Julian watched the chaotic scene inside the training room, his brows furrowed in deep concern. "Will that sedative harm her body?"
Butler Chen sighed heavily. "Yes, Master Vance... Every time after the injection, Miss Sterling suffers from excruciating stomach pains for three straight days—the kind of pain that leaves her paralyzed in agony."
His voice turned bitter as he added, "But if we don’t sedate her once she wears herself out, she’ll remain trapped in a bloodthirsty, manic loop forever."
Julian cursed silently in his mind. What kind of twisted author gives the female lead such a painful, agonizing condition?!
"Master Vance," Butler Chen added hurriedly, fearing Julian might grow terrified of Victoria and try to run away, "please don’t be afraid of Miss Sterling. She always senses when an episode is coming on and forces everyone out beforehand so she won’t hurt you."
"The only reason Miss Sterling became like this is because of the horrific trauma she endured during her childhood," Butler Chen explained earnestly. "She truly cares for you, Master Vance. Over all these years, she has never allowed a single man near her. You are the only one who has stayed by her side."
In fact, she was the only person Victoria cared about in the entire world—not even her own relatives meant anything to her.
Seeing his cold, robotic young mistress finally show genuine human warmth toward Julian had filled Butler Chen with immense relief.
"Master Vance, you should step back out into the hallway quickly, lest Miss Sterling accidentally strike you!" Butler Chen pleaded.
Suddenly, a sharp notification rang in Julian’s mind:
[ Host! You need to solve this crisis for Victoria Sterling. You two are bound together—if anything happens to her state of mind, your life of luxury will crumble! ]
Julian complained internally. This System is a total scam!
Still, Victoria was his ultimate golden thigh and beloved partner—he couldn’t just stand by and watch her suffer.
Screw it! Let’s go all in!
Taking advantage of the chaotic crossfire, Julian dashed straight past the armored guards and wrapped his arms firmly around Victoria from behind!
Butler Chen’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Master Vance?!" he roared in sheer panic. "What are you doing?! Get back!"
Victoria whirled around instantly, her bloodshot eyes locking onto Julian.
Looking straight into her dark, empty gaze, Julian felt a sudden chill run down his spine. Her expression was terrifyingly predatory—unrecognizing and completely feral.
A flash of instant regret hit him. Holy crap, I want to retreat! What do I do?!
But the System had told him to calm her down!
Because of their proximity, Victoria didn’t immediately strike him. She stood frozen, her chest heaving, staring intently at Julian—or more specifically, staring at his lips.
Butler Chen shouted frantically to the guards, "Quickly! Surround Miss Sterling and protect Master Vance!"
Despite their injuries, the armored guards surged forward again.
A flicker of violent impatience flashed in Victoria’s eyes. This time, she didn’t give the guards a chance to come anywhere near Julian.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
In a flurry of lightning-fast strikes, the remaining guards were thrown across the room, crashing against the padded walls. Even Butler Chen was swept off his feet and knocked to the floor.
Despair washed over Butler Chen. It’s over... Master Vance is going to get torn apart!
With no one left to disturb her, Victoria’s bloodthirsty gaze fell back onto Julian’s mouth.
His lips look so warm... Should I cut them off and turn them into a specimen to keep forever ..?
Julian had no idea how to pull a yandere out of a manic episode, but seeing her hand slowly reach up toward his throat, he decided to test the only thing he knew worked.
Everyone in the room held their breath in utter terror.
Just as Victoria’s fingers were about to clamp down on Julian’s neck, Julian suddenly leaned forward, grabbed her waist, and captured her lips in a firm, passionate kiss.
Seeing this, Butler Chen closed his eyes in pure despair. Miss Sterling was already out of her mind, and Master Vance went and kissed her?! He’s not surviving tonight...
He couldn’t bear to watch the tragic scene about to unfold.
Victoria felt a soft, soothing warmth spread across her lips, and her entire body stiffened in shock.
Her manic mind had originally been contemplating carving off his lips as a permanent trophy, but the actual physical sensation of kissing him felt infinitely better...
A spark of clarity returned to her dark eyes as if she had just discovered an intoxicating miracle.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Julian’s neck, closed her eyes, and returned the kiss with desperate, hungry intensity, savoring his warmth like a starving traveler stumbling upon a feast.
"Butler Chen, look!" an injured guard gasped from the floor, pointing excitedly toward the center of the room. "Master Vance is completely fine!"
Butler Chen opened one eye, full of disbelief—only to see Victoria clinging to Julian, kissing him with absolute, undivided devotion.
"This... this... this—" Butler Chen’s jaw dropped.
Master Vance was actually unharmed!
Even more astonishingly, the violent, manic aura surrounding Victoria was visibly dissipating, replaced by a soft, needy clinging.
Could Master Vance really be the literal cure for Miss Sterling’s incurable condition?!
Trapped in her episode, Victoria couldn’t process complex thoughts, so she simply clung to Julian like a lifeline, kissing him endlessly to soothe the chaotic noise inside her head.
Minutes ticked by slowly.
One minute... five minutes... fifteen minutes...
A massive question mark began to form in the minds of every guard lying on the floor.
How long can two people possibly kiss for?!
Julian and Victoria stood in the center of the training room, locked in a continuous, breathless kiss for forty straight minutes!
By the time Victoria’s breathing finally stabilized into a peaceful rhythm, Julian’s lips were completely numb and swollen.
"Wait... Victoria..."
Gasping for air, Julian gently pulled back from her lips, holding her flush, satisfied face in his hands.