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. "But don't make life easy

aside, shutting his eyes as if savoring the searing pain. "As

the

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

"Get in!" Jasper barked, his calm

Jasper slammed the accelerator,

Beckett. I could've handled that trash on my own," Axel muttered, lighting a cigarette with unsteady hands.

a fellow alumnus, lending a hand." His voice was grim. "I told you not to provoke Justin and to leave

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,

breaking. "I've never

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

jaw tightened as he made a silent vow. "Trust me, Axel.