The cool night air felt like a reprieve as Helen tugged Adrian’s hand, eager to put distance between themselves and the suffocating weight of the Cross estate. Her heels clicked quickly on the pavement, her pace brisk but her smile bright, almost girlsh. Every now and then she glanced up at him with a spark in her eye, as if daring him to keep up.“Come on, Adrian. I want you to meet some of my friends.”Her enthusiasm was so unguarded that it softened something in Adrian’s chest. For days, his thoughts had been heavy—Vanessa’s betrayal, the Cross family politics, Fabio’s looming shadow. But here, with Helen pulling him along like a teenager sneaking out past curfew, the sharp edges dulled. The bitterness eased just enough for him to remember what simple joy felt like. Like back in high school days.For once, he let himself follow.They walked several blocks until the manicured streets gave way to a livelier neighborhood. Neon signs flickered above storefronts, cafes spilled over wit

The fight club throbbed with noise and heat. A crowd surrounded the cage at the center, men bellowing bets, fists colliding, the air thick with sweat and spilled beer. Helen tried to lose herself in the chaos, but her mind kept circling back to Eva’s warning. Fabio’s name carried weight, and even here in the haze of neon and blood, she could feel its shadow.Eva leaned close, her voice pitched low beneath the roar. “Keep your head down, Helen. If Fabio catches wind you’re here with him,” her eyes flicked toward Adrian, “...this could get ugly fast.”Helen’s heart stuttered, but she forced a steady smile. “It’s fine. We’re just here for a drink, nothing more.” Her words were bold, but her grip on Adrian’s sleeve betrayed her nerves.Adrian didn’t flinch. He moved with quiet ease, steering them toward a booth at the edge of the room. His calmness was like a shield, his presence grounding. When Helen’s hand brushed against his, he covered it gently, the simple gesture enough to steady h

Boots stomped, tables rattled, the floor vibrating with their lust for violence. The chant drowned out reason, drowned out fear, until it felt inevitable. There would be a fight tonight.Helen’s heart lurched. She stepped in front of Adrian, her body trembling but her arms outstretched as if she could shield him from this madness. “Adrian, no! I won’t let you!” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, blurring her vision.But Adrian only laid a hand on her shoulder, gently moving her aside. His touch was steady, his expression calm. His eyes, locked on Fabio, were cold and unflinching. “If that’s what it takes.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the noise. He had made his decision.He was going to fight.The room erupted. The fight club came alive with a feral energy, the kind that made men slam down more money, women scream with delight, and even the walls seem to shudder. Somewhere in the back, a bookie scribbled down odds, already taking bets on how long Adrian would last

The night air outside the underground fight club was cold, the adrenaline still running high in Helen’s veins as she clung to Adrian’s arm. Eva walked alongside them, her heels clicking against the cracked pavement, stealing glances at Adrian as though she were seeing him for the first time.“Adrian,” Eva finally said, her voice softer than her usual playful tone. “I’ve been coming to this club for years. I’ve seen men bigger, stronger, more brutal than Fabio get destroyed in this ring. But you… the way you moved… fuck! I’m pretty sure you used voodoo or something. That wasn’t just strength. It was… something else. Who are you really?”Helen glanced up at Adrian, her own curiosity burning, though her heart was still tangled with worry. She had screamed, begged, even tried to stop him. And yet, he had walked into the storm without hesitation, standing tall where any other man would have cowered. The image of him catching that chain mid-swing and felling Fabio’s men like dominoes was s

The grand hall of the Cross estate seemed to grow colder after Adrian’s words fell into the air.“Of course, I’m here to treat John.”For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then, as though someone had burst a balloon, laughter erupted. Not the warm laughter of amusement, but sharp, cutting, scornful laughter that bounced off the marble walls and glittering chandeliers.Several uncles clutched their bellies, mocking him openly. A few cousins covered their mouths, eyes gleaming with derision. Even the servants standing along the walls lowered their heads, hiding their expressions, afraid to be caught smiling at the sight of an outsider making such a bold claim.Helen’s cheeks burned. She leaned toward Adrian, her voice barely above a whisper. “Adrian come on… this isn’t the time to make jokes.” And she meant it. Sure, he might be a fighter and was good with his fists, but this was a whole other different field.But Adrian didn’t so much as glance at her. His eyes stayed on Ethan and the elde