Chapter 5

At that, Aelia's expression darkened.

"It was the man who came in with Bastian. He went into the interview room and spoke to the interviewers. Right after that, we really were disqualified from the interview..."

Jordan's expression sank. "Aelia, I didn't want people to think I only found this job because you pulled strings for me. I thought going out and finding one on my own would at least be fair. I never expected this..."

"Sebastian, what gives you the right to disqualify Jordan from the interview?"

Someone immediately spoke up in Jordan's defense, and the others quickly joined in.

"Exactly! Do you have any idea how talented Jordan is? He graduated from the top program at one of the country's best universities! He's ranked first in his class for years!"

"Four of his projects won national awards, and three won international gold medals!"

With every word of praise, Jordan straightened a little more.

A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes, but he quickly masked it with a show of humility. "That's enough, everyone. I'm sure Bastian had his reasons for doing this."

"What reason could he possibly have? It's obvious. Sebastian is jealous of you, so he pulled some dirty trick, cozied up to someone in upper management, whispered in their ear, and deliberately went after you!"

"Just look at what he's wearing. Any single piece of that outfit costs five figures. There's no way he could afford any of it on his own, not even if he saved every penny for years."

One scrutinizing look after another fell on Sebastian, each dripping with mockery.

"How else could he get into a company like this? He must be some rich man's lapdog. Disgusting..."

Sebastian listened to their insults without the slightest change in expression. He called security over and ordered, "Get them out of here."

They stared at him in disbelief.

Just as the security guards moved to throw them out, several bodyguards in sharp suits closed ranks around the group. The wall of dark suits made the security guards stop in their tracks.

"I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on them." Aelia patted the back of Jordan's hand to reassure him, then walked over to Sebastian and stared him down. "Sebastian, if you keep this up, don't blame me for what happens next."

The moment she finished speaking, the company's general manager, Felicia Lawson, hurried over with an obsequious smile. "Miss Linden, I had no idea you'd graced us with your presence. Please forgive the poor welcome..."

Then Felicia shot Sebastian a displeased glare. "I don't know where Jarvis dug you up, but are you out of your mind? Don't you know who Miss Linden is? You dare offend her? Apologize now."

The sharp, threatening words were identical to ones Sebastian had heard before.

…

That summer, after his family fell apart, Sebastian took a job as a waiter to scrape together enough money to cover his living expenses abroad.

One day, he ran into Jordan and Aelia at the restaurant.

Aelia stepped away to take a call, and Jordan deliberately made trouble for him. He spilled coffee on his own pants, accused Sebastian of doing it, and demanded that Sebastian get on his knees and apologize.

The restaurant's general manager confronted him with the same warning. "Sebastian, don't you know who Miss Linden is? You dare offend her? Apologize now."

"I didn't do it. Why should I apologize for something I didn't do?" Sebastian shot back. "The restaurant has security cameras. Go check them—"

The next second, Jordan grabbed the soup from the table and poured it over his own hand.

Aelia returned just in time to see Jordan clutch his hand, his face twisted in pain.

"Sebastian!" She seized his hand and squeezed so hard that his bones nearly cracked. "You hurt Jordan again?"

"I didn't—"

"I saw it myself," Aelia cut him off. "If you still can't learn your lesson, don't blame me for what happens next. Someone, take him away."

Sebastian was locked in the restaurant's cellar for 48 hours straight. Darkness, damp, and cold seeped into his bones until he could barely feel his limbs.

Yet years before, when someone had locked him inside the equipment room during gym class, Aelia had been the first to find him and lead him out.

Back then, she had told him, "As long as I'm here, I'll never let anyone hurt you."

But in the end, she was the one who hurt him again and again.

By the time they finally let him out of the cellar, he had lost almost all feeling in his body.

A Linden bodyguard stood before him and delivered the final blow. "You offended Miss Linden. Not a single shop in all of Porteaus City will hire you now."