Chapter 35

Andrew Lucas's fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.

Ethan Sullivan was completely absorbed in watching when someone shoved him violently. Stumbling to regain his balance, he turned and met a pair of dark, furious eyes.

"Andrew, are you insane?" Ethan rubbed his sore shoulder. "Can't you see I'm admiring Susan's dance?"

Andrew smirked coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Move." His voice was icy.

Ethan didn't budge. Instead, he stepped forward, blocking Andrew's view. "Why should I? Susan is my fiancée. I can watch her however I want!"

A flash of crimson flickered in Andrew's eyes.

"Fiancée?" He scoffed. "She's not worthy."

Ethan bristled instantly. "What the hell do you mean? What's wrong with Susan? Her dancing is breathtaking, and she's so gentle—"

Before he could finish, warmth trickled from his nose.

"You're bleeding." Andrew's tone was indifferent.

Ethan fumbled to wipe the blood but still managed to boast, "That just proves how captivating my Susan is!"

Andrew's expression darkened further.

"You two aren't right for each other." He practically spat the words through gritted teeth.

Ethan stared at him like he was a lunatic. "Did you take the wrong pills today? Susan and I are a match made in heaven. What's not right about us?"

Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization. "Wait—don't tell me... you have feelings for Susan?"

Andrew's pupils constricted.

"Don't talk nonsense!" he snapped.

But Ethan only grew more animated. "Then why do you care if we're right for each other? Andrew, I'm warning you—Susan is mine. No one gets to take her from me!"

Just then, Susan's dance came to an end.

Ethan immediately rushed forward, sweeping her into his arms and spinning her around.

"Susan, you were amazing!" He beamed like an excited child. "Promise me you'll only dance like that for me, okay?"

Dizzy from the spinning, Susan was about to respond when she locked eyes with a chilling gaze.

Andrew was staring straight at them, his expression murderous.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tried to pull away from Ethan's embrace.

"Don't move," Ethan murmured near her ear. "You're barely dressed. You'll catch a cold."

He draped his jacket over her shoulders and deliberately raised his voice. "Come on, let's get you changed."

As they passed Andrew, Ethan shot him a defiant look.

Every muscle in Andrew's body tensed. Memories flooded his mind—

She had once danced for him like this, on his birthday. Under the moonlight, she had whispered in his ear that she would dance only for him.

And now, was she going to say the same thing to another man?

Andrew took a sudden step forward.

"Andrew!" Nicole Capra let out a dramatic cry, clutching her stomach as she collapsed against him. "It hurts so much..."

Instinctively, he caught her, but his eyes remained fixed on the retreating figures.

"Andrew..." Nicole's eyes welled with tears. "Is it because I lost the baby... that you don't want to marry me anymore?"

Only then did Andrew snap back to reality.

"Don't be ridiculous," he said stiffly.

Nicole sobbed harder. "It's all my fault... I couldn't protect our child..."

"It wasn't your fault," Andrew replied mechanically, but his mind was still filled with the image of Susan in Ethan's arms.

Nicole pinched herself discreetly, forcing more tears. "Then... will you still marry me?"

Andrew fell silent for a long moment before finally tearing his gaze away.

"Of course," he said. "I'll marry you."

But his fists never unclenched.