Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Trouble

Chapter 90: Trouble

Grace held her fork and knife mid–air while her eyes were locked on Segen in sheer disbelief.

For someone who had supposedly lived on the streets, he handled bis utensils with surprisingly well. His posture was effortlessly straight and his every movement were smooth and refined. He cut into his food with ease. Not once did he hunch over his plate or devour his meal like a starving man. Instead, he ate with the composed grace of someone who had been raised among luxury and discipline.

Her grip on her utensils loosened before she finally set them down blinking a few times as if trying to make sense of what she was witnessing.

“Segen,” she called with an edge of suspicion in her voice. “Who are you, really?”

The question made him pause mid–bite, before he slowly lowered his fork. His eyes flickered toward her cautiously.

“Uh…” He cleared his throat. “Why are you asking me that again? He hesitated, his fingers lightly tapping against the knife’s handle before he set it down as well.

Grace leaned forward slightly as her brows knitted together. “Because…” She gestured toward him vaguely. “You are way too polished for someone who’s been living on the streets.”

Segen blinked, seemingly caught off guard. “Polished?”

“You have etiquette, Segen.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Most beggars don’t.”

A brief silence settled between them before he finally responded in a calm and unbothered tone.

“I’m simply copying what you were doing.”

Grace frowned. She studied his expression, searching for suspicious reaction, but there were none.

For a few moments, she debated pushing further, but ultimately, she exhaled sharply and picked up her utensils again. “Fine.

Whatever.”

She stabbed a piece of steak and popped it into her mouth, doing her best to ignore the unsettling feeling creeping up her spine. But just as she was about to let it go, she felt his stare.

Segen was watching her.

She chewed slowly, her gaze flickering up to meet his.

But he didn’t look away.

A twitch of annoyance tugged at her lips. “What?” she asked, exasperated.

Segen tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his cognac–colored eyes. “You’re staring at me a lot.”

Grace scoffed, rolling her eyes. “And you’re not?”

His lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. “I can’t help it,” he murmured, resting his chin on his palm. “You’re just so beautiful.

“I

Grace choked.

She coughed violently, nearly dropping her fork as heat rushed to her face. “W–What?!”

Segen just blinked at her, completely unbothered. “What?” he echoed innocently. “I thought it was obvious.”

Grace’s ears burned. She opened her mouth–probably to scold him, probably—but before she could say a single word, a sharp voice cut through the air.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Grace nearly jumped out of her seat.

Segen turned his head lazily just in time to see Marco striding toward them, his expression dark with fury, his sharp eyes locked onto Grace like she had just committed some unspeakable crime.

“Oh, great.” Grace groaned instantly putting down her fork and kife in annoyance.

Segen, on the other hand, kept eating, completely unbothered which made Marco’s eye twitch.

Marco’s eye twitched. “Who is this man?!” He interrogated.

“None of your business.”

Grace’s tone was sharp, dismissive, and utterly indifferent as if Marco’s concern meant nothing.

But that only made his anger worse.

His fingers twitched before his patience finally snapped. In one swift motion, he grabbed her wrist, his grip firm but not enough to hurt.

“Let’s go home,” Marco ordered through clenched teeth, his voice dangerously low. “You just recovered. You should be resting.”

But Grace didn’t flinch and remained calm. Instead, she gave him a pointed glare, her other hand instinctively reaching for the Knife rested beside her plate. Her fingers brushed against the handle.

“Let go of me, Marco.” Her voice remained calm, but her eyes burned with defiance. “Don’t make me stab you with my knife. This is too blunt for a heartless bastard like you.”

Yet, Marco’s grip only tightened and that was when Segen finally intervened.

“Let go of her, please.”

His voice wasn’t aggressive. If anything, it was polite–calm, measured, and unwavering. He had carefully placed his fork and knife down before speaking, as if this situation was nothing more than an unpleasant conversation rather than a brewing fight.

That calmness, that eerie lack of hostility, made Marco snap his head toward him.

And it enraged him.

Something about the way Segen sat there unfazed, completely unshaken by Marco’s presence set him off.

With no hesitation, Marco let go of Grace’s wrist–only to grab Segen by the collar.

The action was so sudden that Segen barely had time to react before a sharp fist collided with his jaw.

The force sent him toppling off his chair, hitting the ground with a harsh thud. A few customers gasped, some standing in alarm, but before anyone could intervene, Marco had already yanked Segen up by his collar and dragged him out of the

restaurant.

“Marco!” Grace shoved her chair back, shoving past stunned waiters as she ran after them. “Stop!”

Marco had thrown Segen outside against the brick wall and his fist collided with his stomach this time. The impact forced a choked grunt out of Segen as his body curled slightly from the pain

But he didn’t fight back. He didn’t even raise his hands to block the next punch that landed against his ribs. Marco didn’t care. His fury had completely taken over, and with each strike, his anger only grew.

Segen barely staggered, but Marco grabbed him by the coat and threw him down again, his breath ragged.

The moment Grace saw another punch about to land, she lunged forward and shoved Marco back with all the force she had.

“Stop! Damn it!”

Her body trembled as she knelt beside Segen, whose lip was split,lood tralling from the comer of his mouth.

Her hands moved on their own, grasping his shoulders before she pulled him into a tight embrace.

“Stop already!” she yelled, pressing her forehead against him, as shielding him. “I’m going with you, okay?! Just stop!”

The sight of Segen who was bleeding shook Grace to her core. Her body tensed as a buried memory forced its way to the surface. Blood. Cold skin. The weight of her sister’s lifeless body in her arms.

A tremor ran through her uncontrollably, which Segen Instantly niced. His sharp eyes widened as the bruises on his face which was momentarily forgotten as his concern for her took over Without thinking, he straightened slightly, his instincts shifting not to defend himself, but to protect her.

“Hey… I’m fine. Look at me.”

Grace didn’t move. But Segen gently shifted in her arms, tilting his head slightly to catch her gaze.

“I’m okay,” he said again, his voice light despite the bruises forming on his face. “See? It takes more than that to hurt me.” He whispered.

Grace finally pulled back slightly but before she could recover, Marco seized her wrist again. His patience has now completely depleted.

“We’re leaving.”

As he yanked her up, her jacket sleeve slid down slightly.

That was when Segen saw those faint, healing cuts on her skin. His eyes turned dark in an instant as the lighthearted teasing a second ago, vanished.

His gaze lifted to Marco and Marco returned his starè coldly.

“Do not ever come near her again.”

Without another word, he pulled Grace toward the waiting car.

Segen remained on the pavement, watching the vehicle disappear into the crowded road. The surrounding chatter of bystanders and murmurs of alarm faded into the background.

He slowly stood up and then exhaled sharply, running a hand through his now–messy hair.

And in a low, almost breathless voice, he muttered,

“Grace Blackwood… You trouble me.”