013 Tonight, who wins?_1

Lucas Griffin's hand first felt the softness and moisture of her lips, followed by a sharp pain.

It was then that he let go of her hand, a ring of red teeth marks visible on the back of his hand, oozing blood.

"Amanda Jenkins!" Anger surged in Lucas Griffin's eyes.

He hadn't expected her to actually have the heart to bite down so hard!

Amanda Jenkins didn't care whether she had drawn blood from his hand or not; to her, it wasn't lethal. She quickly opened the car door and jumped out.

Lucas Griffin immediately got out of the car to chase after her and quickly caught up, "Amanda Jenkins! You really are an ungrateful wildcat!"

With fury condensed in his dark pupils, Lucas Griffin once again grabbed Amanda Jenkins's arm, exerting a slight pressure.

Towards Amanda Jenkins, he had already lowered himself to the most humble position, yet his patience also had its limits!

Amanda Jenkins shook her arm but couldn't break free.

The wind by the river was strong, messing up her hair, as she looked at the angry man before her with a mocking stare.

Lucas Griffin, who exactly is the one who doesn't know how to be grateful?

Of course, Amanda Jenkins did not voice that thought.

Once said aloud, some things could never be denied again.

"Grateful? Ha!" Amanda Jenkins laughed coldly, "Young Master Griffin, spare me your pretentious nobility! Who asked you to save me at the police station? Did I beg you to come?"

"You..."

"Even if you didn't show up, they wouldn't have done anything to me. Do you think I don't understand the law?" Amanda Jenkins tilted her chin up defiantly and arrogantly, "The police detention room can only hold a suspect for a maximum of forty-eight hours. If they don't convict me afterward, they must release me. I didn't do anything illegal, and they can't transfer me to a detention facility. In the bar tonight, so many people could testify that it was Emma Bollock who started the trouble and hit people first. I was merely defending myself, and at the end, I would at most compensate some medical fees and mental damage compensation. So, I don't need your help at all. Since you chose to meddle and bail me out, why bother talking about gratitude now?"

In the business negotiations, Lucas Griffin never lost.

But at that moment, faced with this rebellious young woman, he was utterly at a loss, with no rebuttal coming to mind.

Lucas Griffin, furious, took a deep breath, unconsciously gripping Amanda Jenkins's arm with increased force.

Amanda Jenkins winced in pain, "Let go of me!"

Lucas Griffin remained silent, so infuriated by her that he did not know what to say.

Suddenly, he reached out, hooked his arm around her slender waist, picked her up, and slung her over his shoulder.

Amanda Jenkins cried out in shock, "Lucas Griffin, what are you doing! Put me down! Let go of me!"

Struggling on his sturdy shoulder, Amanda Jenkins kicked and hit, but his back was unyielding, like a wall.

"Be quiet!" Lucas Griffin smacked Amanda Jenkins's butt.

He was genuinely angry, and the slap was far from gentle.

Amanda Jenkins only felt a fiery pain on her butt.

Only when she was young and did something wrong did her father spank her like that.

This was simply humiliating!

"Lucas Griffin, you... you..." Amanda Jenkins, feeling both humiliated and furious, was at a loss for insults, and after scouring her mind for all the curse words she knew, she could only manage to call out, "Bastard!!"

Lucas Griffin paid no mind to her struggling and cursing.

Only when they reached the car did he put her down.

As soon as Amanda Jenkins's feet hit the ground, she raised her hand to swing at Lucas Griffin's face.

Lucas Griffin caught her wrist, his cold eyes narrowing, "Do you think I'd give you a second chance to hit me?"

"You bastard!" After cursing, Amanda Jenkins opened her mouth to bite at his hand.

His gaze sharp, Lucas grabbed her shoulder with his other hand and pressed her body against the hood of the car.

"Still trying to bite me?" he raised an eyebrow, "That trick won't work anymore. Don't you have any other tricks?"

"You…" Amanda bent her body, leaning back against the car, still not giving up the struggle, as she kicked toward the vulnerable spot three inches below Lucas's abdomen.

Lucas nimbly stepped aside, his hands firmly controlling the unruly her.

Amanda resisted fiercely, "I can't believe Young Master Griffin of the powerful Griffin's Family is this kind of so-called gentleman who forces others against their will! You really are a…"

Suddenly, Lucas leaned down, pressing his cool, thin lips against her ceaselessly moving mouth.

Amanda's eyes widened, the softness and chill on her lips sending a shock through her entire body, as if lightning had struck her mind.

She finally quieted down…

Lucas looked down at her, the corners of his eyes slightly curling into a triumphant smile.

At this moment, there was no anger in his eyes, only a simple, childlike joy as though he had finally tasted his favorite delicacy.

Amanda stared at him with wide eyes, dazed.

The stars twinkled behind him, but they were not as bright as the sparkle in his eyes.

The unique faint scent of tobacco on him awakened distant memories.

It was as if she were back in that foreign land, that year, and that night…

The scene was just the same.

He seemed to be the fixed destiny in her life, fated to make her lose herself and sink into oblivion.

A breeze swept over the river, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold.

Amanda's frail body started to tremble slightly, but it was unclear if it was due to the cold, or despair over the past and the future.

Sensing her shivering, Lucas couldn't bear it ultimately. Thinking he had frightened her, he quickly released her, his face showing a hint of embarrassment, "I…"

Amanda didn't speak, just bit her lip tightly.

"I'll take you home."

"No need," she persisted.

"Tonight, I must take you home," he insisted as well.

Amanda turned and ran toward the riverbank.

She stood at the edge of the bridge and looked back at Lucas.

"What are you going to do now?" Lucas followed her, sounding helpless.

"Don't come any closer!" Her hair, tousled by the evening breeze, danced behind her as Amanda's face showed a fierce determination, "Lucas Griffin, I've told you, I don't know you! We had no connection in the past. And in the future, I want nothing to do with you! If you continue to pester me, then tonight, I'll jump off from here!"

His brows furrowed deeply, her stubbornness exceeded his expectations.

"You'd rather commit suicide than have me take you home. Do you… dislike me that much?"

Her face was indifferent, "I don't dare to dislike; I just can't aspire to match you."

Lucas felt hurt. His eyes narrowed slightly, unwilling to reveal his frustrated emotions, "Have you truly forgotten, or is there someone else in your heart now?"

"There's nothing to forget if it never happened," she said decisively.

Lucas let out a bitter laugh, his lips pressed tightly, no longer speaking, just watching her from a distance.

Such a her was truly unfathomable to him.

And so they stood, locked in a tense standoff.

The cold wind of early spring night blew across the river, making Amanda tremble slightly from the cold, yet her face showed a resolution as if ready to face death.

Tonight, she had to win; otherwise, she would fall into an abyss from which there was no return, caught in an end endless cycle…