Despite the near-miss with the knife, Beckett remainedposed and at ease.


    "Why the outburst? All I did was tell her a few truths."


    Joshua''s voice was frigid. "Out of respect for Laurel Quinn, I was going to spare your life. It seems you don''t appreciate the gesture. Since they can''t kill you, and I happen to have some free time, I can handle it myself."


    Beckett smiled. "We were taught by the same master. While my skills don''t match yours, I''m more than capable of escaping with my life."


    He spread his hands, his smile turning malicious. "It looks like your ten-billion-dor bounty is going to be a waste of money."


    Joshua didn''t seem annoyed. He entered the room and casually sat on the sofa.


    "Just because they can''t kill you doesn''t mean I can''t. If I hadn''t been so busytely, do you really think you''d still be alive?"


    Leaning back in his chair, Beckett retorted, "I hunted you for so long, and you never made a peep. But the moment that woman gets a scratch, you put a global bounty on my head. You''ve gotten soft, Joshua. It''s not like you."


    "Don''t pretend you''re so noble," Joshua said. "If you weren''t driven by your own feelings, would you be meddling in other people''s business? Since you can''t bear to see Laurel Quinn wronged, why don''t you just marry her yourself?"


    Joshua watched Beckett''s expression, a faint smile on his lips.


    "Only a weak man entrusts the happiness of the woman he cares about to someone else. Why not give her that happiness yourself? Or is it that you don''t want to?"


    Beckett''s expression soured. He''d forgotten that even years ago, he could never hold his own against Joshua in a verbal sparring match.


    Beckett sneered, "Joshua, you know you''re in the wrong when ites to Laurel, don''t you? Otherwise, why did you never fight back all those times I came after you?"


    "Stealing a partner''s girl and marrying someone your friend liked... I admit, I was in the wrong," Joshua said. "So, I let it slide when you hunted me. However..."


    A ck pistol suddenly appeared in Joshua''s hand. His eyes were cold and devoid of emotion.


    "If you get in my way, I can''t let you live."


    As the words left his mouth, Joshua pulled the trigger.


    A shot rang out.


    At the same time, a woman''s horrified cry came from the doorway. "Joshua, don''t!"


    Beckett hadn''t expected Joshua to actually fire. But he was no ordinary man. After a moment of shock chtě reacted


    stantly, ducking his head


    to the side.


    fast. Even


    His reflexes were top-tier, incredibly so, the bullet grazed his Teaving a thin bloody line


    cheek, leaving a thin


    acr


    his face.


    Laurel Quinn rushed over to check on him, a rare hint of worry in her cool eyes. "Beckett, are you okay?"


    Beckett wiped the blood from his cheek, his gaze fixed on Joshua. "Laurel, I''m fine."


    Perhaps because of Laurel Quinn''s arrival, Joshua didn''t fire again. He simply watched the two of them with cold eyes.


    "Laurel Quinn, control your brother. He got lucky this time. I won''t hold back again."


    Joshua holstered his gun and was about to leave when Beckett''s voice rang out


    once more.


    "Joshua, if Laurel hadn''t gone


    against everyone''s advice to


    hypnotize you back then, you would


    have died from one of you


    episodes. Laurel took all the me, while you got to y the victim. I admit you''ve helped Laurel a lot. But after what happened, you''re the one who owes her..."