The moment Allison finished speaking, Joshua''s eyes turned cold.

    Two bodyguards moved fast, grabbing Trayson and forcing him face-down on the floor.

    "I swear, this is all a huge misunderstanding! Ms. Allison, Joshua, you''ve got it wrong!" Trayson''s cheek pressed hard against the oak boards. "I didn''t know you were the Owens heiress from Oak Lake! If I''d known, I would''ve never-never- dared say anything like that!"

    "So what, regr people deserve to be insulted by you?" Allison''s voice was sharp as ice, slicing through the buzz of the crowd.

    "No, that''s not what I meant! I swear!"

    Someone in the crowd piped up, "That''s exactly what he meant! Trayson''s infamous in Spring Falls. Plenty of girls have been hurt by him."

    "Yeah, he''s always bullying people who can''t fight back. Don''t let him go this time," another person added.

    Allison scoffed, staring down at Trayson with a look so cold it could freeze fire. "Is that true?"

    Trayson''s voice shook. "No! Don''t believe them, they''re just trying to make things worse for me!"

    Allison''s lips curled into a frosty smirk. "I''ll get the truth myself."

    Just then, Joshua''s phone buzzed. He nced at the screen, then picked up.

    The voice on the line was stiff and serious. "Joshua, this is about Trayson-the Webb family''s third son. He''s been digging up info on Ms. Allison. He even paid some dangerous guys, gave them her photo, told them to ''take care'' of her. Their boss saw the picture and called me right away."

    There was a pause, then the caller hesitated, clearly struggling with what to say next.

    Joshua''s patience snapped. "Say it."

    The man''s voice dropped to almost nothing, shaky with fear. "The boss said... Trayson wanted them to find ten men to... ruin her... then toss her into the ocean to feed the sharks..."

    He barely dared to get the words out, afraid even mentioning them might get him killed.

    Joshua''s grip tightened until his

    knuckles went white. He stared down at Trayson, eyes so

    like looking at a deadet

    was

    Trayson felt the chill, and panic washed over his face, draining all the color from his cheeks.

    Joshua hung up and spoke to the bodyguards, voice like steel. "Throw him overboard."

    Those three words made Trayson copse, shaking and drenched in sweat.

    "Joshua, please, I''m begging you don''t! Please!"

    Gasps rose from the crowd.

    The bodyguards didn''t hesitate they lifted Trayson and dragged him outside.

    Allison turned to Joshua, her brows knitted with worry. "Who was that on the phone?"

    Joshua just pulled her into his arms, gentle but firm. "Don''t,

    his

    will happen to you." Content.ne

    worry. As long as I''m here,

    Outside,

    belongs

    The bodyguards hauled

    Trayson to the edge of the deck and,

    t a pause, tossed him int

    sea like he was nothing.

    People rushed out to watch.

    Trayson''s screams split the night air, echoing over the water.

    the

    Themotion was so loud that Carolyn, still upstairs, heard it and came running down.

    On the deck, a crowd had gathered, all pressed against the railing to watch Trayson struggle in the dark waves.

    Pushing her way through, Carolyn''s face was pale with worry. "What happened? What''s going on?"