Chapter 93
Payton stumbled forward, his face drained of all color. Dizzy from the punch, he couldn’t even stand, but still he crawled toward Valerie, groaning weakly, “Stop…. please…”
But the man on Valerie’s side didn’t even get the chance to lay a hand on her he was kicked hard, right between the legs.
The blow came fast, vicious, and completely unexpected.
The thug let out a scream, his face going sheet white as he crumpled over in agony, no longer able to get up.
Valerie had used every ounce of her strength in that kick. She was shaking all over, and her voice was sharp and trembling as she cried out, “Aiden!”
The other two men were stunned for a split second–they hadn’t expected this woman to fight back so fiercely.
But before they could even lift a hand against her, a punch came out of nowhere and landed hard.
One howled in pain.
The last one managed to grab Valerie’s arm, but that hand was swiftly caught, twisted at an unnatural angle with a sickening crack.
His arm had been broken clean in half.
Valerie froze. And then she turned–and saw Aiden.
He stood there like a god of vengeance, radiating cold fury. His entire presence was a wall of ice, his expression carved in stone, cruel and ruthless.
Valerie’s eyes welled up as she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
Aiden raised a hand and gently pulled his girl into his arms–but the murderous energy pouring from him was even more intense now, crashing straight into the vermin who’d dared touch her.
Alessandro’s face twisted in disbelief.
What the hell? In just a few minutes, all three of his men had been flattened?
Valerie clung to Aiden, and only then did she realize she was trembling.
She hadn’t felt afraid when it was happening–but the moment she saw him, all the strength in her body collapsed, and every bit of fear and panic surged at once. Her first instinct had been to run straight into his arms.
A firm hand patted her back, and Aiden’s deep, calming voice whispered in her ear, “Don’t be scared. I’m here.”
The words steadied her heart, but guilt pricked at her too–she’d just dragged him into a mess.
Alessandro met Aiden’s cold, dangerous eyes and gritted his teeth. His pride couldn’t take it. “Guys!” he barked. “Get out here!”
His people had all assumed that pretty girl would be helpless prey–an easy target.
But then they heard screams. Now, with Alessandro yelling again, they scrambled out of the room–only to find the three thugs on the floor, groa pain.
Fury erupted. “Who the hell are you?” one of them roared. “You’ve got a death wish or something?! Touching our team–are you insane?”
They rolled up their sleeves, each one more aggressive than the last.
Only Rowan, standing near the back, had gone pale.
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Chapter 93
That guy Valerie’s clinging to… he looks familiar! Rowan frowned. I’ve seen him somewhere before. One of those rare high profile cel to… He was no, he is someone important. Someone who stood out… But who exactly
He couldn’t remember.
But the man’s deep, chilling eyes were filled with quiet menace, and the force of his presence alone was enough to freeze the blood. Rowan realized wate a jolt: even Fisher–Fisher–had never been this terrifying.
This guy was no ordinary man.
Meanwhile, the others had already surrounded Aiden and Valerie.
They had the numbers. From the outside, it looked overwhelming.
Alessandro smirked, regaining his confidence. “Trying to play the hero?” he sneered. “Hand over the girl, get on your knees, and apologize. Do that, and maybe we’ll let you walk out of here. Otherwise don’t blame us for ganging up on you.”
Valerie’s eye twitched.
‘These guys really have no idea what they’re walking into.’
Forget their odds against a former MMA champion like Aiden–just the words they’d thrown out were enough to seal their fate
Rowan’s face turned ghost–white. “Shut up! Stop talking!” he blurted, panic rising. “That man…”
A booming voice cut through the air like a whip. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Everyone turned.
From the far end of the hallway, a group of middle–aged men came striding in, their faces dark and furious.
Alessandro’s eyes lit up when he saw the man leading them. “Uncle Cedric, you’re just in time! This guy–he actually dared to…”
The slap was loud and vicious.
Alessandro was stunned, clutching his cheek. “W–Why’d you hit me?!”
Cedric Maynard was livid. “You have the gall to ask? Do you even know what you’ve done?! Everyone–back off! Back off right now!”
The group, usually loyal to Alessandro, now scrambled like frightened puppies.
Cedric turned, his face pale as he looked at Aiden, who was still surrounded. Then his expression shifted entirely–groveling, fawning. “Aiden! What an honor. I had no idea you were here–if I’d known, I would’ve come to greet you myself!”
He practically bowed on the spot.
Alessandro stood frozen. Everyone around him was speechless.
Even Payton, half–conscious from the beating, stared in disbelief.
In Payton’s world, people like Alessandro were the top of the food chain. Privileged, powerful, untouchable. His uncle Cedric? Even worse. The kind of man Payton could never even dream of meeting, much less offending.
And yet… this man–Cedric Maynard–was fawning all over someone else. Bending and scraping. Groveling.
Aiden didn’t even look impressed. He gave Cedric a cool glance and asked, “And who are you?”
Cedric flinched—but quickly plastered on a big smile. “Last week’s banquet! We met then–remember? I’m Alessandro’s uncle–I was following a director around, pouring your drinks the whole night. Surely you recall?”
16:25, Tag 1936: (C)
Chapter 93
Aiden didn’t..
People poured his drinks all the time. He didn’t remember any of them.
But since he was in front of his juniors, he casually said, “Oh, that was you.”
“Yes! Yes, that was mo!” Cedric practically squealed. “I thought it looked like you on the cameras, but I wasn’t sure. Then I saw that tall, handsome figurë and of course! Who else could it be?”
The flattery was embarrassing.
Even Valerie couldn’t bear to watch.
But Cedric’s nephews and their friends were all staring like they’d seen a ghost.
Then Cedric’s face turned ice–cold. He turned to the boys–and shouted, “Kneel!”
