Ashley didn’t spare him a single glance, nor did she bother responding to his shameless remarks. Her expression remained calm and indifferent as she walked past him and made her way up into the arena.

Only then did realization finally dawn on the reigning champion.

His eyes widened slightly before a broad grin spread across his face.

So this woman was the challenger. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Instead of feeling insulted or cautious, he looked even more delighted than before. To him, this was nothing but good news. He had just defeated Drake and successfully defended his title, and now his next opponent appeared to be a beautiful woman who looked far less threatening than any fighter he had faced that night.

In his mind, the outcome was already decided.

The champion chuckled and rolled his shoulders, his confidence swelling even further. Whatever caution he normally exercised in a match was nowhere to be seen. Not once did he consider Ashley a genuine threat. He didn’t bother raising his guard, nor did he pay close attention to her movements.

To him, Ashley wasn’t an opponent worthy of concern.

She was simply another easy victory waiting to happen.

Far from feeling threatened, the reigning champion found himself looking forward to the match even more. In his eyes, Ashley wasn’t a challenger but an opportunity. The arena’s brutal, close-quarters nature gave fighters countless excuses to invade each other’s personal space, and he was already imagining how he could take advantage of that under the guise of combat. Even if anyone noticed, they would likely dismiss it as an unavoidable part of a physical fight.

To him, this match was a gift handed to him on a silver platter.

There was no risk, only rewards.

His confidence swelled as he watched Ashley take her place in the opposite corner of the arena. She casually rolled her shoulders and stretched her long, graceful neck, her expression calm and serious. The sight only fueled his fantasies. Her delicate features and composed demeanor stood in stark contrast to the violence of the underground ring, making her seem even more out of place—and, in his mind, even more desirable.

The champion’s grin widened.

He was already imagining the outcome. He would win the fight, claim the ten-million prize, and perhaps even convince Ashley to leave with him afterward. The more he indulged in those thoughts, the deeper he sank into his own delusions. His mind was so occupied with dreams of victory and conquest that he failed to notice the one thing that truly mattered.

Not once did he consider the possibility that Ashley might be stronger than him.

Ashley could practically see the calculations running behind his eyes as his gaze traveled over her from head to toe. He looked at her as though she were an object to be evaluated, something he could claim, use, or discard at his own discretion. The arrogance in that look was unmistakable.

Rather than intimidating her, it only strengthened her resolve.

The disgust she felt grew with every passing second. His wandering eyes reminded her of a snake slithering through the grass—cold, invasive, and unsettling. It was as if his gaze itself carried a slimy weight that crawled across her skin.

A flicker of coldness flashed through Ashley’s eyes.

Whatever lingering hesitation she might have had vanished completely.

She no longer wanted to merely defeat him. She wanted to humble him so thoroughly that he would never again dare to step into this arena and treat others the way he did. If crushing his pride was the lesson he needed to learn, then she would make sure he learned it the hard way.

"Pretty lady, I never expected someone as lovely as you to be this brave." The reigning champion chuckled, his tone dripping with amusement and patronizing praise. "But let’s be realistic. Those delicate little arms of yours could never hope to match my strength."

He spread his arms slightly and flashed a smug grin. "Tell you what—I’ll be generous. I’ll even let you hit me a few times. Consider it a favor so the crowd won’t laugh too hard when this is over." His grin widened as his gaze slowly wandered over her figure, lingering where it had no business being. "And after the match, why don’t you come with me? I’ll make sure you’re treated well. Don’t worry—I won’t hurt you."

As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on Ashley’s chest, openly assessing her as though she were merchandise on display rather than an opponent standing across from him. The way his gaze roamed over her body was shameless, stripping away layers in his imagination and leaving Ashley feeling as though filthy hands were crawling across her skin. There wasn’t a trace of respect in his eyes—only greed, lust, and the confidence of a man who believed he could take whatever he wanted.

Seeing the reigning champion openly ogling Ashley, Gideon’s expression darkened. His hand slammed onto the armrest, and his fingers curled around the polished wood with such force that it splintered beneath his grip. The sharp crack echoed through the VIP section, drawing the masked man’s attention. Even through his mask, he could sense the violent fury rolling off Gideon in waves.

"If you’re that worried about your woman being bullied," the masked man asked, tilting his head slightly, "then why didn’t you stop her and step into the arena yourself?"

There was no mockery in his voice, nor any attempt to provoke him. On the contrary, he sounded genuinely puzzled, with a faint trace of amusement lingering beneath his curiosity, as though he simply couldn’t understand why a man so fiercely protective would willingly allow the woman beside him to face such danger alone.

"I trust that she knows what she’s doing," Gideon replied.

Yet even to his own ears, the words sounded unconvincing. Anyone listening would have doubted them. Deep down, however, he truly believed Ashley knew exactly what she was doing. More importantly, he could see the anger simmering beneath her calm exterior. Whatever turmoil she was carrying inside, she needed an outlet, and he had neither the right nor the desire to stand in her way. All he could do was sit back and watch.

That didn’t mean he liked it.

Especially not after hearing the way that filthy man had spoken to her.

A dangerous growl echoed in the back of Gideon’s mind as the wolf within him stirred restlessly. His possessiveness surged like a tidal wave, threatening to wash away the restraint he had spent years cultivating. The sight of the reigning champion openly gawking at Ashley made his blood boil. Every instinct in his body screamed for violence.

He wanted to gouge the man’s eyes out for daring to look at her that way.

He wanted to shatter every bone in his body, one by one, until the arrogant bastard could no longer stand. Worse still, he wanted to cripple him so thoroughly that he would never again have the audacity to treat a woman like a piece of merchandise to be appraised and claimed.

The darker corners of Gideon’s mind were beginning to stir, and for the first time in a long while, keeping those inner demons chained felt increasingly difficult.