Chapter 368
“Uncle Finn, is it done yet?” Merida asked.
Finnegan crouched on the open ground outside the gymnasium, using a stick to stir the pile of fallen leaves that had burned to ash.
Wearing heat–resistant gloves, he reached into the fire and pulled out sweet potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil. As he peeled back the foil, a warm, honeyed aroma wafted out, making Merida’s mouth water antly.
“Hurry up and give it to me!” she cried, reaching for it.
“It’s hot,” Finnegan warned calmly.
He placed the sweet potato on a stack of bricks, rinsed off a spoon with bottled water, and handed it to her.
Merida scooped out a piece, puffed at it impatiently, then took a bite. Her round cheeks puffed up, and her eyes narrowed into contented slits.
Finnegan watched her eat with visible delight. There was a gentle warmth softening his gaze.
Back at Joss Tech, the signing ceremony had ended, and the cocktail party began. Theodore had just stepped out the restroom when he ran straight into Harvey.
of
Harvey took a step back, while Theodore glanced down and saw a large splash of red wine staining the front of his suit jacket. The rose–colored liquid had soaked into the peacock brooch Elara had just given him.
Harvey admired his handiwork, then spoke first. “Mr. Snap, do you not watch where you’re going? With your arrogant attitude, next time it might be more than just your clothes getting ruined.”
He twirled the wineglass between his fingers, then tipped downward, dumping the rest of the wine onto the tips of Theodore’s shoes.
With a cold sneer, Harvey added, “The hallway cameras are broken, but hey–go ahead and cry to Elara. Isn’t that your thing? Acting like a fragile little thing so she’ll protect you?
“Go on–keep pretending. But let me tell you something: she’s just having her fun right now because you’re new. No woman can stand a man who hides behind her all day, whining and waiting for her to fight his battles!”
Before Harvey could even finish his sentence, Theodore threw a punch at him! The air cracked with the as his fist slammed into Harvey’s abdomen.
force o
of it
Harvey didn’t have time to react as he was caught completely off guard. He instinctively reached out to block, but It was too late–Theodore’s punch landed squarely.
The impact knocked the wine glass from Harvey’s hand. The empty glass hit the floor and shattered with a sharp crash
Pain shot through Harvey’s core, twisting his insides. He stumbled back, but before he could steady himself, Theodore struck again.
Harvey had expected him to do what he usually did get soaked in wine and go whining to Elara, red–eyed and pitiful. But not this time.
This time, Theodore grabbed him by the tie and yanked him forward!
Harvey found himself staring into eyes filled with deadly intent. Theodore looked like a blade drawn from its
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Chapter 366
sheath sharp, cold, and ruthless.
The blood drained from Harvey’s face in an instant. He had never realized Theodore was this capable.
Harvey had studied martial arts since childhood–real combat training. After Leonard’s accident, he’d doubled down, making sure his own defense skills were always sharp.
But Theodore moved with a level of precision and power that far surpassed anything Harvey was prepared for.
Harvey’s tall frame slammed into the wall with a sickening thud. It felt like his organs were b the inside. A metallic taste surged up the back of his throat,
“Urgh!”
torn apart from
He clutched his chest, nausea roiling through his stomach. It took everything in him not to vomit on the spot.
Theodore kept one hand casually in the pocket of his slacks. He straightened his legs and calmly brushed away the faint dust and creases on his suit.
Even with half of it soaked in red wine, he still stood tall–as elegant and composed as ever.
Harvey leaned heavily against the wall, using it for support just to stay on his feet. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Theodore, still reeling from the blow.
“How… How do you even know how to fight like that?”
Theodore smiled, interlacing his fingers and flexing his knuckles with a satisfying crack. He replied, “Come on now–Elara’s not here. Why would I bother pretending?”
He glanced down at his chest, where the peacock brooch was stained with wine. A dark fury surged back up through him.
“Fisher, how many ribs are you willing to give up? Since you’re a fan of underhanded means, let’s start with your fingers.”
He strode toward Harvey and seized his wrist in one swift motion.
“Theodorel” Elara’s anxious voice rang out.
Someone had informed her about the fight, and she rushed toward the restroom. Trailing behind her were several upper–crust onlookers who’d come purely for the spectacle
The moment Theodore heard her voice, his body stiffened. It was as if something struck him hard–he instantly staggered back two steps. Somewhat off–balance, he nearly fell.
Elara dashed forward and caught him just in time. She grabbed the fabric at his chest, and her palm was instantly soaked.
“What happened to you?”
She opened her hand and saw her palm stained with patches of deep reddish–purple. Theodore reached around her shoulders from behind, leaning against her as if she were the only thing keeping him standing. With his other hand, he clutched his chest and began to cough violently.
“Ugh, I’m fine,” he rasped as he looked up.
His complexion was pale like porcelain, with lips tinted the soft pink of a bunny’s nose.
He glanced over at Harvey, then lowered his voice and murmured to Elara, “Mr. Fisher accidentally bumped into me earlier…
Chapter 368
“He spilled his wine all over my suit. I don’t think he meant to… It’s just that…”
He fumbled to unfasten the peacock brooch from his chest.
“I didn’t protect the gift you gave me,” he said, his voice thick with remorse.
When he looked at Elara again, his obsidian eyes were filled with pain and guilt.
