Chapter 8 - The Weight of a Name
Tyler swallowed hard, taking an involuntary half-step back as he looked up into Jae’s towering, imposing frame.
“I—I’m sorry,” Tyler stammered, his smooth facade cracking instantly under the crushing weight of Jae’s presence. “Who are you?”
“That is none of your concern,” Jae replied, his voice dangerously low. He stepped slightly closer to Olivia, his hand resting possessively, naturally, on the small of her back. “Though I find it fascinating that a man who abandoned his paternal responsibilities has the staggering audacity to approach the mother of his child in public.”
The color drained entirely from Tyler’s face. “You... you know about—?”
“I know everything worth knowing about the people in my orbit, Mr. Brooks,” Jae said smoothly. “And I know that men who walk away from a child like Noah are not men at all. They are cowards.”
The woman standing next to Tyler looked over at him with sudden, sharp disgust. “Tyler? Who is this baby he’s talking about?”
“It’s—it’s nothing, babe, a misunderstanding—,” Tyler muttered, sweating profusely under the collective gaze of several nearby socialites who had started tuning into the drama.
“Consider this a warning, Mr. Brooks,” Jae continued, his tone devoid of any emotion except ice. “If you ever approach Miss Mason again, or attempt to insert yourself into a life you forfeited, you will find out very quickly what happens when you cross Park Global Logistics. Now. Walk away before I have security throw you out.”
Tyler didn't need to be told twice. He muttered an incoherent apology, grabbed his companion’s arm, and practically fled toward the exit doors.
Olivia let out a long, shaky breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She looked up at Jae, her heart swelling with a mix of awe and deep, consuming gratitude.
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“You didn't have to do that,” she whispered.
“I always protect what is mine, Olivia,” Jae said softly, his dark eyes softening as he looked down at her.
