Stefan breathed a sigh of relief, giving her back a reassuring pat.

This small gesture didn't go unnoticed by Mitchel, who watched with a critical eye.

Suddenly, Mitchel stepped forward and firmly grabbed Raegan's wrist, fixing a cold stare on Stefan. “Remove your hand from her," he demanded, his words dripping with frost.

To everyone's astonishment, Raegan instinctively grabbed Stefan's wrist in response.

At that moment, Mitchel found himself holding Raegan's wrist while she held Stefan's hand, creating a palpable tension in the room.

Mitchel's once-handsome face mow wore a gloomy expression, his forehead marred by a trickle of blood courtesy of Raegan's actions, giving him an almost demonic appearance.

To evade Mitchel's intense gaze, Raegan moved closer to Stefan, which softened Stefan's heart amid this awkward atmosphere.

In truth, Stefan's literary pursuits were merely a facade. The Clifford family held significant influence in the north, but Stefan could no longer bear their tradition of constant conflicts and violence. So, he chose to steer clear away from the Clifford family and spent years living in Swynborough.

Over time, Stefan had become close friends with Erick. When he learned of Erick's desire to return to Ardlens with Raegan, Stefan decided to settle in Ardlens.

Stefan had researched Ardlens online and was drawn to the city's charm and its welcoming atmosphere. Unlike his homeland, where powerful clans dominated, people there suffered a lot.

Having grown up in such an environment, Stefan was anything but a coward. He had the guts to protect the woman he liked at a moment like this.

With reassurance, Stefan clasped Raegan's hand in his and comforted her, “Don't worry."

Meanwhile, Mitchel was deeply wounded by the sight before him. How could Raegan cozy up to another man right under his nose? It appeared she was completely indifferent to his feelings.

Although Raegan felt a bit uncomfortable when Stefan held her hand, her bias against Mitchel outweighed any awkwardness she might have felt.

Raegan shot Mitchel a cold stare. "Release my hand."

Suppressing his anger, Mitchel forcefully pulled her hand and gritted his teeth. "Come to my side, and I'll release it!"

Raegan frowned, feeling a sharp pain in her shoulder as Mitchel exerted great force on her hand.

Observing this, Stefan put his arm around Raegan's shoulder and spoke with a stern expression. "Didn't you hear Raegan? She asked you to let go of her."

Mitchel's anger flared instantly at Stefan's intervention, and his voice turned chillingly cold. “You're just an outsider. How dare you meddle in our private affairs!"

Stefan's tone remained gentle, but his resolve was unwavering as he retorted, "Mr. Dixon, I'm afraid you have no right to question me like that, considering Raegan is no longer your wife."