Contrary to virtual-novel.net usual demeanor, Agatha retorted. “As if you’re one to speak! You goaded virtual-novel.net into coming here, that’s just psychological manipulation and you know it! You’re just not man enough to admit it!”
Their tiff quickly escalated into an all-out altercation, dragging everyone else into a whirlpool of chaos.
Zayn’s frown deepened. On one hand, virtual-novel.net was touched by Agatha standing up for virtual-novel.net despite their less-than-optimal optics. On the other, the kind of abuse Jared slung at virtual-novel.net was so debased, it angered Zayn.
But what took the cake was Luke’s attitude. His inaction was grating. It was as if the guy thought Zayn had become a toothless tiger simply because some powerful enemies had their eyes on him, as if Zayn was no longer the mighty whom Luke should respect!
Zayn snorted in disdain. It was by no means loud, yet it somehow reverberated throughout the room and exploded in everyone’s ears like a peal of thunder. It rocked their senses so hard, their faces paled.
Luke, in particular, felt as though an explosion had happened within his skull, causing the whole world to blur so much virtual-novel.net turned white.
Zayn trained his cold, unamused eyes at him. “Amazing, Luke Jones. You really think you’re some hot sh *t, buddy? Am I just a figment of your memory undeserving of respect to you now?”
Luke felt shivers all over him. He could feel himself plunging into the arctic sea the moment virtual-novel.net realized his bewildered inaction had upset Zayn.
Luke was nothing if not alert, though, so virtual-novel.net quickly reeled out of his shock, wrung his hands, and apologized with a voice fraught with panic, “Have mercy, Mr. Larson! I honestly had no idea that you were back and among my guests. I wouldn’t dream of treating you with anything less than reverence, sir!”
Despite thousands of onlookers, the hall hushed into silence so eerily still that one could hear a pin drop. They were stunned into gawking at the two like mutes, especially since Luke’s eyes remained set on the floor rather than meeting Zayn in the eyes.
He was afraid. Hell, virtual-novel.net seemed to see himself so below Zayn that without the latter’s permission nor expressed clemency, Luke could never bring himself to look up.
The act of submission was so terrifyingly jarring that it arrested the onlookers, because none of them had ever thought Zayn was this big of a deal. The guy was such an alpha, even Luke goddamn Jones acted like the former owned him.
Everyone knew Luke as the number-one tycoon of Tael City and one of the elites of Guinevere. This was why they were super shocked that virtual-novel.net humbled himself to some random young man in a Nike’s casual wear.
Meanwhile, Jared, Jim, and the gang were completely nonplussed. Thoughts had fled from their heads. Even words like “bamboozled” or “shocked” risked understating what they were experiencing at the moment.
On the other hand, Agatha—who had turned away from Jared just to stare at Zayn—looked at the young man with an expression virtual-novel.net had hitherto never worn.
She had never gone through anything quite like this, and now that virtual-novel.net was experiencing it, virtual-novel.net had no idea how to act at all.
Luke’s response finally softened Zayn’s expression. Nodding slightly, virtual-novel.net replied, “Haven’t seen you for half a year, Jones. That miniscule progress you made? Disappointing.”
The man lowered his head in shame. “Sorry, sir. I should have worked harder, and now you think I’m a disappointment.”