Sweet Subterfuge

Kevan successfully got Travis to shut up. Choking, the latter managed to spit out, “Shameless bastard!”

Kevan was unconcerned. He had lived for 34 years and had heard worse than this. The words “shameless bastard” had no effect on him at all.

“Is there any use in being modest?” he retorted. “I’m sure the two of you know better than I do that sometimes being shameless is the key to success.”

His sarcasm was obvious; Travis caught on to it immediately.

“You!” Enraged, Travis let go of Amber and charged over. His fist aimed for Kevan’s face, but the latter caught it a few inches before it could land.

“You’re biting off more than you can chew,” Kevan sneered coolly as he twisted Travis’ wrist, causing him to turn around.

Kevan then kicked the back of Travis’ knee. With a thud, Travis was kneeling on the ground.

Covering her mouth, Amber wailed shrilly, “Help! Help! There’s an attack! Someone’s assaulting my partner!”

Her voice was rather irritating in the silence of the night.

Kevan leveled a cold glare at her and growled, “Shut up! Or I’ll beat you up too!”

Amber took a big step back. “How dare you!” She did her best to look fierce, but that did not shield the fear in her eyes.

“You’ll find out later, won’t you?” Kevan smiled darkly as he yanked on Travis’ hair and stepped on his calf. A twist of his forefoot caused Travis to let out a piercing shriek.

“Amber, call the police!” he cried.

Coming to her senses, Amber reached for her phone, fumbling several times before she finally got it out. Before she could unlock it, however, Larissa snatched it and threw it on the ground.

squawk of despair before she lunged at Larissa

aside, Amber missed her

was no sound for a while before her soft whimpers

Larissa. She hurriedly went to turn Amber over and crouched to check her condition.

also biting her lip hard and trembling incessantly, her hand

noticed that a dark red patch had stained Amber’s

as she quickly whipped out her own phone to

cried tearfully. He used all the power he had in his body to free himself from Kevan’s

on for a little while longer! You’ll be fine. I won’t let anything

Larissa let him have her space. Right now, she stood about two

repeating itself, but she was not as miserable as she was that night at the fancy restaurant. As a matter of fact,

she did not know when he

you cold?” he

situation before them, Larissa was stunned

Hence, occasional cold winds were blowing

resist the cold. She rubbed her arms and ended up hugging

very next second, she felt a weight upon her shoulders—Kevan had taken off his suit jacket and draped it

wanted to peel off the jacket and return it to Kevan,

weeping couple on the ground, who seemed to act as if they were going to lose each other, and said in a low voice, “As things stand right now, you won’t be able to

moment he said that, Larissa

as he

“See?”

stopped resisting

…

arrived quickly.

a threat at the former, “If

ambulance sirens grew fainter, and

Kevan so softly that the latter thought he imagined it. He was not a doctor, so he could not answer that question. But he was certain of one