Chapter 7

Lucian's POV I had just arrived at the hospital and was steering my car toward the parking area when something froze me in place, sending a sharp chill down my spine. "Anna!" She was trapped inside a car, her hands slamming frantically against the window, her tear-streaked face twisted in terror. Through the glass, I saw a man forcing himself on her. Then the black Rolls Royce started moving. They were taking her away. Rage ignited in my veins, burning hotter than I had ever known. I wasn't going to let that happen. Without a second thought, I gripped the steering wheel and stomped on the accelerator, my car roaring to life as I surged forward. I swerved and cut across its path, my tires screeching violently against the concrete. The Rolls Royce came to an abrupt halt, but it slammed head-on into my car. The sickening crunch of metal colliding echoed through the parking lot. The force sent a shockwave through my body, rattling my bones, but I didn't care. I had stopped them. Breathing hard, I tightened my grip on the wheel. My gaze snapped to Anna—her eyes wide, filled with desperate hope. "Hey, are you blind?" the driver of the Rolls Royce barked, leaning out of the window, his face twisted with fury. I ignored him. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I shoved the car door open and stepped out, my body thrumming with pure, unfiltered rage. Without sparing a glance at the driver, I strode straight toward the backseat, my eyes locking onto Anna. She sat frozen, looking at me. My chest tightened painfully at the sight of her—helpless, vulnerable. But beneath the ache in my heart, a fire raged, consuming every ounce of restraint I had left. I yanked the door open, reaching for her hand, ready to pull her out of the car. A hand shot out, grabbing her other arm and yanking her back. "What do you think you're doing?" the man beside her snarled, challenging me. "Let go of her." My voice was sharp, lethal. My gaze drilled into the hand that dared to hold onto her. The man scoffed, tightening his hold. "And what if I don't?" His lips curled into a smirk. "She is mine—my mistress. I'm taking her with me. Who the hell are you to stop me?" Anna shook her head frantically. "He is lying," she cried, desperation lacing her voice. "I'm not his mistress. He tried to kidnap me." Her pleading eyes met mine, silently begging me to believe her. She didn't need to explain anything. I already knew the truth. And I was about to make him pay for it. "You bitch," he snarled maliciously. "Keep your mouth shut." He raised his hand, ready to strike her. But I was faster. In one swift motion, I yanked Anna out of the car, pulling her away from him. The sudden force threw him off balance, sending him stumbling onto the seat, his intended slap landing on empty air. Anna trembled against me, her breath uneven. I held her close, my eyes searching hers. "You okay?" I asked. Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. "He…" she choked. Before she could say more, an enraged voice cut through the air. "You!" The man jumped out of the car, his face twisted in fury as he glared at me. "Do you even know who I am? I am Billy Shaw, founder and president of Shaw Group of Industries. I can make you disappear in no time. How dare you interfere and take my woman?" "Your woman?" I sneered, shifting Anna behind me, shielding her with my body. "She is my girlfriend. When did she become yours?" Anna clung to my arm, her fingers gripping tightly. I placed my hand over hers in silent reassurance, anchoring her. Billy scoffed, "Girlfriend? Don't make me laugh. I know all about her. She is nothing but a whore, serving VIP patients at the hospital. She can't be with one man—she needs different men to quell her fire." A sharp fury ignited in my chest. My teeth clenched, my hands curling into fists. "You bastard," I growled. The smug smirk on his face only fueled my rage. Before he could blink, I lunged forward and swung my fist. The impact sent him reeling backward. He crashed onto the bonnet of his car, a strangled grunt escaping his lips. For a moment, he remained still. Then, he turned his head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes flared with rage and disbelief. "You hit me!" he spat, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. "You'll regret this. Just wait… I'll ruin you. I'll make you pay." "Do whatever you want," I shot back. "But if you ever dare to come near Anna again, I will destroy you." Billy let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Trying to act like a hero in front of a woman? Pathetic." His gaze flickered toward my SUV, and a sneer curled on his lips. I knew that look—judgmental, condescending. He thought my car was a sign of my status, that I was beneath him. But what he didn't know was that my family was one he couldn't afford to cross. "One phone call," he boasted, adjusting his suit, "and you'll be out of that hospital for good. Your career will be ruined. I can make sure you're banned from the entire medical field. Are you really willing to take that risk for her?" Anger exploded inside me, red-hot and uncontrollable. A scumbag like him dared to threaten me? I didn't think—I acted. My fist collided with his jaw again, sending him staggering backward. He barely had time to react before I grabbed him by the collar and landed another blow, this time straight to his nose. A sickening crack echoed in the air. "Ugh—" Billy groaned, clutching his face as blood gushed from his nostrils. His eyes flared with rage and shock. "You… You broke my nose! I'll kill you, you bastard! Just wait!" I stepped closer, towering over him. "If you think you have the power, then go ahead and try," I hissed. "I'd love to see you try to hurt me." I raised my fist again, ready to strike— "Enough!" Anna's desperate cry cut through the tension as she grabbed my arm, stopping me. She tugged at me, trying to pull me away. "Please," she whispered urgently. "Leave him." Her eyes pleaded with me, filled with worry. "Don't mess with him. He is powerful and wealthy. Even the hospital sides with him. I don't want you to fall into trouble because of me." I clenched my jaw, my anger still simmering beneath the surface as I scowled at Anna. She didn't know. She had no idea who I really was, no idea that Billy Shaw was nothing compared to me. He couldn't touch me, let alone ruin me. But the fear in her eyes, the genuine worry she had for me, was enough to cool the fire—just a little. My gaze softened. "Alright." I exhaled slowly, trying to rein in my fury. "Let me take you inside first." We barely took a step toward the hospital when Billy's voice rang out, filled with arrogance and entitlement. "You can't leave yet. You hit my car. Do you even know how much it costs? You need to pay for the damage you caused." I turned back to him, my eyes darkening with something far more dangerous than mere anger. That flicker of restraint I had was gone. Billy had just ignited a storm he wasn't ready for. Without a word, I stormed over to my car, yanked open the trunk, and grabbed the lug nut wrench. Billy was still shouting, but I wasn't listening. With swift, unrelenting force, I swung the wrench straight at the windshield of his Rolls Royce. CRACK. The first impact sent a spiderweb of cracks racing across the glass. SMASH. The second swing shattered it completely. Tiny shards rained down inside the car. "Hey—HEY!" Billy's stunned shout barely registered. I didn't stop. Turning to the side windows, I drove the wrench through the glass with precise, brutal strikes. The sound of splintering glass filled the air, each hit reverberating with the weight of my fury. Billy stood frozen, his face pale with shock. "You—you psychopath!" he sputtered, scrambling backward. "You're going to pay for this." I turned to him, my grip tightening around the wrench. "I just did." Billy's face turned red with fury as he roared, "Are you crazy? You destroyed my car! I'll kill you!" Blinded by rage, he lunged at me. With a swift move, I dodged his attack and drove my foot into his chest. The force sent him sprawling onto the cold concrete. A pained grunt escaped his lips as he skidded backward. Before he could react, I was on him. I grabbed his collar, yanking him up. My grip tightened, my face mere inches from his. "You want to kill me?" I hissed. "In just an hour, your entire family will disappear without a trace." His pupils dilated, his bravado cracking under the weight of my words. The arrogance, the condescension—it all drained from his face, replaced by pure, unfiltered terror. "Who are you?" he asked with a faltering voice.