Brawl

I felt a pang in my chest as the man's joke elicited forced laughter from me. Viktor watched from across the bar, the remorse clouding his handsome features evident even from this distance. And now, the weight of my anger threatened to topple over, promising a scene I desperately wanted to avoid.

With a sigh, I pushed myself off the barstool, intending to slip away before things escalated further. Just as I started to weave through the crowd, Viktor materialized beside me, his presence unexpectedly warm against my chilled skin.

"Adriana"

"Hey man, you can't just barge in here," a gruff voice boomed, followed by a hand tugging roughly at Viktor's arm.

Viktor ignored him, his focus solely on me. "Adriana..."

"Just go away, Viktor," I spat, my voice tight with hurt. "I have nothing to say to you."

He leaned closer, his brow furrowed in concern. "Well, I need to talk to you."

A flicker of anger sparked in my eyes, mirroring the burning ache in my chest. "Too bad." My gaze met his, and the