Chapter 4

As soon as Ryan finished speaking, the employees looked at one another.

As vice president, I had never treated any of them badly.

I fought for bigger project bonuses for them, took the blame whenever something went wrong, and even privately lent money when their families had emergencies.

Naturally, no one was willing to step forward right away.

The tightness in my chest eased slightly.

But the next second-

"I'll do it!"

A fawning voice broke the silence.

My assistant, Leo, bent low and squeezed out of the crowd, his face piled with flattery.

"Assistant Mercer... no, Mr. Mercer. Why dirty your hands with this kind of rough work? Leave it to me. I guarantee I'll make this ungrateful thing kneel and apologize to you and Ms. Sloane."

My fists tightened until my knuckles turned white. Nausea rolled through me.

Leo was my assistant and my apprentice.

He had followed me since graduation. I taught him how to write proposals by hand and brought him along to meet clients.

I never imagined the first person to betray me would be him.

"Smart kid."

Ryan laughed smugly, then turned and ordered the rest of them.

"What about you? Move! Whoever hits hardest gets the biggest bonus."

He paused, his tone turning threatening.

"And anyone who refuses doesn't need to come to work tomorrow."

Everyone had families to feed. Faced with that threat, they could only force themselves toward me.

"Mr. Russell, sorry. We don't have a choice."

A fist slammed into my forehead.

"Ah!"

Pain ripped through me. My vision went black, and the taste of blood surged into my throat.

"Vanessa!"

I roared hoarsely, clinging to my last shred of hope. "Are you really going to watch him have me beaten to death?"

Vanessa glanced at me, then quickly looked away, her voice cold.

"You brought this on yourself. Learn your lesson, and you'll behave in the future."

The moment she finished, countless fists came down on me.

Pain swallowed my whole body, and my heart went completely numb.

I did not know how long it lasted before the beating finally stopped.

The crowd stepped back, panting hard. They looked frightened and guilty, not daring to look at the bloody mess I had become on the floor.

Vanessa's gaze swept over me. Her pupils contracted slightly, and one foot moved toward me almost instinctively.

"Everyone barely started, and Evan already can't take it? Is he pretending?"

Ryan speculated maliciously, then shook his head as though he had misspoken.

"No, no, of course Evan wouldn't pretend.

"Vanessa, maybe he's just weak. Why don't we let him get up and apologize, then call it quits? He looks kind of pitiful."

"Pitiful? It's all an act."

The flicker of panic in Vanessa's eyes was instantly replaced by anger.

Her face turned iron gray as she pointed at me and snapped.

"Evan, you even dare play tricks on me!

"Keep hitting him. Hit him until he can't get up. Hit him until he sincerely admits he's wrong."

At her words, the crowd closed in again like wolves.

I dragged my almost shattered body backward. The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

There were too many of them.

If this continued, they really might beat me to death.

"Vanessa!"

I used the last of my strength to roar, "If you dare let them kill me today, you'll regret it."

But Vanessa did not even look at me.

The group came closer, and fists rose toward me again.

"Stop!"

At that critical instant, a thunderous shout exploded through the hall.

The doors to the venue flew open, and my father strode in.

"Who gave you the nerve to touch my son?"