Out of Control: Into Your Everything-Chapter 57: Worse Than a Dog

In the deep hours of the night, the cold seeped into her bones.

Scarlett Shaw had always been afraid of the cold. Even wrapped in a down jacket, her hands and feet were already numb like blocks of ice, and she kept shivering.

After being with Julian Ford for so long, she was certainly not naïve enough to really believe that he simply missed her message and that’s why he hadn’t replied.

That bastard was obviously, once again, intentionally making her uncomfortable, leaving her out in the cold wind.

Scarlett’s teeth chattered from the chill.

No matter how much she racked her brain, she just couldn’t figure out what she’d done to piss off His Lordship this time.

This dog at least only bites if provoked enough.

But this man, when his mood swings hit, he’s even worse than a dog.

Looks like whatever he promised her last time was just bullshit.

Scarlett was really freezing.

She was so cold she felt like she’d turned into an ice chip, and she seriously couldn’t take it anymore—she planned to turn and leave.

If Julian wanted to settle scores with her, it could wait until tomorrow. Let him be pissed, but this bitter cold? She wasn’t enduring it.

But when Scarlett reached the street and tried to hail a cab, she realized this street was as deserted as a haunted place at this hour—not a single car in sight.

Even the ride-hailing apps were coming up empty.

Scarlett was getting anxious when she suddenly heard a car engine approach and stop.

She looked up.

Immediately wished she could turn and bolt the other way.

Ryan Ford stepped out of his Cayenne and spotted Scarlett, standing in the chilly wind, rubbing her hands together. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

He strode over to her, and the first thing he saw was her nose, red from the cold.

His heart clenched hard.

Ryan couldn’t help but reach for Scarlett’s hand.

Scarlett had already learned to be cautious around Ryan, so she quickly shoved her hands into her pockets, watching him warily.

Ryan’s expression turned a shade uglier.

But knowing she was scared of the cold, his concern overrode his other emotions as he frowned and asked, "Scarlett, what are you doing here?"

Scarlett’s voice was icy and quivering, "I’m here to deliver some documents to President Ford."

Ryan’s brows furrowed even deeper. "Shouldn’t that kind of thing be handled by Aaron Carson, the assistant? Why did you have to bring them?"

"Aaron’s busy. He’s my boyfriend—so I helped him out."

Scarlett sniffed.

Got to admit, in this kind of situation, Aaron’s ’boyfriend’ label really came in handy.

"He’s slacking off on duties that are his, making you cover for him? And his excuse is being busy? Scarlett, how could you pick a guy like that to date?"

Ryan was getting more worked up by the second.

Scarlett replied coolly, "Yeah, my taste sucks. You know that better than anyone, right? Otherwise, why would I have ever been into you?"

Ryan: "Other than being a little too fond of sleeping around, what flaws do I have?"

Scarlett: "..."

Is this guy supposed to be brutally honest, or just deluded about himself?

Ryan pressed on, full of self-justification, "What man doesn’t want to sleep with more women? The ones who don’t are just the ones who can’t. It’s not like everyone’s my brother—clean as a saint, all high-minded and abstinent."

Scarlett thought, your brother is the furthest thing from a saint.

He’s a heartless King of Hell.

The very dog who left her standing out in the cold wind for no reason all night.

Just thinking of Julian Ford made Scarlett even more annoyed.

She lifted her leg, ready to leave.

Ryan grabbed her arm hard and dragged her straight into the club.

"It’s deserted around here, even fewer cars at this hour. You’re really not safe out here alone. I’ll book you a room. Stay here tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll drive you to work."

Hard to argue with what Ryan was saying.

Honestly, she really hadn’t been able to get a car just now.

Even so, there’s no way Scarlett was going to just do as Ryan said.

If she really stayed in the room Ryan booked for her, wouldn’t that just be a sheep walking into the tiger’s den?

Meanwhile, in a private room—

Julian Ford glanced at his watch.

Zoe had been sitting beside him all night, but the man’s mood was obviously cold, his aura stifling, so much so that Zoe didn’t even dare make a move.

Julian: "Phone."

Zoe quickly got up and handed him the phone from the small table.

Julian’s long fingers swiped to unlock it.

There was a new message: The Fords’ Second Son just entered the club with Miss Shaw.

Mr. Sutton had just picked a winning tile in mahjong and was grinning ear to ear.

Julian set his own tiles down on the table with a loud thud.

"I’m done."

Mr. Sutton’s smile froze awkwardly.

He felt bad about his hand, but didn’t dare kick up a fuss.

Julian stood up. The others naturally did too—no one knew why the master, who’d already been in a shitty mood, was now getting even colder without warning, his temper mercurial.

Either way, no one dared cross him, so they just went along.

As Julian exited the private room, not far down the hallway, Scarlett was pressed up against the wall by Ryan.

Ryan’s large hand gripped her wrist tightly, his fingers rubbing over her palm.

He looked at her with a kind of tender but forceful determination, "Aren’t you the one who’s always freezing? Look at your hands—what state are they in? Be good and come with me to the room."

He finished speaking and leaned in to kiss her.

Scarlett twisted her head away as she struggled, and locked eyes with Julian Ford’s deep, unreadable gaze.

He was in a black dress shirt and slacks, face cold and imposing, two buttons at the collar undone, sleeves rolled to his elbows—a mix of chilly indifference and noble laziness.

Next to him, Zoe was holding a light-colored overcoat.

Scarlett had seen Julian wear it before, back at the company.

Julian’s eyes on her were utterly indifferent—at this moment she was just a stranger, irrelevant in his world.

The wall of coldness he projected was so thick and so deep it pushed everyone away.

Even Zoe, who was standing closest to him, couldn’t help shivering, a flicker of fear in her seductive eyes.

Ryan heard the commotion and let go of Scarlett.

He turned and saw Julian, calling out, "Bro."

The others trailing out of the private room with Julian didn’t even bat an eye at Ryan and Scarlett together—clearly, this was nothing new.

Mr. Sutton teased, "Gotta admit, this beauty’s really something to look at. No wonder The Fords’ Second Son can’t wait—can’t even get her into a room before trying his luck."

Ryan just smirked and tossed out a curse, crude but with no real heat—clearly, this kind of banter was routine.

Ryan’s hand clamped down tight on Scarlett’s wrist, while the other hand pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and grinning playfully:

"If Mr. Sutton knows I’m desperate, shouldn’t you be arranging a room already?"

"But of course. Someone, get The Fords’ Second Son the best suite on the top floor, right this minute."

After Mr. Sutton said this, as if remembering something, he shot a look at Zoe.

Zoe took the hint, lowering her voice to a soft, seductive purr as she said to Julian, "Master Julian, I’ll go back to the room with you and keep you company."

The moment Zoe finished speaking, she felt a gaze fall directly on their side.

She couldn’t name the emotion she sensed.

But it was definitely there.

She looked up, following the line of sight.

Scarlett’s round, luminous eyes were locked on Julian Ford.

Emotionless, calm as still water—silent, but unyielding.

The air in the hallway felt suffocating, dead silent, everyone frozen in a strange tension except for the server rolling by with a wine cart.

When Ryan’s hand slid from Scarlett’s wrist down to her slender waist, Scarlett didn’t flinch.

Calmly, she picked up one of the unopened, expensive wine bottles from the passing cart. Without a word, she smashed it over Ryan’s head.

Deep red wine splattered across the carpet.

The scent of alcohol was overpowering, almost intoxicating.

Blood streamed down Ryan’s forehead as he stared at Scarlett, shock—and something far more complicated—in his eyes.

The wine bottle shattered, shards all over the floor, and Scarlett still gripped the broken half in her hand.

She glanced coolly at the glass of juice on the wine cart, picked it up, and walked straight to Julian Ford.

As everyone stared in wide-eyed astonishment—

Scarlett threw the juice right in Julian Ford’s face.