Chapter 3

The watch rolled along the vibrating conveyor belt and fell straight into the crushing gears.

The dial was instantly shredded into scrap metal, triggering the machine's warning alarm. The belt ground to a halt, and the entire workshop went dead quiet.

"Your Patek Philippe!" Hailey screamed, rushing forward in her high heels.

She pointed at the mangled metal with a trembling finger and glared at me. "Are you crazy? Do you have any idea how much that watch costs? Zach had it specially brought back from abroad. It's a limited edition worth $500,000!"

Workers flooded in from the hallway, surrounding the area. In a factory where the average monthly salary was only $3,000, a $500,000 debt was a life-shattering amount.

Everyone looked at me as if I were already ruined.

Zach kicked over a nearby trash can and roared, "Are you blind? Weren't you watching the machine? I put my hand on the table, and you deliberately started the belt to destroy my watch!"

His voice was intentionally booming. This was a textbook extortion setup.

"Apologize right now and hand over $500,000!" Zach stepped closer, his face twisted in rage. "If you're short even a penny, you aren't leaving this factory on your feet today. Security!"

Four guards rushed in, cornering Lucas and me with electric batons raised. Patrick pushed through the crowd, casting a cold glance at the ruined watch.

"Improper operation and malicious damage to personal property," he said sanctimoniously. "Admit your mistake, call your family, and cough up the money. Otherwise..."

He eyed the guards' batons. "Not only are you fired, but you'll be looking at felony and prison time."

"Why waste your breath on a broke loser?" Hailey chimed in, fanning the flames. "She couldn't scrape up that kind of cash if she sold her organs on the black market. Sir, just call the police. Don't let her trashy presence ruin our workshop."

The threats didn't faze me at all. I stood my ground, staring at the shifting numbers above Zach's head.

He was shaking. It looked like rage on the surface, but I saw it for what it truly was: pure panic. He owed massive high-interest debts and desperately needed cash to fill the void.

If that watch were genuinely worth $500,000, he never would have sacrificed it to industrial gears. The only explanation was that it was a fake, and he was running a scam.

A calm voice cut through the chaos. "She didn't start the belt, and you threw the watch in yourself."

Lucas stepped out, shielding me from Zach. His eyes held no fear, only deep amusement.

"Did you think we're too poor to recognize a blatant extortion scam?" He slid a hand into his pocket, his tone mocking. "If you have the original box and papers for that watch, go ahead and call the police. Stop barking."

Hit right where it hurt, Zach exploded. "Who are you to butt in?"

He obviously didn't have any proof; the watch was a $2,000 knockoff. But he knew his uncle's authority was absolute here.

"Uncle Patrick!" Zach pointed aggressively at Lucas. "Since this broke idiot wants to play the hero, let him! Make them both pay!"

Running out of patience, Patrick stomped out his cigarette and waved a hand. "Security, strip their badges and lock the gates. Nobody leaves until I see that $500,000."

The guards advanced, their batons crackling.

The crowd backed away, expecting a beatdown. Just as a guard reached for us, Lucas let out a soft sigh and slowly reached into the pocket of his faded electrician's uniform.

Under everyone's stunned gazes, he pulled out a slightly worn, matte-black bank card.

"It's just $500,000, right?" Lucas tossed the card onto the payment terminal. "Password is six zeros. Go ahead and swipe."