Zachary Sullivan's rage burned hotter with every word.
His wrist throbbed with excruciating pain, fingers feeling like crushed bone.
This humiliation was unbearable.
Eyes darkening with malice, Zachary grabbed a nearby baseball bat.
His target? Sophia Sullivan.
"My mother may be forgiving, but I'm not."
He wouldn't dare confront Ethan Sullivan directly.
But someone had to pay for this insult.
"Ethan, I'll let you off for now."
"But your little Miss Sullivan here will face consequences!"
Zachary swung the bat downward with force.
Ethan chuckled lowly.
The laugh dripped with undisguised mockery.
"Idiot."
Zachary froze.
This was his first time seeing Ethan standing tall.
The man he'd mocked as a cripple in his wheelchair now towered over him.
It made his past taunts seem pathetic.
"Fine, I'm not as clever as you!"
Zachary spat through gritted teeth.
"But at least I don't betray my family for some outsider!"
Without hesitation, he brought the bat whistling toward Sophia.
Yet the woman didn't flinch.
She watched him with amused detachment.
As if observing a farce.
That look ignited Zachary's fury.
"Sophia, you ungrateful bitch!"
He remembered once finding her attractive.
Now the thought turned his stomach.
So what if she was Ethan's woman?
Even as a bastard, he carried the Sullivan bloodline!
As the bat descended—
A powerful hand clamped onto his shoulder.
The world spun violently.
Zachary crashed onto the floor.
"You— Ahhh!"
He hadn't even seen Ethan move.
Sophia remained motionless throughout.
As if she'd expected this outcome.
"Miss Sullivan belongs to me."
Ethan pressed a knee into Zachary's back.
His voice could freeze hell.
"Next time you touch her, remember your place."
Sophia studied Ethan.
His tailored suit strained against coiled muscle.
Every movement exuded lethal precision.
The epitome of a gentlemanly predator.
That possessive "belongs to me" brooked no argument.
A shiver ran down Sophia's spine.
Like prey sensing a stalking beast.
Ethan seized Zachary's left leg.
A brutal twist.
Crack.
The sickening pop of dislocated bone.
Followed by an ear-splitting scream.
"AAAAHHH!!!"
Zachary writhed in agony.
Sweat drenched his clothes instantly.
Terror filled his eyes as he stared at Ethan.
This madman.
Would truly kill him without hesitation.