Leah's POV
Just when I thought that my entire life would end on that day, I heard a loud voice -
"Leave Leah alone!"
Darren?! It's Darren's voice!
I lifted my eyes and saw my reflection in the mirror. I saw the image of Darren jumping at Gaspard and gripping his neck.
The hands that supported me immediately loosed, because Gaspard shifted backward.
He was extremely agile and dodged Darren's attack.
As I fell to the floor, I managed to see Darren's face.
There were bruises and cuts all over his face. He must have been through fierce combat.
The clouds gathered in the sky and the sun disappeared, turning the entire waterfall into a dark drape of curtain, covering everything in this room.
Darren stood right in front of me, facing Gaspard.
"Are you OK, Leah?" he asked.
That's the question I want to ask you. I thought to myself. Darren looked weak. I couldn't find one inch of his skin that was unhurt. He was bleeding all over like a wounded soldier in the trench.
Normally, he would have easily fought someone like Gaspard. But at that time, I felt that he wasn't even able to lift his arms.
I need to concentrate. I thought to myself. I was slowly regaining the ability to move the cord in my throat.
The window of the fitting room was left open. A soft breeze blew through the empty, spacious room, carrying with it the scent of water and dirt.
"I... am... fine..." I pulled all my strength to reply.
I fell on the floor right in the center of the room. My eyes darted back and forth between the two men who now stood ready to fight.
Darren was tall and muscular. His chiseled abs glistened in the dim light. His arms were as thick as tree trunks and his fists were clenched tightly. He wore only a pair of torn tight-fitting shorts, which had already been soaked in sweat and blood. His bare chest rippled with every breath he took.
Gaspard was shorter, but no less muscular. His hair was slicked back, giving him a sleek and dangerous look.
He removed his coat and threw it on the floor, exposing his well-defined muscles rippling as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"Walk away, Swanson. I will kill everyone who's in my way today," Gaspard said.
"Oh, really? But how? By waving your tiny little tailor scissors? Or wrapping the measuring tape around my neck?" Darren smirked.
As they were speaking and circling each other, they were actually waiting for the other to make the first move.
The tension in the room was palpable, and I watched anxiously as the seconds ticked by.
Then, I found that I managed to move the tips of my fingers.
At that exact moment, Darren lunged forward, his powerful arms swinging at Gaspard.
Gaspard dodged easily, his reflexes lightning-fast.
He countered with a swift kick to Darren's stomach, sending him stumbling backward.
"Is that painful, Swanson?" Gaspard asked with a mad grin on his face.
Darren recovered quickly, launching a flurry of punches at Gaspard.
But Gaspard was too quick, dancing out of the way with ease. He struck back with a vicious elbow to Darren's jaw, sending him reeling.
I gasped as I watched Darren and Gaspard trade blows, each one determined to be the only alive one who walks out of this fitting room with me in their arms.
As the fight continued, it became clear that Darren was the more skilled fighter. He moved with grace and precision, dodging and striking with deadly accuracy.
Gaspard was more fierce, but he lacked finesse. He relied on brute force to win his battles, and it was not enough against Darren's experience.
The room was filled with the sounds of grunting, panting, and the smack of flesh against flesh. Sweat dripped down both men's faces, mixing with the blood that flowed from their wounds. But still, they fought on.
As the fight drew to a close, both Darren and Gaspard were locked in a fierce embrace.
Darren had managed to get Gaspard in a headlock, but Gaspard wasn't giving up. He struggled against the hold, his muscles bulging with effort.
It was a deadlock.
Watching in horror as they grappled with their faces twisted with pain and determination, I became desperate.
With a surge of strength, I managed to roll up and grab Gaspard's arm.
"Leave. Darren. Alone!" I shouted in Lycan's voice, pushing Gaspard away from Darren.
His body was flying in the air for a brief moment before landing on the floor, right on top of his tailor scissors.
The sharp scissors stabbed his spinal cord and he wasn't able to move anymore.
I gasped as I watched Gaspard lie there, dazed and defeated, with blood coming out of his mouth.
"Leah..." He lifted his arms toward me and said. "What have I ever done to you... to make you hate me like this...? All I want... is to marry you..."
Then, he retracted his arm, trying to look for something in his chest pocket.
My heart was pounding fast as he finally took out a delicate engagement ring box.
"I've been saving for years for this... And it's for you... Leah... I love you from first sight till the last moment... of my life..." Gaspard said.
Then, he lowered his head with his arms falling down heavily on the floor.
The ring box dropped on the floor and cracked open.
A diamond ring fell out of the box and rolled a few laps in Gaspard's pool of blood.
I covered my mouth, so I didn't scream out loud.
"I... I killed him..." I gasped in despair.
"Leah..." I heard Darren's voice from behind.
I turned back and saw Darren fall to the ground like a deflated doll. There was a deep cut across his chest. Blood was pouring down.
"Darren! Darren!" I screamed and ran toward him.