While My Husband Cheated I Married His Powerful Brother novel Chapter 158

Chapter 158: Chapter 158 The Silent Bodyguard

Xander Hale stepped slowly out of the sleek black Mercedes.

​His dark suit was clearly expensive and tailored, his shoes polished to a high shine, and his dark hair slicked back tightly. A thick cigar was clamped between his teeth, sending plumes of heavy gray smoke curling around his face in the light morning breeze.

​His sharp eyes swept over Veyra before moving straight to Leon, who was standing a few feet behind her.

​Leon stood with perfect posture, his face completely calm and unreadable, his hands resting naturally at his sides.

​A subtle flicker of annoyance crossed Xander’s face.

​He remembered seeing Leon before during that intense standoff at the pizza shop. Back then, he had automatically assumed Leon was Veyra’s husband, the protective bodyguard type she had secretly married.

​He thoroughly disliked the thought of her being with someone like that.

​Hiding his irritation, Xander walked toward Veyra with long strides, the lit cigar still burning in his grip as smoke trailed behind him.

​Veyra’s nose wrinkled almost instantly.

​The smoke was thick, acrid, and completely overwhelming. The harsh smell hit her nostrils, making her stomach churn with sudden nausea.

​She took a quick step backward, lifting her hand to cover her mouth and nose.

​Xander stopped dead in his tracks. He caught the sharp frown on her face and her obvious physical discomfort.

​He looked down at the burning cigar in his fingers, then back up at her.

​"Mrs. Thorne," he asked, his voice softening slightly. "Are you feeling all right?"

​"It is the smoke," she said, her voice muffled slightly behind her hand. "I am pregnant."

​Xander’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. His hand shot out instantly, tossing the expensive cigar onto the pavement and stomping it out hard under his polished shoe.

​His two underlings standing by the car stared in utter shock.

​They had worked under him for years and had never seen him do anything like that. He had never tossed aside his favorite tobacco for anyone in the past.

​Xander looked back at Veyra, his tone surprisingly soft and contrite. "I apologize, Mrs. Thorne. I truly didn’t know."

​"It’s fine," she replied, lowering her hand slightly.

​"No, it’s not fine," he said, shaking his head with genuine regret. "I should have been far more careful around you."

​His dark eyes shifted past her shoulders, locking back onto Leon with a flat, cold expression.

​"And this man is your husband?" he asked.

​Veyra opened her mouth to immediately correct his ridiculous mistake.

​Before a single word could come out, a loud voice cut through the air from down the street.

​"Veyra!"

​Megan was sprinting toward them along the sidewalk, her cheeks flushed red and her long hair bouncing as she ran. Mia was trailing right behind her, panting slightly to keep up.

​Megan skidded to a sudden halt a few feet away, her eyes landing directly on Xander Hale.

​The color drained from her face instantly. Her hands began to tremble violently at her sides, and her mouth fell open in absolute shock.

​Mia caught up a second later, her eyes moving from Megan straight to Xander. A wave of sudden recognition and sheer terror crossed her face.

​She knew exact details about this man. She had heard all the rumors floating around the neighborhood streets.

​This was the terrifying gang leader who had terrorized Aunt Clark, the man who had aggressively tried to force Megan into a marriage arrangement, and the brute who had actually slapped an older woman in public.

​Veyra moved without a second of hesitation.

​She stepped forward smoothly, placing her own body directly between Xander and the two terrified women.

​"Xander," she said, keeping her tone grounded and calm. "These two are my core business partners."

​Xander narrowed his eyes slightly. "Your business partners?"

​"Yes, Mia and Megan," Veyra said, gesturing gently toward them. "We are opening our new milk tea shop together."

​Xander looked over Veyra’s shoulder, his gaze locking onto Megan as recognition clicked in his mind.

​"Ah, you," he said slowly. "You’re the girl from the pizza shop confrontation."

​Megan’s skin turned ghost white. Her fingers shook so hard she could barely keep her grip on her purse, and her throat locked up completely.

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