?Chapter 1247:


    He turned his head, dismissing Chris with a brief nce, then let his lips curve again in mock amusement. “I wasn’t asking you. Tell me, who exactly is it taken by?”


    The casual tone did nothing to conceal the sudden spike of tension in the air.


    Chris’s hands curled into fists, veins standing out beneath his skin. Maia shifted slightly, hoping to ease the strain before it escted.


    Yet Ss’s patience was already wearing thin. He had approached with the intention of being courteous, especially toward Maia. Her presence had struck him with such force that, for a moment, he had nearly forgotten how to breathe.


    But the man at her side was unbearable, an obstacle gnawing at hisposure.


    A thought crossed his mind. Why maintain polite restraint when provocation would serve just as well?


    A scene here could easily turn into headlines—Maia’s bodyguard shes with Ss Court, the award-winning actor—a spectacle that would ripple through the press…


    Not only would it draw attention, it would also give him an excuse when reporting back to Raegan.


    Decision made, Ss brushed aside Chris’s outstretched hand with careless force. His tone was indifferent, edged with arrogance. “Since no one is here, I’ll take it.” He leaned toward the empty chair.


    Before he could sit, a voice came from directly in front of him—calm, low, andmanding.


    “Sorry. That seat is upied.”


    The words were not raised, yet they demanded stillness.


    Ss froze, irritation ring as he lifted his gaze. Why was he being interrupted again?


    Another man stood before him—Rnd. Dressed in a in ck shirt, his expression was unreadable, his presence steady as stone. He radiated a quiet dominance that filled the space around him. Relief flickered across Maia’s face at once.


    Ss frowned. “And you are?” His tone was sharp, stripped of courtesy.


    Your next story starts here: g?lnσν???s


    Rnd offered no verbal reply. Instead, he seized Ss’s wrist with one hand and, without hesitation, yanked him back from the chair. The movement was swift, clean, and forceful. Ss stumbled half a step, shock shing across his face.


    Instinctively, he raised his free hand and twisted his wrist with practiced strength, a maneuver that had sent many opponents recoiling in pain.


    This time, it failed.


    Rnd’s other hand rose, locking Ss’s wrist with deliberate precision. The grip was steady as iron. His expression never changed, not even flickering with effort.


    A hiss escaped Ss’s throat as pain surged up his arm, sharp and undeniable. His eyes widened, disbelief taking hold.


    It was shocking enough that Maia’s quietpanion possessed such unexpected strength, but Ss had never imagined that a stranger—one who seemed to emerge from the shadows themselves—could match him blow for blow. The sight was unthinkable.


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