Chapter 4

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, I pulled Lucy closer and shielded her within my arms, my gaze savage.

Just then, a flashy pink Lamborghini came screeching in, its tires shrieking against the road.

The car door swung open. Eva stepped out in a custom business suit, her bearing icy and commanding. Beside her was the gaudily dressed Shawn.

When Eva saw me, her eyes flashed in shock, but it was only for a moment. The coldness returned to her expression as she walked right past me.

Shawn pinched his nose, his face full of disgust. "Eva, look at these people. They're covered in blood. It's such a disgusting sight. Hurry up and have someone get rid of them. They had better not cause any delays with the construction of my horse ranch. I can't wait to take pictures of us riding on a horse together."

"Eva… How dare you…" I forced the words out through clenched teeth, my voice hoarse. I was staring fixedly at her.

Eva had to stare at me for a while before she finally recognized me. "Henry Stewart? Is that you? You're alive? I thought you'd dropped dead in some forgotten alley somewhere."

"The Stewarts have been nothing but good to you, Eva. Is this how you repay us?"

I pointed at the graves of my family members that had been razed to the ground, my voice harsh and bitter.

Eva simply snorted, her eyes filled with contempt. "Why do I need to repay you? Everything I have right now is the result of my own efforts. What does it have to do with you and the Stewart family? You went missing for seven years, but now that you're back, you're trying to get a piece of the pie? Dream on!"

She pointed at Lucy, her tone cruel as she declared, "I'll give you a chance. You and your idiot sister can get on your knees and lick Shawn's limited-edition sneakers clean. If you do it until he's satisfied, I might consider sparing your worthless lives. I'll even throw you some money and let you get on your way."

Shawn stuck out his foot. The priceless sneakers gleamed in the sunlight. "Hurry up. I'm on a tight schedule. These are limited edition, you know. You're lucky that you even get to lick them!"

Lucy looked at me, her eyes filled with fear. Nevertheless, she was so desperate to protect me that she took a step forward.

"Don't!" I shouted at the top of my lungs as I pulled her back.

Shawn kicked Lucy impatiently. "What makes trash like her fit to be a part of this world? Just the sight of her makes me sick."

Gnashing my teeth, I glared at Eva and Shawn, the evil and disgusting couple.

Only then did I hear the static crackling from the satellite phone at my waist. I could make out faint shouts from the other end, mixed with the roar of helicopter blades. Once I realized what it meant, I regained my cool.

"Eva, do you really think you call the shots in Joverton City?" I scoffed in anger.

Eva snorted back at me. Tugging on her sleeves, she said, "Here in Joverton City, what I say goes. Who do you think you are? How dare you question what I'm capable of!"

"Have you forgotten who gave you your first startup capital seven years ago, Eva? Who helped you crush your competitors?" My voice was shaky, but it was out of anger, not fear.

"So what?"

Eva brushed her sleeves and declared, "I've long since paid it all back, and then some. I'm now the queen of Jovernton City, you're nothing but trash."

Seven years ago, Eva had been nothing more than the daughter of a once-wealthy family who'd fallen from grace. Her family had been on the brink of bankruptcy. She only ever managed to rise back up again because of the help she received from the Stewarts, but openly and in secret.

Did she truly think she could have built up her business empire with her own meager talents?

Even after spending so many years in the business world, she was still so naive and conceited.