Ethan Sullivan's eyes darkened, the air around him turning icy.
This time, he neither confronted Ryan Lawrence nor chose restraint. His gaze locked directly onto Sophia Sullivan.
"Is it true?" he asked.
The calm tone sent chills down everyone's spine.
Sophia frowned slightly.
The question was too broad. If he meant the secret, she couldn't discuss it publicly—it concerned her mother.
If he meant Ryan, the young man did work for her at The Decagon. That wasn't common knowledge either.
In short, Ryan wasn't wrong.
She met Ethan's gaze. "Yes."
The answer nearly shattered Ethan's control.
Even as he restrained himself, crimson fury burned in his eyes. His knuckles whitened from tension.
What secret required meeting at a café?
Romantic confessions?
Or love declarations?
Either possibility stabbed at Ethan's heart.
Seeing the perfect moment, Ryan finally smiled—a playful, dangerous curve of lips.
"Didn't Mr. Sullivan also arrange to meet Ms. Laurent at a café? My meeting with Sophia here shouldn't surprise anyone."
He tilted his head at Olivia Laurent, then sighed theatrically.
"Pity she can't compare to Sophia's little finger. Vulgar and pretentious—I never guessed Mr. Sullivan's tastes ran so cheap."
Ryan was no saint.
He'd recognized Olivia's scheming the moment she blocked their path earlier.
Her repeated veiled insults toward Sophia only deepened his disgust.
His smirk turned predatory.
"Especially certain people—utterly repulsive."
Beautiful shells housing rotten cores.
Olivia: "......"
She'd been trying to stay unnoticed, but couldn't take it anymore.
Even facing the mayor's son, she had to defend her pride!
"Young Master Lawrence, I admit I'm not as beautiful as Ms. Sullivan. Criticize me all you want—but don't slander Ethan!"
She took a dramatic breath, positioning herself loyally beside Ethan.
Olivia's calculations were precise.
Standing up for Ethan now would earn his favor.
Offending the Lawrences mattered less than securing Ethan's support.
"How dare you!"
Yet Ethan remained indifferent, while Ryan openly laughed.
"What gives you the right to speak to me?"
Ryan's gaze swept over Olivia like she was trash.
"Disgusting."
"You—!" Olivia flushed crimson.
Her beauty had always been her pride—never before had someone humiliated her so.
But Ryan's status was undeniable—
She couldn't risk open confrontation!
Most importantly, Ethan offered no protection.
"Ms. Sullivan, won't you intervene?"
Olivia turned tearful eyes to Sophia.
"You and Young Master Lawrence are close. If you speak, he'll surely listen..."
Every word aimed to redirect conflict toward Sophia.
A clear message for Ethan—Sophia and Ryan shared an intimate bond.
Sophia remained unmoved.
"Speaking of closeness, Ms. Laurent's relationship with Mr. Sullivan seems deeper. After all, you've boasted about the Laurent family's favor with Mrs. Sullivan."
She threw Olivia's own proud claims back at her, laced with sarcasm.
Ryan's smile turned icy.
His gaze sharpened into blades.
"Indeed, Ms. Laurent. Perhaps you should persuade Mr. Sullivan to stop harassing Sophia. Succeed, and I'll reward you handsomely."
Reward...?
Olivia saw no gratitude in the young man's eyes—only naked threat.
Her sharp instincts caught the bloodlust radiating from him.
Stumbling back, Olivia hit a table edge. Pain whitened her face.
"N-no need."
This was one reward she'd never dare accept.