The Moment I Stepped Into His World as the Fake Girlfriend, I Became the Real Prize novel Chapter 101

Leaving the bustling city center, the motorcycle ventured into the quieter outskirts.

After winding through a maze of narrow alleyways.

It finally rolled to a stop in front of the dilapidated building known as The Gray-Stone Tenements.

Even from a distance, the flashing lights of a parked police cruiser were visible.

Elena took off her helmet, gripping the waistband of her oversized pants as she hopped off. She threw a glance at the young man dismounting behind her. "Told you the cops would beat us here."

Sterling pulled his helmet off with one hand. He looked a little pale and completely ignored her.

"Master Sterling, you don't look so good. Was the ride too fast for you? Are you going to throw up?"

Elena's mock concern earned her a fiery, red-rimmed glare.

He swallowed hard, biting back his nausea, and pushed past her to sprint up the stairs.

The crumbling tenements had no elevator, leaving Elena with no choice but to awkwardly trudge up the steps, keeping one hand firmly planted on her pants to keep them from dropping.

Up on the fifth floor, the hallway was cloaked in dim, flickering light that barely pierced the shadows.

Two police officers stood near the stairwell, sternly reprimanding a drunk, middle-aged man.

Standing right next to the officers was Sasha.

She rented an apartment not far from Lydia's, so she had rushed over immediately after calling Sterling.

Arthur, the drunkard, wasn't entirely blacked out and kept slurring his defense. "I just had a few too many! I got the wrong door, I swear I didn't do anything!"

Sasha, her face still visibly swollen, snapped at him furiously. "Oh yeah? What exactly were you planning to do?"

Arthur scowled, looking defiant. "Why don't you ask her what she wanted me to do? She opened the door, called me over, and begged me to come inside to fix some water heater! If that isn't leading a guy on, what is?"

"And then what? The second I tried to walk in, she slammed the door in my face! She wasted my damn time, and then she has the nerve to call the cops..."

Before Arthur could finish, Sasha spat on the ground in utter disgust. "Gross! You're a repulsive creep. Stop spreading your filthy lies! Who's going to believe a word you say?"

"Let me warn you, my best friend's boyfriend is the heir to the Hawthorne empire! You are less than dirt compared to him. Don't flatter yourself thinking you ever had a shot!"

"He's on his way right now, and you are so dead! Just wait until he gets his hands on you!"

Her arrogant rant sparked Arthur's anger, but with the police standing right there, he had to swallow his rage.

"The Hawthorne heir's girlfriend lives in a dump like this? Keep dreaming!"

He eventually muttered under his breath.

"You have no idea. If the cops hadn't arrived in time, he was going to break the door down! Lydia would have been in serious danger!"

She pointed an accusing finger at the drunkard, aggressively exaggerating the story.

Still panting, Sterling lunged forward and delivered a vicious kick to Arthur's stomach, sending the man sprawling onto his back.

"Fuck! Who the hell are you?"

Arthur clutched his stomach, his face twisted in agony as he cursed from the floor.

Sterling's expression was freezing cold, staring down at the man as if looking at a corpse.

"Hmph, serves you right! That's what you get for harassing Lydia. Her boyfriend is here now, let's see you try that again."

Sasha sneered triumphantly, then gestured toward the closed door for Sterling.

"Sterling, hurry up and comfort her. She needs you right now..."

Sterling stepped up to the door and knocked gently. "Lydia, it's me. Open the door, let me see you."

The door didn't budge. Lydia's muffled voice drifted through the wood. "Sterling, why are you here? Why aren't you with Ms. Larkin?"