Unmasking Mrs. Newton's Secret Identities novel Chapter 1723

Adrian let out a disdainful snort, his eyes gleaming with menace. "What if she's here of her own free will?"

Hobart scoffed, keeping his voice steady. "If your idea of 'voluntary' involves surrounding her with bodyguards and locking her inside, then what does consent even mean?"

Adrian's patience waned. He turned to Ursula and beckoned her with a gentle wave of his hand. "Come here."

Ursula's hands curled slightly at her sides. After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward to stand beside him.

Adrian shifted his position, ensuring she stood just right to block Hobart's view.

He brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his palm gliding along her cheek. His voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable weight—an invisible pressure that enveloped her. "Kiss me."

It was both a command and a warning. Though he said nothing more, Ursula understood all too well the consequences of defying him.

Adrian took a step back, his smile seemingly innocent, but only Ursula recognized the threat hiding beneath that facade.

While Hobart couldn't fully decipher Adrian's intentions, his worry for Ursula was palpable. "Ursula, don't be afraid! Speak your truth. I'm here to help!" he called boldly.

At Hobart's words, a flicker of hatred flashed in Adrian's eyes. Although he quickly masked it, Ursula saw it all too clearly. She knew that if she didn't comply, Hobart could be put in serious danger.

With that thought weighing heavily on her, she clenched her fists and rose onto her toes, giving Adrian a quick kiss on the lips. She then stepped back, lowering her head to hide her embarrassment.

As the door clicked shut, Ursula collapsed onto the couch, her hand flying to her lips as she tried to erase the lingering sensation of the kiss.

To Adrian, this scene felt like a blatant provocation.

His gaze darkened in an instant as he grabbed her by the neck, pinning her against the back of the couch. "Is this how much you hate me? You'd rather kiss Hobart and run away with him, wouldn't you? Tell me!"

Ursula's face turned crimson as she struggled to breathe, yet she refused to give in. "Go ahead, kill me—kill our child too!"

Adrian's grip tightened, his veins bulging with tension as a sinister thought crossed his mind. For a fleeting moment, he seriously considered ending it all—taking both their lives to ensure no one could ever steal her away from him again.