Satisfying Fight

Rue wasn't the least bit afraid. She casually rolled her shoulders and stretched her wrists.

"I believe every life carries the same worth." She clicked her tongue. "What I hate most are people who divide others into classes and ranks."

Her eyes settled on Ariana.

"Trying to elevate yourself by belittling others is actually a classic sign of insecurity."

"Insecurity?" Ariana nearly exploded. "You think I'm insecure?"

She jabbed a finger at herself.

“I'm the Sterling Family's daughter! Who do you think you are? If you hadn't stolen my identity and grown up in my place, you wouldn't even be worthy of polishing my shoes!”

Mrs. Sterling lost patience. “Teach her a lesson!”

The moment the order was given, the men rushed forward.

Mother and daughter watched with smug smiles. In their minds, today's outcome was already decided. Once they controlled Rue, they would have an endless supply of Vital Essence Pills. Her life or death would be entirely in their hands.

A knife flashed toward Rue's abdomen. 

She had already realized these men were professionals. Every move was intended to kill. Even so, she couldn't help finding it absurd.

She had grown up in the Sterling Family. Yet they had hired people willing to murder her without hesitation.

Her foot shot out.

CRACK.

A sickening sound echoed through the room.

The attacker's elbow shattered instantly.

Everyone froze.

Before they could react, Rue moved.

Fast.

Far too fast.

She snatched the knife from the man's hand and drove it into the chest of another attacker rushing from behind.

The next man collapsed screaming as she severed a tendon in his leg.

Blood sprayed.

The scene became a horrifying mess.

Within minutes, the fight was over.

Rue glanced at the watch on her wrist.

Still slower than she'd expected.

The floor was covered with groaning men.

Not a single one remained standing.

Mrs. Sterling and Ariana clung to each other, trembling violently.

They watched as Rue calmly turned and walked toward them.

Mrs. Sterling's heart nearly stopped.

“Y-you... don't blame me later if something happens to Zach—”

“You're threatening me with your own son?” Rue wiped a trace of blood from the corner of her mouth. A faint smile appeared.

“Mrs. Sterling, don't you find that ridiculous?” Her gaze swept over the wounded men. “Now that they're dealt with, which would you two prefer?”

She twirled the knife casually. “Your tendons cut in your arms or your legs?”

“Help! Somebody help!” Ariana finally screamed. “Rue Blackwood broke into our house and attacked us!”

Though she tried to sound brave, the trembling in her voice betrayed her fear.

As Rue stepped closer, Ariana's legs gave out. She collapsed onto the floor.

“This is assault! You'll go to prison!”

“Me?” Rue laughed. 

“Assault?”

She lifted Ariana's chin with the tip of the knife.

“False accusations can send people to prison too, Miss Sterling. Surely you're not ignorant of the law?”

The cold steel touched Ariana's skin.

Tears immediately streamed down her face.

“You dare threaten me?” Her voice shook. “Mr. Vanderbilt won't let you get away with this! The Vanderbilt and Sterling families are going to be joined by marriage. I'll be his fiancée! Not just you—even the entire Blackwood family will suffer!”

The Vanderbilt family?

Rue's smile deepened.

“Does the Vanderbilt family know you've been using my Vital Essence Pills to do business with them?”

At that moment, Mrs. Sterling suddenly grabbed her phone.

She called the hospital.

“Rue Blackwood!”

Her voice was shrill with fury.

“If you touch Ariana, I'll have Zach's medication stopped immediately! You'll never see that worthless boy again!”

“Oh?” Rue crouched down beside Ariana. Her fingers tightened around the woman's jaw.

“Really?” She smiled.

“Then let's see which dies first.” Her eyes turned cold. “Your precious daughter—or your son.”

The call connected.

A voice answered hesitantly.

“Mrs. Sterling? Is something wrong?”

“Stop Zach Sterling's medication immediately.” Mrs. Sterling barked the order. “And transfer him according to my previous instructions.”

After issuing the command, she glared at Rue triumphantly.

“Now stop this at once!”

Rue only shrugged. “Unfortunately for you... I don't think that's going to happen.”

A moment later, a panicked voice came through the speaker.

“M-Mrs. Sterling... the young master is gone!”

“What?” Her face turned white. “What do you mean gone? He was in the hospital! How does a patient just disappear?”

“We're investigating immediately!” The call ended abruptly.

Mrs. Sterling felt a chill run through her body. She stared at Rue in disbelief.

So this had all been planned?

The Vital Essence Pills.

Taking Zach away.

Everything had been part of her scheme from the beginning.

SMACK!

A sharp slap echoed through the villa.

Ariana screamed. Her head snapped to the side.

“Rue Blackwood!” She shrieked. “Have you lost your mind? You actually hit me!”

Rue flexed her sore wrist casually.

“Next time, it won't be a slap.”

Her voice was calm.

Terrifyingly calm.

“I can guarantee you won't live to see the next sunrise.”

She glanced at the wounded men sprawled across the floor.

“Or maybe you'll end up like them. Spending the rest of your life in a wheelchair.”

Before Mrs. Sterling could react, Rue turned and strode toward the front door.

“Wait!” Mrs. Sterling shouted desperately. “The Vital Essence Pills—”

Rue paused and looked back. A playful smile curved her lips.

“I already gave them to you.”

Then she added,

“And if you'd bothered reading the contract carefully, you'd know it never said I was required to provide finished Vital Essence Pills.”

This time, the Sterling Family came away with absolutely nothing.

Not only did they fail to get the Vital Essence Pill from Rue Blackwood, but they also ended up sacrificing more than thirty bodyguards in the process.

The injuries varied in severity, and eight of them were seriously wounded.

According to the assessment issued by the security company, none of those men would ever be able to work in security again.

Their average daily pay had been well into five figures.

Even though the Sterling Family had purchased extensive insurance coverage beforehand, this incident would still leave them facing compensation claims worth at least several million dollars.

Mrs. Sterling, who had lost both money and people, collapsed onto the floor while clutching Ariana Sterling and sobbing uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, Rue got into a car and left without a second glance.

AJ shot her a worried look.

"Boss, why didn't you tell us about something this dangerous? What if something had happened to you? What were we supposed to do then?"

"Dangerous?" Rue scoffed. "It's been a long time since I've had a fight that satisfying. Those guys who trained overseas really were different."

She efficiently wiped herself down with wet wipes while studying her reflection in a mirror.

Only after confirming there wasn't a trace of blood on her body did she finally relax.

Then—

She pulled a dress out of a garment bag on the back seat. After slipping it on, she removed the clothes she had been wearing underneath through the neckline.

Once she had changed, she casually tossed the dirty outfit out the car window.

Who would have guessed that this obedient-looking, sweet young woman had turned into a one-woman army inside the Sterling villa just moments earlier?

Barehanded and alone, she had taken down more than thirty elite security professionals.

"Where was Zach taken?" Rue suddenly asked.

AJ looked confused. "Boss, didn't you arrange for someone to pick up your brother?"

The two stared at each other.

In that instant, Rue froze.

How could that be?

"Find out immediately," she ordered. "I want to know who took Zach."