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.

despair before she lunged at Larissa like a mad

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

There was no sound for a

Amber’s current reaction was more alarming to Larissa. She hurriedly went to turn Amber over and

pale, and large beads of sweat were dripping down her forehead. Amber was also biting her lip hard and trembling incessantly, her hand pressed against her

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

out her own phone to

had in his body to free himself from Kevan’s clutches

Just hold on for a little while longer! You’ll be fine. I won’t let anything happen to you!” He

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

she was that night at the fancy restaurant. As a matter of fact, she

next to her. However, she did not know when

cold?” he asked.

to the situation before them, Larissa was stunned for two seconds before

Hence, occasional cold winds were

only worn a thin shirt that could not resist the cold. She rubbed her arms and ended up hugging herself.

a weight upon her shoulders—Kevan had taken off his suit jacket and draped it over her. The fragrance of

peel off the jacket and return

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.

moment he said that,

expression as he

“See?”

stopped resisting his

…

ambulance arrived

vehicle. As he passed by Larissa and Kevan, he snarled a threat at

grew fainter, and

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