Chapter 3

Gloria was still rattled, barely pulling herself together when she heard Gavin's casual remarks.

Without thinking, she snapped back, "I didn't do it on purpose! Someone pushed me!"

The rich kids around them raised their hands in mock innocence. "Not us, Mr. Miller. We wouldn't dare touch a woman you're interested in."

"Even if someone did push you, why'd you end up in Mr. Miller's arms? It looks pretty intentional to me." Gavin smirked near her ear, "What's there to be afraid of? Liking me isn't a crime."

Realizing how close they were, Gloria immediately tried to get up.

Gavin held her waist firmly, his hand feeling the curve through the thin fabric.

He prided himself on having been with many women, but the one in his arms felt different, her waist so slender that it seemed he could encircle it with one hand.

Thinking this, Gavin spread his hand to test it.

The grip on her waist loosened, and Gloria seized the chance to get up.

The next moment, the door to the private room opened, and a man walked in with a smile, followed by another person. "Finally, Judge Windsor is here. Let's give him a warm welcome!"

The room fell silent, everyone looking at Gavin.

Gavin clapped his hands lightly, "Judge Windsor, it's an honor to have you here."

Only then did the others follow suit in greeting.

Gloria, still in Gavin's lap, froze.

Judge Windsor? Sebastian? What a coincidence!

She turned her head in disbelief.

The door was wide open, and the man stood tall in the doorway, the hallway light casting his features in sharp relief.

It was Sebastian, no doubt.

She hadn't expected to see him so soon.

Emotions surged within Gloria.

It was him who had caused her three years of imprisonment, leaving her homeless!

She still had no idea what had happened to the rest of the Russell family!

Perhaps her hatred was too intense, as Sebastian turned to look at her.

Just before their eyes met, Gloria bit her lip and buried herself deeper into Gavin's embrace.

Now wasn't the time; she didn't want Sebastian to see her like this.

Gavin, thinking she was being affectionate, played with her earlobe contentedly. "Judge Windsor might be intimidating, but there's no need to be this scared."

Gloria kept her head down, not responding, her body tense.

She could feel Sebastian's gaze on her.

Gavin noticed it too.

"Judge Windsor, are you interested in my girl? Too bad, she seems to find you scary." Gavin tightened his grip on Gloria's waist, looking up provocatively.

Sebastian didn't take the bait. "I have a fiancée," he said, his tone almost disdainful.

With that, Sebastian walked in.

The Miller and Windsor families were rivals in Majestic City, so it was natural for Sebastian to sit next to Gavin.

As he sat down, his gaze briefly lingered on the woman in Gavin's lap, a sense of familiarity nagging at him. She looked like Gloria.

Realizing he was thinking of Gloria, Sebastian frowned in annoyance.

Gloria's three-year sentence still had a few months left; she should be in prison.

So Sebastian dismissed the thought.

Once seated, someone respectfully handed him a drink.

Sebastian took it but didn't drink. He disliked such gatherings and was here for business. "I'm here to ask about the Miller family's island amusement park project."

Recently, the Miller family had developed an island amusement park, which the islanders had sued over. The court had summoned the Miller Group, but no one showed up at the hearing.

Gavin looked indifferent. "Judge Windsor, have you lost your mind? We're businessmen, not philanthropists. Those islanders are just greedy, thinking they didn't get enough money. If the Miller Group gives in, who knows if they'll extort more?"

Sebastian crossed his long legs, his fingers tapping lightly on his knee, exuding an unspoken pressure. "If the Miller Group wants the land, you need to show sincerity. I don't care how you negotiate with the islanders, but the court's authority must be respected. If no one shows up at the next hearing, the project can be halted."

Everyone understood Sebastian's underlying threat.

He was warning Gavin.

If Gavin didn't cooperate, Sebastian had ways to shut down his project.

No one expected Sebastian to be so blunt with Gavin.

The room's atmosphere grew tense, as if a confrontation was imminent.

Gloria, still in Gavin's lap, felt a wave of bitter irony.

How laughable. Sebastian was willing to fight for strangers, but she hadn't even been given a chance to explain, cast into hell without a second thought.

"Judge Windsor, you're quite the righteous one." Gavin echoed her thoughts, clapping sarcastically. "One might think the Windsor family had made some secret deal with the islanders."

Sebastian's tone was indifferent. "Just doing my job."

"Quite the job." Gavin sneered, his gaze sweeping over Gloria. "Judge Windsor, I'll cooperate with your work, but since you're on my turf, shouldn't you cooperate with me too?"

Gloria felt a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, Gavin grabbed her shoulder, pulling her up from his lap. "Sweetheart, you heard Judge Windsor. The Miller Group's project is in your hands. Go serve Judge Windsor well."

With that, Gavin pushed her towards Sebastian. "Judge Windsor, rest assured, this girl is clean. I haven't even had the chance to enjoy her yet. Let her serve you first. Our lips are sealed about Ms. Jones."

Gavin looked at Sebastian with ill intent.

He was sure there was something between them; otherwise, the woman wouldn't have reacted that way.

Clearly, she knew Sebastian and was afraid of him.

Caught off guard, Gloria fell to her knees in front of Sebastian.

Sebastian's piercing gaze bore down on her, and she bit her lip hard, almost burying her head in the ground.

"Judge Windsor, you're devoted to your fiancée. I shouldn't intrude. I..." Gloria racked her brain for an excuse to escape.

Three years in prison had broken her spirit and ruined her voice. She was confident that as long as she didn't make eye contact, Sebastian wouldn't recognize her.

Unexpectedly, Sebastian extended his hand. "Get up."

His words were full of gentlemanly grace.

Gloria's heart tightened, and she lowered her head even more.

Sebastian looked at the woman before him, feeling an inexplicable emotion growing stronger.

The light flickered over them, and the red mole on her collarbone caught his eye.

Sebastian's eyes darkened, and he grabbed Gloria's chin, forcing her to look at him.

Gloria's pale face came into view.

Sebastian's calm demeanor was instantly replaced by disgust. "It's you!"

He let go of her as if she were something filthy.