Chapter 18
As Kyle calmly reprimanded Anthony, Anthony's anger boiled over. He raised his hand to strike Kyle, but before he could, a firm grip stopped him mid-swing.
Behind Kyle stood Mike, his expression cold and unyielding. "Mr. Curtis," he said, his tone laced with mockery. "You seem quite bold today. But let me offer you some advice—no matter how high and mighty you think you are, disrespecting Mr. Archer is a line you don't want to cross."
Anthony froze, his defiance faltering as he recognized Mike. As one of the most notorious figures in Kerdonia's underworld and a representative of the powerful Rivas family, Mike's presence unnerved even the boldest men.
"Mike… I didn't realize you were here," Anthony stammered, his tone shifting from anger to apprehension. "This is a family matter. Surely you wouldn't want to get involved? Unless, of course, you and Kyle… have some sort of connection?"
Ordinarily, Anthony would never dare speak so dismissively to Mike. But his newfound ties to the Russo family emboldened him, however slightly.
Mike chuckled, a humorless sound. "Kyle is a benefactor of the Rivas family, a man we owe a great debt. And let me be clear—neither you nor the Russos can touch him. If you try, the Rivas family will ensure you regret it."
His gaze sharpened. "Even if you and the Russos combined forces, you wouldn't stand a chance against us. So, take my advice and back down now."
Anthony's face went pale. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kyle, an ex-convict, somehow held the favor of the Rivas family. More importantly, Mike wasn't one to bluff, especially regarding the Rivas family. If Kyle truly was under their protection, any retaliation would be catastrophic.
Before Anthony could respond, Kyle's cold voice cut through the air: "Mike, get them out of here. I don't want to see them."
Anthony's face twisted in anger and humiliation, but he couldn't protest. This was Faith's hospital ward, but he had no choice but to leave.
Mike raised a hand, gesturing for Anthony and Maria to exit. "Get them out."
Though furious, Anthony bit his tongue and stormed out, muttering curses under his breath. Maria followed, her face etched with worry. Leaving the ward, however, gave him the perfect chance to question Mike about Kyle's relationship with the Rivas family.
Once the ward fell silent, Kyle turned to Faith. Her face was swollen and bruised, her body battered, but her eyes held a quiet warmth as she looked at him. He sat beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Does it hurt?" he asked softly.
Her face was extremely swollen, bruised, and battered. How could it not hurt? Her entire body was covered in black and blue marks, her skin mottled with blood clots. Thankfully, her internal organs hadn't been seriously injured.
Despite this, Faith softly shook her head. "No, it's fine. Just some scratches. I'll heal with time."
"By the way, do you really know Mike? And do you have such a strong connection with the Rivas family? If so, I feel more at ease. Peter and the others wouldn't dare mess with you. But I still think, for safety's sake, you should leave for a while. The situation can change so quickly, and even Mike might not…"
She trailed off. Faith was smart enough to know that words alone were unreliable, no matter how promising things seemed. People who claimed to help today might turn against you tomorrow if someone else offered them greater benefits. Such was the nature of humanity.
Kyle smiled faintly. Even in pain, he admired Faith's concern for him despite her own suffering.
"I saved Mr. Rivas Senior. In their eyes, I'm their lifesaver. They'll help me. But even if they don't, I can handle things on my own. I'll take care of your engagement, Faith. If you don't want to marry someone you don't love, then you won't. Trust me—no one will dare force you again."
A cold glint of killing intent flashed in Kyle's eyes as he spoke. He was a gentle person, and very few could provoke him to such a point. "Don't stir up any more trouble for my sake," Faith pleaded, shaking her head firmly.