Celine was truly terthed. Like any girl facing such a vition, she couldn’t keep calm—she was shaking uncontrobly,

“Let me go! Det ?tt me! Ah!” she screamed, her voice saw with desperation as she struggled to think of a way to fight back

Suddenly, the door burst open with a thunderous bang, kicked in with enough force to cattle the walls.

stand into the room, his movements sharp and deliberate. Without hesitation, he seized Elijah and tore him off Celine. Then, Adam’s tist came crashing

Thigh hit the floor, but Adam didn’t stop. A second punchnded, then a third, each one hander than thest

the time Adum stepped, Elijah’s face was a mask of blood.

adam__Adam_” celine’s voice trembled as she called his name.

Adam dropped Elijah, and tumed toward her. She had sat up on the bed, but her entire body quaked with fear.

A vivid red handprint matted her right cheek, and the swollen skin was a stark contrast against bher /bbpale /bplexion. Her dress was bunched up high, exposing her Irge, mottled with angry red marks where thijsh had grabbed her

she looked like someone who had been ruthlessly vited

The image of Elijah on top of her, the one he’d walked in on just moments ago, Dashed across bAdam’s /bmind again, and his veins throbbed with rage. Hetookarped breath, his voice low as he said, “Did he touch you?”

celine’s wide, tear–filed eyes tumed to him. “No he didn’t

“Are you sure? Let me see,” Adam demanded, his tone sharp.

He felt the weight in his chest eased slightly when Celine said Elijah hudn’t touched her, but the anger inside him still burned hot,

His ts curled, itching tond a few more punches on Elijah

to bleave/b. Take me away from here

But before he could move, Celine wrapped her arms tightly around him. “Adam, stopb. /bMease I just want to leave. Tak hy sprawled on the carpet, bhis /bface smeared with bloodb, /bhis dull, unfocused eyes staring into nothingness. If bAdam /bdidn’t stop now, something irreversible would happen.

With a sharp inhale, Adam forced himself to hold back

He took off his ck coat and carefully draped it over Celine, wrapping herpletely in bits /bprotective weight. Then, without a word, he scooped her form into his annis and camned her out

Half an hourter, the sleek Rolls–Royce Phantom pulled into the driveway of Westwood Vi,

Adem stepped out, still cradling Celine, and bstrode /bdirectly to the master bedroom. Inside the en suite bedroom, he gently bced /bher in the spacious bathtub, Reaching over, he turned on the hot water, letting it flow into the tub

Celine’s body was icy cold, her pale skin drained of life. It wasn’t until the warm water began to wrap around her like a soothing balm that a faint flush retumed to

Adam’s deep, cuming voice broke the silence. “You put on makeup? –

still slightly damp at

Celine looked bup /bat him. His sleeves rolled up to arveal bhis /bstrong forearms and the bgleams /bof anexpensive watch, his tailored ck trousers still

The soft clumpati glow of the bathroom lighting cast him in a bstriking /bbcontrast/b, every inch of him exuding the quiet power of a man who was always in control. Batluses told a different story They burd with pestraford anger and a trace of mockery. “Lipstick too?”

elite opened her mouth, her voice barely above a winsper. “L‘

Adam’s hands dropped to his hips bas /bhe stared at her, frustration sharpening his words like a de. “Dr, was giving a lecture btoday/b. Every single student wi pving to be their Why did byou /bbdress /bup like bthis/bb? /bWho do you think Hijah bwould /btarget if not you?

teline stayed silent. Hermind was still praling, her heart shaken by the weight of what had just happened. As her thoughts settledb, /bba /bsurge of injustice use within

Her eyes reddened, l–unb–/bpooling stil they spilled over,rge droplets standing down her cheeksb. /b

Sebepantorry

Adam froze, band /bbhas /btall true wed rigid “Hey, Cell. Why are youerying Don’t think you can a few tears and expect this to be over. ” Her tears fell, heedless of his words.