Chapter 23

The basement was massive, enclosed on three sides by concrete walls. A harsh overhead light beamed straight down on the five men crouched below.

The second Tristan's icy voice cut through the silence, the five guys visibly cracked.

The bald guy stammered, lips trembling, "P-please, Mr. Reid... I just got a call, said there was a girl, totally free. Told me to wait outside Prestige. Then a van with fake plates pulled up and just tossed the girl-uh, the little girl-right in front of me."

Kevin arched his brow, chin lifted slightly."Check his phone. Find the number."

A bodyguard quickly frisked him, pulled out the phone, and started scrolling. He stopped at a contact and held it up for confirmation. The bald guy nodded furiously. "Y-yeah, that's it."

Kevin dialed back.

A robotic voice came through, "Sorry, the numnber you dialed is no longer in service..."

He turned slightly to glance at Tristan. "Disconnected."

The bald guy crumpled, his whole body folding down like jelly. "It was a setup... we're screwed!"

Kevin lit a cigarette, took one calm drag. "You recognize the driver?"

Tears instantly gushed down the guy's face. "N-no... I was too busy staring at the chick... I mean, the little girl!"

Kevin's face darkened. He remembered that tiny girl sitting on the sofa earlier. What kind of sicko could do that to someone so small?

He sneered coldly. "You knew she was just a little girl, and you still did it? On our turf, too. You're really tired of living,huh?"He stood up abruptly and walked straight over.

"Hand me something,"he said.

A bodyguard placed tweezers in his open palm. Two others yanked the guy's arm out, gagged him tight with a cloth strip, and exposed his right hand.

Kevin'slips curled into a cruel smile, and he brought the tweezers towards the guy's fingernail.

"Mmmphmmph!" the man screamed in muffled agony.

One by one, the nails came off, no hesitation.

The others watched in horror, shaking in their boots, but there was nowhere to run.

The cries echoed through the entire basement as bright red blood soaked into the stone floor beneath five mangled hands.

Tristan stood up, posture casual, and strolled over with his hands in his pockets. "Which one of you tore my wife's dress?"

The bald guy violently shook his head.

The other four immediately turned and pointed at him.

Baldy wanted to scream. He was innocent! That woman tore it herself so she could beat them senseless!How was that his fault?!

Eyes wide with panic, he whimpered.

Tristan stared at him like he was lower than dirt. "Let him talk."

The gag came off. "She tore it herself!" the bald guy sobbed. "Wrapped the fabric around her hands and used it to beat us!"

Kevin blinked, suddenly getting it. So the skirtwas in the way-Megan ripped it for convenience. Damn,she really was something. Took down five full-grown men like it was nothing. Tristan only snorted. "My wife's shy and soft-hearted. How could she possibly lay a finger on you? You terrified her."

Kevin:[These guys self-destructed,huh?]

All five:[That lady was a demon in heels. Are you blind??]

Tristan's jaw flexed tight; rage flickered in his eyes. He stretched out a hand. A white glove was placed in his palm.

Tristan slowly pulled it on, every move calm yet deadly, gaze fixed on the now-silent bald guy. His gummy grin returned, the kind that made your skin crawl. "Starting with you. NNo one walks away."

The bald guy's eyes blew wide as Tristan raised a bronze mallet-then slammed it down.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

Each crushing blow landed on kneecaps until right legs all looked mangled beyond repair.

Tristan tossed the bloody hammer aside like trash.His voice was icy. "They saw what they shouldn't have.Don't deserve to keep their eyes."

He peeled off a pristine white glove and smacked it onto Kevin's chest. "Next time, don't forget your gloves."

With that, he turned and strode off.

Kevin threw the glove to the floor, visibly disgusted. He stared at the blood on his hands, his lips pursing slightly. Tristan's words echoed in his mind.

What exactly did they see?

Then it hit him-Megan's bright, bare legs.

A cold sweat broke out on his back. If he weren't Tristan's friend, would he have gotten his eyeballs dug out too?

Shaking off the shivers, he started to leave-only to circle back. He was seriously curious how that woman, Megan, took down all five guys.

Looking to one of the bodyguards, he said, "Take the cloth out of those two guys' mouths."

The bodyguard did as told.

Kevin narrowed his eyes at the two. "What move took you out?"

Tears streamed down their faces.

"Instant Egg Explosion."

"Sad Songs for the Eggs."

Kevin froze, his face a perfect mix of speechless and mildly horrifed.

Damn. She didn't hold back at all.

On the seventh floor, in the private guest suite.

Max had just finished checking over Chloe. He looked calmly at Megan. "She was drugged, but the dose was minor. She'll be fine after a good rest."

Max picked up his medical kit to leave, just as Tristan came in.

"How is she?"

Max pushed up the black-rimmed glasses on his nose and replied, "Just a sedative. Nothing serious. And hey,heard from Kai-you two have registered your marriage.? Congrats, man."

He gave Tristan a knowing smile, patted his shoulder, then walked off.

Tristan knew why he was smiling like that. To his buddies, Megan was queen of drama. A drama queen suddenly settling down and happily tying the knot? Gotta be some kind of new scheme.

But Tristan didn't care. Megan could throw fits, act up-he'd let her. Because honestly, isn't real love about her being a handful, and him just smiling through it?

When Megan saw Tristan coming, she flew into his arms, wrapping her arms tight around his waist.

"Honey, where did you go? | was so scared," she whispered.

Rachel: [Girl, were you not kicking ass five minutes ago?]

Kai:[Someone turned on their nonsense mode.]

Kevin:[Is this the same chick who just wrecked five full-sized dudes?]

Megan looked up at Tristan. "Tonight, I'll stay-"

She didn't even finish. Tristan's brows pulled tight, and he leaned in to whisper,"Tonight,you will only stay with me."

Rachel popped up like clockwork, "I'll stay and watch Chloe. You two just head back to Dreamscape Manor."

Tristan's dark eyes softened, a smile flickering at his lips.

His voice was velvet-deep. "The villa in Emerald Cove is all prepped. Tomorrow, you and Chloe can move in.Classes startin the morning-we'll pick you up."

End of discussion.He wrapped his arm around Megan and walked out.

Kai went back to his stoic, cold-guy aura. "I'm right next door. Shout if you need anything."

Then Tristan glanced at Kevin-and frowned.

Kevin was crouched beside the bed, staring at Chloe like a hungry dog eyeing a juicy steak.

"Kevin!" Kai snapped.

Kevin turned, clearly annoyed."What?"

Kai smirked. "Dude. You're drooling."

Kevin wiped his mouth quickly."NO,I'm not-hell no! You're messing with me!" He lunged at Kai, ready to fight back. But with a loud "thud," the drooling culprit face-planted on the floor.Total wipeout.

Rachel casually retracted her foot and shot him a look. "Dare to mess with my man."