The man flinched at the sound of the voice, glancing sideways and stepping back as he faced the crowd around him.
With a quiver in his voice, he warned, "You might think you can do something to me, but just know, if I end up killing someone because of you, you won't just walk away unscathed."
It was only when he turned that Carter realized who the man had taken hostage. His heart dropped as he saw the person so close to the blade, leaving him pale and wide-eyed, unsure if he was caught in a nightmare or just imagining things.
Carter trembled as he locked eyes with David, who shot him a furious glare, as if he were ready to take him out if he got any closer.
Observing David's expression, Carter finally grasped why he had worn that look earlier. He truly wished he could seal his lips to prevent any future issues.
Zoye, however, ignored the quiet exchange between Carter and David. Instead, she stepped forward and, with a playful laugh, addressed the man holding Zara, "Excuse me, sir."
The man, noticing the girl approaching, tightened the knife against Zara's neck and warned, "Stay back! If you come any closer, your friend will pay the price."
"Don't you dare!" Carter and David yelled in unison, even before Zoye had a chance to speak.
The man was startled by their unexpected shout, causing his body to shake, and the knife in his hand quivered slightly, grazing Zara's neck and drawing a small amount of blood.
Carter and David stared in disbelief and fear, sensing that everything around them was on the brink of disaster. They quickly signaled their bodyguards to be cautious and avoid provoking the man.
However, before they could intervene, Zara sprang into action, gripping the man's wrist that held the knife and twisting it, forcing him to drop the weapon.
Just as she was about to push him away, a crimson mark appeared on the man's forehead in an instant, leaving everyone, including him, unaware of how it had happened.
Zara released her hold on the man's hand as he collapsed to the ground, lifeless. She then turned her attention to Zoye, who was still in shock from the events that had just unfolded.
Although Zara had no idea who was responsible for the man's death, she had a faint suspicion as she scanned the area and noticed a man approaching them. He exuded a commanding presence, with an air of cold nobility surrounding him.
David and Carter's men had already cleared the area, leaving only their own group behind.
Upon seeing the man lying still on the floor, their initial reaction was one of regret for not being able to extract any information from him. Yet, they reassured themselves that he had brought this fate upon himself.
As Ethan approached Zara, he first glanced at the man sprawled on the floor, showing little reaction, before turning his attention to his subordinates, who remained steadfastly at their posts, unmoving.
Feeling an intense and commanding stare, David and Carter turned their heads slightly, only to find their boss looking at them with a fierce expression that seemed capable of draining the very life from them.
In the presence of their boss's gaze, they both lowered their heads, lacking the courage to meet his eyes.
However, Carter quickly straightened up and began coordinating with the Blossom Park manager to clear the floor and handle the body.
Ethan redirected his attention to Zara, who stood there composed, showing little emotion.
However, his expression changed when he noticed the vivid red mark on her neck.
He stepped closer, gently taking her hand with one hand while using the other to lift her chin, allowing him to examine the injury more closely.
As he observed the wound, which was oozing blood slowly, Ethan glanced over to see David hurrying toward them, a medical kit in hand.
Zara, noticing the concern etched on Ethan's face, remained silent, allowing him to take charge of the situation.
David approached quickly and spoke respectfully, "Boss, we've contacted the doctor, but he might take a while to arrive. It would be wise to clean the wound first."
David felt a wave of anxiety wash over him, terrified of his boss's reaction to his silence. He glanced at Zara, his eyes filled with desperation as if she were his only hope in this tense situation.
Noticing David's distress, Zara offered a small smile, gently pushed Ethan's hand away from her chin, and reassured him, "It's nothing to worry about. I'll handle the injury."
Zoye stood there, utterly bewildered by the unfolding scene. She was confused about what was happening and who this striking man was, accompanied by bodyguards, who seemed to disregard her presence as he stepped away towards Zara.
Realizing that Zara had the situation under control, Zoye took a step forward and cleared her throat, saying, "Ahha! Luna, let me assist with the wound."
The moment Zoye began to speak, Ethan's gaze shifted to the figure beside them, his expression cold and unyielding.
Zoye instantly sensed a wave of chill enveloping her as she spoke, unsure if the weather had truly shifted so dramatically in this country.
Zara noticed Zoye's bewilderment at the sudden drop in temperature and gently said, "Let's go."
As she stepped forward, she became aware that her hand was still held firmly by someone who showed no signs of releasing it.
When she looked up, she was met with the sight of a strikingly handsome face, his warm eyes suggesting he wouldn't let go, even if she asked him to.
Zara was at a loss for words after witnessing Ethan's reaction.
She called out to Zoye, "Zoye, come over here."
Zoye felt puzzled as she noticed the man holding Zara's hand, and the most surprising part was that Zara remained silent and allowed it to happen.
However, upon hearing Zara's invitation, she instinctively approached them, steadying herself as she focused on the man before her.
Zara turned to Ethan and introduced, "This is my friend."
In response, Zoye reached out her hand and said, "Hi, I'm Zoye Francis, a friend of Luna."
Ethan glanced at Zara before turning his attention to Zoye.
Ethan wasn't exactly comfortable around women, but since she was a friend of Zara's, he made an effort to be friendly.
Understanding how challenging it was to earn Zara's friendship, he offered a quick handshake, pulling his hand back almost immediately.
With a straight face, he introduced himself, saying, "Hi, I'm Ethan Anderson, I'm..." He then turned to Zara, raising his eyebrows as if about to continue.
However, Zara saw right through his intentions and jumped in first, saying, "He's our family friend."
At this, Ethan raised his eyebrows at Zara, tightening his grip on her hand in response.
Zoye, observing their playful exchange, couldn't resist teasing them, asking, "Are you really sure about that, Luna? Only family friend?"