Chapter 288

Vivian froze. Her puzzled gaze locked onto Ethan's profile, her body rigid with tension.

A visible flush spread across her porcelain cheeks.

What... What did that mean?

Ethan appeared completely unbothered. Keeping his eyes on the road, he murmured, "My mistake. Wrong gear."

His hand moved casually from her thigh to the gearshift, smoothly transitioning the car from neutral to drive.

The sleek sports car accelerated down the highway.

It moved as fast as Vivian's pounding heart!

Only after several minutes did realization dawn - had she just been... teased?

"Ethan Blackwood, was that your idea of flirting?"

She turned sharply toward the driver, her cheeks puffing in indignation like an irritated chipmunk. Adorable.

Ethan's lips quirked as he glanced at her. Instead of answering, he countered, "What do you think?"

Vivian tapped her chin thoughtfully before declaring with mock seriousness, "I think you're attempting to flirt, but your technique needs serious work!"

If he wanted to hold her hand, he should've just done it.

Wrong gear? Might as well claim he'd gone blind!

When he remained silent, she pressed on boldly. "I thought you consulted Nathan about courting women? These amateur moves suggest you're a terrible student!"

Ethan's jaw tightened. "Nathan Prescott, you're dead. Selling me out like this..."

The humiliation of seeking dating advice at his age was bad enough. But having his target informed? Unforgivable.

His expression sobered suddenly. "How is that idiot anyway? Medics said his injuries were severe."

Vivian's playful mood evaporated. "Compound fracture in his right leg from the falling unit. He pushed me out of harm's way. I owe him everything—"

"Like hell you do!"

Ethan's grip on the wheel turned white-knuckled. "Stop claiming responsibility for everything! If he demanded you in repayment, would you comply?"

"What kind of question is that? He's Nathan!"

Vivian stared at Ethan's stormy profile, baffled by his sudden anger.

Nathan had saved her life. Was gratitude so unreasonable?

Tension thickened the air like approaching thunder. Neither spoke.

Vivian didn't ask their destination. This moody man was a live wire lately.

That fleeting moment of tenderness? Clearly her imagination.

Finally, Ethan broke the silence. "Don't be naive. Favors between men and women complicate everything. If anyone repays this debt, it'll be me."

"You—"

Vivian gaped.

Streetlights strobed across Ethan's sharp features as the car sped forward - light and shadow playing across his face like his mercurial moods.

This made no sense. If male-female favors were problematic, and he settled her debt to Nathan... what did she owe Ethan then?

Turning toward the window, Vivian suddenly recognized their route. "Stop the car! I'm not going back to Blackwood Villa!"

That gilded cage had imprisoned her for four years. A place of shattered hopes and endless humiliation. She'd sworn never to return.