Chapter 2 - The Silent Interrogation
The air in the ballroom grew thick, suffocating under the weight of Ethan's quiet wrath. The wealthy guests shrank back against the silk-draped walls, recognizing the dangerous shift in the billionaire. Ethan Sterling was not just a man of boardrooms and stock markets; he was a man who had built his empire with his bare hands, and the violence of his past was currently radiating from his every step.
He walked slowly toward the tattooed man, his polished black leather shoes crushing the remaining shards of crystal.
The assassin drew a concealed combat knife from his jacket, swiping it through the air in a desperate arc. Ethan didn't even blink. With terrifying speed and precision, Ethan caught the man's wrist, twisted it sharply until a sickening pop echoed through the room, and drove his knee into the man's chest. The assassin collapsed, gasping for air as Ethan’s heavy boot pinned him to the marble.
“Who sent you?” Ethan demanded, his voice a low, gravelly threat that sent shivers down the spines of everyone watching.
The tattooed man spat blood onto the pristine floor, offering only a dark, mocking grin. He bit down hard on something hidden in his back molar. Ethan realized what was happening a second too late. He grabbed the man's jaw, but the assassin's eyes rolled back, a white foam appearing at the corners of his mouth. Within seconds, the man was dead.
Ethan cursed under his breath, his square jaw clenching as he stepped back from the body. He signaled to his security chief, Marcus, who immediately ordered the guards to clear the room and secure the perimeter. The threat was neutralized, but the true mastermind remained hidden in the shadows.
Ethan turned back to the center of the room. Elena was still sitting on the floor, holding Noah tightly against her chest. The little boy had buried his face in her neck, seeking comfort in her warm, protective embrace. Elena’s white shirt was stained with drops of blood from the cut on her forehead, and her hands trembled as she stroked Noah's chestnut curls.
Ethan knelt beside them, the imposing, furious billionaire completely vanishing as he looked at his son. “Noah. I’m right here, buddy. You’re safe.”
Noah looked up, his bright-blue eyes filled with tears, and reached for his father. Ethan pulled the boy into his massive arms, holding him with a desperate, fierce love. He kissed the top of Noah’s head, closing his eyes as he absorbed the reality of how close he had come to losing his entire world.
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When Ethan opened his eyes, they locked onto Elena. She tried to stand, brushing the glass from her black trousers, but her knees buckled slightly. Ethan reached out his free hand, catching her waist to steady her. His touch was firm, surprisingly gentle, and intensely warm.
“I owe you an apology,” Ethan said, his hazel eyes searching her delicate features. “And I owe you my son’s life. You aren't going back to the staff quarters tonight. You're coming with us.”
