My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 730

Abby crossed her arms, standing tall and unwavering as if giving Dracon a lesson. "So, tell me, does that really sound like someone who's a bully?"

She stood there, defiant and protective, her words carrying an unexpected maturity that made even Kisha chuckle softly. The girl was acting like the grown-up in the room, offering a perspective that seemed to make sense of the whole situation.

Duke chuckled as he stepped forward, draping an arm around Kisha's shoulders. But the smile on his face didn't quite reach his eyes—especially when he glanced at the woman in Gavel's arms, then shifted his gaze to Abby. Only then did his smile soften into something genuine.

"Kid, good on you for speaking up for my wife. If you hadn't, I was just about ready to roast them myself—and trust me, I wouldn't have been as polite or reasonable. I usually keep quiet and let my wife handle things. I want everyone to see that she's the one in charge."

"But I've come to realize that sometimes, staying quiet gives others the wrong idea… makes them think I'm just a paper tiger they can ignore while they step all over her."

His voice dropped a little, laced with menace.

"Let me make one thing clear—if my wife so much as frowns at someone, I'll be the first to show them the door. And being called a murderer?" Duke let out a cold, humorless laugh. "It's not like it'd be the first time I've killed someone."

Melody, Lisa, and Gavel all felt their heads buzzing after hearing Duke's words. Each of them latched onto different parts of what he said—but they all understood one thing clearly: his words were meant for them.

Melody's heart pounded as she watched Duke openly defend Kisha. The sight of the man she had longed and loved for over a decade, standing so firmly by her side, made her stomach churn with unease and jealousy.

Lisa, on the other hand, was fixated on a different detail. Her ears rang with the word "wife," repeated over and over as Duke spoke, his arm casually draped around Kisha's shoulders. When had Kisha—that Kisha—managed to snag someone like Duke?

A man with wealth, power, and a terrifying presence? Lisa couldn't stop wondering how Kisha ended up as the mistress of a powerful family. Her mind was so consumed with that revelation that she barely registered the rest of Duke's warning, even though most of it was aimed directly at her.

As for Gavel, cold sweat formed on the back of his neck. He didn't need anyone to spell it out—he was screwed. He'd dared to glare at Kisha earlier, not realizing she was Duke's wife.

That alone was enough to get him into serious trouble. And judging by Duke's words, there might be no coming back from that kind of offense.

"D-Duke, don't get me wrong," Gavel stammered, his voice cracking under pressure. "I just wanted to understand why your wife dislikes Lisa so much. That's all. I mean, during the time I've known her, Lisa's always seemed… timid, even bullied. So hearing that your wife refused to let her into the shelter sounded a little… unreasonable, and—"

He faltered. The moment he felt the chill radiating from Duke's gaze, his words died in his throat. He clamped his mouth shut, regretting every word he'd just uttered.

Abby let out a sharp scoff. "Timid? Bullied?" she muttered, loud enough for a few to hear. "Funny, because every time I used to walk around the shelter alone, it was Lisa I'd catch playing queen bee—bossing others around and stealing food like it was her birthright."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried. Dracon heard her clearly, and part of her words reached Gavel, who jerked his head in her direction. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if someone had just pulled the rug out from under everything he thought he knew.