The tension at our table was thick enough to cut with a knife. I''d faced down powerful cultivators and corrupt family patriarchs, but there was something uniquely irritating about the petty cruelty unfolding before me. Aurora sat rigidly beside me, her face flushed with embarrassment from the crudements.


    Before I could respond to the tattooed woman''s insult, amotion erupted nearby. A sharp female voice cut through the Underground Ring''s din.


    "Well, well, well. Look who it is."


    A slender woman with meticulously styled blonde hair pushed through the crowd, her eyes locked on Jaxon. Her designer clothes contrasted sharply with the gritty environment, and her manicured nails gleamed under the harsh lighting.


    Jaxon''s face drained of color. "Ashlee," he muttered, looking like he''d seen a ghost.


    "Surprised to see me?" She nted herself directly in front of our table, hands on hips, lips curled into a vicious smile.


    Decker and Vivian exchanged interested nces, seemingly happy to watch this new drama unfold. The tattooed woman melted back into the crowd, entertainment value reced by something potentially more explosive.


    Eamon leaned toward me. "This isn''t good," he whispered.


    Jaxon cleared his throat. "Ashlee, I''m here with friends. Can we not do this now?"


    "Friends?" she scoffed, scanning our group with contempt. Her gaze stopped on Aurora. "Recing me already? She''s nowhere near my league."


    Aurora looked confused. "I''m not—"


    "She''s not with me," Jaxon interrupted. "None of this is what you think."


    I studied the woman carefully. The hatred radiating from her was palpable, her entire body vibrating with it. This wasn''t just an awkward ex encounter – there was real venom here.


    "Who is she?" I asked quietly.


    Jaxon''s shoulders slumped. "My ex-girlfriend," he exined in a low voice. "We broke up six months ago."


    "Because you''re a spineless coward!" Ashlee snapped, clearly overhearing. "You think you can humiliate me and just move on?"


    Around us, people were starting to watch, excitement building at the prospect of personal drama more entertaining than the scheduled fights.


    "I didn''t humiliate you," Jaxon hissed. "You cheated on me! What was I supposed to do?"


    Ashleeughed, the sound sharp and brittle. "Oh, is that the story you''re telling now?"


    "It''s the truth," he insisted, a flicker of backbone showing through his fear. "Three years together, and I find you in our bed with another man."


    I felt a cold stillness settle over me. The scenario was painfully familiar – the betrayal, the humiliation. I''d lived through worse with Sophia Sterling. Suddenly, I was seeing Jaxon in a new light. <strong ss="ref-fc3c8b">This copy was generated from content at *.</strong>


    "That''s rough," Eamonmented quietly.


    Ashlee tossed her hair back. "Maybe if you''d been man enough to satisfy me, I wouldn''t have looked elsewhere."


    The cruelty of the statement hung in the air. Jaxon seemed to physically shrink in his seat, and despite myplicated feelings about him, I felt a surge of disgust toward Ashlee.


    "You should leave," Aurora said suddenly, her voice steady despite her obvious difort in this environment.


    Ashlee''s attention snapped to her. "Excuse me? Did anyone ask for your opinion?"


    "No one needs to ask," Aurora replied. "You''re making a scene and embarrassing yourself."


    "Aurora, don''t," Jaxon pleaded, real fear in his eyes.


    Ashlee''s face contorted with rage. "You think I''m embarrassing myself? You have no idea who you''re talking to, sweetheart."


    "I think we''re done here," I said, starting to stand. Whatever entertainment value The Ring might have held was rapidly diminishing.


    "Oh, we''re not done," Ashlee hissed. "Not even close." She pulled out her phone and typed quickly. "You want to see embarrassment? Wait right there."


    The atmosphere shifted as she stepped back, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. The fights continued in the background, but in our corner of the venue, all attention was on the unfolding drama.


    Jaxon was visibly trembling now. "We should go," he whispered urgently. "Right now."


    "Why? What''s happening?" Aurora asked.


    Before he could exin, the crowd parted, and my eyebrows rose involuntarily.


    A mountain of a man approached, easily six-foot-six with shoulders like a bull. His neck was as thick as my thigh, veins bulging across forearms that looked capable of snapping tree trunks. He wore a tight ck shirt that strained against his massive chest and moved with the deliberate confidence of someone who had never lost a physical confrontation in his life.


    "Davis," Jaxon breathed, and the single word carried volumes of fear.


    Ashlee''s face lit up with malicious delight as the giant reached her side. She immediately pressed herself against him, one hand possessively stroking his massive chest.


    "Jaxon," the man rumbled, his voice deep enough to vibrate the sses on our table. "Been a while."


    Understanding clicked into ce. This was the man Ashlee had cheated with.


    "Davis Brady," Ashlee purred, looking up at herpanion adoringly before fixing Jaxon with a venomous stare. "The real man I upgraded to after wasting three years on you."


    Davis ced a heavy hand on her waist, his eyes never leaving Jaxon. "Your ex been bothering you, baby?"


    "He''s been saying horrible things about me," she pouted, the performance so transparent it would have beenical if the situation weren''t so vtile.


    Eamon shifted subtly, positioning himself for quick intervention. I remained seated, watching carefully, assessing the threat level. The giant was impressively built, but I''d faced far more dangerous opponents. Still, in this crowded space, any conflict could quickly escte beyond control.


    Davis stepped forward, looming over our table. "You talking shit about my woman?"


    Jaxon shook his head frantically. "No, I wasn''t—we were just—"


    "Because it sounds like you''re still hung up on her," Davis continued, his massive hands curling into fists the size of small hams. "Can''t ept that she traded up."


    Ashlee was practically glowing with satisfaction, watching Jaxon squirm. "He''s pathetic," she told Davis loudly, ensuring everyone nearby could hear. "Always has been. Remember what I told you about his... shorings?"


    She emphasized thest word, and cruelughter rippled through the onlookers. Jaxon''s face burned with humiliation.


    "We don''t want trouble," I said calmly, meeting Davis''s gaze directly. "We''re just here to watch the fights."


    Davis barely nced at me, focusing his intimidation on Jaxon. "Know what I think? I think you should apologize to Ashlee for spreading lies."


    "I haven''t spread any—"


    "On your knees," Davis interrupted, his voice dropping dangerously.


    Silence fell around us. Even the nearby spectators seemed to hold their breath.


    "What?" Jaxon whispered.


    Ashlee stepped forward, her eyes glittering with malice. "You heard him. On your knees, Jaxon. Apologize properly."


    The public humiliation was clearly her goal – not just an apology butplete degradation in front of an audience. This wasn''t about clearing her name; it was about crushing whatever was left of Jaxon''s dignity.


    "That''s enough," I said, my voice hardening.


    Ashlee sneered at me. "Mind your own business. This is between me, Jaxon, and my man."


    Davis finally turned his attention to me, sizing me up with dismissive eyes. "Your friend needs to learn some respect."


    "Respect is earned," I replied evenly. "I haven''t seen anything worthy of it yet."


    The giant''s eyes narrowed dangerously. He was clearly unustomed to being challenged.


    Ashlee, seeming to realize she wasn''t getting the immediate capittion she wanted from Jaxon, changed tactics. Her gaze slid to Aurora.


    "And who''s this little mouse?" she asked, venom dripping from every word. "Your new ything, Jaxon?"


    Aurora met her gaze steadily. "I''m a colleague. Nothing more."


    "Really?" Ashlee''s smile was razor-sharp. "Maybe Davis should show you what a real man feels like. You''d never look at Jaxon again."


    Davis''s mouth curved into an ugly smile. "She''s pretty," he agreed, eyeing Aurora like she was merchandise. "I could break her in for you, baby. Wouldn''t be the first time."


    Something inside Jaxon snapped. He lurched to his feet, his fear momentarily ovee by outrage. "Don''t talk to her like that!"


    Before anyone could react, he swung a wild, clumsy punch at Davis''s jaw. The giant barely moved, the impact making no more impression than if Jaxon had struck a concrete wall.


    Davis looked down at him, almost amused. "That it?"


    Jaxon stepped back, shaking his hand in pain, the momentary courage already fading.


    "Pathetic," Ashleeughed. "Just like in bed."


    Davis grabbed Jaxon by the front of his shirt, lifting him until his feet barely touched the ground. "Try that again, and I''ll break every bone in your hand."


    Jaxon dangled helplessly, his face a mask of terror.


    "Put him down," I said, finally standing.


    "Or what?" Davis challenged, not even bothering to look at me.


    "Please," Ashlee said, her voice dripping with contempt. "Your little friend couldn''t even make me feel a tickle. What exactly are you going to do?"


    She turned her attention back to Jaxon, who was still suspended in Davis''s grip. "Here''s what''s going to happen. You''re going to get on your knees and lick my shoe. Then maybe – maybe – Davis won''t rearrange your face."


    Jaxon''s eyes were wide with terror and humiliation. Davis lowered him slightly but maintained his grip.


    Ashlee extended one foot, her expensive stiletto pointing at Jaxon. "Start licking, ex-boyfriend."


    The crowd around us was utterly silent now, all attention on this spectacle of cruelty. I nced at Eamon, whose face had hardened into a mask of disapproval.


    "I really don''t like this couple," I said quietly to him, my voice ice-cold.


    Eamon nodded, rolling his fists with a subtle crack of knuckles. "I understand, Mr. Smith."