Addiction to Temptation: His Mischievous Sweetheart Captivates Him-Chapter 277: She Doesn’t Fancy You

Even though Natalie Vaughn had quickly come over to find Zane Thorne, the man still noticed Ian.

He reached out, pulling Natalie Vaughn to sit on his lap.

"Kristin, your charm is quite something."

For the first time, Natalie heard Zane call her by her English name, and she pinched her earlobe, feeling a bit odd yet curious.

"I wasn’t speaking to him."

Zane glanced at the bar, and upon catching Ian’s assessing gaze, he narrowed his eyes slightly before looking away.

"Hmm, it’s all Kristin’s overwhelming charm, attracting those who don’t know their limits."

Hearing this, Natalie only felt a prickly sensation on her back, uncomfortable all over, shifting restlessly.

"Could you stop calling me by my English name?"

Every time she heard it, it felt increasingly strange.

Almost like... flirting.

Zane placed his hand on Natalie Vaughn’s waist, steadied her body.

Ian came over, holding a drink.

"Is this the renowned executive of GN Group, Zane? Would you do me the honor of having a drink together?"

He spoke with gentlemanly decorum, smiling broadly, yet his eyes betrayed the inherent arrogance of a born noble.

Oh, and these Brythanian aristocrats have always looked down on Cinnabarians, in their eyes Zane was just a rich man encroaching on their market.

They carry that ridiculous noble blood with them at their core.

If at first Natalie Vaughn merely disliked his flashy style, now, upon seeing Ian’s gaze, she disliked the person himself.

She intended to speak up, but Zane beat her to it.

"I don’t feel like drinking tonight."

Ian froze for a moment, gazing at the glass on the table, and slowly his smile faded. From childhood, he had never been treated like this, no one dared make him wait.

"I am SHEN..."

Zane turned to look at Natalie Vaughn.

"You should go get some rest, or you’ll have a headache again."

Natalie Vaughn had come over solely to not disappoint Vivian, now that she had met everyone and had finished chatting, her drink done, there was indeed no reason to stay longer.

"Okay, I’ll go say a quick word to Vivian."

Having said this, Natalie Vaughn got up from Zane’s lap, not sparing Ian a glance, while Ian watched her leave for a long time.

Zane hated it most when others coveted his people, toying with his glass.

"Seems like the heir of SHEN Group isn’t much after all."

Ian narrowed his eyes slightly, curving his lips into a smile.

"Beautiful things are always alluring to people."

Zane stopped his fiddling, set the glass down on the table with a thud, looking up at Ian with a mocking smile.

"You think with just you, she’d notice you."

Ian originally thought Zane would assert his claim like men often do, but Zane didn’t even bother, simply implying Natalie didn’t care for him. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Ian sat down opposite Zane, crossing his legs and leaning back, exuding the posture of a superior as he twirled his drink.

"How would you know Kristin has no interest in me?"

"You’ve known all along, haven’t you?"

By then, Natalie Vaughn had talked to Vivian, and Zane stood up, casually flicking his clothes.

His gaze sharp in an instant.

"Mine is not someone you should mess with."

Saying that, Zane walked directly over to Natalie Vaughn.

Natalie Vaughn glanced at Ian.

"What were you talking about just now?"

Zane familiarly wrapped an arm around Natalie Vaughn’s waist.

"Telling him not to have any thoughts about you."

Natalie Vaughn’s brows shifted slightly, finding Zane’s expression somewhat endearing at the moment.

"I don’t even want to talk to him, what are you jealous of?"

Zane pinched Natalie Vaughn’s face.

"Not jealousy, just annoyed."

Natalie understood well. Just like when Zane had completely forgotten about Serena Blackwood, she found it disgusting all the same.

After the two left, Ian remained at his original spot, Vivian approached upon seeing him.

"Hey, Kristin’s husband is super handsome, I’m so envious."

Ian sneered, downing the remaining liquor.

"Your taste is too low-class."

Vivian was accustomed to Ian’s self-professed high-mindedness.

"Could it be your vision is flawed?"

Ian:...

"Such a handsome, capable, and caring man, it’s no wonder Kristin likes her husband. If your eyes are blind, go home and rest, stop holding up my designs."

Ian put down the glass, tidying his suit jacket.

"Just an ordinary GN, could it really compare to SHEN?"

Vivian wasn’t sure, but she kindly offered advice.

"Kristin’s family is very influential in Cinnabar, your family found you a well-matched fiancée, her husband’s family wouldn’t be any less."

Ian leaned over to give Vivian a kiss on the cheek.

"I will see who truly holds the power then."

With that, Ian rose and exited the bar.

Vivian disdainfully wiped her cheek several times, muttering.

"Madman."

...

Natalie Vaughn had two more days before starting her studies, and by the last day of rest, when her health was confirmed to be fully recovered, Zane took her to GN Group headquarters.

Jay Sterling and others had arrived last night, currently staying in the apartments next to the company.

Unlike the skyscrapers back home, GN Group’s headquarters in Brythania is a five-story building, its design uniquely similar to Zane’s Dragon’s Crest Villa.

Only the sports cars were exhibited on the fourth floor.

"Surely Carter Chapman designed this place?"

Zane acknowledged.

The atmosphere at GN Group’s Brythania headquarters was more lively than back home, as Zane led Natalie Vaughn into the building, all the employees left their posts and came down.

Someone whistled, another tossed candies from the snack area like confetti.

"Zane! You’re finally back!"

"Wow. Zane, you’re amazing! Is this your wife? She’s stunning!"

Nobody called him President Thorne here, they directly used his first name.

Natalie Vaughn was infected by this atmosphere.

A young man in a yellow hoodie came up to Natalie Vaughn, lifting her hand, just about to kiss it when Zane stopped him.

"Alan, keep your hands to yourself."

The boy named Alan shrugged, turning back to Natalie Vaughn.

"Beautiful lady, what is your name?"

Natalie Vaughn laughed, Alan was one of the three assistants Seraphina Sutton mentioned, stationed here when Zane was not around.

"Kristin."

"Wow, what a beautiful name."

Natalie Vaughn liked Alan’s lively character.

"Seraphina says she’s waiting for you in Cinnabar, she’s prepared lots of delicacies."

Alan clasped his hands together at his chest.

"Though I’d love to visit Cinnabar, having such a lovely lady here is too hard to leave."

Zane chuckled.

"If I recall, a couple of days ago in Kensingport, you urged me back to the office, and now you want to stay?"

"I didn’t know you’d bring your wife along."

"Your flight is in the afternoon."

Alan:...

"Zane! You’re so impossible."

Alan turned to Natalie Vaughn.

"Kristin, shall I show you around? I have lots about Zane to share with you."

Saying this, he even winked at Natalie Vaughn.

Stuff about Zane?

Natalie Vaughn glanced at Zane beside her, with the competition nearing, Zane needed to visit the club kids.

"Go ahead."

Given permission, Alan was about to take Natalie Vaughn’s hand, but Zane’s look stopped him.

Alan:... Zane’s too stingy, won’t even allow handholding.