Ethan’s powerful frame towered over Lucas, his gaze sharp and unrelenting.

“Isabella is my wife,” he roared, voice thick with command and raw feeling. “Stay away from her!”

Lucas didn’t flinch. His reply was cutting. “Is that what you call being a husband? Because from where I stand, Isabella was—” He cut himself off, sorrow and anger twisting his features. He took a breath, steadying himself. “Listen, Ethan. If you won’t protect her, then get out of her life. You don’t deserve her.”

Each word was a blow, chipping away at Ethan’s control.

His anger exploded, shattering his calm.

With a furious cry, Ethan swung at Lucas. “And you think you do? Dream on, Lucas. You really believe you can take her from me? Try it. I’ll destroy you.”

Jealousy and rage consumed him, wild and fierce.

Lucas was caught off guard. He barely had time to react before the punch connected. His head snapped to the side. A trickle of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Calmly, Lucas wiped the blood away. His eyes were steady, promising retribution.

Isabella stepped forward, heart hammering. “Ethan, stop this!” she demanded, her voice shaking.

Ethan turned to her, his smile cold and mocking. “What? Worried about your lover?” he sneered.

“What are you even saying?” she shot back, disbelief washing over her. She couldn’t recognize the man she once knew.

Lucas seized Ethan’s collar, pulling him close. “This is between us. Leave her out of it,” he hissed, venom in his tone. It only fueled Ethan’s fury further.

The air crackled with hostility. Their stares locked in a fierce battle.

Isabella felt a wave of crushing helplessness. Her voice, tired but firm, cut through the tension. “I was in a car accident. Lucas saved my life. He’s my savior.”

Bitterness rose in her as she remembered Ethan’s cold indifference during her crisis.

Her voice grew louder, sharp with pain. “You can’t even acknowledge what he did for me! Instead, you attack him as if you wish he’d never saved me! Do you wish I had died instead, Ethan?”

Her words were laced with agony, each one piercing Ethan’s heart.

Ethan stood frozen, stunned. His grip on Lucas loosened. He turned to Isabella, emotions swirling in his eyes. He needed to explain. “That’s not what I meant. The second I heard about your accident, I—”

Isabella cut him off, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “So I should be grateful?”

She squeezed her eyes shut, painful memories flooding back. She remembered her desperate plea for help during the accident, amplifying the hurt.

She drew a shaky breath and opened her eyes, fixing them on Ethan. Her voice trembled with grief and resentment. “Right after the crash, I called you first. I begged you to help me. To save me. And what was your response?” Her words were like ice, chilling the space between them. “You accused me of ruining your precious time with Sophia.” The pain in her voice was clear. She paused, struggling to compose herself.