CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: A CLOSE CALL

How could Ruby Sullivan leave so easily?

The likes of Tyler Aldrin, a spoiled son of a nouveau riche, would keep a pack of dogs ready to unleash when needed. He’s pointed broken bottle shards at countless heads, but it’s the first time someone’s aimed back at him, and it’s a woman at that—Ethan Sterling’s woman. If he let her go, how could he still hold any sway in Ariston?

As soon as he saw Ruby Sullivan toss the bottle, he signaled to his bodyguards.

Ruby Sullivan, despite not being a pushover, was only good enough to fend off small-time thugs. Against professional bodyguards, especially two of them, she couldn’t even get close to kick them. In no time, her arms were pinned behind her and she was pressed into the booth.

Tyler Aldrin jumped up, his face twitching with a nasty grin, grabbing Ruby Sullivan’s chin and examining her closely, "Such a pretty face, it would be a pity to ruin it. Give me a smile, and if I’m in a good mood, I might let you off a bit easier."

"Pah!" Ruby Sullivan spat at him, her chin hurting badly from his grip, but she wasn’t scared anymore.

Tyler Aldrin slapped her hard, making blood drip from the corner of her mouth. While wiping his face with a tissue, he sneered, "Ungrateful wretch. Take her away."

Gemma Joyce was a bit scared now, "Young Master Aldrin, let’s talk this over..."

Tyler Aldrin shook off her hand, "Get lost."

Ruby Sullivan knew any threats from her were useless now; she could only resign to fate.

Backstage, Levi Joyce handed his things to a teammate, telling them to wait outside for a bit, as he wanted to check on Wenny. She had mentioned they could leave together later.

At the front of the venue, he learned the big boss was in and had sealed off the second-floor booths on the east side, with bodyguards preventing him from going up.

Levi Joyce smiled and explained he was looking for someone, just about to mention Wenny’s name when he saw her hands tied behind her back, walking toward him.

"Boss!" he shouted, raising his arm and waving at Wenny cheerfully.

Tyler Aldrin chuckled, "Oh, she brought a little lackey too."

Ruby Sullivan frowned and mustered all her strength to shout, "Run!" and saw the bodyguards already making a move below.

Levi Joyce might not be the sharpest in office cubicles, but in places like this, he’s seen plenty of shady things and knew immediately something was wrong. He turned and ran. His tall frame didn’t seem agile, but he weaved through the crowd like a loach, quickly vanishing from the sight of the two pursuing bodyguards.

He darted to the main entrance, gasping for air while calling Ethan Sterling. Before the call could connect, he saw Mr. Sterling trying to bribe the gatekeeper at the door.

Liam Joyce stopped him from pulling out money from his wallet and dragged him by the arm, "Let’s head to the back door."

Ethan Sterling understood immediately and started running with him.

The livehouse, a converted abandoned warehouse, had a narrow unlit alley at the back, barely wide enough for a car, connecting to main roads on both ends. Bands would exit from the side door directly onto this alley after performing; the rear door was further inside.

It was rare to leave through the front; the front had cameras, and there was a need to clean up afterwards. Moreover, passing through the crowded lobby could lead to unforeseen complications. Coming down from the second-floor booths, the staff entrance was a direct path to the rear door, a route only known to trustworthy insiders—very convenient.

When Levi Joyce brought Ethan Sterling through, they saw Wenny being pushed into the back seat. With a leap, he blocked the car door before it closed with his leg.

Behind him, Ethan Sterling’s bodyguards landed a punch, knocking the person trying to close the door to the ground. They immediately took a stance, preparing to fight Tyler Aldrin’s henchmen.

In the back seat, Ruby Sullivan turned her head to see who had come. Under the dim yellow streetlight, his eyes seemed to hold stars, so bright they chased away her fears.

Seeing her scared, Ethan Sterling’s expression tightened even more. He forced himself to relax, relieved that he’d caught up before the car left.

As Tyler Aldrin continued to cling to Ruby Sullivan, once he saw who arrived, his sneer turned into rage, glaring at Ethan Sterling and shouting, "What are you standing around for? Drive!"

Only then did Ethan Sterling notice the other trash in the car, locking eyes with Tyler Aldrin, his voice low and ominous: "You’re asking for it."

Facing those eyes, Tyler Aldrin felt an inexplicable fear and could only yell louder, "Drive!"

Holding the car door, Ethan Sterling faced a hesitant driver, but since the boss gave the order, the driver dared not delay, starting the engine and hitting the gas.

Ethan Sterling prepared to get into the car, and just then, a black sedan sped down the main road, skidding to a stop in front of Tyler Aldrin’s path, blocking his way.

Howard got out, immediately followed by another black van turning in from the road, unloading a dozen well-trained bodyguards.

Seeing this, Tyler Aldrin’s eyes widened in shock, momentarily speechless.

Ruby Sullivan seized the chance to bite down viciously on his hand, ignoring his yelps of pain. Despite his flailing hits and hair-pulling, she wouldn’t let go.

The car’s space was so cramped that Ethan Sterling couldn’t stand by while she got hit. He charged in, using his arm to block Tyler Aldrin’s wild punches. It wasn’t until Howard restrained Tyler that the chaos in the car was curbed, leaving Tyler as the sole source of wild cries.

"It hurts, ma’am, I was wrong, I was wrong, okay?"

Ethan Sterling gently rubbed her occipital, her voice hoarse as he comforted, "It’s okay now, it’s okay."

Ruby Sullivan finally let go, gasping as she glared fiercely at Tyler, as if she wanted to skin him alive.

It made Howard’s heart skip a beat.

Ethan Sterling untied the rope from her hands, realizing her arms were so thin and too slender, no meat at all, just a thin layer of skin, already abraded.

Though she reeked of alcohol, it didn’t bother him at all, as he impatiently hugged her tightly, "It’s okay, it’s okay."

Ruby Sullivan’s eyes were red, filled with thoughts of revenge. Yet in his arms, her mind suddenly felt hazy. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed him away, gritting her teeth, "I’m going to kick his balls off!" With that, she dashed out of the car.

Seeing Tyler Aldrin still fiddling with his arm, she rushed over, landing a swift kick to his groin before anyone around could react.

By the time anyone moved, Ethan Sterling had already pulled her back behind him.

Young Master Aldrin, still dealing with the flesh wound on his arm, was now ambushed in his most vital area...

Ethan Sterling watched him clench his legs in pain, his expression indescribable, feeling an urge to laugh.

Tyler Aldrin took a deep breath, legs tightly bound, struggling to stand upright, "Ethan Sterling, just you wait. I’m getting a medical evaluation right now. With your woman causing this mess with me, let’s see who gets embarrassed first!"

Ruby Sullivan peeked over Ethan Sterling’s shoulder, "If you’ve got the guts, don’t run. Call the cops now. I’ve got a hidden camera; not only did you maliciously assault me, but you also attempted kidnapping. I’ve got all the time in the world to take this to court and see who gets disgraced first!"

Ethan Sterling hadn’t expected she had a backup plan. He wrapped an arm around Ruby Sullivan’s shoulders, grinning playfully, "I wouldn’t mind letting President Aldrin Sr. see the video. Want to settle this publicly or privately?"

Tyler Aldrin’s face hardened, and after a moment’s struggle, he told his men, "Let’s go."

Only after Ethan Sterling gave the signal did Howard make way for them.

Ruby Sullivan watched Tyler Aldrin’s car, tears shimmering in her eyes, mumbling in dissatisfaction.

The more Ethan Sterling heard, the more amusing it became. Finally, he raised an amused brow, lowered his head slightly to look at the woman in his arms, and asked, "Are you swearing?" His Bellaza was limited, but he recognized a few words.

"Mhm, Italian swearing." Ruby Sullivan replied hoarsely, then turned her head away, pretending it was the wind drying her eyes, not tears.