THIRD PERSON’S POV

The atmosphere outside the restaurant felt colder than before.

As soon as they stepped outside, Sophia felt like she could finally breathe again.

The entire dinner had emotionally exhausted her far more than she expected. Seeing Zade with another woman hurt her deeply.

Sophia wrapped her coat tighter around herself while walking down the restaurant steps beside Lance. Her thoughts still replayed every moment from inside - The actress touching Zade, the way Zade took the strawberries while staring directly at her.

She thought of that stupid word - Husband.

Lance looked at Sophia with a concerned expression.

Before he could say anything, Sophia suddenly stumbled.

Her heel caught the edge of the pavement while her exhausted body lost balance instantly. Everything happened quickly.

Sophia gasped softly as her body tilted sideways unexpectedly.

But before she could fall, Lance caught her.

His strong arm wrapped firmly around her waist while his other hand grabbed her wrist to steady her completely. Sophia’s body collided against his chest from the sudden movement.

For a second...everything became still.

Sophia froze due to how close they suddenly were.

Lance’s hand remained firmly against her waist while his face hovered dangerously near hers now. The city lights reflected softly in his eyes.

“Careful,” he murmured quietly.

Sophia’s heartbeat became uneven for a moment. It wasn’t because of attraction exactly. It was because she realized how safe his hold felt.

Her wolf noticed too.

Sophia immediately stepped back. she was a bit flustered.

“I’m okay,” she whispered quickly.

But Lance didn’t fully let go immediately. “You almost fell.”

“I’m just tired.”

Meanwhile, inside the restaurant— Zade saw everything.

He saw every single second, from the moment Sophia stumbled, to the second Lance caught her.

His wolf lost control instantly.

“Mine” his wolf growled.

The possessiveness exploded through his chest so hard it physically hurt. The image of Sophia pressed against another man triggered something dangerous inside him.

And worst of all... Sophia hadn’t pushed Lance away immediately.

Zade’s grip around his chopsticks tightened so much it cracked. The wooden chopsticks suddenly snapped inside his hand.

Celeste physically jumped in shock. Before she could even react properly, a sharp wooden piece pierced directly into Zade’s palm.

Blood dripped across the table, but Zade barely seemed to notice. His eyes remained locked completely on Sophia and Lance outside the restaurant window.

The jealousy in his eyes became terrifying.

Celeste stared at him in shock now.

“Zade...” she whispered.

He didn’t respond.

His breathing had become heavier now too. his wolf growled inside him. The scent of his anger became overwhelming.

Even nearby staff members slowly began noticing the terrifying shift in atmosphere around their table.

Celeste swallowed nervously. The man sitting beside her no longer looked charming or relaxed. He looked dangerous.

Blood continued dripping slowly from his injured palm onto the tablecloth.

Still... Zade never looked away from Sophia.

-

Outside, Lance slowly released Sophia completely after making sure she regained her balance properly.

“You really should rest tomorrow,” he said quietly.

Sophia laughed weakly. “You sound like Bianca now.”

Lance smiled “Come on. I’ll take you home.”

Unlike Zade’s possessiveness, Lance’s care never felt suffocating. He never demanded anything emotionally from her. He simply stayed beside her quietly whenever she needed support.

That difference mattered a lot.

Sophia nodded “Okay”

Lance opened the car door for her.

Meanwhile inside the restaurant, Zade suddenly stood up.

The movement happened so abruptly that Celeste flinched again.

“Zade?”

Still no answer.

Blood continued pouring down his palm now, but he looked completely indifferent to the injury. His entire focus remained outside.

He kept watching Sophia enter Lance’s car. He kept watching another man take care of her.

His wolf had become completely unstable now.

“Take her back” he growled.

The urge burned hard through his chest.

He wanted to drag Sophia away from Lance immediately. He wanted to force her to look at him instead.

But beneath all that anger, something else existed too. It was fear.

For the first time, Zade genuinely felt Sophia slipping away from him.

And it terrified him.

Celeste slowly stood “Are you okay?”

Finally, Zade looked at her.

The coldness in his eyes genuinely frightened her.

“We’re done here.” he said coldly.

His voice sounded emotionless now. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Celeste blinked in confusion “But dinner-”

“I said we’re done.”

His tone instantly silenced her.

She watched him grab his coat then he toward the exit without another glance at her.

For several seconds, Celeste simply stood there stunned. She looked down at the blood on the broken chopsticks on the table.

Eventually, Sophia finally arrived outside Bianca’s apartment building. Lance parked before turning toward Sophia fully.

“You should sleep properly tonight.” He told her.

“I’ll try.”

But just as she reached for the door handle, Lance stopped her gently.

“Sophia.”

She turned back. His expression softened deeply now.

He looked at her “If anything happens... call me.”

The sincerity in his voice warmed her chest immediately.

Because unlike Damien and unlike Zade, Lance never made her feel like a burden. He simply cared.

And honestly...that almost hurt too. Part of her feared she was too emotionally damaged lately to properly accept kindness anymore.

Still, she smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

Then she stepped out of the car.

Lance remained there watching until she safely entered the apartment building completely.

Only then did he finally drive away.

Meanwhile, several streets away, Zade stood beside his car alone.

He never returned to the restaurant. He never returned to Celeste.

Instead, he simply stood silently, staring in the direction Sophia left earlier.

Blood still stained his palm but he barely noticed.

His mind remained trapped on one image only - Sophia in Lance’s arms.

For the first time in years, Zade felt something close to panic. Sophia truly looked done with him tonight.

She didn’t look angry or emotional. She just looked tired, like she finally stopped fighting for him completely.

And somehow...that frightened him more than hatred ever could.

Zade already knew one terrifying truth - He was completely incapable of letting Sophia go.