Chapter 4

If outsiders ever heard the cold-blooded matriarch of the Liang syndicate speak in such a teasing tone, they'd wake up screaming from nightmares.

"Check the pictures I just sent you."

"Our biological son was beaten so badly he ended up in the ER. Get here. Now."

A pause stretched for two seconds. When she spoke again, her voice sounded like cracking ice from a glacier.

"Hold down the fort. I'm on my way."

The line went dead. I knew those kids were done for. Evelyn wasn't like me; when she snapped, she burned worlds to ashes.

They would spend the rest of their lives repenting in agony.

Down on the floor, dozens of students in Oakridge Academy uniforms towered over Caleb, pushing him back down every time he tried to push himself up.

"Give my watch back!"

"I came with my dad! I didn't follow you guys!"

Pinned to the floor, Caleb yelled with raw fury.

A girl with curly hair scoffed as if hearing the punchline of a joke, examining the timepiece in her hand.

"Your dad? The same bum who scavenges trash with you? He couldn't even crawl through the front door of this place unless he's servicing some filthy old cougar."

"Shut your mouth! Don't you dare insult my dad!"

Hearing her trash-talk his father, the boy went wild. He lunged forward despite having a fistful of his hair yanked out, violently snatching the watch back.

He slammed back to the ground, panting heavily like a cornered beast, glaring at the curly-haired girl with murder in his eyes. Shaken by his ferocity, she instinctively took a step back.

"Listen up, everyone! Ten grand for every hit on him tonight! When my dad comes back, I'll even have him throw business contracts to your families!"

Dressed in a bespoke tuxedo, Julian walked out from behind the crowd, holding Hayley tightly in his arms. She wore a pristine white designer dress, leaning against him affectionately.

The moment he said that, the students' eyes flashed with greed. Clearly, this wasn't the first time he had placed a "bounty" on Caleb.

"You got it, Julian! I just learned a few new Muay Thai moves; I'll make sure you get your money's worth!"

The curly-haired girl smiled subserviently. She unclipped the thick, thumb-wide silver chain from her designer shoulder bag.

"Hayley, you wouldn't feel bad for him, would you?" Julian asked, feigning hesitation as he looked down at the girl in his arms.

Hayley, always playing the pure, virtuous goddess, didn't even flinch.

"Whatever makes you happy, babe. He was born to crawl in the dirt anyway."

Hearing the senior girl he had crushed on for years utter such heartless words, the fire in Caleb's eyes died into cold ash.

"Hayley's the best," Julian beamed.

The jock beside him immediately chimed in to stroke his ego.

"Julian's mom is the head of the Liang syndicate, and his dad is the sole heir to the Miller empire! He and Goddess Hayley are a match made in heaven. He's born with a diamond spoon in his mouth. Caleb isn't even fit to shine his shoes!"

Julian laughed louder, thoroughly intoxicated by the praise.

"You brought this on yourself, Caleb. Trying to hit on my fiancé, pretending to be a Miller... Did you really think you could mess with the real deal?"

The curly-haired girl swung the heavy silver chain back, ready to lash it across Caleb's face.