothes, Ella couldn’t help but shiver. “Why…why do I need to change clothes again?” she asked cautiously.