The air crackled with tension as Chris Eaton's presence filled the room, his rage palpable and electric.
Time seemed to freeze as all eyes locked onto the imposing figure in the doorway. Chris stood there, a vision of barely contained fury, looking every bit like a demi-god descended from Olympus to unleash his wrath. His jaw was clenched, his eyes blazing with an intensity that made Lily's breath catch in her throat.
Despite the cold metal of the pistol still pressed against her temple, Lily couldn't help but marvel at the scene before her. The heavy wooden door lay flat on the floor, wrenched free from its hinges as if it were made of paper. Had Chris really done that with just a kick? The display of raw strength sent a shiver down her spine. She'd known he was fit, but this level of power was... unexpected.
Avery was the first to break the stunned silence. With a practiced ease that spoke of years of social maneuvering, she lowered the gun and glided towards Chris, a coy smile playing on her lips.
"I knew you would come," she purred, her voice dripping with honey and venom in equal measure.
Chris's gaze snapped to Avery, his eyes narrowing dangerously. The look he gave her could have frozen hell itself, but Avery seemed unfazed. If anything, her smirk only grew wider, as if Chris's anger delighted her.
"Oh, don't look so upset, darling," Avery continued, reaching out to touch Chris's arm. "I was just having a little chat with your... friend here."
Chris jerked away from her touch, his voice a low, menacing growl when he finally spoke. "Step away from her. Now."
The command hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. Lily watched, heart pounding, as the two Titans faced off. Chris, a tower of barely restrained fury, and Avery, all sleek confidence, and bitchy.
Avery's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "Oh, I don't think so," she drawled, her voice dripping with venom. The implication was clear – she had no intention of sparing Lily, her murderous intent shining in her eyes.
Chris's blue eyes blazed like azure flames, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides. "Only in your dreams," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
A laugh burst from Avery's throat, high and mocking. But Lily could see the flicker of intimidation in her eyes, a crack in her perfect facade.
"What did she even do to you?!" Avery demanded, gesturing wildly at Lily. "Why would you marry her? She was an ugly duckling, Chris. You could do so much better."
Avery stalked over to Lily, who flinched as manicured fingers gripped her chin roughly. "Have you actually seen her before the plastic surgery?!" she sneered, forcing Lily's face towards Chris.
For a moment, Lily's heart stopped.
But Chris's response knocked the wind out of her.
"Yes, I have," he said, his voice steady and sure. "Even then, she looked so much better than you."
The words hung in the air like a physical blow. Avery's face fell, the insult hitting her like a slap. Her perfectly composed mask slipped, revealing a flash of genuine hurt before rage took its place.
Lily's mind reeled. Did he actually mean it?! It didn't make sense, but the sincerity in his voice was undeniable.
For a brief moment, their eyes met across the room. In that instant, Lily saw something in Chris's gaze she'd never noticed before – a warmth, a depth of emotion that made her breath catch in her throat.
But there was no time to dwell on it. Avery's grip on her face tightened painfully, nails digging into Lily's skin as she turned back to Chris, her voice shaking with fury.
"You're lying," she hissed. "You have to be. There's no way you'd choose her over me. Not willingly."
In a blur of motion, Chris surged forward, roughly shoving Avery away from Lily. His strong arm wrapped around Lily's waist, pulling her securely to his side. Lily gasped, her body tingling where it pressed against Chris's solid form.
Avery stumbled, losing her balance and crashing ungracefully to the floor. Her perfect hair was disheveled, she looked up at Chris with a mixture of shock and rage.
"You vindictive bitch!" Chris roared, his voice thunderous in the confined space. "This is exactly why I never chose you. You're cruel and utterly heartless."
Lily's heart raced, torn between fear of the situation and an unexpected thrill at Chris's fierce protection. She'd never seen him like this, all raw emotion and righteous anger.
Avery's face contorted with fury. In a flash, she pulled out her weapon, aiming it directly at Chris and Lily. "I'll kill you both," she snarled, her voice trembling with rage.
As if on cue, the two bodyguard-like men raised their own weapons, surrounding Chris and Lily. The room crackled with tension, the threat of violence hanging heavy in the air.
Lily's breath caught in her throat, terror clawing at her insides. They were outnumbered, outgunned. But as she glanced up at Chris, she was stunned to see confidence radiating from him.
What happened next was so fast, that Lily could barely process it. One moment, they were staring down the barrel of Avery's gun. The next, Chris had moved with lightning speed, knocking the weapon from Avery's hand and twisting her arm behind her back. He pressed the reclaimed gun to Avery's temple, his eyes scanning the room coolly.
"Drop your weapons," Chris commanded, his voice cold and dangerous, "or I pull the trigger."
Lily's gaze locked onto Avery's face, and what she saw there made her breath catch. For the first time, she saw real fear in her bully's eyes. The smug superiority, the cruel confidence – it was all gone, replaced by the terror of someone who suddenly realized they were no longer in control.
It was a startling transformation. The girl who had terrorized Lily for years, who had seemed invincible and untouchable, now looked small and scared. As Lily watched Avery tremble in Chris's grip, she felt a complex mix of emotions – relief, vindication, and an unexpected pang of pity.
But most of all, as Lily stood protected by Chris's strength and quick thinking, Lily felt something she'd never experienced before: true safety.
Avery's eyes darted frantically between the armed men and Chris. "Drop your weapons," she commanded, her voice cracking.
As the guns clattered to the floor, she turned to Chris, desperation etched on her face. "Let me go, Eaton," she pleaded.
Chris's grip only tightened, his breath hot against her ear as he growled, "Give me one good reason why I should do that."
Avery squirmed, trying to break free, but Chris was immovable. His voice, low and menacing, sent shivers down her spine. "You threaten my wife, point a gun at her, tell her you'll shoot her. And you expect me to let you go, huh?!"
In that moment, Chris looked like an avenging god, his fury barely contained as he held Avery's fate in his hands.