Chapter 2308

Kaden visibly bristled at Leighton's words, taking a full two seconds to compose himself before responding, his face contorted with anger. "Who do you think you are? What do you know about her and me?"

Leighton silently mused, "I couldn't care less about their dynamic, but if a woman who can handle me is getting bullied by someone else, how embarrassing would that be if it got out? I need to assert myself in front of this domineering guy so she knows I've got her back—it's not that I can't hold my own against her, but I'm cutting her some slack because she's a woman."

Leighton impatiently retorted, "You talk too much! Wrap it up and get lost already. A non-blood-related big brother hanging around his stepsister's place in the dead of night— even if she's okay with it, I’m not!"

Since Leighton joined the conversation, Nicole remained silent. She stood there, observing Leighton with a peculiar expression, and even at the last sentence, a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes, tinged