Free Web NovelChapter 83: Chapter 83: A Kiss Landed
"I get it. You can’t admit to having a mistress in front of your wife."
Ethan Austin’s eyes were filled with contempt; he despised spoiled rich kids from the bottom of his heart.
He set down his beer can. Seeing that Alaric Blackwood was ready to throw down, he immediately stood up, rolled up his own sleeves defiantly, and revealed the solid muscles of his forearms.
He had a tanned, wheat-like complexion, much darker than Alaric Blackwood’s. The two were about the same height, but he was bulkier than Alaric.
Unlike Alaric Blackwood, who was lean in clothes but muscular underneath, he was a genuine bodybuilder. His shoulders were as broad as a double-door refrigerator, giving off the impression that he could kill an ox with a single punch.
Sophie Shaw knew he was into fitness and boxing. Fearing he would start a fight with Alaric Blackwood, she fought through her dizziness and pushed herself up, steadying her hands on the dining table.
"Don’t do this."
Her voice was drowned out by the jeers of Ethan Austin’s friends.
"What’s this? You wanna go?"
"You looking for a fight?"
"I dare you to try anything in here!"
...
Even though Alaric Blackwood was treating them to Haidilao, and they had all drunk so much they could barely tell which way was up, they weren’t so drunk that they’d lost their minds. They were clearly on Ethan Austin’s side.
Seeing them get to their feet—all eight of them surrounding Alaric Blackwood—Sophie Shaw shot a pleading look at Preston Chase.
Assistant Chase, as calm as Alaric Blackwood himself, gave a subtle nod to the bodyguards behind him. They moved forward and, without much effort, pushed the drunkards back down onto the sofa. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
Ethan Austin’s friends were either physical education students or worked at boxing gyms; they were all incredibly well-built. If a real fight broke out, both sides would be devastated. They’d come in walking and leave on a stretcher; they’d need to call several ambulances.
The mere thought of such a terrifying scene sobered Sophie Shaw up a bit.
"Alaric Blackwood, I don’t like it when you fight."
It was just like that time at the barbecue place, when a fight broke out for no good reason.
She swayed unsteadily over to Alaric Blackwood, positioning herself between him and Ethan Austin. "Can we not fight?"
The moment Sophie Shaw’s tone softened, most of Alaric Blackwood’s anger dissipated, and his gaze grew much gentler.
"Whatever my darling says."
He reached out to steady Sophie Shaw’s shoulders, holding her upright. "Have you had enough to eat, my love?"
"Mhm."
"Shall we go home then?"
Sophie Shaw, her face flushed red, nodded obediently.
"Isn’t Sophie staying here tonight?" Ethan Austin interjected.
Alaric Blackwood shot him a cold glare. "Shut your mouth."
"What gives you the right to be so arrogant?"
Infuriated, Ethan Austin swung his arm, ready to lunge, but Sophie Shaw’s shout stopped him. "Ethan, stop it! If you’re going to call me your big sister, then he’s your brother-in-law."
Ethan Austin was instantly disgusted. "Brother-in-law? Is he even worthy?"
The words had barely left his mouth when a powerful fist smashed into his face.
He staggered sideways and fell onto the sofa, his head ringing. Half of his face swelled up before his eyes. Before he could recover, a pair of hands grabbed him by the collar.
Alaric Blackwood yanked him up from the sofa. "You’re too drunk to even stand. What are you trying to prove by provoking me?"
"If you’ve got the guts, let go. Let’s go one-on-one."
"My darling is easily scared, and I don’t want to frighten her. If you’re not satisfied, meet me at the boxing gym tomorrow at noon. That way you can’t say I took advantage of a drunk kid."
Ethan Austin was livid. "We don’t have to wait for tomorrow! Let go of me right now! I’m gonna take you on!"
"Stop it, you two!"
Sophie Shaw grabbed Alaric Blackwood’s hand without a second thought. "Let him go."
"You hear that? Sophie told you to let me go."
A smug grin spread across Ethan Austin’s face, a look that just begged to be punched.
Alaric Blackwood fought back his anger and released his collar. He took Sophie Shaw’s arm and was just about to leave when Ethan Austin’s fist came swinging at him.
Sophie Shaw tried to stop it, but Ethan Austin was too fast. It wasn’t that she intentionally tried to block the punch for Alaric Blackwood, but the fist was coming straight for her face.
Ethan Austin’s eyes widened. He couldn’t pull back the punch in time. Just as it was about to hit Sophie Shaw, a large hand shot out, gripped his wrist, and firmly intercepted the attack.
Following the hand with his gaze, he met a pair of jet-black eyes.
Alaric Blackwood flung his hand away, his eyes filled with warning. But he said nothing, instead immediately pulling a terrified, pale-faced Sophie Shaw tightly into his arms.
He gently stroked her back and soothed her in a low voice, "I’m here. Don’t be afraid."
For some reason, the scene made Ethan Austin’s heart ache with a sour feeling.
He himself was terrified by the fact that he had almost hurt Sophie Shaw. It had scared the living daylights out of him.
The shock had mostly sobered him up. His full attention was now on Sophie Shaw, and he no longer had the heart to keep arguing with Alaric Blackwood.
"Sophie, are you okay?"
Sophie Shaw shook her head, burrowing deeper into Alaric Blackwood’s arms.
"The coat."
Hearing this, Preston Chase stepped forward and handed over the black overcoat that had been draped over his arm.
Alaric Blackwood took the coat, but instead of putting it on, he wrapped it around Sophie Shaw, then bent down and lifted her over his shoulder.
Before leaving, he said to Preston Chase, "Grab her bag. You’re coming with me. The rest of you stay behind and clean up the restaurant. You can leave once it’s done."
"Yes, Mr. Blackwood."
The bodyguards didn’t leave with them, instead quickly and efficiently clearing the table.
Ethan Austin plopped back onto the sofa, his mind a complete mess.
"That Mr. Blackwood is pretty decent, leaving people behind to clean up," one of his friends whispered in Ethan Austin’s ear.
This only made him more irritated. "Decent my ass."
"Good thing a fight didn’t break out."
Although they were all drunk and had acted impulsively under the influence, a moment of sober reflection made them realize that Alaric Blackwood’s personal bodyguards were taller and stronger than them. If they had really fought, they might not have won.
"That was a close call."
Once the bodyguards left with the bags of trash, Ethan Austin’s friends went back to eating and drinking as if nothing had happened.
Only Ethan Austin remained slumped on the sofa, stewing in his own anger.
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On the way back to Maplewood Estate, Sophie Shaw lay drowsily across Alaric Blackwood’s lap.
She reeked of alcohol. After being carried out of the residential complex by Alaric Blackwood, the night breeze hit her, making the world spin. Her stomach churned, and she felt an overwhelming urge to vomit.
Alaric Blackwood set her down by the side of the road and gently patted her back. When she was done vomiting, he handed her some water to rinse her mouth.
Once they were in the car, she was too sleepy to open her eyes. She used his leg as a pillow, her cheek rubbing against the fabric of his suit trousers, as docile and clingy as a cat.
"Why did you run off tonight?"
The man’s hand gently stroked her hair. "Was it because you saw Vianne Kane? Did that make you unhappy?"
Sophie Shaw mumbled a drowsy "mhm."
The corners of the man’s lips tilted up. "Why were you unhappy? Could it be... you were jealous?"
"Mhm."
Sophie Shaw kept her eyes closed, answering haphazardly.
The smile in the man’s eyes deepened. "There’s nothing between her and me. From now on, you’re not allowed to run off without a word."
"Also, Nina Halloway is my sister. My full-blooded sister, same father and mother. Not some mistress."
He continued speaking, more to himself now. Hearing another "mhm" from Sophie Shaw, he lowered his head and placed a kiss on the crown of her head.
