C8 He Threatened Openly

Blaine arrived at the beauty salon just after seven, to find two police cars parked out front and several officers conducting an investigation inside. Zoe stood outside, staring at the wreckage of her salon with bloodshot eyes.

Dressed in a black business suit, Zoe was bathed in the harsh sunlight, yet she appeared utterly drained, a stark contrast to her vibrant presence the day before.

Upon Blaine's arrival, the officers glanced his way, but he paid them no mind and made his way to Zoe.

"I'm so sorry," Blaine said, his face etched with remorse.

He couldn't help but think that if he had returned to the salon to rest last night, this disaster might have been averted. As he grappled with his guilt, a tinge of regret crept in—perhaps he hadn't been forceful enough the night before to deter those responsible.

Zoe's eyes, filled with sorrow, met Blaine's. She embraced him, tears streaming down her face. Blaine responded with a gentle pat on her back, understanding all too well that the salon was the culmination of Zoe's hard work.

"Blaine, you need to get out of here fast. They won't stop until they get you, and I can't bear to see you hurt. Please, do as I say and leave Wexham now," Zoe whispered between sobs.

Blaine continued to comfort her with a light touch, saying nothing, but his eyes betrayed a chilling resolve. He had no intention of fleeing Wexham or letting those responsible off the hook.

Just then, a Hummer pulled up alongside the salon. Eric, his right hand bandaged, stepped out from the passenger side, flanked by two underlings. He sneered at Blaine, his eyes brimming with contempt.

"Look at this, what's become of our lovely lady? Wasn't everything just fine yesterday? And now it's turned into a landfill. Who could've done such a thing? Seems like someone didn't show Ms. Duffy the respect she deserves," Eric said mockingly as he lit a cigarette.

The policemen cast a glance at Eric but remained silent.

Zoe, drying her tears, returned Eric's gaze with an icy stare.

Blaine's fists were clenched, his body tensed and ready to strike. If Eric dared utter one more word, Blaine was prepared to give him a lesson right there, police presence be damned.

"Kid, you'd better watch your back. You never know when a big rig might come barreling down the road and turn you into a smear on the pavement," Eric taunted, taking a drag on his cigarette and fixing Blaine with a menacing look before continuing.

"Zoe, you need to be on your guard too. I've heard the public safety around here has taken a nosedive lately. Imagine, a gang of men could barge into your place one night and assault you. And if that gets filmed, it could fetch a pretty penny as a movie."

Blaine was ready to charge at him, but Zoe's grip on his fist was firm. Her eyes, filled with a pleading look, silently urged Blaine to keep his cool.

"You little punk, you think you can take me on? I'm right here. Come at me if you dare," Eric taunted, standing before Blaine, his face a picture of smugness. The smoke from his cigarette clouded Blaine's face.

Zoe, fearing Blaine's impulsiveness, wrapped her arms around him, terrified he might lash out.

The cops gave Eric a sidelong glance, their faces twisted in discomfort. But a thug like Eric was more than these beat cops could handle.

Blaine's gaze was icy as he stared down Eric. In his mind, Eric's fate was sealed. With Zoe present, it wasn't the time to strike, but come nightfall, he was determined to take Eric down.

"Blaine, please, come upstairs with me," Zoe implored, tugging him towards the beauty salon, now a scene of shattered glass and debris.

Zoe feared she couldn't hold Blaine back. Should he retaliate, the fallout would be catastrophic.

"Tonight, Silk Home will be the stage for some drama," Eric bellowed, hinting at his sinister intentions.

And it was at Silk Home that Zoe lived. Obviously, Eric's words were not just threats; he seemed ready to make good on them.

Once upstairs in the office, Blaine's hands were balled into fists, ready to strike. If not for Zoe's intervention, Eric would have already felt his wrath.

"Blaine, heed my words. The salon can be fixed, I'm not worried about that. But I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt. Please, leave Wexham for now. Once I've handled things here, I'll join you, and we can start fresh elsewhere, alright?" Zoe's eyes were earnest as she beseeched him.

Blaine stayed quiet, his resolve unwavering. Eric had crossed a line, and Blaine was not about to let that slide.

"The white moonlight illuminates the farthest reaches of the earth, yet it's not beside you. Your tears from back then remain unwiped; the journey's too lengthy for forgiveness to be reclaimed..." At that very moment, Zoe's phone began to ring.