Chapter 178

Stephanie, ignoring Chris, turned to leave. He grabbed her wrist, his head still throbbing from her earlier blow. She hadn't held back—his brain felt like it was rattling.

Stephanie glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

His eyes fell on the redness and swelling of her lip, and the faint bruising visible at the edge of her scarf. His mind blanked, then exploded. Without thinking, he yanked off her scarf, revealing several hickeys.

His breathing hitched. "You and those guys—" He couldn't finish. He didn't need to. He knew what those marks meant.

The past few days had been agonizing. Every image of her with someone else felt like a descent into madness. He'd told himself she was just acting out, trying to provoke him. But now? There was no denying it.

Stephanie gave him a withering look. "What the hell is wrong with you? We were talking about Olivia, and now you're dragging my boyfriend into this? Who do you think you are?"

She tried to pull free, but Chris held firm. Annoyed, she kicked him hard in the stomach—just as a loud thud echoed nearby.

Chris grunted, releasing her wrist. Sebastian stood there, hands in his pockets, his eyes like ice as they met Chris's.

Clutching his stomach, Chris looked up, his face contorted with pain. That kick? It felt like a double whammy; his insides felt rearranged. "You… you…" he glared, gasping for air.

Stephanie ignored him, turning to Sebastian. "What are you doing here?"

"When did your fighting skills get so sloppy?" He removed his coat and wrapped it around her. "It's freezing, and she's dressed like this?" The cold scent of his coat mingled with a faint warmth that Stephanie instinctively leaned into.

Chris's face darkened at the comment about her "sloppy" skills. What kind of woman fought like that? Stephanie fought like she'd been raised in a war zone.

Stephanie pouted. "I handled it fine. You just showed up early."

Sebastian took her hand, casting one last icy glance at the doubled-over Chris. Chris, breathing hard, sweat pouring down his face, glared at Stephanie. "You owe me a damn explanation!"

Before Stephanie could react, Sebastian released her and strode toward Chris, radiating menace. Chris instinctively backed away, but too slowly. Sebastian's kick sent him sprawling face-first, and Chris swore he heard a sickening crack. His hand, not fully healed, was definitely not now.

Before he could rise, Sebastian's boot landed squarely on his back, pinning him. "You son of a bitch."

Chris was furious. No one had ever humiliated him like this in Long Harbor.

From a distance, Kevin ran toward them. Even Stephanie felt her heart race, witnessing Sebastian's fury. A bloody memory flashed—so vivid it made her fear for Chris's life.

Sebastian's voice was glacial. "You think messing with her is fun?"

Chris gritted his teeth. "If you're so tough, let me go."

Sebastian's foot pressed harder. "You can't even get up from under my foot. What exactly are you going to do once I let you go?"