Chapter 295: Let’s see if you really dare to.
Pier panicked.
Yet there was no way he could stop him.
Karl was just about to step forward when Adelyn suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist.
He paused and turned toward her.
The fury on his face softened almost instantly. The anger was still there, but the moment he looked at Adelyn, his expression naturally became gentle and respectful.
Even his voice softened.
"Sister-in-law, you heard everything." He looked almost like a pitiful child seeking understanding. "After everything he just said, how can I possibly talk about cancelling the bet now? I have to go back. I have to face this. So..."
He pleaded quietly, "... please let me go."
Adelyn silently looked at him.
Just moments ago, she had watched this brat boast shamelessly without the slightest hint of restraint. Yet now, seeing his determined but respectful expression, she unexpectedly found her heart softening.
He was indeed stupid, reckless and hopelessly impulsive. But beneath all of that, he was also someone who was clearly getting cornered and bullied.
She wanted to blame everything on his own stupidity. After all, if he hadn’t acted so arrogantly in the first place, none of this would’ve happened.
Yet the way he was explaining himself to her, she simply couldn’t bring herself to blame him anymore.
Nor could she bring herself to ignore him.
What a troublesome brat ...
Good thing he would only ever be her brother-in-law. If she actually had a son like him ...
She would probably lose years off her life.
The thought crossed her mind, and she paused.
Wait ...
Brother-in-law?
What was she even thinking?
Had she forgotten that everything between her and Dylan was nothing but a lie ...
A temporary facade?
Karl, however, had no idea what was going through her mind.
He turned toward Pier and instructed him seriously, every word sounding completely sincere.
"Take good care of my sister-in-law. No matter what happens later, escort her out safely. And treat her with the respect she deserves. Don’t let any Tom, Dick, or Harry mess with her."
He wasn’t sure whether, if he got thrown out of the ring again, he would even remain conscious.
So he made sure to leave his instructions beforehand.
After saying that, Karl tried to free himself once more.
However—
Adelyn’s grip only tightened around his wrist.
Confused, Karl looked back at her.
"Sister-in-law ... you—"
She didn’t let him finish. "Did I say you can leave just yet?"
Before Karl could ask her what she meant by that, she slowly turned toward the arena.
Her voice wasn’t loud.
Yet every single person present heard it with absolute clarity.
"Are you certain ..." she asked slowly —not Karl, but Zeke this time, "... that you still want to continue this bet?"
Zeke halted mid-step.
He slowly turned around, his eyes landing on Adelyn almost immediately.
Only then did he truly notice her.
His gaze lingered on her face before drifting down to the hand that was still holding Karl’s wrist.
His brows lifted slightly.
"You?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.
For a moment, he couldn’t quite recognize her from the university. But seeing how close she stood to Karl, he quickly drew his own conclusion.
A smug grin spread across his face.
"So ..." he chuckled. "Did you actually bring your little chick along just to watch you get humiliated, Young Master Karl?"
His deliberately insulting words immediately ignited Karl’s temper.
He was just about to explode when Adelyn gently tapped his wrist.
The simple gesture instantly stopped him.
"But, Sister-in-law, he—"
"If you stay silent for a while," Adelyn said calmly without even looking at him, "the world won’t collapse around you."
Karl frowned.
"But he—" he tried again.
This time, Adelyn finally turned to look at him. Her eyes weren’t cold. Nor were they glaring —yet the silent warning in them was enough.
Karl immediately shut his mouth.
Not another word escaped him.
Watching the once-arrogant Fourth Young Master become so obedient before a woman amused Zeke immensely.
He didn’t even bother hiding it.
Laughing mockingly, he said,
"What? Even a woman has you completely under control?" He clicked his tongue dramatically.
"Who would’ve thought our mighty Fourth Young Master actually has such a ... submissive side?"
The entire underground arena immediately burst into laughter.
"Hahaha ... so the Fourth Young Master of the Warren family is actually afraid of a woman!"
"Look at him!"
"He doesn’t even dare talk back!"
More laughter echoed around the arena.
Zeke casually wrapped one arm around Steve’s shoulder, looking utterly pleased with himself. "And this is the same guy who claimed he’d defeat Steve and win the bet?"
Steve, himself, merely curled his lips into a cold, disdainful smirk.
Karl’s face darkened.
His fists clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged. Every instinct inside him urged him to retaliate.
Yet the moment he remembered the warning look Adelyn had just given him, he forcefully swallowed every word that had reached his lips.
Seeing him endure the humiliation in silence only made Zeke laugh harder.
However—
Adelyn remained calm.
Far too calm.
"You still haven’t answered my question," she said slowly, looking straight into Zeke’s eyes.
"Are you certain you want to continue this bet?"
Zeke didn’t take her seriously.
Not even a little.
But the fearless way she looked directly into his eyes somehow irritated him.
He snorted. "What? Are you planning to beg for mercy on his behalf?"
Adelyn merely raised one brow before calmly shaking her head.
"No," she said. "I’m simply curious. I wanted to know just how confident you really are."
She paused before continuing in the same composed tone.
"If you aren’t a hundred per cent certain, my advice would be to give up while you still have the chance."
"After all ..." she paused, "regret that comes too late is never worth anything."
Her words sounded simple. Yet they accomplished exactly what she intended.
Zeke’s face darkened almost immediately. "You think I’d actually be scared?" he sneered.
Adelyn didn’t answer. And her silence only irritated him further.
"Do you even know who my friend is?" he asked through gritted teeth. "He’s Steve Orlow."
"He has won countless international medals with his skills inside the ring. You actually think anyone here stands a chance against him?"
He glanced toward Karl before laughing disdainfully.
"Much less a coward who’s completely wrapped around your fingers."
Karl’s expression instantly became strange.
His anger had absolutely nothing to do with that particular remark.
So what if he was wrapped around his sister-in-law’s fingers?
Did this idiot even know how much effort he had spent just to get close enough to cling to his sister-in-law in the first place?
He didn’t know.
And he never would.
Adelyn, meanwhile, simply smiled. Looking back at Zeke, she asked calmly,
"Why do you insist on wrapping your answers in so many unnecessary words when a single number would do?"
"You—"
"Are you certain, or not?"
She didn’t even give him the opportunity to continue rambling.
Completely infuriated, Zeke answered immediately. "Of course I am." He lifted his chin proudly. "I’m one hundred per cent certain I’ll be the one walking away as the winner today."
"I see." Adelyn slowly nodded. Then, taking a deep breath, she added, "Then I can only say, not every kind of confidence leads to victory."
Zeke frowned.
"What do you mean?"
He had understood her words. But he simply wanted her to explain herself.
However, Adelyn merely shook her head.
"It’s nothing. I was only wishing you good luck."
Then, without another word, she finally released Karl’s wrist. As if silently giving him permission to move.
Her action confused not only Zeke, but Karl as well.
Karl blinked.
"Sister-in-law ... you—"
"What?" Adelyn interrupted calmly. "Didn’t you make that bet yourself?"
She looked toward the arena before saying flatly,
"Go. Finish what you started. We also have to leave later."
Karl’s eyes instantly lit up. "You believe in my abilities?"
Adelyn almost had the urge to smack his head again. But this wasn’t the time.
She was waiting.
Waiting for exactly one thing.
And, just as she expected—
Zeke finally spoke again.
"So ... you actually believe he’ll win?"
Adelyn’s lips tugged into a smirk. Slowly, she turned back toward him. "Can’t I?"
Her calm answer immediately earned a mocking scoff.
"Of course you can." Zeke laughed. "After all, iit’s easy to say anything when nothing is at stake."
Adelyn quietly raised a brow.
Then Zeke’s grin widened.
"But if you’re really that confident ... then put yourself on the line as well." He looked straight into her eyes before declaring, "Let’s see if you really dare to."