Can’t Win Me Back

"Didn't you say you had no idea what I was talking about? In that case, this ear is useless to you. You're already a crippled man anyway. You might as well be deaf too."

Axel's hands trembled with restrained rage. The temptation to end Justin's life surged through him—he wanted to pull the trigger, to rip him apart limb by limb. But he had made a promise to Jasper-no lives would be taken. A promise was a promise.

"I will rescue my wife. But you'll lose more than just an ear if I fail." Axel seized Justin by the hair, his reddened eyes brimming with tears. His voice cracked with fury and anguish. "I will make you suffer a thousand times the pain Amber has endured."

Without warning, he released Justin and stormed out.

"S-Sir! I will get someone to take you to the hospital right away!"

Sheryl crawled to Justin's side, panic-stricken as her eyes fell on the pool of blood spreading across the floor. Her trembling hands fumbled with her phone, unable to keep a firm grip as she scrambled to place a call.

Justin's fingers curled around the severed piece of his ear, his face twisted with agony. Tilting his head back, he let out an unhinged, guttural laugh. "How... interesting. So very interesting."

Sheryl recoiled, her voice quivering, "Sir... w-what should we do about Amber? Should we—"

her alive," Justin hissed, his lips curling into a cruel smile.

eyes as if savoring the searing

out of the

night air, but before the confrontation could escalate, a sleek black Aston Martin roared onto the scene, scattering his would-be attackers like bowling

in!" Jasper barked, his calm

He leaped into the car, and Jasper slammed the accelerator, leaving

on my own," Axel muttered, lighting a cigarette

the steering wheel. "I'm not Mr. Beckett, the president of Beckett Group right now. I'm just here as a fellow alumnus, lending a hand." His voice was grim. "I told

is in his hands. As much as I know that for a fact, I still can't save her. I have no leverage, no proof..." His voice cracked as he coughed, his eyes welling with tears. "I was so close to killing him. But I couldn't-because if

to Jasper, his voice breaking. "I've never felt so useless. Tell me, what should

and broken. The frigid night and the

made a silent vow. "Trust me,