He lunged.

His hand closed around the glass shard, and he drove it into the back of Dominique’s neck.

Dominique gasped, his body jerking forward as the sharp edge tore through his skin. Pain exploded through him, white-hot and blinding, radiating from the wound down his spine and into his limbs like liquid fire.

He stumbled, his hand flying to his neck, feeling the warm rush of blood seeping through his fingers. The metallic scent filled his nostrils, thick and overwhelming.

His knees buckled, but he caught himself against the wall, his breath ragged and uneven, each inhale a struggle.

Nicolas scrambled backward, his breath ragged, his eyes wild with a mixture of fear and triumph.

The drug was making him feel sick, dizzy and nauseous, his thoughts spinning out of control like leaves caught in a violent storm.

His vision swam and he blinked rapidly trying to focus but the hatred in his heart burned brighter than the haze in his mind, a blazing fire that consumed all reason.

All he wanted was to kill this guy.

He pushed himself up, swaying on his feet, his hand still gripping the bloody shard. His eyes were unfocused but his hatred was clear, burning with an intensity that made his face twist into something ugly and inhuman.

The glass glinted in the dim light, dripping with Dominique’s blood, each drop falling to the floor.

Nicolas slurred, his voice trembling with rage. "You’re the one who’s finished. You and your perfect face. You think you can take everything from me!?"

Dominique stumbled back, his hand pressed to his neck, blood seeping through his fingers and staining his shirt. His vision blurred at the edges, the world around him seeming to tilt and sway like a ship caught in a storm. His legs felt weak, barely able to support his weight.

But he didn’t fall.

He straightened slowly, his eyes locking onto Nicolas with a cold, unwavering gaze. There was no fear in them, only coldness and anger. His jaw was tight, his breathing shallow but his gaze was calm and steady like the eye of a hurricane.

This guy had caused Hazel’s scar. This guy had almost ruined Hazel’s life. This guy had tried to drug him, tried to set up Bella.

Dominique said, his voice cold and steady despite the pain. "You’re pathetic."

Nicolas screamed and lunged again, his movements wild and desperate.

Dominique sidestepped, his hand still pressed to his neck. He moved with a fluid grace that surprised even himself, his body responding to the danger even as the blood continued to flow.

The motion sent a fresh wave of pain through him, sharp and searing but he gritted his teeth and pushed through it, refusing to give in.

He grabbed Nicolas’s arm and twisted with all his remaining strength.

The glass shard clattered to the floor, spinning across the floor.

Dominique drove his knee into Nicolas’s stomach and Nicolas doubled over, gasping. The air rushed out of his lungs in a wet, choking sound and he crumpled forward, his hands clutching his abdomen.

Dominique grabbed Nicolas’s head and slammed it against the wall. The crack echoed through the room, sharp and sickening, reverberating off the high ceilings.

Nicolas screamed, his body crumpling as he pressed his hand to the fresh wound on his forehead, blood streaming through his fingers like a crimson waterfall. His legs gave out and he slumped against the wall, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps.

Dominique groaned in pain, his grip loosening as the wound on his own neck throbbed with every beat of his heart.

His vision swam and he stumbled back, his hand still pressed to the bleeding gash. He could feel the warmth spreading down his chest, soaking into his shirt, the fabric growing heavy and damp.

Nicolas looked up, his eyes bloodshot, his face twisted with rage and desperation. He pushed himself off the wall, ignoring the blood streaming down his face, ignoring the pain that must have been screaming through his body.

He lunged forward, shoving Dominique backward with all his remaining strength. Dominique’s feet slid across the floor, and he crashed against the balcony railing, the impact driving the breath from his lungs.

The night air hit his face, cold and sharp, carrying the scent of distant night flowers. The wind howled, whipping through his hair, tugging at his clothes like unseen hands.

Below, the garden stretched out, dark and vast, the lights of the party flickering like distant stars scattered across the earth. The drop was at least three stories, a fall that would shatter bones and end lives in an instant.

Nicolas shouted, his voice wild and unhinged, the words spilling out in a frantic rush. "You know what! I’ll just kill you! I’ll tell everyone you went crazy and attacked me! I pushed you off in self-defense! With my status, no one will care to investigate! No one will ask questions! They’ll just believe me!"

He stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with madness. Blood dripped from his forehead, smearing across his face in dark, ugly streaks, making him look like something from a nightmare, a monster wearing a human mask. His hands trembled with adrenaline and rage.

Nicolas hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "You’re just a pretty model. It’s a pity. You could have lived better if you’d chosen a peaceful life. A white-collar worker. A nobody but no, you had to get involved with me. You had to stick your nose where it didn’t belong."

Dominique’s eyes were bloodshot, his breathing ragged, each inhale a battle. But there was no fear in his gaze. Only cold, burning defiance that refused to be extinguished. He leaned against the railing, his hand still pressed to his neck, his blood soaking through his fingers and dripping onto the stone floor.

Dominique said, his voice strained. "You’re nothing but an insecure little man. You ruined Hazel’s life because she said no to you. You couldn’t handle it. Couldn’t handle a woman not falling at your feet. So you tried to break her, and you failed."

Nicolas’s face twisted, his eyes narrowing to slits. His lips curled into a snarl, revealing teeth stained with blood.

Nicolas spat, his voice trembling with fury. "Failed? Look at her! She’s scarred for life! She’s damaged! She’ll never be beautiful again!"