Isabella Robinson only glanced before her brows furrowed.
She turned to Sophia Sullivan.
"Sophia, don't look. It'll hurt your eyes."
Julian Roscente rarely spoke up, but this time, he did.
"Which tailor created this suit masterpiece? What a waste of talent."
The intruder wore a custom-tailored suit stretched over his three-hundred-pound frame.
The fabric clung tightly to his bulging flesh, nearly splitting at the seams.
His bloated face distorted the collar of his shirt.
Yet his expression remained arrogant.
"Who dares cause trouble on my turf? Do you even know whose mountain this is?"
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Lutan Mountain belongs to Mr. Blanchet. That's his nephew, Darren Crosier."
"Darren's the local bully—infamous for his lechery."
"Oh no. He preys on beautiful women. Any girl here today is in trouble."
Chloe Evans shook her head timidly.
"Mr. Crosier, thank you for your kindness. But they outnumber you. You can't win against them."
She stole a glance at Sophia, feigning fright.
To an outsider, she looked genuinely wronged.
The crowd recognized her act and sneered.
Only Darren fell for her act.
"Don't cry, sweetheart. It breaks my heart."
He reached out with his pudgy hand, pretending to wipe tears but aiming to touch her face.
Disgust flashed in Chloe's eyes.
She sidestepped his advance.
"I don't know what I did to offend Sophia, but she even hit my mother. I don’t want to drag you into this. Please, just go."
Her seemingly selfless plea ignited Darren's protective instincts.
"Are you kidding? There’s no one in this place I can’t handle!"
He glared at Sophia.
"So you're the bully? How could you be so... cruel?"
His voice faltered at the end.
Because he finally got a clear look at Sophia.
Cold. Elegant. Untouchable.
Exactly his type.
Then, the man beside Sophia lifted his gaze.
"Keep staring, and I'll gouge your eyes out."
Ethan Sullivan radiated menace.
If Sophia hadn't squeezed his hand in warning, he would've already acted.
Their rare date had been ruined.
Darren didn’t recognize him and scoffed.
"You want my eyes? Let’s see if you have what it takes—"
Mid-sentence, a chill crawled down his spine.
The man's gaze was bottomless.
For a second, Darren saw Death itself.
Must be his imagination.
He swallowed hard, avoiding Ethan’s eyes, and leered at Sophia instead.
"Miss Sullivan, was it? Apologize, and we’ll let this go..."
Sophia cut him off.
"Apologize? You must have eyes but can’t see, and a brain but can’t think."
Her scornful sweep dismissed him entirely.
"Debts must be paid. Does playing victim erase that?"
Her words struck like a blade.
"Falling for such an act proves you’ve got eyes but no sight."
Isabella chimed in.
"Some men’s brains are just overgrown gonads—full of creases but no thought."
It took Darren a full minute to process the insult.
His face flushed crimson.
"You dare insult me?!"