"Bang!"

Kyle Grant stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The wooden panel trembled violently, groaning under the force.

Victor Sullivan stared at the shaking doorframe, his face dark with fury.

Veins bulged on his forehead as he roared into the empty hallway, "That insolent brat doesn't know his place!"

Ethan Sullivan watched coldly, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Stop pretending. Those stalkers taking surveillance photos—they were your doing, weren't they?"

Victor's expression froze.

He approached the hospital bed, softening his tone. "I did it for your own good. A fickle woman like Sophia Laurent isn't worthy of you."

Ethan's gaze turned razor-sharp.

"Watch your mouth," he said, his voice icy. "No one gets to judge my woman."

Victor's temper flared. "I'm your father! Do you really think I'd harm you? Have you lost all sense of judgment over some woman?"

Ethan yanked a stack of photos from beneath his pillow.

"Smack!"

The photos struck Victor's face with a sharp crack.

A thin red line appeared on his cheek where the edge had sliced skin.

"Is this what you call 'for my own good'?" Ethan's eyes burned with rage. "Your underhanded tactics disgust me."

Victor pressed a hand to his stinging cheek, staring in disbelief.

His most accomplished son had actually struck him!

"Have you lost your mind?" His voice shook. "You'd throw away our bond over a woman?"

Ethan smirked coldly. "Insult Sophia again, and I'll show you what real madness looks like."

Victor trembled with fury.

But seeing his son's pale face and bandaged arm, he couldn't bring himself to retaliate.

He stormed out, his expression thunderous.

At the end of the hallway, Victor lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

Through the haze of smoke, a tall figure brushed past him without a glance.

Audrey Sullivan pushed open the hospital room door.

"Madam," the bodyguard greeted respectfully.

She ignored him.

Her heart clenched when she saw Ethan lying in the hospital bed.

"What happened?" Her voice trembled. "How badly are you hurt?"

Ethan shrugged. "Just a scratch."

Audrey's eyes reddened. "Natalie said you were unconscious for a full day!"

"She exaggerated." Ethan rubbed his temples. "Just a minor concussion. Some memory gaps."

Audrey anxiously gripped his hand. "Do you still recognize me?"

"Of course." He sighed. "Just fuzzy on the details around the incident."

Some tension left her shoulders.

She gently wiped blood from his hand.

As she leaned over, her gaze caught on the scattered photos.

"What's this..." She picked one up, her eyes lighting up. "This young man has an incredible physique! Golden skin, eight-pack abs, striking features."

Her approval grew as she examined it. "Our brand needs an Asian male model like this. Do you know him?"

Ethan's expression darkened. "No."

Audrey immediately sensed the shift. "Why the sudden mood change?"

Ethan turned his face away, refusing to answer.

Realization dawned on Audrey. "Could it be...jealousy?" She chuckled, pinching her son's cheek. "Relax, no handsome young wolf could ever compare to my boy."

Ethan closed his eyes. "I'm tired."

Audrey started to leave, but froze while gathering the photos.

"Is this...Sophia?" Her voice rose sharply as she stared at an image. "Why is she embracing this man?"

A vein throbbed at Ethan's temple. "Photoshopped."

"What?"

"Your husband's masterpiece." Ethan's laugh was bitter. "Making sure I don't survive this ordeal."

Audrey exploded with rage.

She slammed the door behind her, her heels striking the hallway tiles in furious rhythm.

Victor turned at the sound.

"Slap!"

A resounding crack echoed as her palm connected with his face.

"Have you gone insane?" Victor bellowed.

Audrey's gaze was lethal as she grabbed an ashtray from the windowsill.

"Splash!"

Dirty water mixed with cigarette butts drenched Victor's face.