The manager saw that, although Tristan Davis still had a trace of anger in his eyes, he was finally calm. Letting out a relieved sigh, he turned to Andrew Lane. "Mr. Lane, about the damages...?"

If you ignored the bruises on Andrew's face, you'd never guess he'd just been in a fight. He looked as cool and collected as ever, not a single hair out of place.

Andrew dabbed the blood off the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief. He didn't bother looking at Tristan, just said in a steady, low voice, "Mr. Davis, if I'm not mistaken, you asked me to come here, and you were the one who threw the first punch. Why am I the one expected to pay for everything? That hardly seems fair.”

The manager started sweating even more. The private room's décor, the fancy furniture, the art on the walls—just the price of everything together was easily in the millions. And the vase that got smashed was an antique, worth at least half a million. If it came down to him, there was no way he could pay for any of it.

Neither Tristan nor Andrew looked even a little bit interested in picking up the cost, and the manager knew he couldn't afford to offend either of them. The thought that he might have to cover the damages himself made his stomach drop. This had all happened on his watch. He was doomed.

Andrew Lane was obviously rich enough to pay, but he wasn't about to take responsibility for Tristan's mess. Just like he said, this one wasn't on him.

Tristan thought the same way. Sure, he'd invited Andrew out, and he'd started the fight, but there was no way he was going to pay either.

He looked over at Andrew, voice cool and full of attitude. “So, Mr. Lane, you want to be someone's mistress, but can't even afford to pay for a little damage?"

The whole room went silent. Everyone else looked shocked, curiosity burning in their eyes, but nobody dared lift their gaze.

Andrew acted like he hadn't noticed the tension at all. “That's a separate matter,” he replied evenly. "I'm sure you can afford it, Mr. Davis."

The manager and waiters exchanged wide-eyed looks. Andrew hadn't even denied it. Was he actually admitting to being a mistress?

Tristan let out a short laugh. "Consider this your punishment for having no morals, Mr. Lane. You deserve it."

He didn't say another word, just turned and strode out, bruises and all, holding his head high.

The manager would have loved to stick around for the drama, but the thought of his job and his empty wallet made his knees weak. He was so desperate he almost dropped down to beg Andrew Lane right then and there.

"Mr. Lane," he said, bowing so low his back ached, "about the compensation..."

Andrew calmly tucked away his handkerchief, took his jacket from a waiter, and put it on at his own slow pace. "I'll pay."

The manager felt his heart finally settle. But when he glanced up at Andrew, he suddenly panicked and rushed forward to steady him. "Mr. Lane, are you alright?"

Andrew had just gotten out of the

hospital not long ago, his injuries still healing. The doctor had told him to rest, no strenuous activity, so he'd been skipping the gym. But tonight, he'd jumped into that fight with Tristar anyway, gritting his teeth, through the pain refusing to look weak in front of anyone. When Tristan landed a hit on his old

wounds, the pain was almost

unbearable, but he never let it show.

Now that Tristan was gone, Andrew stopped pretending. His face went pale, and everyone around him looked worried.

“Mr. Lane, please, let me call someone to take you to the hospital," the manager pleaded.

Andrew stood up and waved him off. "That's not necessary. Just make a list of the damages and contact my assistant. I'm heading out."

If it had been anyone else, the manager wouldn't have let them leave without paying. But this was Andrew Lane. He hurried to show Andrew out as politely as possible.

Tristan had barely been inside for half an hour out in the car, Tanner Miller was lounging in the driver's seat feet propped up, completely absorbed in his mobile game As Tristan got in, Tanner didn't even look up, just asked, "Back already?" as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.