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.

of despair before she lunged at Larissa like

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

There was no sound for a while before her soft whimpers finally made themselves

She

biting her lip hard and trembling incessantly, her hand pressed against her stomach while the other clutched at the hem

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

she quickly whipped out her own

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 happen to you!”

over, Larissa let him have her space. Right now, she stood about two steps away and watched the couple with coldness in

miserable as she was that night at the fancy restaurant. As a matter of fact, she felt nothing.

did not know when he had

you cold?” he

situation before them, Larissa was stunned for two seconds before

had just begun. Hence, occasional cold

could not resist the cold. She rubbed her arms and

her shoulders—Kevan had taken off his suit jacket and draped it over her.

Larissa wanted to peel off the jacket and return

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

moment he said that,

lip, Kevan moved to face Larissa with a stern expression as he helped her to adjust the jacket, ensuring that

“See?”

her lips and stopped resisting his good intentions.

…

ambulance arrived

he snarled a threat at the former, “If something happens to the child, I’m

grew fainter, and Larissa remained where she

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