The owner finally rushed out. "What the hell is going on?!"
He stood stunned for three full seconds before stepping between the two men and shouting for two kitchen assistants to each grab one of them and hold them back.
Even with blood streaming down his face, Archibald still tried to lunge forward—fortunately the assistants and the owner managed to restrain him!
When Sophie saw the vivid red blood on his face, she finally snapped out of her daze.
"Why?" she murmured. Then, louder, her voice hoarse and broken: "Why are you doing this?!"
Tears welled up and spun in her eyes—not from fragility, but from sheer pain.
Seeing her reddened eyes, Archibald suddenly went still…
Ned's handsome face was also streaked with blood; a thin line ran from the corner of his mouth. Yet his expression remained blank.
Under Archibald's gaze, Sophie slowly turned her head…
She stared blankly at Ned, dazed, watching the blood drip from his lip and the burning, complicated look in his eyes…
