?Chapter 309:


    “Are you even aware of what kind of ce this is?” Chris stepped closer, the heat between them barely softened by the thin fabric of their clothes.


    “Mr. Cooper, are we operating on a double standard tonight?” she asked lightly. “You’re free to be here, but I’m not? You get to enjoy yourself, and I’m supposed to stand aside? Seems unfair, don’t you think?”


    Chris hadn’t expected her sharp retort, and for a moment, he found himself speechless.


    Before he could gather a response, the woman in the skimpy outfit sauntered over, grabbing hold of Chris’ hand.


    “Mr. Cooper, we had an agreement. No flirting allowed! Were you about to slip away with someone else if I hadn’t walked over? Weren’t we nning to go to Boss Barter? I even called a few of my female friends to join us!”


    Chris gave a lightheartedugh. “So why not add one more? The more, the merrier.”


    Giggling, the woman gave his chest a light smack. “Naughty! Aren’t we already enough for you? Come on, the other women are waiting.”


    Standing a short distance away, Maia heard every word with painful rity.


    Was one woman not enough for him? Did he really need more? A rush of emotion flooded her chest. Just as Chris was about to walk away, Maia lunged forward and yanked him back.


    The suddenness of it left both Chris and the woman momentarily stunned.


    Frowning deeply, the woman stepped up andtched onto Chris’ arm. Her voice rang out sharply as she barked at Maia, “What do you think you’re doing? He belongs to me! Let him go!”


    By then, the dance music had faded out, and the whole floor fell into an uneasy hush.


    Pattie and Rnd had just made it to the scene, their eyes widening as they watched Maia raise a ck card in front of Chris.


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    Turning smoothly toward the woman, Maia announced, “This man belongs to me now!”


    In an instant, the crowd erupted into a roar ofughter and cheers, soaking up the drama as if it were part of the night’s entertainment. Scenes like this were nothing new, but they never failed to draw a crowd, sparkling with curious stares and yful jealousy.


    The dim lighting made it hard to catch every detail of the faces around, but even a quick nce revealed enough. The woman clinging to Chris had striking beauty, and Chris himself, towering and handsome, was impossible to miss.


    Fury twisted the woman’s features. Chris’ looks had always stirred trouble, and more than a few wealthy women had tried to im him before. Yet, he had turned them all down.


    She was sure that this time would be no different.


    Clutching the sleeve of his jacket, the woman said, “Chris, don’t listen to this crazy woman. Come with me.”


    Watching her grow more desperate, Maia let out a slow, taunting smile. She waved the ck card in front of them and then pressed it firmly against Chris’ chest. “There’s a million on this card. Take your time. Think hard.”


    Chris’ mouth twitched as if holding back augh. Pretending to weigh his options, he threw a half-hearted nce at the woman in her skimpy dress. “Sorry, but this offer is just too good to pass up. From now on, I belong to her.”


    Everyone knew that Chris lived a carefree life, drifting without any real obligations. At least, that’s the story the women around here believed. And this exnation? Perfectly believable.


    The woman’s face twisted with anger, but there was nothing she could do. “Chris, how could you lower yourself to being a kept man?”


    Without a word, Chris gave a small shrug and allowed Maia to tug him away.


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