The Alchemist of Broken Dreams by Sienna Rose Blackwell 26

Chapter 26 

Chapter 26 

DYLAN 

I quickly stepped out of the guest room and practically ran downstairs to check what’s going on. I’m worried that something bad will happen if I don’t interfere. Clearly, Hunter didn’t come here to talk calmly, judging by the battalion of armed men he brought with him. 

As soon as I reached the last flight of the stairs, I immediately saw the door wide open, and Hunter was standing right across the doorstep. His men were standing behind him, holding their guns, waiting for his order. 

“Hey, what’s going on here?” I shouted. I was about to walk towards them when two of Beckett’s men blocked 

“Dylan, go back upstairs. Let me handle this,” Beckett ordered without looking back at me. “And you,” he said towards Hunter, “What are you doing here? You’re on my property. You’re not welcome here.” 

I saw Hunter smirk. And it wasn’t like the one he used to give me whenever he was teasing me. It’s that kind of smirk that was telling you not to mess with him. 

“You’ve got something that belongs to me. I came here to get it. Let me have her, and we won’t have any problems,” Hunter said. 

Beckett scoffs and puts his hands inside his pockets. “Nothing here belongs to you. Now, leave before I call the police and sue you for trespassing. I suggest you leave now while I’m still being nice.” 

Hunter chuckled, “That’s cute. You and your little threats.” He then looked behind Beckett, and our eyes immediately met. His gray eyes darkened. I couldn’t read what’s going on inside his head. He looks mad, but at the same time, he seems to be worried about me. “Let’s go home, little dove,” he said, and those endearments cause my heart to beat erratically. 

Beckett’s hand shot out and shoved Hunter in the chest, the move fueled more by rage than strength–but Hunter barely budged. It was like trying to move a mountain with your bare hands. He took the push like it was nothing, his broad shoulders tensing, but his face remained eerily calm. That was somehow more terrifying than if he’d lost his temper. 

“My wife isn’t going anywhere,” Beckett growled, his voice laced with desperation. “This is her house. She belongs here. She’s mine!” 

At the word mine, something flickered in Hunter’s eyes–dark, dangerous, and cold as steel. 

“She’s not yours,” Hunter said, voice low and laced with warning. “You don’t get to claim what you’ve already destroyed. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to bring my fiancée home.” 

“You’ll have to go through me before you can take her.” 

He took one slow step forward, towering over Beckett like a silent storm ready to strike. 

“Let’s see about that,” Hunter said, his voice like thunder just before the lightning hits. 

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Then, with a flick of his fingers, the atmosphere shifted. The men behind him–every one of them dressed in black and looking like they’d walked straight out of a high–stakes heist movie–raised their weapons in perfect unison. Cold, metallic clicks echoed in the air as safeties were removed. 

Beckett stiffened. His eyes darted toward the armed men, clearly doing the math in his head–and realizing just how outnumbered he was. 

“That’s enough, you two!” I shouted, shoving the two men blocking my way. I walked towards them and pushed them away to finally put some distance between them. I stand in between them, trying to calm the situation. 

I know Beckett; he’ll never back down in a pissing contest. And Hunter, I don’t know anything about him, but something tells me he’s not the one you should mess with. 

Hunter’s head snapped toward me the second I stepped right in the middle of them. I was facing him, so it probably looks like I was taking Beckett’s side, but that’s not it. I was only trying to calm him down so it wouldn’t result in any violence. 

“Cut it, okay?” I snapped, stepping between the two of them. My chest was heaving, my heart racing from the chaos unraveling right before me. I turned sharply toward Hunter, eyes narrowed. “Let’s get one thing clear— nobody owns me. Not you. Not him. I make my own choices.” 

Hunter’s jaw flexed, but he didn’t argue. His gaze, intense as ever, remained locked on mine. There was a storm behind those eyes, but he kept it leashed—for now. 

Before I could say more, Beckett stepped in again, grabbing my arm with just enough force to make me flinch. “Dylan, go back upstairs,” he said through gritted teeth. “Let me deal with this bastard.” 

But before I could even react, Hunter moved. His hand shot out and grasped my other arm, gentle but firm. “Let go of her,” he growled, low and dangerous. 

And just like that, I was caught between the two of them–pulled in opposite directions like I was the rope in their twisted game of tug–of–war. 

“Let 

go of me–both of you!” I shouted, yanking my arms free from their grips and stepping back with fury blazing in 

my chest. “What the hell is wrong with you two? This isn’t some fight over a trophy. I’m a person, damn it!” 

Both men froze. For a moment, the silence that followed was louder than any shouting could’ve been. 

Beckett looked stunned, his hand still half–raised in the air. Hunter’s expression had hardened again, but there was something else behind it–something I couldn’t quite name. 

“I don’t belong to anyone,” I repeated, “I’ve spent too long letting other people decide my worth.” 

“Okay, okay. If that’s what you want, I’ll let you have it. Go on, decide now whether you’re going to stay with your husband or with this stranger,” Beckett said. 

I roll my eyes in annoyance. “Ex–husband,” I corrected. “You know we’re already divorced, right? So, please, quit calling yourself my husband. You’ve lost that spot the moment you chose her over me,” I said as I turned my eyes to Sarah, who was silently watching everything unfold. 

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Beckett looked stunned as if I pulled a rug under his feet. I’m amazed how he can still be surprised whenever I remind him that we’re over. Does he really think that I will never be able to let go of my feelings for me? Was he expecting me to run after him and beg for his attention? 

When I looked at Hunter, his expression stayed unreadable, but the slight curve at the corner of his lips. betrayed him–he was clearly satisfied with what I’d said. 

Beckett’s jaw clenched. He opened his mouth, but I didn’t give him the chance. I pulled my arm free from his grasp, my touch lingering for only a heartbeat before stepping beside Hunter. 

“I’m leaving,” I said, looking at Sarah