Chapter 496

The night was ink-black. Ethan Roscente stood beside his black Maybach, his knuckles white with tension. Not far away, inside a white Porsche, Sebastian Valdemar’s fingers brushed through Sophia Lowell’s hair—the gentle motion stung like salt in a wound.

"Sir, should we approach?" the driver asked cautiously.

A storm of violence churned in Ethan’s eyes, his jaw clenched tight. He watched as Sebastian’s hand slid from Sophia’s shoulder to her cheek before the two embraced and disappeared into the apartment building.

Inside the elevator, Sophia steadied herself against the wall. Sebastian hovered a hand near her waist, his brow furrowed. "Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you up?"

"No need," she murmured as the doors slid open. "You should get some rest, Seb—"

A dark figure lunged at them with brutal force. Sebastian took a fist to the face, his body slamming against the wall. Blood trickled from his split lip.

"Ethan!" Sophia screamed, stumbling back as a sharp pain lanced through her abdomen. She collapsed, curling into herself as cold sweat drenched her skin.

Sebastian struggled to rise, but two black-suited bodyguards pinned him down. Ethan hauled Sophia against his chest, fingers digging into her chin. His voice was glacial. "Flirting with another man right in front of me?"

"You’re insane!" She trembled but shoved at him. "He was just seeing me home!"

Sebastian spat blood, his gaze sharp. "Let her go, Roscente."

"My woman isn’t your concern." Ethan smirked before driving his knee into Sebastian’s leg. The sickening crack of bone echoed through the elevator.

Sophia’s pupils shrank. Her nails bit into Ethan’s arm. "Stop! You’ll ruin his career!"

Deaf to her pleas, Ethan snapped his fingers. The bodyguards forced Sebastian to his knees, wrenching his arms behind his back.

"Break his right hand," Ethan ordered casually.

"No—!" Sophia’s scream tore from her throat. A cramp twisted through her stomach, darkness crowding her vision. "Ethan, I’m begging you… He’s a surgeon!"

Ethan gripped the nape of her neck, forcing her to watch. "See what happens to men who touch you."

The bodyguard raised a steel rod. Sophia thrashed violently, sinking her teeth into Ethan’s wrist. He recoiled, and she scrambled toward Sebastian. "Run!"

Ethan’s eyes burned crimson. He yanked her back by her hair. "You bit me… for him?"

Tears blurred her vision as she looked up. Then she felt it—warm liquid trickling down her thighs. Crimson streaked her legs, blooming across the tiles like grotesque flowers.

"The baby…" Her voice shattered as she clutched her stomach. "Our baby…"

Ethan’s hand froze mid-air. His face drained of color.