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.

phone!” Amber let out a squawk of despair before she lunged at

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

a pretty bad fall. There was no sound for a

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

hard and trembling incessantly, her

noticed that a dark red patch had stained Amber’s

she quickly whipped out her own phone to call emergency

used all the power he had in his body to free himself from Kevan’s clutches and practically

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

space. Right now, she stood about two steps away and watched the

as miserable as she was that night

her. However, she did not know when he had come over.

cold?” he

not related to the situation before them, Larissa was stunned for two seconds before

just begun. Hence, occasional cold winds were blowing in the

only worn a thin shirt that could not resist the

taken off his suit jacket and draped it over her. The

the jacket and return

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,

moment he said

a stern expression as he helped her to adjust the jacket, ensuring that she

“See?”

pursed her lips and stopped resisting his good intentions.

…

ambulance arrived quickly.

the vehicle. As he passed by Larissa and Kevan, he snarled a threat at the former, “If something happens to the child, I’m coming after you!”

sirens grew fainter, and

Kevan so softly that the latter thought he imagined it. He was not