The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 276

Miles's gaze turned somber. He took slow, deliberate steps into the room, a wild, almost unhinged fury simmering in his eyes.

It was a terrifying side of him that Claire had never witnessed.

In total silence, he grabbed Claire by the arm and hoisted her to her feet.

"Hello there, you must be Miles—" Lucca's greeting was cut short, twisting into a bizarre shriek.

Miles grabbed him by the collar, hauling him up.

With a single, brutal punch, Lucca went flying backward, slamming into the wall. He spat out a tooth as blood gushed from his nose, instantly staining his flashy shirt crimson.

"Miles!" Claire cried, reaching for him.

He gently pushed her hand away, patting it reassuringly.

His hair was slightly damp. He undid the top buttons of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves as he marched toward Lucca, exposing his toned, muscular forearms.

"You think you can hit me? I am—"

Miles's lips pressed into a harsh line. In this toxic family, he had always tolerated their schemes, played along with their twisted games, and demanded nothing in return.

But his one absolute condition was that no one touched Claire.

He grabbed Lucca by the arm with one hand. Despite Lucca being well over six feet tall, Miles dragged him effortlessly, as if he weighed nothing.

He released his grip, forcing Lucca down onto the pile of shattered ceramic.

"Ah!"

Lucca let out a lung-tearing scream. His back and face were sliced open, quickly turning into a gruesome, bloody mess.

Hearing the commotion, Victor rushed into the hall, desperately ordering the bodyguards to intervene.

But the guards couldn't move Miles an inch and only ended up taking a few heavy hits themselves.

If the beating continued, Lucca would be dead.

"Miles!" Claire threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. His fist froze mid-air.

"That's enough. Stop."

"I'm fine, Miles, I'm perfectly fine..." she pleaded, repeating the words over and over until she finally anchored his sanity back to reality.

Inside the bathroom, thick steam filled the air.

Miles stood beneath the spray, his head bowed as the hot water cascaded over his neck, tracing the sharp lines of his torso.

The shower door was pushed open a crack with a soft squeak.

A slender arm slipped through the gap.

Then, Claire squeezed her way in.

The sheer silk slip clung to her curves under the heavy steam, perfectly highlighting her stunning silhouette.

Her hair was soaked, and her eyes were wide and watery, making her look like a delicate flower caught in a summer storm.

The entire bathroom was instantly filled with her intoxicating presence.

She stood barefoot, her toes curling against the floor, staring unabashedly at his bare body.

"Claire..." Miles's voice was rough with indulgence. "Get out."

She replied softly, "I just want to look at you."