"Stop—ah! Stop kicking!"
Ryan writhed on the ground, his voice a ragged whimper. Every kick sent fresh waves of agony through his battered body—first from Jack, then from Felicia, each strike delivered with cold precision.
The more he screamed, the harder they seemed to press their advantage.
And worst of all?
Right in front of him, Felicia—the woman he'd obsessed over—was locked in a heated embrace with the man who'd just broken him. Jack's hands traced possessive lines over her curves, his mouth claiming hers with a dominance that made Ryan's stomach churn.
Felicia, without even breaking the kiss, twisted her boot heel deeper into Ryan's palm. The crunch of bone was almost drowned out by his shriek. It wasn't just his hand she was grinding into the pavement—it was his pride, his pathetic delusions, his very dignity.
Somehow, through the haze of pain and humiliation, a surge of adrenaline kicked in.
With a desperate heave, Ryan tore his hand free, scrambled upright—
—and ran.
He didn't look back. Didn't dare. He just ran, his legs unsteady, his pants damp with the unmistakable proof of his terror.
Felicia's lavender eyes flickered open, languid and unimpressed. She watched him stumble away—a broken, pitiful figure—then dismissed him entirely, turning back to Jack with a sigh.
Pathetic.
A clown, unworthy of even her contempt.
Jack Kadere, still kissing her, kept his back turned to Ryan. A glint flashed in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth, currently caught between Felicia's teeth, curled in the faintest smirk.
You think you can walk away after crossing me?
Ryan stumbled through the dim streetlight's glow, his pace uneven. Suddenly—
—his foot found nothing but air. The manhole cover beneath him was missing.
"What the—?! Who's the idiot who—"
Before he could finish, he crashed into the open sewer with a splash, cursing furiously as foul water closed over him.
He thought it was just bad luck, blaming his blurred vision from the blood on his face. But just as he struggled to climb out, an unseen force slammed into his back, driving him under.
"Mmmph! Mmm!—"
Ryan thrashed desperately, but the invisible weight pinned him down. Within seconds, the water swallowed him whole.
Jack calmly withdrew the power of the Chicken Talisman.
In its original form, the talisman merely allowed its wielder to levitate and fly. But now, strengthened through his abilities, it granted Jack something far more versatile—complete telekinetic control over objects.
Felicia had noticed subtle tugs earlier—hands that weren't there pulling her close, and a force that had eliminated Ryan without anyone touching him. Of course, she didn't yet know that all of it was Jack's doing.
"Listen…"
Her voice wavered. "I want to… I want to borrow…"
The words stumbled out, but then she stopped, unable to go on. Her eyes fluttered shut, lips pressed tightly together, a faint tremor running through her. For once, the confident Black Cat looked fragile, almost breakable—a sight that would tug at anyone's heart.
She still wavered. The man she loved had become her anchor, her one point of stability in a chaotic life. If she had a choice, she wouldn't let their relationship be tainted by something as crude as money.
Jack Kadere understood exactly what she meant but didn't call her out on it directly. Instead, he gave her a moment to breathe, guiding her patiently.
"Felicia… hmm… what's going through that pretty head of yours? I can…" He leaned in, but the words trailed off as her focus drifted entirely toward him.
Before he could continue, the familiar system notification blinked in his mind:
[Trigger mission: Felicia Hardy – "Familial connection." Prevent Walter Hardy from being kidnapped.]
"Alright, we'll stop here for now," Jack said, prying her gently away despite her reluctance. Her emotions were running too high, and he knew letting things drag on wasn't a good idea.
"Jack... don't you like me?" Felicia's brows knitted, sadness clouding her green eyes. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Why won't you let me continue…?"
Jack sighed internally. Girl, how long have you been clinging to me? If I let you keep this up, your father's going to get kidnapped any minute now.
"Felicia, aren't you curious," Jack said with a playful glint, lifting a few strands of her silvery hair between his fingers, "why I came looking for you today?"
"Yes… why is that?" she asked, her voice softening. The mischievous look on his face made her think he was about to confess something heartfelt. Her heart raced as she leaned into his chest.
"You appeared out of nowhere, like some superhero… I think I'm falling for you… my hero…" she murmured.
"I think…" Jack smirked faintly, "you could've handled that thug just fine without me. Honestly, when I showed up, the guy's nose was already flat."
"That's because you taught me!" Felicia shot back, her voice firm despite the blush on her cheeks. "Anyway… I like you. That's final!"
Jack thought to himself, Yup, just like any girl newly in love—no reason needed, just pure emotion.
Forget the mission for now. Even if merging with the Black Cat's skillset wouldn't change much for him at this stage, there was no harm in letting things play out.
Bending slightly, Jack slipped one arm around her shoulders and the other beneath her knees, lifting her with ease into a princess carry.
"Anyone home?" he asked casually.
Felicia's face flushed. "What… what are you planning to do?" she asked, half-nervous, half-anticipating.
"My mother's still there," she admitted, her tone turning cautious. "She's probably in a terrible mood right now. You'd… better not…"