Chapter 289

Bruce Bowman's eyes darkened with terrifying intensity as he glared at Bella Quinn shielded behind Calvin Grant.

"Calvin, are you really willing to ruin our friendship over this woman?"

Calvin smirked coldly, pulling Bella further behind him.

"Just because you're blind and foolish, Bruce, doesn't mean everyone else is."

Michelle Thompson chose that moment to burst into theatrical sobs, tears streaming down her face.

"Bruce, let it go... I know Bella didn't mean it..."

She reached to wipe the stain on her dress but recoiled dramatically when her fingers brushed the trash.

Bruce immediately seized her hand protectively.

"Michelle, don't touch that filth!"

Calvin scoffed and snapped his fingers.

A waiter promptly arrived carrying a basin of ice water.

"Since you're too tenderhearted to clean her up, allow me."

Before anyone could react, the entire basin was dumped over Michelle's head.

"Ahhh!"

Michelle shrieked and leaped to her feet, completely forgetting her pretense of being wheelchair-bound.

Calvin arched an eyebrow. "How remarkably nimble your legs are, Miss Thompson."

Bruce's face turned livid, his fists clenched audibly.

"Calvin!"

"What?" Calvin dusted his sleeves indifferently. "I merely helped prove Miss Thompson isn't actually disabled."

Michelle paled, her lips trembling wordlessly.

She suddenly erupted into violent coughs, collapsing weakly against Bruce.

"Bruce... I'm so cold..."

Bruce hastily wrapped his jacket around her before shooting a venomous glare at Bella.

"This isn't over."

Calvin stepped squarely into his line of sight.

"Bruce, you should get your eyes checked."

Turning away, he swept Bella into his arms without warning.

"Put me down!" She struggled.

"Stay still." His arms tightened. "You're still injured."

The intimate sight sent a storm raging in Bruce's eyes.

He shoved Michelle's wheelchair forward aggressively—only to overbalance it.

"Crash!"

The wheelchair toppled, sending Michelle sprawling into the garbage pile.

"Michelle!" Bruce scrambled to help her up.

Though tears of pain streamed down her face, she forced out, "I'm fine..."

Nearby, Andrew Lucas gripped Susan Thompson's wrist tightly.

"You're bleeding."

Susan wrenched free. "None of your concern."

Ethan Sullivan immediately shielded her. "Andrew, stay away from my sister!"

"Your sister?" Andrew sneered. "Susan, you'd lie about being a Sullivan just to get close to their family?"

Susan didn't bother responding, turning to leave.

Andrew seized her again. "I'll take you to the hospital."

"No need." She pulled away. "I'd rather not risk another car accident."

The barb struck like a knife.

Andrew stood frozen, watching Ethan tenderly escort Susan away, his fists whitening.

Michelle continued whimpering. "Bruce, let's go home..."

But Bruce's gaze remained fixed on Bella's retreating figure, his expression inscrutable.