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.

out a squawk of despair before she lunged at Larissa

heavier than Larissa. So, when Larissa moved aside, Amber missed her target

a pretty bad fall. There was no sound for a while before her soft whimpers finally made themselves

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

biting her lip hard and trembling incessantly, her hand pressed against her stomach while the

a dark red patch had stained Amber’s light gray pants.

quickly whipped out her own phone to call

body to free himself from Kevan’s clutches and practically flew to Amber’s

hold on for a little while longer! You’ll be fine. I

have her space. Right now, she stood about

she was not as miserable as she was that night at the fancy restaurant.

she did not know when he

you cold?” he

not related to the situation before them, Larissa

begun. Hence, occasional cold winds were blowing

not resist the cold. She rubbed her arms and ended

had taken off his suit jacket and draped it over

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

there.” Kevan glanced at the 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 get back to the hotel soon. It’s colder at night,

he said

expression as he helped her to

“See?”

and stopped

…

arrived quickly.

followed Amber into the vehicle. As he passed by Larissa and Kevan, he snarled a threat at the former, “If

and Larissa remained where she

it. He was not a doctor, so he could not answer that question. But he