Hearing the noise, Sherilyn and Edgar froze, simultaneously turning their heads to look.
Gilbert? Sherilyn was surprised. What was he doing here at this time?
“You’re here? Let’s step outside to talk…”
Instinctively, Sherilyn pushed Edgar behind her, taking a step forward to shield him. Given their past encounters, she feared Gilbert might lash out at Edgar. This instinctive protective gesture deeply infuriated Gilbert.
“Heh.”
Gilbert chuckled darkly, advancing step by step. “Talk outside? Let’s talk right here. What exactly are you two up to?”
“I…”
Before Sherilyn could finish, Gilbert suddenly reached out, pushing her aside and swiftly grabbed Edgar by the throat.
“Ugh!”
Edgar tried to fight back out of instinct, but Gilbert was too strong for him, pushing him back until he was trapped against the conference table. “Edgar!”
Sherilyn’s face turned pale with shock, and she rushed forward, desperately trying to pull Gilbert’s arm away.
“Gilbert, calm down!”
“Calm down? You’re here cheating on me, and you tell me to calm down?”
Gilbert bellowed, his glare burning with an indescribable fury, a tempestuous storm in his eyes ready to engulf everything in its path. “Hmph!”
Gilbert averted his gaze, his eyes hauntingly fixed on Edgar. “Daring to touch what’s mine? You’ve got guts! I just wonder if your skills are as big as your courage!” “No, stop!” Sherilyn lunged forward, clinging to his raised arm.
She knew all too well how ruthless he could be; Edgar never stood a chance against him!
“Gilbert, I’ll go back with you… Can we talk about this at home, please?”
But her words only seemed to needle him further.
Gilbert narrowed his eyes, looking at her tear-streaked face, his palm cradling her cheek, fingers tracing the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes. He scoffed. “Who are you crying for?”
Sherilyn shuddered, catching a glimpse of madness in his eyes. Without thinking, she clung tighter to his arm.
At the same time, she yelled, “Edgar, run!”
“Gilbert, Edward, Elliot!”
He pronounced each syllable of name deliberately, a fissure of
madness breaking through his net
“Protecting him in front of me like this? How can you do this to me?”
With a jerk, he shook Sherilyn off!
“Ah…”
In truth, he hadn’t used much force nor had he intended to hurt her. He just wanted her to let go, to stop her from preventing him from going after Edgar.
But with that slight force, Sherilyn stumbled back, barely managing to catch herself on a nearby table.
To her horror, her elbow slammed into the corner of the table.
The pain made her see stars, eliciting a sharp cry from her, “Ah…”
That cry struck a nerve in both men.
Gilbert and Edgar simultaneously halted, turning their attention to Sherilyn.
Sherilyn, in pain, clutched her arm, barely able to stand straight!
“Sherilyn!”
Gilbert’s expression stiffened, and he immediately released Edgar, rushing to Sherilyn’s side in a few strides. He reached out to check her arm.
“It hurts!”
A gentle touch made Sherilyn wince in pain. This was serious.
Gilbert’s face went pale, afraid to touch her arm again. He scooped her up. “Let’s go, we’re heading to the hospital!”
“You’re not going anywhere!” Edgar stepped forward, blocking their path. “If you want to leave, go ahead, but leave Sherilyn here!”
Today, he had just learned the truth, realizing it was because of him that they had lost Sherilyn…
Now, seeing Gilbert hurt Sherilyn with his own eyes filled him with regret and self-reproach.
His voice was thick with anger as he shouted, “Gilbert! You once schemed to trap Sherilyn, managed to have her, but never treated her right… If so leave her be!”