Theodore’s voice sliced through the tension, cold and controlled yet seething with fury. "Touch her again," he growled, low and dangerous, "and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life."
Marcus, sprawled and dazed, glared up at Theodore with a mix of pain and defiance. Bella shrank against the wall, still trembling, but found a flicker of courage as Theodore turned his attention to her. His eyes softened slightly, concern etched in his features as he rushed over to her.
"Bella!"
The tears in her eyes tore at his heart. He reached out to gently touch her cheek. "Are you okay?" Theodore’s voice was surprisingly gentle.
"No," she whispered, overwhelmed by the emotions coursing through her.
Theodore removed his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders. He helped her to her feet, supporting her.
His heart sank as he wiped her tears away. He was sorry for letting her come alone. If he had not come here to check on her, he couldn’t fathom what this monster would have done to her.
Noticing the fresh bruise forming on her delicate cheek, Theodore’s temper skyrocketed, incinerating any remaining composure. His eyes darkened, and his blood boiled. His fists tightened at his sides as he turned his head and glared down at Marcus, who also glared back at him as he got to his feet, wiping the blood from the corners of his lips.
"How dare you touch her," Theodore roared.
"Yes, I touched her. So what?" Marcus challenged. "She is just a bitch, warming up your bed. I am also ready to pay. Why can’t she warm my bed?"
"You!" Theodore lunged at him, but Bella caught his arm and stopped him.
"Theodore, please... let’s go home," she implored, her eyes wide and tear-streaked, silently begging him to resist the provocation.
Theodore swallowed his anger, seeing her distress. "Okay," he relented. "We’ll go home."
Holding her hand, he walked past Marcus.
"Hey, Theodore. Are you scared of me?"
Theodore froze in his tracks, Bella’s hand tight in his grip. Marcus’s taunting words echoed in the hallway, igniting a fierce turmoil within Theodore. His jaw clenched, muscles tensed with the urge to respond to Marcus’s challenge in kind.
"Come on, fight with me," Marcus challenged. "If you win, walk away with her. But if I win, she will be mine for tonight." Every word dripped with malice, poisoning the already toxic environment.
Theodore’s nostrils flared, his anger reaching the boiling point. He couldn’t ignore it any longer.
Bella tightened her grip around his hand, silently pleading with him not to engage with that man in a fight. However, Theodore’s anger erupted like molten lava within him. He shrugged off her hand and pivoted to confront Marcus.
Raw fury gleamed in his eyes as he issued a stern challenge, "Go ahead, try to touch her, and see what happens. I promise you, I’ll snap your bones in half."
An arrogant sneer curled Marcus’s upper lip as he responded dismissively, "You really believe you stand a chance? Daily practice has honed my skills beyond yours. But you... you haven’t practiced for months."
His gaze roved over Theodore. "Look at yourself—you’ve become complacent, soft. You are not as fit as before. You can’t survive even five minutes before me."
Undeterred, Theodore met his adversary’s derision with unwavering self-assurance. "Five minutes won’t be needed," he growled as he rolled up his sleeves to his elbows. "I’ll defeat you in two minutes."
"Huh!" At these bold words, Marcus threw his head back and released a thunderous laugh, genuinely entertained by Theodore’s hubris. "Okay. I like the confidence. It’ll be fun to break your confidence."
With a flourish, he stripped off his shirt, revealing a sculpted masterpiece of toned flesh. Muscles flexed rhythmically under sun-kissed skin as he adopted a battle-ready posture, anticipation thrumming through his veins.
Bella stood frozen, horror clawing its way up her throat as she watched the two men lunge at each other. Fists flew wildly on both sides. Both were quick and skilled, weaving in and out of each other’s attacks.
Each time Marcus’s fist connected with Theodore, Bella flinched. A cold dread seeped into her as she watched the brutal exchange. Desperate for it to end, she yearned for someone, anyone, to intervene.
Marcus, employing a newly learned tactic, dodged Theodore’s strike and slid behind him. Theodore, off balance from the missed blow, spun around to counterattack, but Marcus was faster. With a blindingly swift motion, he landed a solid punch on Theodore’s jaw.
Theodore staggered backward, clutching his aching jaw. His eyes flashed with a dangerous fury. He couldn’t be defeated tonight, no matter what. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Marcus smirked, his confidence growing. "I told you, Theodore. You can’t beat me anymore. I’m better than you."
But before he could fully savor his victory, Theodore launched himself forward like an eagle, unleashing a flurry of punches. One, then another, and another, each blow landing with sickening force on Marcus’s head.
Marcus’s eyes rolled back as he collapsed to his knees. Theodore, relentless, continued his assault, raining down kicks and punches.
"How dare you touch her." Theodore’s voice reverberated with raw fury as he delivered a kick to Marcus’s stomach, sending him crumpling to the ground.
Marcus curled up, shielding his head with his arms.
Theodore seized his collar, hauling him up with a fierce grip. "Do you even know who she is?" he growled menacingly as he forced Marcus to face Bella. "Look at her. She is my wife."
The word ’wife’ struck Marcus like a thunderbolt, disbelief etching on his face as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of his mistake.
"Wife? You are married?" Marcus stammered, his earlier arrogance crumbling into stunned realization. Hadn’t she been just a date?
"You dare to hit my woman," Theodore spat, his anger boiling over. "Why shouldn’t I end you right here?"
Marcus felt a cold numbness creep through him as he grasped the depth of his error. His jealousy of Theodore had driven him to confront him, believing Theodore was weak now. But now, facing the consequences, he knew he had crossed a line he couldn’t erase.
"I’ll kill you right here." Theodore punched him again.
Marcus blocked the attack and tried to run away. But Theodore was faster this time. He kicked him down, Marcus’s whole body skidded on the floor. With lightning speed, Theodore pounced on him, pressing his knees into Marcus’s back and locking him in a suffocating arm choke from behind.
Marcus gasped for air, panic seizing him as he tapped Theodore’s arm, desperate for release. But Theodore’s grip remained unyielding.
Bella watched the scene unfold with horror. Theodore had transformed into a monster, his eyes burning with a savage intensity. He wouldn’t stop until Marcus was dead.
"Theodore!" Bella yelled. "Stop."
But her words were lost in the maelstrom of his rage. He continued to choke Marcus, his grip tightening even more.
Desperation clawed at Bella. She lunged forward, grabbing Theodore’s arm in a futile attempt to pull him away.
In a blind fury, he shoved her with brutal force, sending her flying backward. Her head collided with the unforgiving wall, a jarring impact that sent shockwaves through her body. The world spun dizzily as she slumped to the ground, clutching her throbbing head.
Theodore’s eyes widened in shock as he realized what he had done. The rage that had consumed him moments ago was replaced by a cold dread. Abandoning Marcus, he rushed to Bella’s side.
"Bella!" he cried with genuine alarm.
Marcus took the opportunity to run away, fearing Theodore would kill him if he got caught this time.
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