For a brief moment, Sophia’s entire world seemed to stop spinning. A strange wave of relief washed through her body as the stranger’s hand finally released her throat.

Yet the shock of seeing Julian standing right there, in front of her, was almost too much to process. She simply couldn’t believe it.

Was he truly here?

Her eyes widened in disbelief, her mind struggling to comprehend the scene. Then, for a split second, her vision blurred, only to refocus on the crimson blood staining Julian’s knuckles and the fresh stream of blood dripping from the attacker’s nose.

Even through her drunken haze, it was clear that Julian had just delivered...