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—"

lips curling into a cruel

as if savoring the searing pain. "As a woman, I'm sure you know exactly how to

barely stepped out of the

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

in!" Jasper barked, his calm demeanor cutting through the chaos like

hesitate. He leaped into the car, and Jasper slammed the

to trouble yourself, Mr. Beckett. I could've handled that trash on my own," Axel muttered, lighting a cigarette with unsteady hands. He took a long drag, exhaling smoke into the frigid night air as he rolled down the

of Beckett Group right now. I'm just here as a fellow alumnus, lending a hand." His voice was grim. "I told you not to provoke Justin

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 I did, Amber might

breaking. "I've never felt

Jasper could hear Axel's sobs, muffled and broken. The frigid night and the howling winds seemed to swallow his

he made a silent vow. "Trust me, Axel. I'll