Chapter 4

Ruth was thrown off by my tone, but she quickly turned arrogant again.

"What? You don't like it? Then I'll call my boyfriend over right now and let him teach you a lesson himself."

Normally, one phone call from me would have Kent crawling over on his knees.

But since things had come to this, there was no need to rush.

I actually wanted to see just how arrogant the man I'd personally raised up could be behind my back.

I pulled up a chair and sat down next to my mom.

"Call him over. I'll wait."

Ruth figured I'd been scared out of my wits, and she laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach.

Even her relatives looked at me with mocking eyes.

"About to die and still putting on airs? Fine, I'll grant your wish. I'll call my boyfriend right now."

"Once he gets here with his men, let's see how you die."

She pulled out her phone and dialed a number, deliberately hitting the speakerphone button to show off.

The line barely rang before it connected.

Ruth instantly switched to a sweet, tearful little voice.

"Honey, where are you? There are two broke nobodies causing trouble at the hotel."

"They didn't just hit me, they want to kill the son in my belly. Come save me, quick!"

The voice on the other end shot up sharply.

"What? Somebody in Harborview dares to lay a hand on Kent Swanson's woman and son? Have they lost their minds?"

Manager Whitney quickly leaned in toward the phone to pledge his loyalty.

"Mr. Swanson, these two lunatics aren't just arrogant, they're impersonating people from the head office."

"I've already had security surround them."

Kent roared over the phone.

"What good is surrounding them? Beat the hell out of them first."

"Honey, don't be scared, I'm already downstairs at the hotel. I'll be up in a minute."

"Anyone who dares touch a single hair on your head, I'll chop their hand off."

After the call ended, Ruth stuffed the phone back in her bag and jerked her chin at her group of relatives.

"Did you hear that? My boyfriend's on his way. After today, let's see who still dares to talk back to me."

The relatives all perked up too, ready to watch the show.

"With Mr. Swanson coming himself, won't these two shameless wretches be scared to pieces?"

"Take my advice and kowtow to Ruth a few times right now. Maybe you'll get slapped a few times less."

Manager Whitney waved a hand at the few security guards behind him.

"What are you all standing around for? Mr. Swanson said to make the first move!"

This time the guards didn't hesitate. They closed in with vicious grins, step by step.

I shielded my mother behind me, my back ramrod straight.

But my mom stood up from her chair, wrapped her arms tightly around my waist, and used her own body to push me behind her.

"My old bones aren't worth anything. Beat me if you want, but don't touch my daughter."

I moved her behind me again, swept my eyes over the crowd, then lowered my head and murmured to her.

"Mom, don't worry. No one can touch us."

Ruth shrieked with excitement from behind them.

"Hit them! Hit them hard!"

Just as the stick was about to come down on my head, someone kicked the private room door open.

Kent stormed in with seven or eight bodyguards, radiating menace.

His face was flushed bright red, his suit cuffs rolled up, his expression savage enough to eat someone alive.

"Who the hell dares to touch my woman?"

Ruth's eyes flared with wild joy. She rushed over and threw herself into Kent's arms, pointing at me with an aggrieved look.

"Honey, it's this bitch. She's broke and out of her mind, and she dragged that half-dead mother of hers here to shake us down."

"Hurry, have someone scratch her face up, then throw them both out."

Kent put his arm tenderly around Ruth's shoulders and whispered a word of comfort.

Then he looked in the direction she was pointing.

The bodyguards around him were already full of murderous intent, sleeves rolled up, waiting for Kent to give the word.

I stayed right where I was, staring at him with a mocking look on my face.

The instant Kent saw me, the arrogance on his face froze, and his face went deathly pale.

His legs buckled. He shoved Ruth away and dropped to his knees with a thud.

"W-wife... what are you doing here?"