Chapter 4

A sharp cracking sound rang out as the watch face shattered into pieces.

It was the only thing my grandfather had ever left me.

Something inside me finally snapped. I spun around and punched William square in the face.

"Touch me again and see what happens!"

The moment he took that punch, William lost it completely.

Seeing her son get hit, Sharon lunged at me at once. Her long, sharp nails clawed viciously at my face. I was not prepared as searing pain ripped across my skin as blood streaked down my cheek.

She did not stop there.

Like a rabid animal, she clung to me, scratching and biting wildly.

"You ungrateful thing raised without parents! How dare you lay a hand on my son?! I'll fight you to the death today!

"You hit my boy? I'll make you pay with your life!"

Hank spat on the ground with venom.

"A heartless beast like you doesn't deserve to be part of the Shephard family! We took you in out of kindness, and this is how you repay us? Look at you, poor and pathetic!"

Lily pulled out her phone and started snapping photos of the red handprint on William's face.

"I've got proof! Everyone, come see how rich people pick on their poor relatives! I'm posting this online. Let's see how you survive after your reputation is ruined!"

While I was being restrained, Sharon shot her son a meaningful look.

"Smash the car. Teach this ungrateful brat a lesson for looking down on poor relatives."

I shoved Sharon away and spat coldly, "Deliberate destruction of property on a large scale is enough to put you behind bars for years. You'd better think carefully about what you'll say once the police arrive."

My words finally pushed Hank over the edge.

"I've been too lenient with you, huh? Looks like you haven't learned your lesson!"

Sharon rushed forward again, raising her hand to slap me.

"You idiot! How dare you threaten us?!"

I caught her wrist and flung her aside with force.

The earlier scratches were only because I had been caught off guard.

I would not let them touch me again.

Sharon crashed to the ground and immediately began wailing, rolling around like a tantrum-throwing child.

Hank completely lost control.

"This is outrageous! You hit my wife!

"Smash it! Smash that damn car to pieces! I wouldn't want that cursed thing even if you gave it to me for free!"

At his command, William rushed to his own battered domestic car nearby, popped the trunk, and pulled out a massive pipe wrench.

Lily lit up with excitement. She dug a bottle of bright red nail polish out of her bag, twisted it open, and splashed it across my car's hood.

Hank did not hold back either. He raised the wrench and brought it down hard on the windshield.

I spoke calmly, icy cold.

"The car cost three million and two hundred thousand dollars after adding on all options. I also bought full coverage insurance. You might want to think twice."

Hank hesitated mid-swing.

However, Sharon shrieked from the ground, laughing hysterically.

"Hahaha! Who are you trying to scare? Three million dollars in game currency? Do you even know what three million means? Stop bragging!"

The hesitation vanished from Hank's face.

The next second, the wrench slammed down. Cracks spread across the glass like a spiderweb.

In no time, the brand-new car was completely wrecked.

Sharon did not join in the destruction. Instead, she took advantage of the chaos, slipped around to the shattered window, and reached inside, rummaging through the compartments.

When she pulled her hand back out, she was clutching an emergency wallet my mother had kept in the car. Greed shone all over her face.

I was about to stop her when a loud, commanding voice echoed from the garage entrance.

"Police! Nobody move! Put everything down now!"