Angela's breath hitched, but she didn't back down. "You don't own me, Tyler. And you don't own him."

Tyler's hand lashed out, gripping her throat in one swift motion. Angela gasped, her fingers clawing at his wrist, but he didn't flinch. "I own everything," he hissed, his face twisted with fury.

"And if you forget that again, I'll make sure you regret it." He shoved her backward, hard enough that she stumbled, nearly losing her balance.

The heavy oak door creaked open, and Angela stepped inside first, her posture rigid, her chin lifted in defiance—but I saw it immediately. The faint, angry red imprint of Tyler's fingers wrapped around her throat, a brutal brand marking her skin.

My jaw tightened as I watched her, the sight sending a jolt of something raw and primal through me. Rage? Possessiveness? Or just the cold realization that this woman, for all her power, was still a pawn in someone else's game?

Tyler followed her in, his bodyguards filing in behind him like shadows. With a sharp gesture, one of the guards barked an order at the servants lingering in the hallway. "Out. Now." The women scattered without a word, their eyes downcast, leaving the room in eerie silence. The door clicked shut behind them, sealing us in.

Angela moved toward me, her steps measured, her expression unreadable. But when she got close enough, I caught the flicker of something in her eyes—fear, maybe, or fury. "Mike," she said, her voice low, barely above a whisper. "Don't say a word."

Tyler let out a low, mocking laugh, stepping forward to stand beside her. "Oh, don't worry, Angela," he drawled, his gaze raking over me with open disdain.

"Your little pet and I are going to have a very interesting conversation." His fingers twitched at his sides, as if itching to wrap around her throat again—or mine.

I didn't take my eyes off him. "Is that so?" I said, my voice calm, but my muscles coiled tight, ready to strike.

Tyler's smirk deepened, his lips curling like a predator savoring its prey. "You've got a mouth on you, boy. That's good." His hand shot out with terrifying speed, seizing Angela's wrist and yanking her against his chest.

She didn't flinch outwardly, but I caught the subtle hitch in her breath, the way her free hand clenched into a white-knuckled fist at her side. The air between them crackled with violent energy.

"Because I like a man with spirit," Tyler continued, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure. "Makes it more fun when I break him." His fingers dug into Angela's wrist, his thumb pressing into the bruises already forming on her neck. "You messed with someone you shouldn't have, boy."

My muscles coiled tight, every instinct screaming to lunge at him, but I forced myself to stay still. This wasn't the time. Not yet.

Tyler turned his head slightly, never breaking eye contact with me as he barked an order to his bodyguards. "Castrate him." His voice was casual, as if he were ordering a drink. "Anyone who dares to even think of touching my women deserves less than a man."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I was shocked—not by the threat itself, but by how quickly he'd escalated to such brutal punishment. This wasn't just about dominance; it was about the complete annihilation of any challenge to his authority.

The largest bodyguard stepped forward, pulling a gleaming blade from his belt. The cold metal caught the light as he tested its edge with his thumb. "Boss wants it slow," the man rumbled, his voice like gravel. "Make sure he feels every second."

Angela's grip on my arm tightened painfully. "Tyler, please—" she began, but he cut her off with a sharp gesture.

"Quiet, whore," Tyler snapped, his eyes locked onto mine with a predatory gleam. "You'll watch. You'll learn what happens when someone touches what's mine."

I could feel the pressure of the blade against my throat, the cold metal biting into my skin. But I wasn't afraid. Not anymore. The Eternal Vitality coursing through my veins made my body stronger than steel—no knife, no gun, not even a missile could pierce my skin. I was untouchable. And Tyler? He had no idea what he'd just walked into.

I met his gaze, my voice steady, almost amused. "You're making a mistake."

Tyler's laughter boomed through the room, rich with sadistic delight. "Oh, boy. This is going to be fun." He leaned in closer, his breath reeking of whiskey and arrogance. "By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you'd never laid eyes on her."

I threw my head back and started laughing—a deep, genuine laugh that seemed to catch everyone off guard. The sound echoed through the room, sharp and unexpected. "You have no idea whom you've provoked... Ha ha ha!"

Tyler's smirk faltered. His brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. "This guy's gone crazy in fear," he sneered, trying to regain his composure. "Ha! Look at him, losing his mind before I've even started!"

I wiped a mock tear from my eye, still chuckling as I met his gaze. "Oh, Tyler," I said, shaking my head. "You really think you're in control here?" My voice dropped to a whisper, cold and deliberate. "You have no idea what's coming for you."

Tyler's amusement evaporated. His eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on Angela's wrist. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

I didn't answer. Instead, I let the silence stretch between us, let the weight of my words sink in. The bodyguards shifted uncomfortably, their confidence wavering as they glanced at their boss. Even Angela was watching me now, her expression unreadable—shock, curiosity, or something else entirely.

Tyler's face twisted with rage. "You think you're untouchable?" he spat, shoving Angela aside and stepping closer to me. "You think your little jokes will save you?" He grabbed the blade from his bodyguard's hand and pressed it harder against my throat. "I'll carve the smile off your face."

I didn't flinch. Didn't even blink. "Go ahead," I said, my voice calm. "Try."

The blade dug deeper, but my skin didn't yield. Tyler's eyes widened as the metal bent against my flesh, as if striking stone. "What the—?"

I reached up slowly, wrapping my fingers around the blade. With a casual flick of my wrist, I snapped it in half like a twig. The bodyguards gasped, stumbling back as if I'd just performed a miracle. Tyler staggered away from me, his face pale, his breath coming in ragged bursts. "What the fuck are you?"

I dropped the broken blade to the floor, my gaze never leaving his. "Your worst nightmare."

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