Instead, he turned to Autumn, his features softening slightly. "Are you okay?" he asked gently, concern evident in his voice.

Autumn barely acknowledged him, giving a small nod before turning to walk away. But Derek wasn’t done. He grabbed her hand, halting her in her tracks.

Behind them, Ben was still ranting, his voice shrill like a barking dog. Derek turned, his glare silencing the man instantly. With a sharp order, he instructed the security to remove Ben.

"I’ll handle her," Derek said calmly. The guards nodded, dragging a still-sputtering Ben away.

With the commotion gone, Derek turned his attention back to Autumn. His hand still gripped hers as he...