Chapter 284

---- Chapter 284 When Donovan saw members of the Holt family at Giselle's doorstep, his expression darkened. He glared at Anne and coldly said, "What are you doing here? She just got home, so don't come here to stir up trouble." Although Anne had long realized how much Donovan cared for Giselle over the past two months, hearing him speak like this still stung. She moved close and lowered her voice. "Don, you must have known, right? She was sold to that hell of a place. She's been defiled by countless men, so she's filthier than before.

Don't you find her disgusting-" "Shut up!" Donovan cut her off sharply. "This has nothing to do with you. If you dare spread rumors about her and upset her, trust me, you'll regret it." Standing nearby, Renee bristled at his words and snapped back, "Why are you threatening my daughter? Giselle's a disgrace. Sooner or later, everyone will know that she's been sold abroad to work as a prostitute. "Just because we're not talking about it doesn't mean no one will know.

Mark my words, give it five days, and everyone will know!" "That's enough!" Tony quickly stepped in to reprimand her." Can't you hold your tongue? Giselle just got home, so stop stirring up things. Let's go." ---- In the end, Tony ushered Renee into the elevator heading downstairs, while Anne could only watch as Donovan stepped into Giselle's apartment. No matter how bitterly it churned in her chest, she had no choice but to walk away for now. When Giselle noticed him stepping inside, she barely spared him a glance. "What are you doing here again?

Do you think this is some public square you can just wander in whenever you please?" she said, her voice laced with indifference. Donovan ignored her gaze, shut the door behind him, and walked over with a softened gaze. "Did you sleep well last night?" he asked. "Just leave. I'm heading out later, and I don't have time for your nonsense." Giselle turned, walked into her bedroom, and slammed the door. Then, she locked it, intending to wash up and change. Donovan tried the handle but found it locked, so he returned to the living room.

He stepped out onto the balcony, lighting a cigarette out of habit. During her disappearance, he had stood in this very spot countless times, suffocating in despair . Now, despite being faced with her coldness, the same act felt oddly relaxing. But as Donovan returned to the couch, about to stub his finished cigarette in the ashtray, he noticed her phone ringing on the coffee table. It was an incoming call from Gideon. After letting it ring a few times, he picked it up and tapped the red hang-up icon. Without hesitation , he blocked Gideon's ---- number.

For good measure, he opened her WhatsApp and deleted Gideon from her contacts, too. He had never imagined that, at almost forty, he would one day do something so petty. A few minutes later, Giselle emerged from the bathroom. She had just showered and changed, her damp hair wrapped ina towel. Rubbing her hair as she eyed him irritably, she said, "Why are you still here?" Instead of answering , Donovan walked into the bedroom and plugged in the hairdryer. "Come here, I'll dry your hair," he warmly said.

Muttering the word "lunatic" under her breath, Giselle snatched the hair dryer from him and started drying her hair herself. She ruffled it roughly with one hand while the other held the hair dryer.