The air froze instantly.
Ryan Lawrence turned to Sophia Sullivan with an innocent expression. "It's too noisy here. Let's talk somewhere else, Sophia."
The young man extended his hand—slender fingers with distinct knuckles.
His fingertips bore a faint pink hue.
"Alright." Sophia started to rise when a powerful force yanked her back down.
Ethan Sullivan's forearm bulged with veins.
Blood vessels snaked visibly beneath his skin.
A dark aura enveloped his entire face, as if ready to drag everyone into an abyss—
Sophia frowned. In her memory, Ethan always maintained composure even in rage.
But now, she clearly sensed his loss of control.
"...Let her go."
Ryan's smile vanished completely.
His gaze turned venomous as it locked onto the man before him.
Those four icy words dropped the temperature instantly.
Ethan's face remained half-shrouded in shadow, his ambiguous expression radiating authority.
"What if I refuse?"
"Ethan Sullivan—"
The young man's expression darkened.
His casual demeanor evaporated, replaced by palpable hostility as he struck out.
A coffee cup toppled over.
Dark liquid spread across the table.
But his punch missed.
Worse—Ethan seized the moment to pull Sophia away.
Olivia Laurent stood frozen nearby.
She hadn't even seen how Ethan whisked Sophia away during the confrontation.
Outside the café, Sophia's heart pounded violently.
Being closest, she'd witnessed Ethan's lightning-fast evasion.
Such reflexes, honed in life-or-death situations, surpassed ordinary capability.
Her suspicions about his identity deepened.
But there was no time to dwell. Wind roared in her ears as her vision filled with the man's rigid back.
His muscles strained visibly beneath the thin shirt.
She could almost see the fury boiling within him.
His grip on her wrist burned like branding iron.
Within moments, they stood in a deserted alley.
"You—"
Sophia's chest heaved as she began to speak, only to meet bloodshot eyes.
The crisp scent of cedarwood engulfed her completely.
"Sophia Sullivan, sometimes I truly want to kill that brat."
Ethan advanced step by step.
The distance between them shrank relentlessly.
Sophia's back hit the cold brick wall—nowhere left to retreat.
His low voice continued, "Especially when I see you two getting along. I've imagined countless ways to make him disappear."
Beneath the calm tone lurked terrifying madness.
She knew Ethan meant every word.
"Mr. Sullivan, my affairs with him are none of your concern."
Sophia emphasized each word.
"Just like your matters with Miss Laurent—whether it's business or repayment, they don't involve me."
These words served dual purposes—for Ethan's ears and her own reminder.
These inappropriate feelings must end now.
Maintaining distance was the wisest choice.
Ethan chuckled darkly, the corners of his eyes reddening. "True, I have no right to interfere."
Yet the demon inside him roared, tempting him to leap into flames.
Even eternal damnation seemed worthwhile.
Especially when he saw Ryan trying to take Sophia away—that moment shattered his last restraint.
Unaware of the darkness swirling within him, Sophia only felt his grip tightening painfully, his knuckles whitening.
"Since you understand, Mr. Sullivan, release me."
Sophia lifted her gaze to meet his.
But the man showed no intention of letting go.
His towering frame eclipsed her completely, turning the narrow alley into a sealed space.
"After all, between us, there's only—"
Her unfinished words were cut off by a sudden kiss.