The Unlucky Turn by Mark Twain 339

Richard quickly pulled to the curb. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, Callahan pushed the door open, stepped out with his long legs, and walked straight toward the café.

Inside the café.

Leilani was looking coldly at Milford, preparing to leave, when she suddenly felt a shadow loom over her. She turned her head instinctively.

She saw Callahan’s tall figure standing behind her, his eyes dark and unreadable.

“Callahan?” She paused, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Callahan didn’t answer. His gaze swept indifferently over Milford across the table, his voice low. “What are you looking for Leilani for? Did you think bullying her at the wedding wasn’t enough?”

Swept by his cold gaze, Milford’s back instantly stiffened, and his fingers unconsciously tightened around his coffee cup. The man’s presence was overpowering.

Sensing the tension, Leilani explained to Callahan. “He came to ask me about Yvonne. But we’re done talking. I was just about to leave when you showed up.”

Having explained things to Callahan, Leilani looked at Milford, her tone indifferent. “I’ve said all I need to say. You’re on your own.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Sometimes, the battle between men didn’t require fists; a single look could convey everything.

As the two reached the door, Callahan suddenly reached out and grabbed Leilani’s wrist. His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough to prevent

escape.

“The rain is heavy. Don’t catch a cold.”

His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying an undeniable dominance.

Leilani raised an eyebrow. Before she could speak, Callahan took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders without room for argument.

Milford sat frozen, watching their intimate interaction. His chest felt as if it had been stabbed. There was also a sour bitterness and anger directed at Callahan.

He knew exactly what was happening. Callahan had done that in front of him on purpose. It was a deliberate declaration of ownership.

Callahan glanced at him, his eyes cold and warning, then put his arm around Leilani’s shoulders and led her out the door.

In the rain, under a black umbrella, Leilani tilted her head to look at the man beside her. “Are you jealous?”

Callahan’s odd behavior was so obvious that Leilani would have had to be

blind to miss it.

Callahan kept a straight face. “No.”

Leilani chuckled, glancing at the hand gripping her shoulder. “Then why did you suddenly appear here?”

And this was the first time Callahan had displayed such intimacy with her in front of others. Leilani didn’t believe for a second that he didn’t have an agenda.

She didn’t say that part out loud, though. Sometimes it was better to leave things unsaid. She worried that pointing it out too bluntly might make him angry out of embarrassment.

Callahan was silent for a moment before finally whispering, “I was

coming back from the office. Richard drove by and saw you sitting there

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