Orphan To Unbreakable Queen - Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Kurtis's business covers all sorts of things, so aphrodisiacs were nothing new to him. He instantly realized, "Someone has spiked this room with a love potion."
"Isn't this your turf?" Bowen retorted. He was no stranger to such schemes. He'd taken counteragents before. While they couldn't completely block the effects, at least they kept him from losing his mind entirely.
It clearly wasn't Kurtis's first time dealing with a setup like this. Bowen's kick jolted him back to his senses, and without hesitation, he bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, using the sharp pain to snap himself awake.
However, Aubree was different. No matter how much she'd endured in her past life, her current body was still too delicate, completely defenseless against such a potent drug.
With her last shred of sanity, Aubree huddled into a tight ball, gritting her teeth fiercely to keep herself from lunging at anyone nearby.
Under the influence of the aphrodisiac, desire clouded all reason. It was impossible to tell who was who, or even whether they were male or female. Otherwise, Kurtis wouldn't have lunged at Bowen in the first place.
All three of them were now in grave danger here.
"It is my place," Kurtis admitted with a sigh, "but I never expected someone could get their hands in here." Since it was a party dinner, many of his artists were on board the cruise ship to set the mood. Naturally, every detail in the private room—the lighting, the scents—had been carefully designed for the occasion.
That's why Kurtis didn't notice anything amiss when he entered the private room.
Bowen suddenly cut in, his voice tense. "Wait, the footsteps."
"We've been set up," Bowen said tersely. There was no time for arguments now. If their current situation got exposed, it would hurt all of them. For Aubree, a young woman, the fallout would be devastating.
Bowen scooped Aubree up in his arms. "I'll take Bree to hide in the restroom. You hold them off out here."
Kurtis let out a wry smile and thought, 'The guy really thinks highly of me. I was never a saint to begin with, and now, in this state...' Anyway, Kurtis said, "I'll do my best."
The instant the bathroom door shut, Kurtis snatched the wine glass from the table, dousing himself with half its contents before smashing the remainder, glass and all, onto the floor.
He crossed his legs tightly, desperately trying to conceal the surging desire coursing through him. He ripped off his tie and, gritting his teeth, even punched himself square in the face.
The door burst open. Kurtis glared at them, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Get the hell out!"
He looked every bit like a man driven to fury by an untimely interruption, a plausible explanation for his current disheveled state.
A pack of reporters barged in.
Those people were nothing but rabid dogs in human guise. Once they caught the scent of a story, they would sink their teeth in and never let go.
The group of people visibly hesitated, thrown off by the unexpected scene before them.
'Isn't this supposed to be a juicy scandal with two guys and a girl? Why does it look more like a brawl just broke out instead of, well... that kind of thing?' they thought.
Kurtis muttered, "Why doesn't a passionate affair count as a fight?"
Among these reporters were Alice's plants. While most journalists of Kroit City still held some fear toward Kurtis, Alice's people had no such reservations. They were there specifically to stir up trouble.
A reporter squeezed forward, voice sharp and eager. "Mr. Carr, rumor has it you were seen in the main hall getting along famously with Ms. Aubree and Mr. Turner from Rithol City. Is it true the three of you are planning a powerful alliance to shake up the business world?"
"Are you fucking blind, you idiot? Which eye of yours saw me getting all chummy with Bowen? Mocking someone counts as a friendly chat now?" Kurtis snarled. His public image was already less than stellar, but it was rare for him to curse so openly in front of the media.
Honestly, just keeping his composure to play along with this charade was already pushing him to his limit. Expecting him to put on a polite front on top of that was downright cruel.
Kurtis snarled, "Get the hell out already!"
Acting as if he hadn't heard a word, the lead reporter pressed on, "Mr. Carr, was there some sort of conflict?"
Kurtis snapped, "Yeah, we fought. So what? Everyone in Kroit city knows I can't stand Bowen. Got a problem with that?" He bit down on his tongue, but the pain barely registered anymore. 'Where the hell are my bodyguards? Are they all dead? How did these damn reporters even get in here?' thought Kroit.
Camera flashes erupted in the cramped private room. Kurtis had never been so humiliated. He froze, terrified of revealing his true predicament.
The lead reporter perfectly exemplified what it meant to be willfully oblivious, his eyes pointedly gesturing toward the bathroom to his companions. Immediately, another reporter stepped forward and pressed, "Mr. Carr, rumors are swirling that Carr Group and Turner Group are set to collaborate. The party is specifically arranged as a welcome reception for Turner Group. Care to comment?"
"Mr. Carr, by bringing Ms. Miller here, are you signaling to Turner Group that you're switching alliances to Bree Technology?"
Questions hammered at Kurtis relentlessly, making his head swim. 'Goddammit,' he thought, fuming, 'if these damn vultures don't clear out soon, whatever happens next will be entirely their own damn fault!'
"Is someone in the restroom? How come you're the only one here in the private room, Mr. Carr?"
The lead reporter's voice suddenly rang out. He spun around and went straight for the restroom door.
Inside the restroom, Bowen and Aubree were struggling just as much.
Aubree's consciousness was already slipping as she instinctively nuzzled into Bowen's embrace. She knew it was him, and it was precisely that recognition that made her let her guard down.
Bowen clenched his jaw. The aphrodisiac barely affected him, but when it came to Aubree, all his defenses crumbled.
Like handling a burning ember, Bowen carefully placed Aubree on the cold tiles, hoping the chill would snap her back to reality. "Bree," he urged, "don't do anything you'll regret."
A faint flush spread across Bowen's skin. Though the drug was taking its toll on him, too, he absolutely must not touch her!
Without a moment's hesitation, Bowen soaked his suit jacket in cold water and threw it over Aubree 's head. "Snap out of it," he urged, his voice tense.
The cold water drenched Aubree, making her shiver. "Bowen," she urged, " Kurtis can't handle them alone. You have to get out there.
"I can handle myself."
Without another word, Aubree sank her teeth into her arm. She heard the commotion outside. Precisely because of that, she couldn't let the schemers behind this succeed.
Aubree thought, 'If photos of me, Bowen, and Kurtis in such a compromising state get out, Bree Technology will be a huge hit.
'Alice, you're absolutely ruthless!
'I'll make sure to uncover whatever secrets Alice is hiding.'
She bit down hard. Blood instantly welled up from her lips. Sometimes, pain was a blessing.
Aubree showed herself absolutely no mercy.
Bowen's heart clenched in anguish. Yet, he couldn't stop her. 'If letting her bite me is what it takes to keep Bree lucid, I'd rather bear the pain myself,' he thought.
Without uttering a word, Bowen snatched up his suit jacket, draped it over his arm to conceal his lower body, and the instant the bathroom door cracked open, he reached out without hesitation and flung the nearest reporter out.
Bowen seized the equipment and smashed it without hesitation, the violent sound of shattering objects echoing through the restroom.
Bowen smashed every piece of equipment within reach, then swiftly slammed the bathroom door shut behind him.
Bowen glanced coolly at the stunned reporters. "Gentlemen, is there a problem?"
The lead reporter, still sprawled on the ground, gaped in shock at Bowen, who looked completely unfazed. 'This isn't what the employer promised at all!' he thought wildly.
I was sure I'd find Bowen and Aubree in there...
'Other than his clothes being slightly damp, the guy looks completely normal.'
Another commotion erupted outside the door. Kelvin, sensing something amiss, had rushed over with his bodyguards.
Kelvin said coolly, "If Mr. Carr's influence isn't enough, perhaps the Turner family can tip the scales. And if you reporters choose to ignore my advice, my associates are quite skilled at... persuading people to reconsider."
Kelvin moved like lightning, grabbing the reporter nearest the door and shoving him out. "Leave your cameras and phones, and get the hell out! If you don't, next time it won't just be your equipment getting smashed!"
On the cruise ship's deck, Alice adjusted her oversized sunglasses and glanced to the side at her companion. "The money and plane tickets are ready. You're leaving tonight."
"Once this night is over, they'll have plenty of their own mess to deal with."
The man standing beside her looked at her with concern in his eyes. "Alice..."
"I'm fine. Is that couple hidden away safely?"
"Not good. Someone with government ties has been digging around. We can't keep them hidden much longer."
"Move the couple to Rithol City. I have a villa in the suburbs—completely off the grid."