Christina’s POV
I was seething with rage.
I didn’t care how hard Cassian had tried to play the hero. I’d had enough.
"You honestly think we’d thank you for getting in the way?" I snapped. "You betrayed Ysolde, you slept with Zoe. When she started causing trouble at our studio, you promised you’d handle it, said you’d keep her in line. Now look."
I swept my arm over the battlefield of glass shards and crushed pastries. "If this is what your ’help’ looks like, I shudder to think what you’d accomplish if you were actively trying to sabotage us."
Cassian’s mouth opened, clearly ready to defend himself, but closed just as quickly when his gaze traveled across the destruction surrounding us. Blood dripped from his knuckles onto the tile floor.
What could he possibly say?
He knew I was right.
Akira growled inside . "Typical Alpha. Creates the ss, then expects praise for showing up after the damage is done."
Cassian fumbled for his phone, his fingers stiff and trembling slightly as he dialed.
"Blacklist Zoe Foster. Completely,"he barked into the device, his Alpha tone brooking no argunt. "Everything. Her work, her accounts, all of it. If I see her face on any platform again, every one of you is fired. Understood?"
His voice echoed throughout the room, clearly intended for both Ysolde and to hear.
Neither of us acknowledged it.
I grabbed Ysolde’s arm and pulled her to her feet. "Stop trying to clean up the glass. You’ll slice your hands open."
Then I turned to Cassian. "You know what? The shop is completely destroyed. We won’t be able to open for days. Since this is all your fault, you’re going to compensate us."
"Fine," he gritted out through clenched teeth. "I’ll pay for it."
I stared at him, waiting. "That’s it? Just repair costs?"
"What else do you want to do?"
He hesitated, then turned toward Ysolde, his tone softening slightly. "I’m sorry."
Ysolde said nothing.
I tugged at her arm. "Let’s go. We need to get to the hospital."
Before we reached the door, the screech of tires on asphalt pierced the air.
Two black sedans raced up, screeching to a halt outside the bakery.
The brakes shrieked as Hudson and Emtt leaped from their vehicles.
Emtt reached us first, the full force of his Alpha aura flooding the room. His eyes locked on Cassian, and before anyone could speak, his fist slamd into Cassian’s jaw with a sickening crack.
The blow caught him completely off guard.
Cassian stumbled backward, one hand bracing against the nearest table to keep from crashing to the floor. A low growl rumbled in his chest, golden eyes betraying his wolf’s agitation.
Emtt lood over him, face dark as a thundercloud.
One punch wasn’t enough.
He wanted more.
Though Cassian hadn’t fully recovered from the first hit, he managed to raise his arms just in ti to block Emtt’s next swing.
"Last ti you hit , I let it slide," he growled, pain igniting fury in his voice. "But this ti? I didn’t do anything!"
Emtt’s rage exploded fully.
He rolled up his sleeves, veins bulging along his forearms. "You’ve got so nerve. Zoe’s been causing trouble for days, all because of you. You’re lucky I didn’t bring my gun."
Hudson approached , his eyes scanning from head to toe. "Hospital. Now."
"I was just leaving," I said. "But I’m basically fine."
"You didn’t look fine in the video." His voice ca out harsh.
"Did you just co from a eting?" I glanced at his hand. "You’re still holding your laser pointer."
His fingers were wrapped around it. "Forget the damn eting. Why didn’t you call ?"
"I would have if I could reach my phone. It got crazy back there—like a public lynching."
"We’re leaving. Right now."
Emtt stepped out of the shop with Ysolde, positioning himself protectively in front of her. "Stay the hell away from my sister. I don’t want to see you around here again."
Cassian started to follow, but Emtt’s icy glare stopped him in his tracks.
"That project we discussed?" Emtt said coldly. "It’s canceled. The Carlisle Pack won’t be doing business with you anymore."
Cassian’s jaw dropped.
He stared at Emtt as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was hearing.
After a mont of stunned silence, he found his voice. "You can’t be serious? Business is business. You’re really going to throw away this deal over this?"
Emtt didn’t bother responding.
"You can forget about the LGH and Langford collaboration too," Hudson interjected. "That won’t be happening."
Cassian whirled toward him. "What the hell, Hudson? Have you all lost your minds? I didn’t do anything wrong!"
"You’ve been distracted lately, Cassian. Too busy to manage the people you’re responsible for. Perhaps you should get your personal affairs in order before discussing business."
Cassian looked like he wanted to argue, sweat beading on his forehead, but when he t Hudson’s glacial stare, he bit his tongue.
"Cassian," I called out.
He looked up, hopeful.
"Don’t forget to clean this place up. You promised to pay for it."
He muttered sothing under his breath.
Hudson guided to his car.
Behind us, Ysolde climbed into Emtt’s vehicle.
"How did you get here so quickly?" I asked as we drove away.
Hudson exhaled heavily. "Beta Dominic saw the livestream and showed . I could barely see you—you were buried under the crowd. Your hand is bleeding."
He pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it against my palm.
I shrugged, trying to sound calr than I felt. "It’s nothing, really. Just so scrapes. They’ll heal in a day or two."
"I’ll believe that when a doctor tells so."
Either Cassian finally ca to his senses, or Hudson’s people had taken over the situation.
Before the evening was out, Zoe Foster’s official account had posted a public apology statent.
She took full responsibility and announced her withdrawal from the entertainnt industry.
Then ca the trending hashtags—sponsored posts, manipulated headlines, long-buried scandals suddenly resurging.
The tide had turned.
Public sympathy shifted.
Ysolde and I were finally free from bla.
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