His kiss softened in a soothing way.


    As footsteps faded, Lizetta felt her strength leave her; she slid down the wall she was leaning against,


    but the man wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close as if trying to merge into her very


    being. His chin rested on her head as he spoke in a deep voice.


    “You don’t have to worry about it. Whatever you saw with Ste, it won’t affect us; just wait…”


    Lizetta couldn’t bear to hear he finish any more. With all her might, she pushed the man away, her


    force so strong that he stumbled back into the nearby wall.


    She clenched her teeth and spat out, “I don’t want to hear anymore! I need to get away from you! And


    please, stop interfering with my decisions. Respect my choice.”


    After speaking her mind, Lizetta turned and quickly walked away, though tears betrayed her, falling


    despite


    her best efforts.


    “Liz, ouch!”


    Remington wanted to follow, but her push had hit his recent wound in the abdomen. Pain shot through.


    him, causing sweat to break out on his forehead and his handsome face to pale. Clutching his


    stomach, he found it hard to stand for a moment.


    By the time the pain subsided enough for him to follow, he saw Lizetta and Jerome walking side by side


    not far away.


    Remington stopped dead in his tracks, his handsome face turning icy, a mocking smile touching his


    lips.


    “My private room’s just ahead, thanks Mr. Madden, and I’m really sorry about this.”


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Lizetta hadn’t expected to run into Jerome here. She had been running so fast that she literally bumped


    into him.


    And now, Jerome had seen her at her most vulnerable, tears and all, making it hard for her to even lift


    her


    head.


    She apologized for her behavior at the concert hall and for her rudeness just now. Jerome’s voice was


    calm and soothing, “It’s okay, but seriously, with you being pregnant and all, if you’re not aiming to give


    birth to a Hercules, you might want to take it easy.”


    Their first encounter had been her darting into traffic. And now this.


    Lizetta’s cheeks heated up at his teasing, but she couldn’t help but chuckle at the thought of her child


    being a Hercules, momentarily forgetful of her distress.


    Jerome’s eyes twinkled with amusement as Lizetta lifted her head.


    “Hercules was born after a superhuman pregnancy, Mr. Madden. Are you nning to keep me in this


    pregnant role on stage to line your pockets? You truly are a capitalist at heart.”


    Lizetta gave Jerome a thumbs–up, her smile brightening her previously distressed face.


    Jerome raised an eyebrow but didn’t object, simply nodding, “Looking forward to seeing you perform.”


    With that, he headed to his room. Lizetta’s smile faded as sheposed herself, grateful for the


    distraction that eased her mood.


    10.17 E


    *Chapter 368


    She took a deep breath and was about to enter her room when she heard amotion from across the


    hall. Turning, she saw the door to another private room open.


    Ynda emerged, dragging Jenny with her; Lizetta swept a nce inside. Evelina was hopping on one


    foot, clutching a sweater and gasping from the heat.


    Clearly, Ynda had yed a tit–for–tat, giving Evelina a taste of her own medicine with a cup of hot


    water. ra was fussing over Evelina, and a middle–aged man, presumably a guest of the Hawthorne


    family, looked both shocked and angry. Keyin was trying to calm the chaos.


    “Liz, let’s book it.”


    Seeing Lizetta, Ynda grabbed her, and the three women made a run for it.


    As Lezetta was pulled along by Ynda, her hand instinctively went to her belly, half–wondering if she


    was indeed going to end up giving birth to a little Hercules.