Reborn as the Villainess

Eleanor, in Stephen's arms, was thoroughly drunk. Her eyes were misty and unfocused. Her slightly pouted red lips exhaled the scent of alcohol while her flushed cheeks glowed with a delicate beauty. She leaned into his embrace, soft and compliant, and once Stephen held her, it was hard to let go. At this moment, the alcohol had completely taken over Eleanor. Her eyes were full of confusion as she tilted her head and stared at Stephen. "Who...who are you? And why are you in my house?"

"This is your house?" Stephen raised a brow.

"Mm-hmm, my house." Eleanor nodded earnestly. After glancing around with exaggerated seriousness, her already confused expression deepened. "Huh? Where did my bed go? Did you steal my bed?" she asked, her gaze shifting toward the statues at the hotel entrance. She pouted, "Strange... Since when did I get two big dogs at my place?"

Eleanor looked dazed, pitiful, and cute and was extremely clingy when drunk.

Stephen smiled, "You little drunkard." Even he didn't notice the warmth in his own eyes.

Just then, a figure suddenly stepped in front of Stephen. "Put her down."

Stephen's smile vanished in an instant. He lifted his gaze toward Gregory, a chill filling the air. "Move aside, he said.

Gregory felt his legs go weak under Stephen's icy stare. He thought, "This doesn't make sense. Even if I'm a bottom-rung player in Ghost Sect, I have climbed to the top over the bodies of others. How could a mere glance from a regular guy rattle me like this? It has to be my imagination.'

Gregory gathered himself and forced himself to be calm, adopting the attitude he'd only ever used during missions for Ghost Sect. "I said, put her down. Didn't you hear me?"This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Stephen locked eyes with Gregory, calm but imposing. "Are you ordering me?"

Gregory's face remained cold, refusing to back down. "That's right. I'm ordering you. You'd better be smart and put my girl down. If you do, I'll let this slide. But if you keep acting like you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for what happens next." 'His girl?' Stephen thought. As soon as those words left Gregory's mouth, the air around them seemed to drop a few degrees.

Stephen's gaze turned even more vicious, murderous intent clear in his eyes. His cold stare pierced Gregory like he could grind him to dust any second. "Oh? Is that so?"

Gregory's own gaze hardened instantly. "Whether it is or isn't, let's find out."

Gregory narrowed his eyes, his murderous intent surged, and the next second, he swung out a punch, fiercely attacking Stephen's vital parts, each punch faster and more lethal than the last.

Still holding Eleanor, Stephen dodged easily, his expression growing more serious. He hadn't expected Gregory to be using techniques straight from the organization.

Then, suddenly, a bloodthirsty smile tugged at Stephen's lips. He spun and kicked Gregory to the ground swiftly, pinning Gregory's shoulder under his polished leather shoe. Stephen ground his heel into him with such force it felt like he was about to shatter Gregory's bones.

"Who are you?" Stephen's voice dripped with a chilling emptiness.

Gregory hadn't anticipated that his most lethal moves could be countered so effortlessly. Humiliated and enraged, he spat, "I'm your

father

Stephen's eyes flared with a dangerous red, and he pressed harder. "I'll ask one last time. Who the hell are you?"

"Ugh..." Sweat began to bead on Gregory's forehead from the pain, but he refused to give in. "I told you. I'm your father."

Just then, Carter arrived on the scene, only to be greeted by the sight of Gregory being ruthlessly stomped into the ground by Stephen. Like a trapped animal, Gregory was still arrogantly claiming to be Stephen's father.

5

The absurdity of it all nearly made Carter faint on the spot. In his ten-plus years on the job, never had he felt so desperate to quit as he did today.

But, no matter how much Carter wanted to bolt, logic won out. Scrambling over, he tried to pull Gregory up, awkwardly apologizing to Stephen as he went. "Mr. Lloyd, my deepest apologies. He's had too much to drink. If he's offended you in any way, please let it go. Don't stoop to his level."

"That's nonsense! I haven't had a drop of alcohol. Now hurry up and make him put her down." Even with Stephen's foot pressing him down, Gregory showed no sign of backing down.

Carter, terrified, immediately grabbed Gregory and whispered urgently in his ear, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? That's Mr. Lloyd."

But Gregory was so consumed with the thought of his sect leader being defiled by this scoundrel that he didn't care about any "Mr. Lloyd" or whatever. His hair practically stood on end as he shouted, "I don't care who the hell he-mmph, mmph!" Before Gregory could say something reckless, Carter clamped a hand over his mouth, cutting him off.

Forcing a smile, Carter turned to Stephen, his face full of wrinkles from the effort. "Mr. Lloyd, please don't mind him. He forgot to take his meds before leaving the house today. I'll make sure he gets them as soon as possible."

He shot a glance at the bodyguards standing by the door. "What are you standing around for? Tie him up and haul him out of here."

Fortunately, Carter had planned ahead, knowing how unruly Gregory could be. He always kept a few bodyguards nearby, whether for situations like this or to deal with any crazed fans that might pop up. It never hurt to be prepared.

Stephen lowered his gaze to the young man trapped under his shoe, his eyes narrowing. His strikingly handsome face radiated a vibe of absolute authority, a natural-born ruler.

The commotion between the two must have been too much because Eleanor, in Stephen's arms, blinked her misty eyes open. She looked like she was about to cry, her delicate expression pitiful beyond words.

Stephen suddenly remembered Eleanor was still awake. Realizing she might've been frightened by the scene, he quickly lifted his foot off Gregory. "Get lost."

Carter finally breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "Thank you, Mr. Lloyd.*

The bodyguards, well-practiced at tying Gregory up by now, swiftly and efficiently wrapped him up.

But today, Gregory was unusually fired up. Even trussed up, he struggled against the ropes, his face flushed red with fury as he glared daggers at Stephen. "Come on, let's settle this one-on-one. Only cowards hide behind backup. You stole my sect leader. I won't rest until we're even. You son of a-mmph, mmph!"

Out of nowhere, Carter pulled a handkerchief and shoved it into Gregory's mouth. He chuckled awkwardly, "Gregory had a bit of an accident on set and got kicked in the head by a horse, so he tends to ramble nonsense. Please don't take him seriously. It's getting late anyway, and we've got filming tomorrow. We'll be on our way now."

Carter waved urgently, signaling the bodyguards to haul Gregory to the car before Stephen could lose his temper.

The car sped off smoothly, and once they arrived back at the hotel, Carter ordered the bodyguards to untie Gregory.

0:44 Thu, Nov 14

As soon as the ropes were off, Gregory kicked squarely into Car blow, sending the defenseless Carter flying 10 feet across the ro 10:44 Thu, Nov 14 B