Chapter 1588

"Did you all hear that? Hayes just claimed her as his own," one of the men blurted, eyes wide. "I knew there was something different about the way Hayes looked at her. How could he let such a breath-taking beauty face death?" "Must be that she messed up big time, and Hayes brought her here for a dose of punishment." The crowd's gaze on Mia shifted in an instant. Kenneth's heart seethed with resentment, but he dared not speak further. "Alright, you guys carry on. I'm heading out," Hayes said, a smile playing on his lips. He then took Mia's hand and led her downstairs. The men stared, dumbstruck, unable to grasp that the usually detached Hayes could be smitten with a woman. Once they left the Velvet Vagabonds, Hayes released Mia's hand. His voice dripped with casual indifference. "Think you can manage? If you can, then come back to the McCray family with me. If not, well, you'll have to fend for yourself out here. The McCray family doesn't take in the half-dead." Mia clenched her