THE MAN WHO RETURNED AS THORN

8

Evan’s arrival brought different reactions to the faces of the three women before him. One was shocked, one was angry, and one was delighted.

Vivienne tried to approach Evan, but Helena immediately held her back.

“Don’t you dare go near Evan! Selene, take Vivienne to the dining room!” Helena barked sternly.

“Yes, Grandma Helena. Come on, Vivienne.”

Selene pulled at Vivienne’s arm, but the woman shook her off and ran toward Evan instead.

“Evan, please, you have to explain to my family that you are not guilty!” Vivienne pleaded, clinging to him.

“How dare you!” Helena yanked Vivienne’s hair, making her granddaughter scream loudly.

“Hey!”

Evan instinctively shouted at Helena, then pulled Vivienne tightly into his arms.

“Grandma, if you truly disapprove of my presence, then take it out on me! But please, do not use violence against Vivienne!”

“What is going on?!”

Evan turned toward the voice. When his eyes caught sight of the figure who had appeared, his whole body stiffened. His gaze widened, as though the world had stopped spinning. He had never imagined meeting the very person he was searching for here.

“Darian Voss!” Evan muttered.

His arch-enemy appeared, flanked by the other members of the LaRue family. His expression was calm, as if he had never committed the fatal mistake against Evan.

In disbelief, Evan asked Vivienne, who was still in his arms, “What’s happening? Why is he here?”

Darian approached slowly, clapping his hands, drawing Evan’s glare back to him.

Evan’s weakened hold on Vivienne was taken advantage of by Helena, who dragged her granddaughter away.

“Evan Caleum—heavens! You come out of prison not repentant, but causing new trouble. What are you doing with my future fiancé?!” Darian demanded firmly.

“No, Evan! I never knew him! I—”

“Enough!”

Helena’s shrill voice cut everyone off, her hand harshly covering Vivienne’s mouth.

“As the head of this family, I will make an important announcement! Starting today—you, foolish ex-convict who has disgraced the LaRue family—are no longer my granddaughter’s husband!”

Helena pointed straight at Evan as she released Vivienne’s mouth.

Evan’s eyes fell on his wife, who hung her head, sobbing uncontrollably.

“And allow me to add to that, Grandma Helena.”

Darian spoke with a calm tone, welcomed by Helena, who nodded proudly.

“Let me reintroduce myself to you, Evan—perhaps you’ve forgotten? I am your former boss, Darian Voss! Do you think it’s fitting for someone like you, who raped a woman, to stand beside a respected lady like Vivienne?"

He stood before Evan arrogantly. Evan clenched his fists but fought to restrain his rage.

He knew he was standing among madmen. Any wrong word or movement would only make things harder for Vivienne.

He tried to stay composed while facing the enemy he had been searching for all this time.

“I won’t say much. I only want to make it clear that I am the victim of Darian Voss’s cruelty. He is the one who raped that woman, and I was forced into a deal to take the blame—because I wanted to protect Vivienne.”

Evan’s words stunned everyone—everyone except Darian. He burst out laughing, slapping Evan’s shoulder mockingly.

“What kind of lunatic dares to slander someone? And your so-called slander is against your own former boss! Evan, you should be grateful you got out of prison without a scratch!” Darian barked.

“Yes, that’s right! A man like Darian would never do something so vile! The Voss family is an honorable family, respected by all!” Helena retorted.

“Really? From where I stand, the Voss family lives only in their own bubble. Ask leaders far more powerful than the Voss family—do they even know of their name?”

Evan’s reply made Darian’s smile twist into a sneer.

“How dare you say that! Do you want to lose your life?!” Darian snapped.

“Go ahead—if you truly think my words are lies and an insult. I fear no rapist born from a dishonorable family—a traitor of the lower class,” Evan shot back.

“Take that back or you’ll regret it, Evan!”

Darian jabbed his finger at Evan, but Evan stood unmoving. He merely shrugged with a mocking smile.

“Bastard!”

Darian swung his hand at Evan, but just like when he fought Darian’s men at the office, Evan blocked it swiftly.

“Argh!” Darian cried in pain, his arm trapped by Evan’s grip. As though he were made of paper, Evan hurled him effortlessly across the room, sending him crashing against the wall.

“Darian! how dare you, Evan! Call the police at once!”

Helena shouted to the others, who immediately scattered to carry out her orders, leaving only Darian, Helena, Selene, Vivienne, and Gideon in the living room.

Helena and Gideon helped Darian to his feet, while Selene held Vivienne tightly.

“Selene, take Vivienne to her room! Lock her in!” Helena barked.

“No, Grandma! Please, let me stay here! I want to be with Evan!” Vivienne cried, struggling to resist.

“Go, Vivienne! I promise I’ll come for you again soon,” Evan answered.

Selene looked at Evan with disgust as she forced Vivienne to walk with her. Still, she didn’t dare be too rough, still traumatized by Evan’s outburst at the boutique earlier.

“Catch him!” Helena ordered Gideon, pointing at Evan.

Gideon glanced at Evan, swallowing hard.

“Didn’t the police already get called?”

“What?! What do you mean?! Are you afraid of that fool?!” Helena snapped.

Gideon, like Selene, was still shaken by Evan’s behavior at the boutique. Even more so now, after learning Evan’s true identity—he knew this man was not someone ordinary. That knowledge was also what pushed Gideon to swallow his pride and forgive Selene. He wanted to stay close and uncover who Evan truly was.

“Useless coward! You’re not reliable at all!”

Darian shoved Helena aside and strode confidently toward Evan.

“Darian, stop! You don’t need to soil your hands with someone so dishonorable!” Helena cried.

“Mother, the police have been called and are on their way!” shouted Nancy, Vivienne’s mother, who had just entered.

“Did you hear that, Evan? You’re going back to prison! Farewell, Evan—this time I’ll make sure you die behind bars!” Darian sneered.

Once again, he grinned wickedly and swung his hand toward Evan’s face.

But Evan didn’t flinch. He smiled, as if waiting for the moment Darian’s hand would land.

Just before it could connect, however, the front door burst open, followed by a sharp command:

“Don’t move, Evan!”

Three policemen with thick mustaches stormed in, guns aimed directly at Evan—halting the blow that was about to strike.

“Arrest him, Officer! He’s a dangerous threat here!” Helena shouted.

“Yes, we’ll be taking Evan to the station immediately. You can all come to give your statements later. Move, Evan!” one of the policemen barked.

Evan raised his hands without resistance, allowing the three officers to cuff him.

“Rot in prison, Evan! Die there!” Darian bellowed. “I’ll be the first to testify against you and make sure every word condemns you!”

Evan only smiled faintly as the policemen led him away. Their steps echoed down the staircase, chased by Darian’s curses and Helena’s shrill voice.

“Get in, idiot!”

They shoved him roughly into the car. One of the officers glanced back at Darian and Helena, bowing slightly as if in respect.

“Thank you, Officer! Lock him up right away and wait for me at the station!” Darian shouted.

From inside the car, Evan smirked darkly and muttered under his breath, “Pathetic bastard.”

The officer climbed in beside him, nudging his partner to start the engine. Evan exhaled a long breath and closed his eyes. He didn’t want to speak, didn’t want to ask questions—he only forced himself to stay calm, reminding himself that at least, in prison, he would reunite with his mentors.

But he hadn’t noticed. The officer seated next to him was tugging off a fake mustache and cap. A wide grin spread across the man’s face as he clapped Evan on the shoulder.

“Hey, aren’t you going to thank me?”

The voice made Evan’s eyes snap open. Shock rippled across his face the moment he recognized the man before him.

“Travis?! You…! How is it possible you’re here?!”

Travis arched both brows with a sly smile. “Of course I’m here to save you, Evan. The situation’s out of control—and it’s time you met the leader.”

Evan frowned deeply. “Leader? What do you mean?”