25

ELENONR

The chaotic scene unfolded as Ever's world narrowed down to one singular focus—rescuing me. Amidst the cacophony of screams and complaints, he felt a surge of adrenaline, with no awareness of anyone else in the room. His breath and heart rate, once fueled by the intensity of the fight, were now driven by a different urgency.

Ignoring the onlookers, Ever collided with an iron door, causing me to nearly fall if not for his swift intervention. In that moment, his attention was solely on me, and he helped me to my feet. His focus shifted abruptly as he seized the assailant by the collar, delivering powerful blows that threatened to end the man's life.

Eleonor, teary-eyed and terrified, pleaded with Ever to stop. The fear etched across her face was a mix of concern for what they might do to her and dread for what Ever could unleash on the assailant. Despite the growing crowd, no one dared to intervene.

""EVER! EVER! EVER! Stop! Enough!"" I cried out, my tears mirroring the chaos unfolding before me. I grappled with the fear that Ever's rage might spiral out of control.

The onlookers remained frozen until Michael, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, attempted to restrain his friend. However, the combined efforts of Michael and one of Zeus' team members were needed to pull Ever away from the battered assailant.

""I'm going to kill him! LET ME GO!"" Ever roared like a lion, resisting their attempts to contain him.

In the aftermath, I wept uncontrollably, my hands covering my mouth as I looked at the disfigured face of the man who had attempted to abduct me. The lifeless body lay on the ground, barely twitching.

As the coach intervened, attempting to restore order, he questioned the chaotic scene. ""What the hell happened?! Calm down!""" """Let me go!"" I managed to break free from their grip and, taking Ever's hand, we walked away from the circle that had formed. Everyone immediately made way for us as we passed through like devils, burning like hell.

Meanwhile, they turned their attention to the seemingly lifeless body, battered from the blows Ever had delivered. Michael, who had skipped university to watch his friend's fight, realized that he had arrived late for Zeus' confrontation with his rival, but just in time for one with a stranger.

""Does anyone know what happened?"" Michael asked one of the witnesses of the entire fight. He had seen Ever take my hand.

""This man tried to take the boxer's girl. He tried to kidnap her,"" many questions wandered through Michael's mind.

""And who is the boxer's girl?"" he asked, afraid of the answer he anticipated.

""The redhead, a small girl with green eyes. That's what they call her here, a girl in front of the boxer. However, it has been proven that he is capable of killing anyone who messes with her.""

In Michael's mind, one thing repeated over and over.

""My friend messed with my sister.""

Upon entering his dressing room, Ever was immediately paid a large sum of money. He reluctantly put a bracelet into his bag, and his shirt he simply hung over his shoulder. All he wanted was to get out of that damn place where he almost lost his most precious treasure. I wiped my tears and, unable to say a word, checked my bloodied fists, now fearing only two things: that my boyfriend would go to jail and that Michael witnessed the fight.

""So, is there something you two have to tell me?"" the protective brother didn't waste any time. He opened the dressing room door and suddenly spoke angrily to both of us.

Zeus looked at him with anger. The last thing he needed right now was a dramatic scene.

""I can explain,"" I tried to calm my brother.

""How dare you, Eleonor? Out of all the men, you had to..."" Ever didn't let him finish.

""Do I have to ask for your permission to be my girlfriend? Yes! I dared to be his girl. What do I lack that I can't reciprocate? It's not a good idea for Ever to keep getting worked up; his state is capable of turning against him and forgetting, even for a moment, that Michael is his friend and brother-in-law.""

""Ever, please,"" I stood in front of him to prevent them from coming to blows.

""Did you have to lay your eyes on Zeus?"" Michael asked me.

""Can we talk about this calmly? You and me?"" I continued trying to calm things down.

""You're just a fuck boy. A Pinocchio, as women call you!"" Michael completely ignored my words.

""A Pinocchio because he never called women when he said he would, knowing he wouldn't have anything with them?! And he just lied to them, saying he would call them to get away with it? I don't complicate my life, that's different. I'm not like you! I've got the balls for it!"" Ever shouted at Michael, clenching his fists.

""A guy with balls for what? Not to tell me the truth! Not to tell me that you were dating my sister!""

""Because I didn't want to. I gave you time to heal, to get out of prison and..."" Michael didn't let me finish.

""You took advantage of her when I was in prison?! You're a fucking bastard, and you were never my friend!"" Those words hurt Ever to the core.

""I was more than your friend, that's different. I was the only one there for you out of all the other boxers you know and consider your 'friends.' I was the one who took you out to eat, who encouraged you and took care of everything!"" Only truths came out of Ever's mouth.

""You shouldn't have messed with my sister! Do you know how many women you've played with?! It's countless!"" He exposed his dirty laundry and discredited him now.

""I don't play with Eleonor, and I won't."" Ever growled between his teeth, on the verge of exploding.

""You slept with her?! Did you sleep with my sister, you asshole?!"" I looked at him, doubting if Michael was doing that.

""I don't have to give you details of what I do with my girlfriend."" Words of a gentleman who, on the brink of exploding, maintained some level of sanity.

""You're a whore..."" He didn't need to say anything else. Ever threw a single punch at his face, sending him to the ground immediately.

""Be very careful how you talk about her in front of me! Say whatever you want about me, but before you speak about her, bite your tongue. She's your sister, but she's my girlfriend, you asshole! You're disgusting and embarrassing! What did you think? What the hell were you thinking? Did you think Eleonor would never fall in love?! You didn't even care when she was almost kidnapped, and now you come to claim her and insult her as if she were five years old. I swear if you ever similarly speak to her again, I'll forget that I once considered you my friend, and I'll knock out all your teeth with one punch."" He threatened him, looking at him on the floor.

I stood there stunned, tears in my eyes as my heart bled.

""Let's get out of here, babe."" He took my hand, and we walked away, leaving Michael bleeding with a split lip.

And do they still doubt he's a beast?