The sound thundered through the room.

All three men turned to the door.

Elias stood at the doorway.

For a split second, everything seemed to freeze. His eyes landed on Elena, who lay motionless on the bed, topless.

The sight drained the color from his face. The next second, anger rose violently inside him. A terrifying killing instant surged from his body.

"You dare to lay hands on my wife," he roared. "I’ll kill every one of you."

Before the men could react, Elias charged. His fist slammed into the nearest man’s jaw.

The man’s head snapped sideways. He crashed into a nightstand, sending a lamp flying across the room.

"You are dead tonight." The second man jumped out of the bed and lunged at Elias.

Elias pivoted and drove his elbow straight into the man’s nose.

Blood sprayed instantly. The man groaned and staggered backward.

The man with the camera lunged from the side and landed a heavy punch against Elias’s ribs.

Pain exploded through his body. But Elias didn’t even seem to feel it. The madness in his eyes only deepened. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the attacker’s collar and smashed his forehead forward.

Thud

The man’s nose broke instantly. He collapsed to the floor.

"Get him," the first man roared.

He charged at Elias. His friend joined him. Then the other also jumped over Elias.

Fists flew from every direction. One punch landed against Elias’s cheek. Another struck his shoulder. A kick slammed into his side.

But he didn’t stop fighting. Even outnumbered, he refused to retreat.

Every blow they landed only seemed to make him more dangerous. He caught one man’s wrist and twisted violently.

"Ugh..." the man groaned in pain.

Before he could recover, Elias drove his knee into his stomach.

The man doubled over, struggling to breathe.

Elias threw a punch into his face that sent him crashing into the wall.

The framed painting behind him shattered. Glass rained onto the floor.

Another attacker grabbed a vase from nearby and swung it toward Elias.

The vase landed on Elias’s head.

The impact staggered him. Blood immediately flowed down his neck.

He held his head and swayed. His vision blurred. His ears buzzed loudly. But he regained his composure quickly.

He seized the nearest man’s throat and slammed him onto the coffee table.

The glass shattered into pieces.

The third man tried to attack from behind.

Elias spun around and drove a kick into his chest.

The force sent the man flying backward. He crashed into the camera stand.

Elias was like a madman. He continued beating them even though they were barely fighting back.

Every thought had vanished from his mind. All he remembered was that those three men had touched Elena and tried to violate her.

He wouldn’t spare them.

"Uh..." With a roar, Elias threw a devastating uppercut blow into one attacker’s jaw.

The man spun and collapsed. He didn’t move again.

Elias turned to the other one.

The man flinched, facing his burning eyes. He tried to run away. But Elias grabbed him and hurled him across the room.

His body smashed into the cabinet. The cabinet toppled over.

The remaining one trembled in fear. He tried to sneak out of the room. Just as he reached the door, Elias grabbed him by his collar from behind and pulled back.

"Spare me. Please... Don’t hit me."

Elias didn’t listen to him. His fist landed onto the man’s face again and again until he passed out.

Just then, the security rushed in. They froze at the doorstep.

No one spoke.

The room looked as though a hurricane had torn through it. Shards of glass, a broken photo frame, and shattered pieces of decorative items were scattered all over.

Three men sprawled across the floor.

In the center of the destruction stood Elias. Blood trickled down his neck, staining his white shirt. Bruises were already forming across his face and arms. His breathing was ragged.

Elias turned toward the bed. The rage vanished. Concern replaced it.

Crossing the room, he carefully wrapped the blanket around Elena. He lifted her in his arms and walked out of the room without a word.

Ryan rushed over. "Mr. Rowan." He wiped the sweat from his temples.

Elias paused. "Those men must be punished severely," he muttered with cold fury. "Find out who hired them."

Ryan gave a firm nod. "Whoever is behind this will pay for it."

"Good."

Elias strode away, with Elena in his arms.

When Elena regained consciousness, the memory crashed over her like a violent wave.

With a sharp gasp, she bolted upright in bed.

"No..." Her breathing turned frantic.

"Elena!" Elias, who had been sitting beside the bed and waiting for her to wake up, rushed over. "You are awake."

He pulled her into his embrace. Relief flooded his face.

Elena froze. Her eyes scanned the room fearfully. To her relief, it was the master bedroom in Elias’s villa.

She was home. Safe.

But the fear lingered in her heart.

Elias held her tightly. "You are safe now. Calm down."

The tension slowly drained from her. A broken sob escaped her lips. The warmth of his body and the steady beat of his heart gradually eased some of her panic.

But she remembered someone grabbing her from behind and passing out. She thought she had been kidnapped again, that something bad had happened to her.

Her face turned pale. She pulled away from him abruptly. Stormy fear filled her eyes.

"Someone grabbed me," she said urgently. "Everything went dark soon after. I don’t know who it was... I thought..."

The words caught in her throat. "What happened after that?" She clutched his shirt tightly. "Tell me honestly."

Elias could see how disturbed she was. He could still remember the sight that had greeted him when he kicked open that door. The thought alone made murderous rage stir inside him again.

If he told her what he had seen there, she would be devastated. She wouldn’t take it.

"Nothing has happened," Elias said. "I found you before anyone could hurt you."

He cupped her face gently. "And the people responsible will pay for what they did."

Elena stared at him for several seconds. Then the last of her strength seemed to leave her body. She collapsed against his chest.

More tears soaked his shirt. "Thank God, you found me. You saved me again."

She wrapped her arms around him tightly.

"As long as I’m alive, I’ll protect you. I’ll never let anyone harm you."

Elena curled herself against him, as if afraid that the moment she let go, someone would drag her away again.

Minutes passed. Neither of them spoke.

Elias simply held her while she cried.

Gradually, her sobs began to quiet.

He brushed a hand down her back soothingly. "You must be hungry. I’ll cook something for you."

"Don’t go." Fear flashed across her face. She pressed herself tighter against him, clutching his arms. "Please don’t leave me alone."

"I am not leaving you." He held her securely. "I’m not going anywhere."