OLIVIASPOV Myeyesshifted towardAdrian,hisarmsstillclutchinghisstomach.Julianadjustedhiscollar,breathingheavily,andIrealizedjusthowsilentthecaféhadgotten.Everysinglepersonwasstaring-somewithshock,otherswithfearattheheatedexchangeunravelingbeforethem.
Adrianfinallystraightenedup,hisframeunbendingslowlylikeaspringrecoiling.IwasstilltryingtoprocesswhatjusthappenedwhenIheardasound.alowchuckle.Atfirst,Ithoughtitwassomeoneelse,butasIfocusedonit,IrealizeditwascomingfromAdrianhimself.
Hewaslaughing .
Hejusttookabrutalpunchtothestomach,andhewas…laughing? Juliansbrowsfurrowed.Andwhatsfunny? Youhitlikeagirl,Adrianreplied,hisvoicecarryingthatusualarrogance,butnowwithadangerousundertone.
Juliansjawclenched.Youthinkthisisajoke?YouthinkOliviaissomekindoftoyyourcanbeatwheneveryoufeellikeit? TherewassomuchfuryinJuliansvoicethatitechoedthroughouttheroom.Icouldseeitinhiseyestoothe rage,theprotectivenessbutitwasbeginningtofeeltooreckless.Heneededtocalmdownbeforesomeonereallygothurt.
Sinceyouresuchawomanbeater,letsseehowyoudoagainstarealman,Juliansaid,steppingforwardwithdetermination.
Ireachedoutinstinctively.Julian,pleasedont… Butmywordsdissolvedintothinair.Noone waslistening.Ihadtriedtostopthemsomanytimesnow,butIfearedthismightescalatefarbeyondmycontrol.AllIcouldthinkaboutwasthechildinsideme,theonethatnooneknewaboutyet.
Whatifsomeonestruckmeagain?Idontwant whathappenedtomethelasttimeDorapushedmetorepeatitself,Ididntwanttolosethischild.
Educateme,then,Adriansneered,hisstanceloosebutconfident.
Julianlaunchedathim,hisfistaimeddirectlyatAdriansface.Foramoment,Iwassuretheblowwouldland.Ithought,attheveryleast,Adrianwasabouttowalkawaywithablackeye.

Butwhathappenednextstunnedmetothecore Successfullyunlocked! AdriancaughtJuliansfistinmidan.Lessly.Then,withprecision,heslammedhisknuckles, intoJuliansthroataclean,calculatedhitto avulnerablepoint.
Juliangaspedandcollapsedtooneknee,coughingandwheezingashestruggledto 13 CHAPTER057 breathe.
Iinstinctivelysteppedforward,readytohelpJulian,butAdriansglarefrozemein.place.Thelookinhiseyesitwasntjustanger.Itwascontrol.Possessiveness.Awarning.
Hedidntwantme goinganywherenearJulian.
SoIfroze,tornbetweenmyconcernforJulianandthefearboilinginsideme.AdrianturnedhisattentionbacktoJulian,whowasstillgaspingforair.Hestared.downathimlikehewasapest.
Thisisthe patheticmanDanandhismenlostto?Adrianscoffed.Ireallyneedtofirethosefools.
Julian,coughingviolently,reachedupandgrabbedapartofAdrianstrenchcoatinprotest,butAdrianslappedhishandawaywithdisgust.
Iwarnedyoubeforemindyourbusiness.Nexttime,Iwont stopatonestrike.Nexttime,Illputyoudownpermanently,Adriansaidcoldly.
Istoodthere,trembling.Ihad alwaysthoughtofAdrianasjustaspoiled,richcowardwhogotbywithwealthandintimidation.IdseenwhatJuliandidtothosethugsbackthenhoweasilyhehandledthem.Butnow…AdrianhadneutralizedJulianwithasingleblow.
Whatwashehiding? Justthen,thesoundofhurriedfootstepsapproached.Twoofthecaféstaffrushedtowardthescene.OnestoodinfrontofAdrianprotectively,whiletheotherkneltbesideJulian,assessinghiscondition.

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Heyman,thatsenough,oneofthemsaid,speakingtoAdrian.Ifyoutwowanttofight,doitoutside.Notinhere.
Adrianletoutashort,mockinglaugh.Idontneedtowastemytimeonthisfool.
Thenheturnedtowardme.Hisvoicedroppedtoacommand.Letsgo.Now.
Myheartpounded.Thebruisesfromlastnightwerestillfreshonmyskin.Ididntneedamirrortoknowhowbadtheylooked.Andnow,feargrippedmeagainnotjustformyself,butformyunbornchild.HedidntknowIwaspregnantyet.Iwasntreadytotellhim.
Ihesitated,butheturnedsharply,walkingout.
Iletoutashakybreathandacceptedmy fate.Iturnedbackonelasttime,myeyes.landingonJulian.Thecaféstaffwerealreadyhelpinghimup.Hestilllookeddazed,hischestheavingfromthehit.
Imsorry,Iwhispered,thewordsbarelyleavingmylips.Ididntknowifheevenheard me .
IturnedandfollowedAdrian.
CHAPTER057.
Wegotintohiscar.Hisdriver startedtheengine,andwedroveoffinsilence.Thetensioninsidethevehiclewassuffocating.Adriandidntsayaword,andIdarednotspeakfirst.Ialreadyknewwhatwaswaitingformebackhomeanditwasntawarmwelcome.

Whenwearrived,Isteppedoutofthecarslowly,hopinghedjustheadupstairsandleavemealone.ButasItriedtowalktowardtheguestroom,hisvoicecutthroughtheairlikeawhip.
Wheredoyouthinkyouregoing? Ifroze.Iturnedslightly,abouttorespond,but hedidntgivemethechance.
Upstairs.Now.
Iswallowedandnodded,obeyingwithoutprotest.Icouldntriskupsettinghimagain.
Wegotintotheroom.Heshutthedoorbehinduswithforce,thesoundechoinginmychest.
Explainyourself,hesaid.
I I…uh…Iwenttothehospitaltogetanointmentformybruises.ThenI…IsawJulian.Thats all,Istammered,myvoiceshaking.
Hisexpressiondarkened.
Itwasclearonhisfacethathewasnthappyaboutthatatall.
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