Chapter 283
Chapter 283:
His dark eyes swept the room and found Cole immediately — standing near the head of the table, his hand still locked around June’s wrist, the back of his coat steaming and destroyed. Crawford crossed the room without hurrying, pulled out a chair directly across from Cole, and sat down.
The five board members held their breath, paralyzed by the suffocating pressure building between the two men.
Cole’s jaw tightened. He could feel the blood tracking down his back beneath his ruined shirt, but he refused to yield a single inch of ground. He looked at the stunned board members, then let his gaze settle on Crawford. A cruel, triumphant sneer spread across his pale lips.
“Gentlemen,” Cole said, his voice a hoarse, grating rasp that carried through the silence. “Allow me to introduce my wife. June Compton p>
The words landed in the room like a declaration of war.
J𝗼𝗂n 𝘵𝗵𝘦 𝖼𝘰𝘮𝗆𝘂ոі𝘵𝗒 а𝘁
The silence in the VIP room was absolute and suffocating.
The business partners exchanged terrified, nervous glances. They were caught in the crossfire of a war between two billionaires, and they knew exactly how dangerous that was.
One of the partners, a heavy-set, red-faced man named Gallagher, had consumed three glasses of neat whiskey before Cole arrived. The alcohol had completely eroded his survival instincts.
Gallagher let out a loud, obnoxious burp and leaned back in his chair, his watery, bloodshot eyes dragging slowly up and down June’s body, lingering on the expensive cashmere dress.
“Well, Mr. Compton,” Gallagher slurred, an oily smile spreading across his flushed face. “You are a very lucky man. I heard rumors your wife was a real beauty, but seeing her in person… wow p>
Gallagher did not stop. The alcohol made him reckless. He shifted his gaze from Cole to Crawford, then back to June.
“Tell me, Mrs. Compton,” he sneered, his voice dripping with vile, unmistakable implication. “I read the tabloid rumors about your little ‘open relationship’ arrangement, but I never imagined it was this brazen. Which high-end escort agency do you actually work for? It must take an incredible amount of stamina to service both Mr. Compton and Mr. Love on the exact same night p>
The words hung in the air like toxic gas.
June’s face instantly drained of all color. Her stomach violently churned. The sheer, disgusting misogyny of the insult made her feel physically sick.
Cole’s eyes went completely black. He let go of June’s wrist, his hand dropping to his side. He drew a breath to roar at Gallagher, but the sudden expansion of his lungs pulled at the cooked skin on his back. A blinding flash of agony paralyzed him for exactly one second.
That one second was all Crawford needed.
Crawford did not yell. He did not curse. The polite, elegant mask he wore for the world shattered completely, revealing the terrifying, violent beast underneath.
He stood up and moved with the explosive speed of a striking cobra, vaulting directly over the massive circular table. His expensive leather shoes scattered crystal glasses and plates in every direction. He landed right beside Gallagher.