Chapter 5
Ethan lunged forward with a primal, guttural yell, swinging his fist in a wild, uncoordinated arc. He was desperate to inflict damage, desperate to regain some semblance of control in a situation that had rapidly spiraled into a nightmare.
But Sebastian was not a man who allowed himself to be hit twice.
With a movement so fluid and fast it seemed almost preternatural, Sebastian simply slipped outside the punch. Ethan’s fist swung uselessly through empty air, the sheer momentum of his missed strike throwing him dangerously off balance. He stumbled forward, his eyes widening in sudden, terrible realization as he found himself completely exposed.
Sebastian didn't hesitate. He retaliated exactly once.
Pivoting on his polished leather shoes, Sebastian drove one explosive, flawlessly executed counterpunch across Ethan’s jaw. The impact sounded like a wooden bat striking a concrete wall. The heavy family signet ring on Sebastian’s hand connected squarely with Ethan's cheekbone, delivering a devastating amount of kinetic force.
"Ahhh!" Ethan choked out a muffled cry as his feet actually left the hardwood floor.
He spun backward wildly, his arms flailing as he lost all control over his body. His trajectory sent him crashing directly into the tall, rolling dessert cart. The collision was catastrophic. The cart buckled instantly under his weight. A magnificent display of intricately frosted cupcakes scattered like shrapnel, smearing pink and white icing across the pristine floor.
Paper plates flew through the air like confetti, and the meticulously stacked towers of party boxes collapsed in a spectacular avalanche of cardboard and ribbon. The metal frame of the cart tilted violently before giving way entirely, sending Ethan crashing right through the lower shelves. He hit the ground hard, tangled in crushed boxes, squashed cupcakes, and twisted metal, groaning in sheer agony as he clutched his rapidly swelling face.
For several agonizing seconds, there was no dialogue. There was only the sound of a lone metal tray spinning on the floor, clattering loudly until it finally settled into absolute silence.
Victor stared at his son in horrified disbelief, his jaw slack. Natalie clutched her pregnant belly, her eyes blown wide with unspeakable terror. Even young Noah stood frozen, the smartphone trembling violently in his hands.
Sebastian stood amidst the wreckage, his breathing perfectly even, his bespoke three-piece suit completely unwrinkled. He calmly adjusted his cuffs, ignoring the groaning man at his feet. He stepped over a crushed party box, his dark eyes locked onto the trembling boy holding the phone.
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"Noah," Sebastian said, his voice gentle but commanding. "Bring the phone to me. Now."
Noah didn't look at his father or his grandfather. Hypnotized by Sebastian's absolute authority, the boy quickly walked forward and placed the device into Sebastian's outstretched hand, quickly darting back to safety.
