The townsfolk of Meadow were taken aback by the vampire's words, especially Mrs. Humphrey, her son Patrick and Mrs. Edwards, whose mouths had turned dry. They stared at Vincent with a gobsmacked expression.
On the other hand, Eve slightly frowned at Vincent's false claim on her to be his woman. Her lips pursed because he had already made it clear that he wouldn't return her feelings. Even though what he said now was a lie, to protect her from the people who watched them keenly, her heart didn't miss to skip a beat at his words.
Patrick overcame his shock and gritted his teeth in anger. For years, he had pined for Eve's affection, and this vampire had swooped right under his nose and stolen her! Common sense soon jumped out of his brain to be replaced by ego and idiocy. He blurted,
