CHAPTER 4 WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?

* Frowning, Oona took a defensive step back and unleashed a powerful, precise punch.

* To her astonishment, the man seemingly anticipated her move, effortlessly raising his hand to block her fist with his.

* Despite his casual demeanor, he possessed captivating eyes with a carefree magnetism.

* However, a flicker of chilling rage crossed his face when his gaze fell upon the fresh wound on the back of Oona’s hand.

* He swiftly removed his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. “Put it on!” Clayton commanded curtly.

* “Hell no!” Oona retorted icily, shrugging off his outstretched hand and striking the back of it.

* This only elicited a soft chuckle from Clayton. “They say a playful touch shows love, a scolding shows you care. That little tap was nothing, love. How about a little more feeling?”

* Oona’s brows knitted together, her gaze sharpening as she scrutinized him.

* Few could react to her punches with such agility. This man was no ordinary individual.

* “Psycho!” Oona yanked her hand back, her sneer deepening.

* Clayton’s eyes twinkled with amusement. He looked at Oona affectionately, a satisfied smirk on his lips. “Now that’s better.”

* “Get off me!” Oona’s voice was icy.

* Footsteps echoed down the stairs, making Oona squint.

* Before she could react, Clayton had her in his arms, burying her face in his chest.

* Suddenly, the man’s cold and musky scent filled her nose, surrounding her. Oona had never been this close to a man, and her body stiffened.

* Clayton noticed her tense up and leaned in, whispering reassurances in her ear.

* “Relax, just follow my lead,” his deep, sexy voice rumbled, sending shivers down Oona’s spine. But a dangerous glint sparked in her dark eyes at the same time.

* Meanwhile, the approaching group stopped dead in their tracks.

* Seeing them entangled was a shock, especially when they recognized the man as Clayton, the infamous third son of the bigshot Goetz family in Brookville. He was a total bad boy—someone you wouldn’t dare mess with.

* But apparently, Ms. Walsh, aka Verona, had ordered them to grab Oona and get rid of her for good.

* Holding Oona close like he was protecting her, Clayton glared at them with ice-cold eyes. “What the heck are you gawking at? Can’t you see I’m getting hot and heavy with my lady here?”

* The group of guys instantly freaked out, stammering apologies before scrambling away. They knew better than to cross Clayton – trust me, anyone who did would regret it big time.

* Once they were gone, Clayton wrapped his arms around Oona’s soft body, hesitant to let her go. He took a big sniff and grinned like a total creep. “Damn, you smell good!”

* Oona practically froze at his gross, flirty comment. Without a second thought, she aimed a vicious kick straight for his private parts.

* Clayton, as if expecting it, easily dodged her potentially crippling kick.

* He then winked playfully and gave her a charming smirk. “Woah, woah, easy there! Shouldn’t you be thanking your knight in shining armor? Maybe show some appreciation… in a different way?”

* Oona squinted at him, her eyes flashing with danger. “Who the hell are you?” she demanded.

* Those thugs were clearly after her, but this man had somehow scared them off. That spoke volumes about his importance.

* Clayton raised an eyebrow, amusement sparkling as he stared at her. “You don’t recognize me?”

* “Do I have any reason to recognize you?” Oona shot back coldly, refusing to give in to his audacious flirt and play.

* Back in her world, with her abilities and influence, she would have knocked him flat for even thinking about hitting on her.