Chapter 18: Spend the Night with Me

Alexander's appearance immediately drew everyone's attention. His overwhelming presence made it difficult for anyone to look directly at him. The smile on his face was mysterious and eerie, and his cold demeanor kept everyone at a distance.

He walked up to Emily, glanced at her with a smile, and picked up a pool cue. He said to the "Cream Boy," "I'll give you a three-ball handicap."

The Cream Boy was intimidated by Alexander's presence, but after spending so many years in the pool world, even though he hadn't become a world champion, he had indeed encountered no worthy opponents. Being given a three-ball handicap would be the subject of much ridicule, so he pretended to be calm and said, "No need!"

Alexander continued to smile. "How about we raise the stakes and play three games? Ten thousand for each ball." His words were light and nonchalant, but they caused quite a stir among the onlookers.

The Cream Boy felt a wave of apprehension seeing Alexander so confident. Even before the game started, he had already lost the upper hand. But now that they were already in this situation, with so many people watching, he had no choice but to play. He had no room for retreat.

"Fine!" The Cream Boy steadied his emotions, trying not to let his nervousness show.

"You break," Alexander chuckled.

The Cream Boy was taken aback. The breaker held the advantage, as it was often possible for a skilled player to clear the table with the opening shot, leaving the opponent with no chance. The Cream Boy felt a twinge of delight. He had to pocket the ball with this shot!

"Crack!" The cue ball struck the colored balls, scattering them across the table. One green ball found its way into a pocket. The Cream Boy smiled. The previous tension and restlessness dissipated somewhat with this shot, and he felt even more confident. Surveying the table, he saw that the position of the colored balls was favorable, except for the yellow one, which was a bit close to the black 8 and the rail. However, that posed no problem for him.

The surrounding audience held their breath, appearing even more nervous than the Cream Boy himself. Only Alexander stood casually to the side, seemingly indifferent.

"Crack, crack, crack!" Almost in one go, the Cream Boy flawlessly cleared the table. It was only after the black 8 ball dropped into the pocket that the onlookers breathed a sigh of relief. Applause came belatedly, and the Cream Boy felt proud, tauntingly raising an eyebrow at Alexander.

Alexander continued to smile, seemingly dismissive of the fact that the Cream Boy won a game. "Let's continue!"

Alexander showed no intention of breaking. The Cream Boy was delighted. When he set up the balls again, he once more pocketed a colored ball with the break shot. He reveled in his own achievement, but it was precisely this pride that caused him to become careless. The third ball failed to go in, and he lost his advantage.

Alexander glanced at him, his smile lazy but sending shivers down the spine. He casually walked over, and with a few "cracks," people couldn't even see his movements clearly. When they snapped out of their daze, the table was left with only the colored balls, the solids, and the black 8, all in the pockets.

A murmur swept through the crowd. It was too unbelievable. Emily, however, remained indifferent, thinking to herself that it was simply using one's skills to bully others. There was nothing worth being proud of.

In the final game, Alexander broke again, and it was even more astonishing. He pocketed three balls with his opening shot, all solids, and they went in with perfect accuracy. Everyone watched as the game progressed, but they still couldn't see clearly, and before they knew it, the table was cleared.

The surrounding people exclaimed in awe, while the Cream Boy stood dumbfounded. He had indeed encountered a master this time. He also knew that Alexander had held back just enough to make him lose only one ball. Otherwise, if they played three games, he would have lost over a hundred thousand. With his family background, where would he find that kind of money? Even if he had a hundred thousand, he wouldn't have come out to gamble.

"One more round," Alexander said, looking at the Cream Boy.

The "Cream Boy" felt extremely embarrassed in that moment. Charlotte quickly stepped forward and said, "I'll cover it!"

The "Cream Boy" glared at her and replied, "No need!" Then, he looked at Alexander and asked, "Is it possible to repay gradually?"

Alexander's lips curled with contempt. "What do you think?"

The "Cream Boy" felt even more helpless. "But... I don't have that much money."

Suddenly, Alexander burst into laughter. "Alright, how about this? You spend a night with me, and we'll call it even."

The crowd erupted into an uproar. It turned out that this handsome and intimidating man was actually gay? However, the next moment, the scene was on the verge of exploding, especially for Charlotte, because everyone witnessed the "Cream Boy" shyly smile and agree!

Alexander's eyes gleamed with a chilling light, but his face wore a smile as he looked at Emily. Emily's heart skipped a beat. She didn't care whether the "Cream Boy" was gay or not, but she was certain that Alexander wasn't. Benjamin had mentioned how Alexander dined on beautiful young girls, devouring them in every sense. The cries of women could be heard daily in the castle, which was why Benjamin often stayed in an outside villa to enjoy some peace and quiet.

As she snapped out of her thoughts, Alexander had already left with the "Cream Boy." Emily felt a sense of unease. Alexander had deliberately appeared here to provoke her, right under her nose. She hurried to the door, but Alexander had vanished.

Following the scent of poppies, Emily began running swiftly. Passersby only felt a gust of wind beside them but couldn't see anyone.

When she caught up to Alexander, they were already in a picturesque field on the outskirts. The scenery was beautiful, but there was an undercurrent of turmoil between them. It seemed as though Alexander had intentionally stopped there to wait for her. Otherwise, she knew that with her speed, she couldn't even catch up to Benjamin, let alone Alexander.

Alexander revealed his sharp fangs, gripping his prey in his hand and caressing his neck. The "Cream Boy" had completely lost his previous arrogance, trembling in fear and even wetting himself. Emily noticed that his pants were soaked, looking extremely disheveled. She wondered if Charlotte would still want to devour him after seeing him in this state.

"Alexander, what do you mean?" Emily stood before him and asked firmly.

Alexander smirked playfully, extending a finger with razor-sharp nails. He drew a cut on the "Cream Boy's" neck, and blood gushed out instantly. Alexander closed his eyes and savored the scent, appearing thoroughly pleased. However, Emily found his expression particularly vile.

"Alexander! Stop this!" Emily anxiously tried to intervene, but Alexander had already begun to enjoy his "dinner."

Emily grew impatient and rushed forward, intending to snatch the "Cream Boy" away. Alexander swiftly dodged her attack, just as he had done before, and released the "Cream Boy." He licked the blood off his lips and looked at Emily with a smirk that seemed both mocking and sinister.

"I have already crossed the line. What can you do to me?" Alexander's tone carried a stronger sense of provocation.

Emily, observing Alexander's expression, suddenly understood. From the very beginning, Alexander's target had been her. The "Cream Boy" was nothing more than a diversion. It wasn't that she was overflowing with compassion and insisted on saving an ignorant child, but rather that this child was the one Charlotte had set her sights on, and Emily impulsively rushed in without thinking.

If she had just taken a moment to think, she wouldn't have chased after them. She knew she couldn't save him. In this city, there were numerous vampires lurking in the shadows, and people died under their fangs every day. She didn't have the luxury of saving everyone.

At this realization, and as she looked at Alexander, regret began to set in. She knew she couldn't win against him, and now she wondered what Alexander's true motive was.

"Well, of course, I can't do anything," Emily suddenly changed her tone, a smile forming at the corner of her lips, as if she didn't care at all about the person standing before her.

When you meddle in other people's affairs and end up putting yourself in danger, Emily would definitely choose to protect herself. In this world, nobody owes anyone anything, and she had no reason to sacrifice her own life for a stranger, causing pain to those who cared about her.

"Since you want to enjoy your dinner, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll be on my way," Emily said with a smile, turning to leave. However, Alexander dropped the "Cream Boy" and stepped forward, blocking her path.

"But I've spotted an even more delicious dinner," Alexander said, his smile sharp as a knife. He firmly gripped Emily's waist with one hand while the other traced her neck with his sharp nails.

"But I'm the chosen princess of Boris. If you kill me, how will you explain it to him?" Emily feigned composure, attempting to use Boris as leverage. But she wasn't confident herself; it was an empty statement. If Alexander cared about Boris, he wouldn't have shown up in the first place.

Sure enough, Alexander sneered, "Do you think Boris cares more about you or values me more? Even if you're important now, if I were to kill you, do you think he would punish me to protect you?"

Emily could hear her heart pounding. Boris had put her through such brutal tests; it was clear he didn't have much confidence in her. Just as Alexander had said, even if he killed her, Boris would never punish Alexander to weaken the power of Les Umbres on her behalf.

Emily felt her throat go dry, unable to speak.

Observing Emily's reaction, Alexander laughed triumphantly. "Very well, it seems you have understood."

Yes, she had understood, but who was Emily? Until the very last moment, she would never give up on the hope of survival. Surrendering obediently without even putting up a fight wasn't Emily's style!

Alexander seemed to sense Emily's thoughts. Suddenly, he grabbed both of her arms and restrained them behind her, just like a police officer handling a criminal. His voice, filled with amusement, echoed in Emily's ears, "Do you want to choose an elegant setting or be devoured by me right here?"

The tone of voice was ambiguous and unclear. If someone unaware of the situation were to hear it, they would definitely think it was a couple engaging in playful banter, seeking excitement in the wilderness. However, upon hearing that voice, Emily was drenched in cold sweat. She couldn't quite grasp the true meaning behind his "devouring" remark. She remembered his habits, but did she really have to lose her innocence and life in such a vague and uncertain manner?

Alexander's grip on Emily's arms was as tight as a clamp, rendering her immobile. Before she could even come up with a feasible escape plan, he pounced on her, and beneath them was the soft grass and damp soil that soaked her clothes.

Emily struggled desperately, but Alexander pinned her down firmly, teasing her in a suggestive manner. It seemed like he wasn't in a hurry to devour her; he enjoyed toying with his prey.

Suddenly, a strong gust of wind swept through the surroundings. The delicate blades of grass swirled in the air, and Alexander's brows furrowed. His expression turned serious, and his eyes and ears became alert.

The grass around them swiftly grew thicker and harder, transforming into trees at a rapid pace. In no time, the area turned into a forest, but apart from the sound of the wind, nothing could be heard.

Alexander lost interest in playing with Emily. He stood up and perked his ears, listening for any sounds in the vicinity. Emily also sensed the danger and stood up, vigilantly observing her surroundings.

Suddenly, the leaves on those trees began to rapidly enlarge, transforming into mirrors. Each leaf became a portrait.

Emily's mind came to a halt. All around her, countless leaves, densely packed, displayed the faces of — her mother!