After concluding his words, Lyndon averted his gaze from Cade and Scarlet, who wore gloomy expressions on their faces. Instead, he turned his attention to Tilda, his eyes softening as he murmured, "Shall we leave?"

"Of course," Tilda replied with a gentle smile.

They exited together, Lyndon's arm draped protectively around her shoulders.

Cade's expression darkened as he watched them depart, a storm of humiliation brewing within him.

He felt utterly disgraced, and he couldn't help but blame his daughter for the debacle.

Turning sharply to Scarlet, he lashed out, "Look at the kind of pathetic man you've gotten involved with! I wanted to introduce you to someone respectable, but no, you had to make your own choice. And what a choice you made! You've brought shame upon us with this disgraceful display. I've never been so mortified in my life. You've tarnished my reputation beyond repair. I wash my hands off this engagement party. Deal with the fallout yourself!"

With that, Cade stormed off, leaving Scarlet to face the chaos alone.

Scarlet stood in stunned silence, her mind reeling.

She glanced at Alex, still unconscious on the floor, a mix of anger and anxiety swirling within her.

What was supposed to be a perfect engagement party had turned into a disaster, all because of Tilda and Lyndon. Why did they have to interfere and ruin everything?!

Meanwhile, Lyndon and Tilda exited the hotel and slid into the car.

He undid the top two buttons of his shirt, easing into a more relaxed posture.

As Tilda reached for her seatbelt, he leaned in without a word, securing it for her himself.

The memory of Alex pinning her against the wall resurfaced in his mind, and his expression darkened once more.

Straightening slightly, he locked eyes with her, then gently tilted her chin upward before pressing his lips against hers.

Tilda blinked but remained silent.

When he pulled away, his deep, unreadable gaze met her bright, steady one. His voice, laced with cold amusement, broke the silence.

"You're typically quite fierce. But when Alex was bullying you, why didn't you kick him?"

Tilda pursed her lips before answering, "I did try. But it was my first time... I wasn't sure how much force to use. I didn't want to go overboard and injure him too badly."

Lyndon let out a low scoff. "What's there to be afraid of? No matter what happens, I'll deal with the consequences."

A chilling intensity radiated from him, making it clear just how furious he still was.

Rather than respond with words, Tilda simply hummed in acknowledgment before wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing a soft kiss against his Lips.

Her unexpected initiative, laced with tenderness, soothed him.

Lyndon's mood shifted, his grip tightening around her waist as he deepened the kiss.