In the study, Ryan poured a ss of wine for Justin, but thetter refused. "I didn''t bring my driver today, so I''ll have to drive. I won''t drink."


    "I didn''t expect you two toe over tonight."


    Ryan drank the ss of wine himself, then put it down. His tall figure leaned against the deskzily as he casually fished out a cigarette and lit it.


    He inhaled deeply, almost greedily, as if he wanted his organs to be surrounded by smoke.


    "Are you in a bad mood?" Justin slightly narrowed his eyes.


    "I''m okay."


    "You told me Carrie doesn''t like the scent of cigarettes, so you''ve cut down on smoking for her. Yet this ashtray looks like a graveyard. It''s probably twice as much as before."


    Justin immediately activated his protective mode and said sternly, "Do you want my sister to hug a chimney to sleep every day? Do you still want a kid like this? Don''t you know you need to quit smoking and drinking if you want children?"


    Ryan listened to his advice and immediately threw the cigarette on the floor, extinguishing it under his shoe. "Don''t you have something to discuss with me?"


    "That man. Did you do it?" Justin asked straightforwardly, not one to beat around the bush.


    "I''ve done a lot of stuff. Which one are you talking about?" Ryan''s expression was dark, clearly knowing who Justin meant.


    "The male student from Savrow Art Academy. You got someone to kidnap him and stab him ten times. He''s still in the ICU now, status unknown."


    Ryan gave a disdainful snort. "Oh, this? Yeah, I did it."


    "Don''t you think you went too far?"


    Justin''s brows furrowed deeply. "You''re not who you used to be. You are the Hoffman Group''s CEO, not a gang leader. Your every move is under scrutiny by thepany and the public. You''re not alone, either. You have Carrie now. There are a thousand methods for you to teach that man a lesson, but you chose the riskiest and the most extreme one."


    "Do you think I went too far? Fuck, I think I''ve shown that brat enough mercy. I should''ve left his body in the wild and let the stray dogs tear him to pieces!"


    Ryan mmed the table, his eyes red with anger. "If it weren''t for that bastard using Carrie as a shield and pushing her to that lunatic, Carrie wouldn''t have been taken hostage! She''s been having nightmares every night now. It''s all that bastard''s fault! He should be grateful that I kept him alive!"


    At this moment, Justin''s phone buzzed. Ian sent him a message.


    He looked down and pressed on the message, his eyes immediately darkening.


    [Mr. Salvador, that student didn''t make it. He died.]


    n just sent me a message. That student died."


    Ryan''s expression stiffened, and he then smiled coldly. "He deserved it. I''m satisfied."


    Justin''s gaze was heavy. He shook his head helplessly and angrily. "If Carrie knew this is how you sought justice for her, she might have nightmares for the rest of her life."


    "I won''t let her know."This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Ryan''s thick and passionate love was likeva, violently surging beneath his eyes and overflowing with mad possessiveness. "Anyone who bullies or touches Carrie will end up dead."


    "Ryan, did you notice you''re bing more and more obsessive? When ites to Carrie, you can''t stay calm." Justin''s tone sank, feeling uneasy.


    "Justin, my wife almost had her throat slit by that madman! I almost lost her forever, yet you ask me to stay calm?!"


    Ryan''s chest heaved violently, as if a beast were suppressed within. "If the person taken hostage was Be, can you stay calm? You''d only retaliate with a crueler and darker method! Both of us would choose to die for our wives, so let''s not preach to each other. It''s no use, and I won''t listen!"


    "Even if you don''t want to listen, you must!"


    Justin could not bear to see Ryan destroy his life over one mistake. He suddenly stood up from the sofa, staring at him with an intense gaze "Ryan, let me remind you one more time. You are the Hoffman Group''s sessor, not part of a mafia! You can use your wealth and power to do anything, except murder! That''s the bottom line.


    "Have you considered what would happen if someone like Christopher or your uncle found out about this? How would they set you up and use you? At that time, you can''t even protect yourself. How are you going to protect Carrie?!"


    The man''s words immediately woke Ryan up.


    But who could understand how much hatred he felt when he saw the surveince footage? He wanted to kill that bastard himself!


    "This is thest time I''ll condone this. Before you decide to do anything, spend a few seconds to think about Carrie and what I said."


    Justin walked to Ryan and put his hand on his shoulder. "You are my brother, my family. I merely wish you to be safe and live a stable life with Carrie." "Justin, what should I do? I love her so much..."


    Ryan lowered his head, gasping for breath, but he still felt the air was thin and suffocating. "I love her so much that I don''t know what to do... I feel like I''m losing myself." The two men did not know that, outside the slightly ajar door, Carrie was leaning against the wall. She had heard their conversation clearly.


    Unknowingly, her face was stained with tears.