Chapter 49: Ending Things
Steven sidestepped Luca's blow. He remained motionless, his gaze fixed on Walter. "As I said, I don't want to make an enemy of you, Mr. Grange. Are you really going to force my hand?"
Walter's expression was grim; he remained silent.
Luca, humiliated by Steven's effortless dodge, roared, "Stop talking! I'm coming!" He swung his fist at Steven with enough force to potentially be lethal.
Steven's eyes narrowed, his face reddening with fury. "Since you insist, I'm not holding back!" he spat. He grabbed Luca's wrist and landed a left uppercut.
Shocked, Luca jerked his head and kicked out, attempting to force Steven back. To his surprise, Steven didn't dodge, absorbing the kick to the chest. The recoil sent Luca sprawling.
He struggled to regain his footing. Noticing the astonished onlookers, he bellowed, "One of us dies today, Steven!" He charged again.
As Luca lunged, a figure appeared, intercepting him. "You're no match for him," Jared stated, blocking Luca's path. "I'll fight him instead."
Mortified, Luca snapped, "Step aside! You'll probably die with a single punch, considering your physique!" His outburst stemmed from a loss of sanity, and a disregard for Jared's status—even Walter respected him. Luca, however, hadn't witnessed Jared's abilities and only treated him politely out of deference to Walter. He reasoned that Jared, being a young man in his early twenties, couldn't be highly skilled regardless of his training.
"Shut up! How dare you insult Mr. Chance, you bastard?" Walter thundered, reprimanding Luca's insolence. While he rarely reprimanded Luca and didn't consider him inferior, he wouldn't tolerate such disrespect towards Jared.
Luca fell silent, but his eyes showed no respect for Jared. He feared Walter, but not Jared.
Josephine rushed forward, tugging at Jared. "Don't be a hero! Even Tommy and Luca were no match for him! You're a doctor, stay out of this!" She assumed his medical expertise didn't translate to combat skills.
"There's a fitting occasion to showcase my abilities," Jared replied. "Otherwise, how can I be worthy of an heiress like you when I'm a pauper?"
Josephine blushed. This was the first time he'd publicly declared such feelings—a clear confession.
"I don't care about that! I just don't want you to risk yourself!" she pleaded, restraining him.
"Hurry and step aside! You might get caught in the crossfire!" Luca snarled, seeing Jared's intention to fight. He leaped at Steven again.
Jared shook his head. "I told you, you're no match for him. What an idiot!"
Josephine pulled Jared back to their seats.
Luca, mid-leap, received a powerful kick to the chest from Steven. Blood trickled from his mouth.
Walter and the others were stunned.
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