Elijah’s sharp eyes immediately noticed the faint bruising at the corner of Elizabeth’s lips.
She must have been hurt.
For a fleeting moment, sympathy rose in his chest, but it vanished the instant he saw Daxton.
Dressed in a crisp white sweater and jeans, Daxton stood effortlessly poised, the sunlight casting a warm glow over his figure. He seemed almost ethereal, exuding an easy confidence that grated on Elijah.
When their eyes met, Daxton offered a polite, serene smile, but beneath it was an unmistakable frost.
The two men locked gazes, the tension between them palpable—like two predators circling, vying for dominance over the same territory.
Though Daxton’s demeanor lacked the lethal edge honed by Elijah’s years in high-stakes battles, it carried a quiet, unshakable resolve.
“Alright, everyone’s watching,” Elizabeth said softly, patting Sandra on the shoulder. She was entirely oblivious to the silent war raging behind her.
Sandra straightened, wiping away her tears.
Elijah strode toward Elizabeth with measured purpose. He took the jacket draped over Oliver’s arm and, in a few swift steps, reached Elizabeth. Without a word, he pulled off the jacket loosely hanging on her shoulders, tossed it toward Daxton, and replaced it with his own.
His dark eyes bore into hers, his voice cold and commanding.
“Elizabeth, you’re an adult. Start acting like one. A mere online gossip, and you can’t handle it? You turn off your phone and vanish without a word? Do you have any idea how many resources, how much manpower and police effort, I wasted searching for you all night?”
There were so many things Elijah wanted to say—words of worry, of comfort—but seeing Daxton by her side twisted those thoughts into harsh, unkind accusations.
“Elijah, do you even hear yourself? What’s wrong with you?” Sandra snapped, rolling up her sleeves, looking ready to confront him.
Before she could act, Albin stepped in, holding her back. “Take it easy, Sandra. Elijah’s upset because he cares. If he didn’t, would he have searched for her all night? Cut him some slack, okay?”
Though still fuming, Sandra recalled how upset Elijah was the previous night. She begrudgingly allowed Albin to lead her away, grumbling under her breath.
Elizabeth, however, stood in stunned silence, her thoughts spinning.
Elijah thought she’d disappeared because she couldn’t handle some online gossip?
What exactly did he think of her?
Her voice trembled with frustration and despair. “Elijah, do you even know what I went through last night?”
Her chest heaved with unspoken grievances, but the ache of his mistrust hurt even more.
Before Elijah could respond, Daxton stepped forward, placing himself protectively between Elizabeth and him.
“I don’t know the full story,” Daxton began, his tone calm yet firm, “but when I found Elizabeth last night, she was unconscious, floating in the ocean. If it weren’t for the two experienced sailors on my yacht, she could’ve drowned.”
He turned to the officers nearby, his expression serious. “I suspect this was an attempted murder. I urge you to investigate thoroughly.”
Elizabeth felt a wave of warmth rise in her chest at Daxton’s words. His steady presence and support soothed her frayed nerves.
The contrast between the two men couldn’t have been starker—one dismissive, the other protective.
Elijah’s eyes darkened as he glared at Daxton, his anger simmering beneath the surface. He felt that, for the first time, he understood what a true manipulator, pretending to be pure and innocent, was like, which most women hated.
“I’ll take you to the police station to give your statement,” Elijah said coldly, reaching for Elizabeth’s hand.
But she stepped back, evading his touch. With deliberate movements, she removed his jacket and handed it back to him.
“Daxton, since you’re a witness, would you mind coming with me to the station?”
Elijah stood frozen, refusing to take the jacket, and it landed on the muddy ground.
The designer piece, worth tens of thousands, was smeared with dirt, but he didn’t even glance at it. His gaze remained fixed on Elizabeth, his chest tightening painfully.
“Of course, I’ll go with you,” Daxton replied softly.
His tone was steady yet carried a subtle hint of challenge. To Elijah, it was a blatant provocation.
Before they could leave, Elijah stepped in front of them, his voice like ice. “I said, I’ll take you to the police station.”
Elizabeth ignored him and moved to step around him.
He blocked her path again, his voice sharper this time. “Elizabeth!”
“Stop pushing her. She’s been through enough,” Daxton interjected, his tone firm, though his frown betrayed his growing annoyance.
Elijah’s gaze snapped to Daxton, his eyes blazing. “Daxton, is this how you address your elders?”
