Win My Husband Over to Find My Child
Chapter 494: A Literal, Wake-Up Call Punch

Chapter 494: A Literal, Wake-Up Call Punch

A few days before Ryken met Calix, Leslie and Calliope, he struck his fist at Xander one night.

Xander, Davin and Ryken gathered in the former’s exclusive clubroom at Vilux. As usual, the manager kept the place well-kept because it was a kind of sanctuary to the former.

Davin challenged Ryken to a few snooker games, leaving Xander to brood on his usual plush chair. The crimson-haired man quickly agreed, boasting that he would defeat the former.

The glittering chandelier hung high on the ceiling, including the exquisite wall lamps, showered the entire room under their lights.

Yet...

Despite how bright the place was, Xander’s somber mood hung heavily in the air, darkening the ambiance.

"There he goes bringing stormy clouds wherever he is," Ryken clicked his tongue, not bothering to lower his tone at all, "He shouldn’t only sit there brooding ah."

"Well, it’s just his usual way," commented Davin, not putting much thought into it.

Ryken zeroed his gaze into Xander. The latter lounged on the velvet couch, crossing one leg onto another. He propped one elbow on the armrest, supporting his chin.

The man looked quietly miserable but one that didn’t deserve kindness, that was what Ryken and Davin thought in sync.

Xander was brooding like an overgrown child who didn’t get his way on something.

"I haven’t met Calix much," Davin uttered as he leaned over, pointing the tip of his snooker cue stick for a particularly tricky shot, "He’s so busy with his wife and child. Well, not that it’s a bad thing tho."

Ryken expelled a sigh, pretending to sound so miserable. He leaned on the long snooker cue, his lips pouting.

"I asked him out for a meal but he turned me down many times ah. He’s so busy with his job after coming back from the island trip."

Both Davin and Ryken were aware that most likely Calix was so preoccupied with the massive pile of untouched tasks but, they couldn’t help but grumble about it.

Ryken wanted to crash into Calix’s residence but, he held himself back. After all, his friend was no longer a bachelor.

Calix lived with his wife and their daughter now. Ryken didn’t want to destroy his image by doing something as daring as that when he hadn’t even met his friend’s wife and child yet.

What a way to ruin the first impression. Still, Ryken hadn’t crossed threatening Calix to meet him out of his list yet.

The cold war between Xander and Calix was still ongoing. Ryken also knew about the former having a relationship problem with his actress girlfriend, Violet.

Despite trying not to be biased, Ryken agreed with Calix that this time, the fault lay on Xander.

Sigh... Wouldn’t he ever change?

Irked by the situation, Ryken threw some words at him, "Hey, Xander. Won’t you play for a round? Don’t just sit there all mopey."

Davin straightened his body up. He didn’t bother seeing where the balls he aimed at rolled as his gaze fell on Xander, wondering if Ryken could seize a reply out of that stuck-up man.

Staring off into space, Xander didn’t bother responding to Ryken. He lowered his chin further, half-concealing his face from being seen.

Ryken narrowed his eyes, entertaining the idea that had just crossed his mind. Passing the snooker cue to Davin, he said, "Hold this for me."

"En? You’re going to the toilet?" asked Davin, reaching for the cue.

"Watch me."

Under Davin’s confused gaze, Ryken strode to the seating area where Xander was. The crimson-haired man’s steps were languid and steady as always, but...

Davin didn’t know why he felt a certain chill in the air as if something ominous was lurking, waiting to strike.

"R-Ryken!"

Gasping in shock, Davin was tongue-tied seeing Ryken abruptly grabbing Xander by the collar, forcing the man out of the plush chair.

Xander was as surprised as Davin. He was just sitting alone, brooding when suddenly his view switched from the floor to Ryken’s sneering face.

"Ryken, what the..."

"Let me punch you."

"What... Argh!"

Ryken didn’t bother giving Xander a chance to finish or free himself. He struck a clean punch to Xander’s cheek with one swift, calculated motion.

The force sent Xander sprawling onto the carpet, away from the coffee table. A loud creaking sound blared in the room, followed by the man’s hollering.

"The hell! Are you insane?!"

Xander roared, clutching his jaw, now throbbing from the punch as he looked at Ryken. The former looked so stunned and indignant by the unexpected punch.

"You annoy me so much," Ryken replied while checking his knuckles, seeing them reddened a little, "You deserve more punches but, I just settled with one."

Blinking, Xander thought how insane Ryken was all of a sudden. He quickly scrambled to his feet, pushing his back and bottom from the floor.

Xander’s darkened gaze glared at Ryken to which the crimson-haired man showed not even an ounce of remorse or fear. The stinging pain from his cheek fueled more to his rising fury.

Davin hurriedly left the snooker table, his widened eyes darting from the unbothered Ryken to the seething Xander repeatedly, "Whoa, whoa. Did you just deck him, Ryken?"

Xander narrowed his eyes, getting more infuriated by the unfazed look on Ryken’s face as if the latter hadn’t just hit him.

"What was that for? What are you..."

"Xander, I want to know," Ryken cut Xander off, his voice flat yet carrying a hint of something threatening, "Is your ego more important, or your longtime childhood friend?"

"What?" Xander frowned, not understanding what Ryken wanted to tell him, "What in hell are you..."

"Keep this up. You’ll lose Calix, your best friend, in no time. Also Violet, the so-called love of your life."

Spinning on his heels, Ryken headed to the coat rack to take his jacket. He simply waved one hand at the dumbfounded Davin before walking out of the clubroom, not bothering to spare Xander even one last glance.

The door was closed with a soft thud, the sound rang heavily in the awkward, pin-drop silence he left behind.