Chapter 421
The assassin remained silent. Tyler and James took turns hitting him, but the man didn’t make a sound.
As boarding time approached, Sebastian gave a quick order: Tyler and his team would stay behind to deal with the attacker, while the rest of them would board the plane and return to the U.S. as scheduled.
Once they boarded first class, everyone found their seats. Xavi noticed he’d been seated next to Zinnia and couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.
Caitlin took the window seat beside Sebastian.
They had just settled in when other passengers began boarding. Across the aisle from Sebastian, a tall figure dropped into the seat.
Zinnia glanced over casually and immediately froze. Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in shock.
Xavi noticed her reaction and followed her gaze. When he saw who it was, he instinctively sucked in a sharp breath.
A second later, he leaned forward and poked Sebastian through the seat gap.
Feeling the jab, Sebastian turned his head. “Xavi, what is it?”
“Mr. Vanderbilt…”
Xavi motioned toward the seat across the aisle.
Sebastian turned and looked–and there he was.
Sitting across from him, separated only by a narrow aisle, was none other than **Zeke**.
What the hell was Zeke doing on this flight?
Under Sebastian’s gaze, Zeke slowly turned his head, a devilish smile curling on his lips.
“Mr. Vanderbilt. Long time no see.”
Sebastian’s brows knit tightly. He glanced at Caitlin, who was sitting beside him, wearing earbuds, resting with a U–shaped travel pillow. She
hadn’t heard anything.
Tension immediately gripped Sebastian’s body. His mind flashed back to Graystone Castle–how he’d injured Zeke while rescuing Caitlin.
Was Zeke here for revenge?
“What are you doing here, Zeke?”
Sebastian moved slightly to shield Caitlin from view, his voice low and cold.
“I’m here for Caitlin. I heard she was flying back to the States today, so I came after her.”
Zeke didn’t bother hiding anything anymore. He was done suppressing his feelings, done running from his past.
The last time, when he narrowly escaped death, something had changed in him.
He had decided—this life, he would love freely and fearlessly. He wouldn’t waste another moment.
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This was the real start of the battle between him and Sebastian.
Sebastian’s temple pulsed with restrained rage. “You don’t get to call her Caitlin.”
“You didn’t trademark her name, did you? Why can’t I call her that?”
Zeke’s tone was calm, even mocking.
Sebastian’s voice dropped. “What do you want?”
“Just to say hi.”
Zeke tried to peek around Sebastian to look at Caitlin.
“She’s resting. Don’t disturb her.”
Sebastian wasn’t about to let him anywhere near her. Even if he couldn’t stop them from seeing each other forever, he’d do whatever he
could.
He knew Caitlin still felt indebted to Zeke for nearly dying to save her.
And that kind of emotional leverage was dangerous.
Zeke didn’t push it. Instead, he glanced at Sebastian’s bandaged hand and scoffed lightly.
“You injured, Mr. Vanderbilt?”
“None of your business.”
Sebastian barely spared it a glance.
Zeke leaned back, eyes dark. “If you can’t even protect yourself, how can you protect Caitlin? How can you give her the life she deserves?”
The words hit like a silent dagger–sharp, precise, and devastating.
Sebastian didn’t reply. His stare locked with Zeke’s, unflinching.
They didn’t need to speak.
Anyone sitting nearby could feel the heavy, suffocating tension.
Xavi silently broke into a cold sweat.
Oh no, this was bad. Mr. Vanderbilt’s love rival had just gone full throttle!
Zinnia, too, looked uneasy. She knew what had happened in the past–and she could see the fearless determination in Zeke’s eyes.
This was going to be a hell of a headache for Caitlin.
Even James and the other bodyguards picked up on the hostility.
James, especially, kept a close eye on Zeke. As a known Shadow Moon Pavilion member, Zeke couldn’t be trusted.
If he made any wrong move, James would be the first to take him down.
The plane took off without issue. Once it reached cruising altitude, Caitlin drifted off to sleep.
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Sebastian carefully pulled a blanket over her.
Zeke watched the small gesture quietly.
So that’s how he won her over–being thoughtful, playing the long game..
Well, Zeke could do that too. And from now on, he’d do it better.
Caitlin slept soundly until turbulence shook the plane and woke her.
She opened her eyes to find Sebastian turned toward her, watching her quietly with a protective arm around the back of her seat.
“You didn’t rest?”
“I was watching you. Go back to sleep.”
“I’ve slept enough. I’m going to put on a face mask.”
She grabbed her toiletry bag and stood up.
Sebastian wished he could hide her from Zeke altogether, but that wasn’t realistic.
He stepped aside so she could pass, and she walked straight to the restroom–without noticing who was sitting across the aisle.
Zeke saw her get up and immediately stood as well.
Sebastian stood too.
Two tall, powerful men rising at the same time made the first–class cabin feel ten sizes smaller.
Their competing auras collided like thunderclouds–suffocating everyone nearby.
Xavi didn’t dare breathe. He was half–convinced the two would throw down right then and there.
James’s eyes narrowed. If Zeke tried anything, he’d intervene no hesitation.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Sebastian asked coldly.
“Can’t a guy stretch his legs?” Zeke said casually, already walking toward the restroom.
Sebastian followed without hesitation.
Now Zeke couldn’t even say a word to Caitlin without being shadowed. Sebastian wasn’t letting him near her.
The two men stood outside the restroom, one on each side.
Even their bodyguards looked confused–were the bosses trying to put them out of a job?
The stalemate stretched on until the restroom door opened.
Caitlin stepped out, face mask peeled and moisturized skin glowing.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw who was standing there.
“Zeke?”
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Love rivals, face to face.
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