Chapter8.The plot has gone off the rails!

Damn it, if you're going to do it, then do it all the way!

If I don't hit you hard, you won't know how many tricks I've got up my sleeve!

Ryan Anderson smirked. "Want me to calm down? Fine!"

He grabbed a bottle of expensive liquor and slammed it on the table. "Drink this."

First, Emily Bennett never drank. Her alcohol tolerance was terrible—just a sip would get her completely wasted.

Second, Emily Bennett had an ironclad sense of pride. She had never been forced to do anything in her life, let alone drink under pressure. She didn't do "punishment drinks."

Ryan Anderson didn't believe it. He refused to believe that Emily Bennett's principles had crumbled. He couldn't accept that she would bend over backward for him. This wasn't how a strong female lead was supposed to act. It wasn't her character.

He refused to believe it!

Emily Bennett stared at Ryan Anderson, her eyes filled with a mix of anger and sorrow, tears glistening at the corners.

Ryan Anderson looked at her, the woman he had pushed to her limits, and suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

Emily Bennett had never been treated like this in her life.

He had pampered her for three years, chased her for three years...

For three years, he had been the one bending over backward, compromising, speaking softly, and doing everything to please her.

She had always been the untouchable goddess, but today, he was determined to make her bow her head in public.

Ryan Anderson shouted at himself in his mind:

Ryan Anderson, why are you feeling sorry for her? Don't fall for those puppy-dog eyes! She's... ugh, just stay strong!

You can't let yourself get tangled up with her. Offend her now, break it off, and be done with it!

But damn, that look in her eyes... am I being too cruel here?

Ryan Anderson pretended not to care. "Not drinking? Fine. If you don't drink, you're disrespecting me. And if you disrespect me, you're disrespecting... me! Do you know who I am in Snow City? I'm—"

Before he could finish, Emily Bennett suddenly grabbed the bottle and started chugging.

Everyone in the room froze, watching in stunned silence.

Ryan Anderson watched as the proud, aloof Emily Bennett spilled liquor down her chin, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. He was mentally cheering himself on.

Ryan Anderson, don't feel sorry for her. Don't feel sorry for her. Don't feel sorry for her. Feeling sorry for her is just torturing yourself!

Don't actually drink it, sis! Just stop, scold me, slap me, or walk away! What are you doing?!

Emily Bennett suddenly choked, putting the bottle down as she coughed violently.

Ryan Anderson let out a sigh of relief. "Whew..."

But before he could relax, Emily Bennett grabbed the bottle again and started drinking.

Ryan Anderson couldn't take it anymore. He snatched the bottle away.

The two of them stared at each other, the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Emily Bennett's eyes were red, tears streaming down her face as she glared at Ryan Anderson, her expression screaming:

Are you happy now, Mr. Anderson? Are you satisfied, Mr. Anderson? Do you want me to keep drinking, Mr. Anderson?

Ryan Anderson couldn't meet her gaze. He looked away, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm... I'm sorry."

The club manager, sensing an opportunity to suck up, clapped his hands. "Bravo! Ms. Bennett, what a performance! Truly a—"

"Get out!"

Ryan Anderson roared.

The manager froze, then quickly whispered to the staff, "Go, everyone, out now."

The waiters and girls scrambled out of the room.

Ryan Anderson exhaled heavily and stood up. "Let's talk."

As they walked down the club's hallway, Emily Bennett was swaying unsteadily.

Ryan Anderson walked in silence, his mind filled with guilt.

I didn't mean to push you this far... How did things even get to this point?

Emily Bennett's mind was foggy, her steps wobbly. She stumbled, and Ryan Anderson quickly caught her.

The last thought Emily Bennett heard from Ryan Anderson was:

I'm sorry, really sorry. I didn't mean to...

In her daze, tears streamed down Emily Bennett's face as she murmured, "Ryan Anderson... you're a monster..."

Ryan Anderson picked her up in his arms and sighed. "You're right. I'm a monster."

Emily Bennett's secretary team was in a panic.

They had never dealt with a situation like this before.

The head secretary bowed respectfully. "Um... Mr. Anderson, you can leave Ms. Bennett with us. We'll take good care of her."

Ryan Anderson looked at them, his expression calm and sincere. "I won't hurt her. Don't worry."

The secretaries were stunned.

Over the years, they had seen Ryan Anderson in all sorts of states—shameless, despicable, self-righteous, and utterly without principles...

But they had never seen him look so sincere, so earnest, speaking such serious words.

For a moment, the girls were all in a daze.

Ryan Anderson smiled bitterly. "Look, Emily was hurt because of me today. I feel so guilty I could strangle myself. Please, just trust me. Give me a chance to make it up to her, okay?"

The head secretary awkwardly said, "Mr. Anderson, it's not that we don't trust you, but we think..."

At that moment, Emily Bennett, still in a daze, wrapped her arms around Ryan Anderson's neck and mumbled, "You guys go... I'm fine."

Ryan Anderson and the secretary team exchanged confused glances.

Was she really drunk, or was she just pretending?

The head secretary tried to confirm. "Ms. Bennett, are you sure you're okay? Do you want Mr. Anderson to take you home?"

"Mmm..."

Emily Bennett nuzzled her face against Ryan Anderson's chest, letting out a soft, coquettish sound.

The entire secretary team was even more baffled.

First, Ryan Anderson was acting completely out of character, almost scarily so.

Now Emily Bennett was showing a side of her they had never seen before—a shy, almost girlish demeanor.

The head secretary was sweating bullets. "Ms. Bennett, I need to confirm... are you really drunk, or..."

"Go away," Emily Bennett mumbled.

Ryan Anderson carried Emily Bennett out of the club.

Jack had already pulled the car around, grinning mischievously at Ryan Anderson.

As the car drove off, the head secretary stood frozen, her brow furrowed.

"Sister Han, this... Ms. Bennett is drunk, and we just handed her over to Mr. Anderson... This is so unprofessional!"

Another secretary chimed in, "But what choice did we have? We couldn't tell if she was really drunk and out of it, or if she was just... using it as an excuse to be with Mr. Anderson."

"But... didn't Ms. Bennett hate Mr. Anderson?"

"True, but today she was the one who sought him out. And... you saw what happened."

Sister Han sighed, watching the car disappear into the distance. "If Ms. Bennett is really drunk, we're all dead tomorrow."

...

Jack was behind the wheel, his mischievous eyes constantly glancing at the rearview mirror.

Ryan Anderson kept wiping Emily Bennett's face with a wet towel, asking if she was feeling better. Emily Bennett was still in a daze,

Jack couldn't help himself. "Boss, I've got to hand it to you. That play hard to get move was genius! I was wondering why you suddenly turned into Mr. Nice Guy. Turns out you were saving this for the end. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

Ryan Anderson shot him a look. "I'm just taking care of someone I hurt. I'm not plotting anything, got it?"

"Got it, boss." Jack nodded earnestly, though his lips were twitching with suppressed laughter.

"Honestly, sometimes I'm really glad I work for you, Boss. Your upright character and noble morals are an inspiration. If everyone in the world were as compassionate as you, the world would be a better place."

"Speaking of which, I know this love hotel that's super discreet. They've got all sorts of toys and equipment. If we just slip the manager a little cash, he'll even throw in a free multi-angle recording system..."

Ryan Anderson couldn't deal with this idiot anymore. He silently raised the partition glass. He could still see Jack, but Jack couldn't see or hear what was happening in the back.

Slip him a little cash? That's not free!

Even if Ryan Anderson were the most despicable person alive, he wouldn't take advantage of someone like this.

In his past life, he was just a delivery guy. He'd read plenty of web novels and watched his share of adult films. He might even consider himself half an expert.

But he knew better than to let that influence his real-life actions.

His upbringing and morals wouldn't allow it.

Besides, Emily Bennett was off-limits. The male lead's woman was untouchable—that was an ironclad rule!

In every novel he'd read, the female lead was never taken by the villain.

And if he even thought about it, Leo would show up out of nowhere.

No matter how hidden the location, Leo would find them. Logic? Who cared about logic in web novels!

Even if he were on the moon trying to mess with Emily Bennett, Leo would have some miraculous encounter and pop up, scaring him so badly he'd lose control of his bladder.

Not only would he fail, but he'd also instantly max out the hatred level with the male lead.

Leo would, in front of Emily Bennett, furiously show his protective instincts, how heartbroken and desperate he was for her...

So, how would the male lead express such complex, intense emotions?

By beating the crap out of him!

Yes, beating him to a pulp!

He might even castrate him, then burn his entire family to the ground.

Then Leo would hold Emily Bennett, heartbroken, in a tone straight out of a cheesy drama:

"Emily, it's my fault. I didn't protect you. Blame me! Hit me! Scold me! That would make me feel better!"

"Oh no! No! No! I won't look down on your hand being touched by him. It's not your fault!"

"I, Leo, swear, from now on, no one will ever bully you again. You're my woman, forever!"

Ryan Anderson shuddered, nervously checking if any cars were following them.

Damn it, a moment of soft-heartedness, and now I've got the female lead in my car!

Heaven as my witness! I have no bad intentions. You... you're the male lead. You have to be reasonable. You have to have morals. I didn't want to do anything bad, so you can't hit me!

And you can't castrate me.

Castration... is immoral.

Ryan Anderson lowered the partition. "Jack, take us home."

"Take us... home?"

"Is that hard to understand? Damn it!"

"No, not hard to understand."

The night was deep.

Sitting in the back of the car, Ryan Anderson felt mentally exhausted. Too much had happened today, way too much.

Others might think it was nothing, but he had narrowly escaped death several times.

Just then, his phone rang.

Ryan Anderson answered; it was Sophia Wilson.

"Ryan, what are you up to? Come to the pharmaceutical plant right away. I'm waiting for you."

"What?"

Ryan Anderson was on the verge of breaking down. "Sis! Heavens! I've been going through the plot all day. Can't I get a break? Are villains not human?"

Sophia Wilson was stunned, thinking, what is this guy babbling about?

"No, it's you who said that batch of medicine needed to be destroyed as soon as possible. My team has already arranged everything. We'll destroy it tonight and hold a press conference tomorrow. We need to work through the night."

"Aren't you the vice president of the pharmaceutical plant? You can handle it!"

"Hehe, operations of this level require the president's personal signature. Besides, don't you miss me?"

"I miss your big head! You're always trying to frame me! First tell me, are you with Leo?"

"Leo? That so-called 'miracle doctor' from today? Pfft, who does he think he is? My heart only has room for you."

Ryan Anderson was almost crying. "Sis, I beg you, let me go, okay? Stop with the nonsense. Here's what we'll do: I'll go to the pharmaceutical plant and personally oversee the destruction process. You don't need to go. Let's just not see each other, okay?"

"Hmm, that won't do." Sophia Wilson said. "According to standard destruction procedures, you, me, the leader of the drug regulatory agency, our head of the internal review committee, and relevant notary personnel must all be present. No exceptions."

Ryan Anderson clutched his head in agony. "I get it, but I'm telling you, this time I will definitely hold on until the end! Absolutely! You guys won't frame me!"

Ryan Anderson finally shouted, then roughly hung up the phone.

Sophia Wilson was baffled. "Has this guy gone mad? What's all this nonsense?"

Ryan Anderson lay in the back seat, feeling even weaker than the "drunk" Emily Bennett.

Just then, the system dinged.

"System reminder: Congratulations, villain, for controlling the female lead Emily Bennett. The male lead is already on his way to rescue her. Wishing you to overcome all obstacles and turn misfortune into fortune."

Ryan Anderson's eyes widened as he shouted, "Do you guys have any humanity?!"