The sound was sickening. Flesh and bone crushed beneath Adrian's monstrous strength Malvin screamed in agony, his body convulsing violently as blood soaked his trousers. His scream cracked, shattering into pitiful sobs.Adrian let go, shoving him back against the shards of glass.Malvin clutched himself as hot tears streaking his blood stained face. His voice broke into a pathetic whimper.“My… my God… you… you have destroyed me…”Adrian rose slowly, towering over him.His chest heaved and his expression was still cold.“Now you will never touch another woman again,” he said before spitting on him.Sophia’s chest rose and fell in uneven gasps as she watched Malvin crying on the shattered floor, his face twisted in agony.For the first time since stepping into that villa, a flicker of satisfaction crossed her face.Adrian had destroyed him.His manhood which he used to manipulate and devour helpless women was gone.He will never again be able to force himself on another victim.The

Adrian drove away his tyres spitting gravel behind him.The villa shrank in the rearview mirror.Sophia sat angled toward the door, arms wrapped around herself.Only the hum of the engine filled the air for a long moment.Then, Sophia turned slowly to him. “Adrian… thank you.”Her voice was still ragged, but steady. “For coming. For… saving me. I—” she swallowed hard—“I feel like I owe you everything.”Adrian’s eyes stayed on the road, the city lights bleeding across the windshield.“You owe me nothing,” he said quietly.She exhaled, a shaky breath. “I was wrong… for slapping you. For believing that liar over you.”Her gaze flicked toward him, guilt clouding her eyes. “I’m so sorry.” “It’s fine,” Adrain said in a calm voice.“But,” he added, tilting his head just enough for her to see the smirk on his face, “I do want a reward.”Her brows lifted, wary. “A reward?”“A kiss,” he said, almost lazily.Sophia let out a disbelieving scoff, rolling her eyes. “You… you will never change, wil

Footsteps pounded across the floor as Rowan, Gerald, and Elena rushed outside as they heard the commotion at their doorstep They were eager to know what was going on.Elena heard her sister shouting, and she rushed out, wondering if her suspicion was true, if what she predicted about Malvin's was true.Rowan’s gaze shot from Adrian’s cold stance to his daughter’s trembling in fury, to Sarah frozen on the steps like a guilty statue.“What in God’s name is going on?” Rowan demanded, his baritone echoing through the courtyard.Sarah tried to give her an eye not to escalate things, but Sophia wasn't calming down.She should know her daughter by now Sophia turned towards them.“Mother set me up. With Malvin.”All eyes turned to Sarah, whose face had a guilty look.“She arranged a date and she didn’t even ask me. Malvin drugged me, tried to record me. He wanted to ruin me, ruin all of us.""If Adrian hadn’t found me, you’d be watching a nightmare on every screen in Silver City right now.”

From the passenger side, another door slammed hard.Henry Darkthrone emerged, his booming voice followed his wife's.“WHERE IS HE?” he thundered.“Where is the coward who maimed my boy?”Rowan stepped forward, his tall frame cutting a black silhouette against the porch lights.“How dare you storm into my house and shout like that?” His chest heaved as his anger began to rise once again.“If not that I consider you a friend to this family,” he continued, his gaze narrowing to a lethal sliver, “I would have you and your wife thrown out this instant.”Henry’s chest heaved. “Friends?” He barked a bitter laugh. “And yet you hide the bastard who ruined my son’s life? Do you even know what he’s done? He’s crippled him! My boy will never father a child, never!”Cecelia’s eyes blazed like coals. “You call yourself a father, Rowan, and you protect a thug who—”“Enough.”Rowan’s command cracked like a rifle shot.Even the night insects stilled.He took one deliberate step closer, the polished st

Rowan turned back to Adrian, the anger in his face replaced by a quieter gravity.“All right,” he said, voice low but firm. “We won’t let you slip away so easily next time.”Adrian gave a small nod.The family drifted toward the house in silence, the heavy oak doors swallowing their shadows one by one.Only Sophia lingered, her eyes following Adrian as he walked toward his sleek black sedan.She paused glancing over her shoulder.Elena was already inside, good. No audience.Sophia eventually caught up to Adrian as he got to the front of his car.“Adrian,” she said softly.“Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. Tonight… I don’t even know what would’ve—”He cut her off with a faint smile. “It’s all right. Just learn to listen to me next time.”Sophia tilted her head, a teasing spark igniting in her eyes.“Speaking of listening to you…”Adrian was taller, his shadow stretching over her.Before he could react, she rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his.Adrian’s hand slid inst