The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 1482

Looking out, he saw Emily had just arrived too. She was chatting with the director.

“Did you two come together today?” someone asked.

“We're running lines. Is there an issue?” Kenneth replied, setting Emily’s bag down. His dark eyes flicked to the breakfast in Jarrod’s hands, and a slight smirk touched his lips. “You did your research. Knew I’m into pizza, huh?”

“This isn’t—” Jarrod started, but Kenneth cut him off, grabbing the bag. He stared down at Jarrod, the air between them turning frosty. “Jarrod, I’m not going to say it again. Stay away from her.”

“And I already told you, fair game,” Jarrod shot back. He looked indignant but wasn’t backing down.

“Fair game?” Kenneth’s mouth curved in a half-smile. “All right. I’ll give you a chance.”

A chance? Before Jarrod could say anything else, Kenneth tossed one of the pizza boxes back at him.

Moments later, Emily finished talking with the director and wandered into the room. She stopped short, picking up on the tension. “What’s going on?”

“Hey, Emily.” Jarrod’s sunny smile returned as he stepped up to her, holding out the pizza. “It’s from HOT BOX. I figured you might like it.”

Emily glanced at Jarrod, then at Kenneth, whose mood looked about as pleasant as a thunderstorm. She gave Jarrod a polite, awkward smile. “Sorry, Jarrod. I’m not really into pizza. But thanks, anyway.”

Not into pizza? Jarrod was stunned.

All those times she’d stood in line, dragged herself through rain and chaos, it had all been for Kenneth. Jarrod had always suspected Emily liked Kenneth, but now there was no doubt left in his mind.

If she liked Kenneth, why not let him know? Why hold it in, especially now? Jarrod could feel how much Emily was trying to suppress her feelings. What was keeping her back?

Then there was Kenneth—after all these years of indifference, why start chasing Emily now? Did he actually care about her or was he just bothered by the thought of losing her to someone else?

If Kenneth really loved Emily and could make her happy, Jarrod could step aside and wish them both well. But if it was anything else, if it was just pride or jealousy, that was a different story.

He glanced at the closed door, knuckles whitening around the pizza bag. There was no way he’d let anyone hurt Emily, no matter how powerful Kenneth was. Not a chance.