Chapter: 383

Then, Norah's mind shifted to Sean, wondering whether he harbored similar thoughts.

Every time Sean laid eyes on her, regardless of her identity, he always gazed at her with admiration shining in his eyes. Even after an accidental night together, Sean's gaze toward her never held such a lascivious intent.

Taking another sip, Norah felt the alcohol's warmth but remained alert.

“Are you wealthy?" Norah asked bluntly, staring at Josh, seeing no issue with her question.

"Well..." Josh's grin waned, his eyes narrowing as he replied, “What do you consider wealthy? I'm not strapped for cash. Tens of thousands of dollars are easily accessible to me."

"I see."

Norah's demeanor turned frosty, leaving Josh's smile uncertain.

Josh was taken aback by Norah's sudden disinterest upon his revelation of financial comfort. He couldn't help but ponder the depth of her wealth.

"Could you clarify your question? I'd enjoy continuing our conversation," Josh said, hoping to engage Norah further.

“Since you've treated me to a drink, I'll explain. By ‘rich,’ I'm referring to those who find their names on the global billionaires list. Do you belong to that echelon?" Norah raised an eyebrow.

Josh's expression chilled. “If you're not interested, you could just tell me directly. You don't have to say these words."

Josh was skeptical of any billionaire frequenting here, where the elite had access to their exclusive vineyards and extravagant wines, well beyond his means.

"Why the defensiveness?" Norah asked, sipping her wine with a calm that belied her interest.

Josh mistook her composed demeanor for a slight against his financial status, his look hardening. Yet, his desire for her intensified. In his mind, Norah was nothing more than a gold-digger. He figured she would drop her facade once he got her alone.

Norah internally lamented the shift in Josh's demeanor, attributing it to her looks making genuine conversation rare.

"Thanks for the drink. I'll be leaving now," Norah stated, setting down her half-finished wine without a glance back and rising to leave.

Josh, intent on detaining her, reached out, only for Norah to evade, seize his wrist, and expertly flip him to the floor.

“Is this how you react to a polite farewell? I refuse to be coerced into staying. Your drink doesn't buy my time with you," Norah declared, standing her ground as Josh, assisted by the bartender, shakily got back on his feet.

Josh's smirk was a declaration of his intentions toward Norah. "You must've heard of me before stepping into Flame Club," he stated confidently.

Their altercation caught the attention of onlookers who recognized Josh and promptly diverted their gaze. Despite the booming music, murmurs about Josh reached Norah's ears.

“I considered approaching that stunning woman, but upon spotting Josh, I retreated. He always gets whom he desires."

“Poor thing, caught by Mr. Sampson. Without intervention, that lovely lady might not escape his grasp tonight."

“Such beauty is rare, reminiscent of figures from those glamorous videos."

Josh's reputation as a boastful regular at Flame Club was well-known.