Glenn met Victor''s cold, blood-red eyes—eyes that promised murder—without a trace of fear. He was just relieved that Evangeline wasn''t here, that she wasn''t the one facing Victor''s wrath. He couldn''t begin to imagine what Victor would do to her.


    A few seconds of tense silence passed before the murderous glint in Victor''s eyes began to fade, reced by something unreadable. The sudden shift was jarring, and Glenn felt a flicker of surprise.


    Victor let out a coldugh and, in a bizarre gesture, reached out to straighten Glenn''s cor. "Evangeline orchestrated Tessa''s escape. If Tessa is dead, then I''ll make damn sure Evangeline joins her."


    He spat thest words with deliberate venom. "We''re going back," hemanded, turning to leave.


    Glenn froze, his fists clenching at his sides. As he watched Victor''s retreating back, he did something no one could have anticipated. In a sh, he lunged forward, wrapping his arm around Victor''s neck in a tight chokehold. The move was so fast and unexpected that even Victor was stunned. After all, Glenn was known for his calm, refined demeanor; he wasn''t a fighter. And Victor, a man of immense power, was used to being the aggressor, not the victim.


    It took Victor''s bodyguards a moment to react, but when they did, dozens of guns were instantly trained on Glenn. Glenn barely spared them a nce, his grip on Victor unwavering. He seemed to have no fear of death as he tightened his hold, his voice a low, cold warning. "Tell them to back off. Or I swear, if I go down, I''m taking you with me."


    Victor stumbled back a few steps, a sneer twisting his lips as he processed the situation. He, Victor Lockridge, being held hostage. The thought was almostughable. Still, he made a gesture of surrender, raising a hand to his men. "Stand down."


    The bodyguards exchanged hesitant looks before reluctantly lowering their weapons.


    Glenn had no real intention of harming Victor. He knew that if he pushed the man too far, Victor was unstable enough to choose mutual destruction, and that wasn''t Glenn''s goal. Panting slightly, he tried to reason with him. "Victor, what happened with Tessa has nothing to do with Evangeline. Stop chasing this madness."


    "Nothing to do with her?" Victor scoffed. "If it wasn''t for her, would Tessa be missing right now, her fate unknown? Glenn, you''re her brother. Can you honestly say you''ve never hated Evangeline for it?"


    "Never," Glenn stated firmly.


    Victor sighed. "You don''t know anything."


    "Maybe not," Glenn conceded, "but I know Evangeline. I know she would never do anything to hurt Tessa. And if she did, it would only be because it was the absolute best choice She could make at the time."


    Victor paused, then snorted in derision. "The best choice? Utterly ridiculous." The best choice for


    Tessa was to stay with him. Ev


    with the Lockridge family in turmoil, he would have protected her loved her more than life itself. He would have given her anything she wanted, doted on her endlessly, as long as she forgot about that other man. He would haveid the world at her feet.


    The old fire roared back to life in Victor''s chest. He closed his eyes, and Theresa''s bright, innocent smile filled his vision. In his mind, she smile at him, and he couldn''t help but smile back. He reached out instinctively, but his fingers met only empty air, and the beautiful fusion shattered.


    His expression turned dark and stormy. It was Evangeline. Everything was her fault.


    "You''re the one who killed the man she loved," Glenn pressed on. "You''re the one who caused her so much pain. If we''re pointing fingers, you''re the real reason she was driven out of Serenity City..."


    But before he could finish, Victor twisted with a sudden, practiced movement, effortlessly breaking free from Glenn''s hold.