"Something happened at the company," Vivian said. "I have to go handle it. Take your time eating. The bill is mine."
She brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, urgency showing in her eyes.
Then she grabbed her handbag and started to leave.
"I'll go with you," Ethan said, rising as well.
He pulled two napkins from the table and calmly wiped the corner of his mouth.
"Maybe I can help."
Vivian stopped and looked back.
"Help?"
Her eyes narrowed with teasing certainty.
"You mean you're afraid the Lowe family will retaliate, so you want to stay under my protection."
In Vivian's mind, Ethan was skilled in a fight, but he was still alone in Northbridge.
Against a family like the Lowes, hiding beneath her umbrella was his most sensible option.
"Let's call it that," Ethan said.
He had no interest in explaining.
Vivian sighed.
"Fine. You can follow. Just don't cause trouble."
She had dragged him into this, after all.
The two of them entered the elevator one after the other.
Ding.
The doors opened on the first floor.
Vivian went toward the front desk to confirm the bill.
Before she could speak, she noticed the hostess's expression.
The young woman was looking toward the entrance, worried.
Vivian's heart sank.
Her instincts were rarely wrong.
She turned.
Several figures had appeared at the entrance.
Derek Lowe stood among them, one arm bandaged and hanging against his chest, his face twisted with anger.
Behind him were seven or eight broad-shouldered men.
Each wore a martial arts uniform.
Each had a black belt tied at the waist.
Vivian's eyes sharpened.
Black belts.
These were not random street thugs.
They were trained fighters, possibly instructors from a professional gym.
"Go out the back," Vivian said under her breath. "I'll hold them here."
She did not want Ethan hurt because of her.
No matter how strong he was, one man could not face seven or eight trained fighters.
Especially not while Derek was furious enough to stop pretending he had manners.
"I don't hide behind women."
Ethan stepped forward.
His broad back came between Vivian and the men like a wall.
He kept both hands in his pockets.
There was still a lazy smile at the corner of his mouth.
Perfect.
He had wanted to test the upper limit of his god-level combat technique.
"Why don't you listen?" Vivian hissed.
She was so angry she nearly stamped her foot.
This was not bravery.
This was walking into traffic because the light looked interesting.
Derek pointed at Ethan.
"You're finished. I said it. Even God couldn't save you today."
Ethan yawned.
"My time is valuable. Come together."
The indifference in his voice angered every man standing across from him.
Fists tightened.
Derek froze for half a second, then laughed as if he had heard the best joke of his life.
"Are you insane? Do you know these men are all black-belt fighters? Any one of them can beat you into the floor, and you want to fight all of them at once?"
"Too much talking," Ethan said. "Move."
Derek's face turned ugly.
"Fine. Since you want to die, I'll help you. Break his arms and legs. I want him spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair."
The black belts moved.
Fists cut through the air.
Kicks came in from both sides.
Vivian's fingers curled.
For a second, she almost closed her eyes.
Then the first scream rang out.
It was not Ethan's.
His voice was too pleasant for that.
Vivian opened her eyes.
The scene in front of her became something she would remember for the rest of her life.
Ethan still had both hands in his pockets.
His body moved like a shadow between the attackers.
His legs were too fast to follow.
Each time a blur flashed, a man flew backward.
One fighter tried to strike from Ethan's left.
Ethan did not even turn fully.
His foot landed cleanly in the man's chest.
Crack.
The sound of breaking ribs cut through the restaurant lobby.
The two-hundred-pound man flew into a support column, hit hard, and slid down like his bones had forgotten their duty.
Less than a minute later, every black-belt fighter Derek had brought lay scattered across the floor.
Groaning.
Broken.
Finished.
Vivian stared without speaking.
She had misjudged him again.
Ethan was not arrogant.
He was accurate.
"How..." Derek's face finally reacted. "How is this possible?"
He knew what kind of men he had hired.
They were professionals.
In front of Ethan, they had looked like children learning to walk.
Ethan walked toward him.
Derek's legs softened.
He fell backward onto the floor.
"Don't come here. You monster."
He pushed himself away with both hands, panic breaking his voice.
"What did you say you wanted to do to me?" Ethan asked with a smile.
"You can't touch me," Derek shouted. "I'm the Lowe family heir. My father is Graham Lowe. If you touch me, there will be no place for you in Northbridge."
Slap.
Ethan's hand moved.
Derek's face snapped sideways.
A red mark rose instantly.
"I'm the Lowe family..."
Slap.
Another strike cut off the rest of the sentence.
This one knocked blood from the corner of Derek's mouth.
Derek saw Ethan lift his hand again and immediately covered his head with both arms.
He curled into himself, shaking.
"You brought all these men to trouble me," Ethan said, crouching beside him. "That caused me severe emotional distress."
His smile did not reach his eyes.
"How should we settle that?"
Derek felt the words crawl down his spine.
Hell was empty.
This man was walking around in Northbridge.
"Compensation," Ethan said. "Ten million dollars. Not excessive, right?"
Derek almost choked.
Somehow, the demon had become worse.
Author's Note:
This story will continue updating here.
If you want to read the full story without waiting, you can unlock it here:
/c/TYMercer
Thank you for reading.