ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 87: Don’t take it out on women

Valerie flinched, but she did not resist. Her face was pale, her eyes empty, like someone far too exhausted to defend anything anymore.

Ivanka stood not far away. She saw everything the fury in Demian’s gaze, the way he pulled Valerie along without once looking back at her. For the first time that morning, Ivanka tried to approach.

"Demian," she called, carefully softening her voice. "Don’t you want to,"

Demian did not turn.

Did not answer.

Did not even acknowledge her presence.

He walked straight ahead, his stride long and urgent, as if Ivanka were nothing more than a meaningless shadow. That dismissal cut sharper than any shout could have.

Ivanka froze where she stood, her fingers slowly curling into fists.

"Are you not listening to me?" she called again, a hint of panic slipping into her tone.

Still no reaction.

Demian focused solely on taking Valerie away, away from the cave, away from Kaiser, away from everything that made him feel he was losing control.

Kaiser finally caught up and stepped in front of them, forcing Demian to stop.

"That’s enough," Kaiser said firmly. "Don’t take your anger out on her. Valerie did nothing wrong."

Demian lifted his head, his eyes sharp and dark.

"Move," he said coldly.

"Are you listening to me?" Kaiser restrained himself, but his voice hardened. "She was lost. I found her. I protected her. If you’re angry, be angry at me not at her."

Valerie lowered her head. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

Demian let out a short, dry laugh empty of emotion.

"No," he said. "This is my matter."

He pulled Valerie again, this time more roughly. She gave a small, pained gasp, the discomfort clear on her face.

"Demian, stop," Kaiser warned. "You’re hurting her."

Demian turned his head briefly not toward Valerie, but toward Kaiser.

The look he gave him was hard, full of threat.

"I did not ask for your opinion," he said quietly, lethally. "She is my woman. I have the right."

The words froze the air between them.

Kaiser fell silent, clearly shaken not only by what Demian said, but by the cold certainty with which he said it.

Valerie finally lifted her face. Her eyes glistened, but no tears fell.

"I didn’t do anything," she said softly.

Demian did not respond.

He only pulled Valerie away again, leaving Kaiser standing in the middle of the forest confused, furious, and for the first time, truly doubting the man he had always known as a rational Duke.

Behind them, Ivanka stared at Demian’s retreating back.

Her face no longer held a smile.

Only eyes that glinted caught between disappointment and something far darker.

The carriage was already waiting at the edge of the forest path.

The horses snorted restlessly, as if they could sense the anger hanging heavy in the air. The moment they arrived, Demian shoved Valerie toward the carriage door without hesitation.

"Get in."

His voice was cold. Leaving no room for choice.

Valerie nearly lost her balance as her foot met the carriage step. Her hand instinctively grabbed the edge of the door, her breath catching not because she almost fell, but because of the way she was being treated.

"Demian!"

Kaiser’s voice cut through the air.

In two long strides, the crown prince was already behind Demian. His hand clamped around Demian’s arm and yanked him back hard, forcing him to turn.

"That’s enough!" Kaiser shouted. "Can you not be gentler for once?! She’s not an object!"

Demian roughly knocked his hand away.

Their gazes collided fire against steel.

"This is none of your business," Demian snapped. "Step aside."

"It became my business the moment I saw it," Kaiser shot back. "I saw with my own eyes how you treated her."

Demian let out a short, mocking laugh. "Since when do you care?"

Kaiser stepped closer. His voice dropped, low and dangerous.

"Since I watched a woman being dragged by the anger of the man who was supposed to protect her."

Valerie was still standing inside the carriage. The curtain had not yet been drawn. She heard everything. Every word felt like a blade cutting into her.

Demian clenched his jaw. The muscles in his neck tightened.

"Go, Kaiser," he said. "Now."

Kaiser did not move. Instead, he shrugged off his outer coat and threw it to the ground a wordless challenge.

"If you’re angry," he said firmly, "fight me."

Silence fell.

"Don’t take it out on a woman," Kaiser continued. "If your blood is boiling, face me. Not her."

Several guards stiffened. No one dared to move. They all knew one wrong step, and this could turn into a real duel.

Demian stared at Kaiser for a long moment.

Then he smiled.

Not a warm smile but a thin one, laden with barely restrained fury.

"You think you’re worthy?" he said softly. "You think you have the right to interfere in my affairs?"

"You made it everyone’s affair," Kaiser replied without flinching. "The moment you hurt her in front of us."

Demian glanced briefly toward Valerie.

For a fraction of a second just a fraction he saw her face. Pale. Silent. Not pleading. Not angry.

Empty.

That only made the heat in his chest burn hotter.

Demian turned back to Kaiser. "I won’t fight you," he said coldly. "Not today."

He stepped back, then turned toward the carriage.

"Get in."

Valerie obeyed.

The carriage door closed. It was slammed shut.

Demian climbed in without looking back at Kaiser.

As the carriage began to move, Kaiser stood rigid where he was hands clenched, jaw tight, eyes burning with anger mixed with frustration.

He had not lost.

But for the first time, he knew one thing with absolute certainty:

Valerie was standing on the wrong side of a man who was losing control.

The carriage had not gone far when Kaiser’s voice rang out again, sharp as it cut through the morning air.

"Why not now?" he called loudly. "Or is it that you’re afraid of me, Demian?"

Demian stopped.

He stood with his back to Kaiser, one hand still gripping the side of the carriage. The muscles in his back tensed, his breathing heavy, restrained. Several seconds passed in suffocating silence then Demian slowly turned around.

Their eyes met.

The fire in Demian’s gaze burned bright, yet this time it was held in check by something colder, far more dangerous.

"Watch your mouth," he said low. "Don’t provoke me."