Left for Dead Came Back for Everything novel Chapter 116

The guy in the grey T-shirt was ripped right off the back seat, letting out a shriek like a slaughtered pig.

"Send them to the police station," Julian ordered without missing a beat.

"Extortion and criminal intimidation. Make sure the charges stick."

The street corner fell quiet again.

Only the glow of the streetlight remained, casting their overlapping shadows onto the pavement.

Julian looked down at Eliza—his hand was still resting on her waist.

She quickly took a step back. Her face was deathly pale.

"Julian... what are you doing here?"

Julian slipped his hands smoothly back into his coat pockets, watching her quietly.

"Just passing by."

He had used that excuse more times than he could count.

Eliza gently pushed his arm away, turning her face to avoid his gaze.

"You don't have to show up every single time. This is my office building," her voice was so soft it was almost swept away by the wind. "I can handle things myself."

Julian didn't argue.

Instead, he leaned down slightly, bringing his eyes perfectly level with hers.

Eliza quietly shifted back a fraction of an inch. He was too close.

"I know you can," Julian nodded, his tone dead serious.

"But I happened to be walking by. I couldn't exactly pretend I didn't see it."

He straightened up, his gaze drifting to the flickering streetlight as if carefully weighing his next words.

"However... about this whole situation."

"Do you want me to handle it for you?"

Eliza looked up at him.

"Underground loan sharks don't care about the law. They're going to keep harassing you."

"I can keep you safe for a little while, just until the dust settles. Don't even call it a favor—just treat it as me trying to be a decent citizen with a sense of justice."

Eliza's grip tightened around the strap of her bag.

She wanted to say no.

A black SUV slammed on its brakes right in front of them, its tires screeching against the asphalt and crushing the fallen leaves.

The driver's door was violently shoved open.

Zander hopped out. He was still wearing his dark blue tactical pants from the fire station, clearly having rushed over straight from his shift.

He instantly locked eyes on the two people standing under the streetlight.

Julian was standing right beside Eliza. There wasn't even an arm's length between them, a lingering echo of the intimate, eye-level distance they had shared just seconds ago.

Zander's pupils contracted violently.

"Eliza!"

"Don't let him fool you!"

Zander closed the distance in three massive strides, shooting a murderous glare at Julian before stepping directly in front of Eliza, cutting off her path.

"Eliza, listen to me!" His eyes were bloodshot, practically oozing rage. He pointed an accusatory finger at Julian behind her, his voice frantic.

"Him! A man with his background and wealth—do you honestly think he has real feelings for you?!"

"Do you have any idea how many scandals follow a family like the Lawrences?! The heir to a top-tier empire would never actually settle down with a—"