As the debris from the suddenly destroyed wall gradually settled, the unexpected scene beyond finally came into view.
Hands that had absolutely no business coming anywhere near Luca were gripping the back of his head.
Their faces were only inches apart, and Luca's expression was caught somewhere between shock and determination.
Xavier saw all of it.
Despite the room being filled with people shouting, struggling, and pulling one another apart, despite the wives of the master mechanics having turned the once orderly lounge into complete chaos, his attention narrowed until only one scene remained.
It felt as though something inside his ears had suddenly popped, and his legs nearly buckled beneath him.
Everything around him became strangely distant while his eyes remained fixed on his wife and the threat of losing what had since mattered to him the most.
