Chapter 425

The drunkard's crude insults escalated, his words becoming increasingly vulgar with each passing second. Had Sebastian not stepped in when he did, the intoxicated man might have dragged Olivia into his private booth by force.

Liam's jaw clenched so tightly it could have shattered diamonds as he observed the scene, his rage simmering just beneath the surface.

In the ensuing chaos, the man who had started the confrontation saw his chance to slip away unnoticed.

"Are you injured anywhere?" Liam's voice carried urgent concern as he grasped Olivia's hand, his piercing gaze scanning every inch of her for signs of harm. The absence of visible wounds brought him only partial relief.

Completely misreading the gravity of the situation, the drunkard snapped irritably, "Who the hell are you? You know this woman? Perfect. She ruined my custom-made trousers worth thirty grand. Either she pays up now or joins me for drinks to make up for it."

Olivia, who had remained expressionless throughout the ordeal, took an almost imperceptible step closer to Liam. After their recent time together, Liam had become attuned to even the most subtle shifts in Olivia's demeanor.

Liam's expression turned glacial. Without uttering a word, he exchanged a meaningful glance with Sebastian.

Sebastian immediately understood, signaling the security team to deal with the troublemaker.

The drunkard's bravado faltered as curses spilled from his lips, barely masking his growing panic. His loud protests drew attention from passersby and neighboring patrons, yet none intervened. Most recognized the significance of Liam's distinctive mask and wisely chose not to provoke his wrath.

After several ice-cold buckets of water were dumped over his head, the drunkard finally regained some semblance of sobriety.

Recognition dawned on the drunkard's face as he took in Liam's imposing figure. His voice trembled as he stammered, "This is my first time here - I didn't know the rules. I had no idea she was with you. Please, allow me to make amends."

With that, the drunkard began frantically slapping his own face. When he noticed Olivia's continued displeasure, his panic intensified.

Liam's smile was arctic as he addressed the shaking man. "You seem confused about who deserves your apology."

The drunkard scrambled to turn his groveling attention toward Olivia. "Miss, I was an absolute fool not to recognize your... connections. Please accept my most humble apologies for this misunderstanding."

The stark contrast between how he addressed Liam versus Olivia was impossible to miss.

Sebastian, unable to contain his disgust any longer, interjected sharply, "If you're apologizing, then specify exactly what you did wrong."

The drunkard looked genuinely perplexed. "I told you, I'm new here. I didn't recognize this gentleman. I don't know how things work in this place."

Driven by outrage, Sebastian delivered a sharp kick to the drunkard's shin. "You left the waiter alone but targeted her. Would you have harassed her if she hadn't been protected? Is that how you operate?"

The drunkard spat back, "No respectable woman comes to a place like this! They're all here looking for trouble, trying to seduce men. This one just got lucky catching his eye."

Liam rose to his full height, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips as he took Olivia's hand and approached the cowering man. "Look closely and understand this..."