Chapter 11

Kylie followed Owen to a private dining room on the second floor. Once inside, Owen removed his sunglasses and baseball cap before settling in with Kylie to order their meal. "They're coming out!" After finishing their meal, Kylie had just pulled open the door when a swarm of reporters armed with cameras and microphones surged forward. Before she could even step outside, they completely surrounded her and Owen. Blinding flashes burst from every direction, making her instinctively raise a hand to shield her eyes. In the next instant, Owen pulled her behind him protectively. The once frail and sickly boy had grown into a tall and commanding presence. Standing before her, he was like an unwavering shield between her and the chaos. Owen was no stranger to scenes like this, but it was an entirely new experience for Kylie. Reporters fired off questions in rapid succession. "Owen, what's your relationship with this young lady? Are you two on a date?" Despite the commotion, Owen remained composed, though a flicker of irritation flashed in his captivating eyes. "No, we're not on a date. We're just having lunch and catching up as old friends." "As far as we know, this is Owen's first time dining privately with a woman. Are you rekindling an old romance?" "How long have you been together? Can we interview the young lady?" The reporters closed in, their eyes gleaming with the thrill of fresh gossip. "No." Questions were hurled at him one after another, but Owen, ever composed and poised, merely furrowed his brows and dismissed them without hesitation. He turned slightly, casting a glance at Kylie. Catching his silent cue, Kylie swiftly stepped back into the private dining room and shut the door behind her. With just that single barrier, the chaotic hallway noise dulled into a distant hum, bringing an unexpected sense of stillness. Standing behind the door, she could faintly hear Owen's voice addressing the press. "She's not in the entertainment industry. We're just old friends. I hope everyone respects her privacy and doesn't disrupt her life." Yet, within mere moments, Owen's name had already shot to the top of trending searches. "Breaking News: Top Actor Owen's Relationship Exposed!" "Owen Spotted on a Date with a Mystery Woman!" "Owen Confirms His Girlfriend Is a Non-Celebrity, Asks for Privacy!" Meanwhile, a man sat on a leather sofa in the president's office at Prestige Group, exuding an air of dominance. His well-defined fingers scrolled through the news, his gaze dark and inscrutable. Beside him, Logan asked carefully. "Mr. Vance, should we have the PR department suppress the news?" "No need." A faint, unreadable smirk tugged at Samuel's lips. "The best way to kill a rumor is to let it run its course. Trying to bury it now will only make it look suspicious." Logan hesitated. "Then… Should we send someone to pick up Ms. Clark?" Samuel shot back, "Do you think she needs that?" "I… uh…" Logan faltered, unsure of Samuel's stance. Samuel's voice was cold and indifferent. "She stirred up this scandal on her own—she can clean up the mess herself." With that, he lost interest in the infuriating news and casually tossed his phone onto the desk without a second glance. Yesterday, Kylie had forced a marriage. Today, she was caught up in a scandal. He had truly underestimated her abilities. Who knew how many more "surprises" she had in store for him? With the help of Owen's agent, Kylie finally managed to leave the restaurant. "Sorry about that. I never expected a simple meal to attract reporters," Owen said apologetically. "This won't cause you any trouble, will it?" Kylie smiled faintly. "It's fine." As the three of them reached the parking lot, Owen opened the passenger-side door and looked at Kylie. "Hop in. Where are you staying? I'll drive you," he offered courteously. "I…" Kylie hesitated. For some inexplicable reason, she didn't want Owen to know she was staying at Hythe Villa—especially since she had secured her place there through less-than-honorable means. "No need. The entire crew is waiting for you. Go ahead and get back to filming. I'll take a taxi." With that, she waved him off, clutching her folder as she made her way toward the nearest bus stop. In the quiet alley, several heavily made-up women dressed like street toughs and three men with a distinctly thuggish air trailed behind her. Seeing people on the street was normal. What wasn't normal was that some of the men carried ropes while others gripped wooden sticks. Even the women clutched various objects in their hands. Kylie stole a glance over her shoulder, tightening her grip on the folder. She may have been cast out by the Dale family, but she knew Iris wouldn't let things end so easily. A chill ran down her spine at the thought. Without hesitation, she quickened her pace, making her way toward the main road at the end of the alley. But she had barely taken a few steps when another group emerged from the opposite end—three men and two women. Now, she was trapped in the alley. Outnumbered and overpowered, brute force wasn't an option. She could only outsmart them. Kylie quickly steadied herself and asked, "Who are you people? What do you want?" The thug let out a low, sinister chuckle, his gaze dripping with malice as he leered at her. "I've got to admit, you've got a pretty face." "You think having a pretty face gives you the right to seduce my man?" one of the women sneered, snapping open a folding fruit knife. The silver blade caught the sunlight, flashing with a menacing gleam. "Let's see how pretty you are after I slice it up!" "You've got the wrong person. I don't even know your man," Kylie said quickly. "Who is he?" "Owen! My man is Owen!" the woman declared with smug satisfaction. Kylie froze. Was she seriously getting ambushed by a crazed fangirl? Not far away, Yvonne hid in a secluded corner, secretly enjoying the spectacle. She sent the incriminating photo to both fan groups and media circles, and just as she had anticipated, the response was explosive. With reporters exposing the incident and fans backing her into a corner, this was far more effective than simply sending it to Samuel. One of the thugs grew impatient. "Enough with the small talk. Let's grab her first and have our fun later." With that, they brandished their sticks and ropes, closing in on Kylie. "Everyone appreciates a beautiful woman," one of them sneered. "Be a good girl and cooperate—you might just save yourself some pain." Kylie flashed a sweet smile, her tone soft and submissive. "Alright. With so many of you here, there's no way I could escape even if I wanted to. I'll behave and do as you say." "That's more like it! You catch on quickly. Don't worry, we'll take real good care of you—you'll be begging for more in no time." The thugs chuckled, spouting crude and vulgar remarks. Just as she expected, they nodded in satisfaction, their guard slipping. Kylie seized the moment, stomping down hard on one thug's toes and twisting her foot mercilessly. Wasting no time, she dashed toward the alley's exit. "Get her! Don't let her escape!" The thugs cursed and roared, grabbing their weapons as they bolted after her.