Estherâs heart, once silent and dead, reignited instantly. A torrent of emotions erupted within her, flowing like molten lava.
âBrad!â
Bradley shoved the man aside and seized Esther. He asked her angrily, teeth clenched, âEsther, are you so desperate for a man?
â
The soft aroma of peach blossoms reached Bradleyâs nose from Esther. His grip on her arm unintentionally tightened.
âNo⦠Itâs not like that.â When Bradley appeared out of nowhere, Estherâs resistance faded. The moment she saw him, her stubbornness disappeared.
âStand up straight.â
Bradley released Esther, and her weakened body slumped.
âBrad, letâs go!â
Bradley roared ferociously, âShut up!â
When he received the unsettling photo from the man, his long-suppressed anger erupted uncontrollably. Esther belonged to him and only him. He wouldnât tolerate any other man touching her, even if he didnât desire her.
Bradley forcefully pushed Esther back onto the bed and violently kicked the man to the ground.
The manâs eyes burned with anger as he held his bleeding head. He snarled at Bradley, âDo you even know who I am, Bradley Warner?â
âI donât care who you are!â Bradley shouted. âTouch my woman, and you deserve to die!â With that, he grabbed the manâs collar and delivered a devastating punch to his face, as powerful as iron.
Due to his intoxicated state, the man stood no chance against Bradley. In less than a minute, he was left in a pitiful heap.
Bradley asked, âWhich hand did he use to touch you?â He seized a wine bottle and forcefully pressed the manâs hand to the ground.
Paralyzed by fear that Bradley might kill the man and end up in prison, Esther stumbled toward him and grabbed his arm. She pleaded, âBrad, you canât do this!â
âDo you pity him?â Bradleyâs voice was a dangerous whisper.
Esther shook her head, tears in her eyes. âNo, but if he dies, youâll go to prisonâ¦â
Bradley violently smashed the wine bottle onto the manâs hand, causing the wine to mix with the manâs blood.
Esther held onto Bradleyâs collar, her voice desperate. âBrad, you have to runâ¦â
Bradley leaned in and kissed Esther passionately as she gripped his collar tightly, tears streaming down her face.
âMm⦠mmâ¦â
In front of him lay a tempting fruit. Tired yet eager, Bradley relished it as if it were a precious and rare treasure.
Summoning her last shred of reason, Esther pushed Bradley away. âNo⦠No⦠Itâs not right!â
Bradley seized Estherâs jaw, pinning her roughly against the wall. His large hand clutched her slender waist, pressing intimately against her. âHe can touch you? And I canât?â
Estherâs beautiful eyes were filled with repressed and agonizing tears. She held Bradleyâs hand tightly as she stammered, â Brad, Iâm pregnant!â
Bradleyâs expression froze, then twisted into a sneer. âWhose bastard child is it this time?â