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—"

hissed, his lips curling into a cruel

his ear aside, shutting his eyes as if savoring the searing pain. "As a woman, I'm sure

stepped out of the clubhouse when Sheryl's summoned

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

car screeched to a halt, and the door swung open. "Get in!"

into the car, and Jasper slammed the accelerator, leaving Sheryl's men in the

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

I'm just here as a fellow alumnus,

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

breaking. "I've never felt so

the stillness that followed, Jasper could hear Axel's sobs, muffled and broken. The frigid night and

tightened as he made a silent vow. "Trust me, Axel. I'll handle this for