Chapter 4

My heart skipped a beat.

I suddenly remembered that I had made plans with Grandpa today. We were going to grab lunch together, and I'd also take the opportunity to introduce Elaine to him.

I never imagined he'd end up seeing me at my most helpless.

Grandpa had always been fiercely protective of me. He couldn't stand seeing anyone bully me, so he rushed forward and stood in front of me.

But those people had completely lost their minds. Someone grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the wall.

"Grandpa!"

With a single blow, Grandpa, who was already in his 90s, collapsed, his eyes rolling back.

I hurriedly lunged forward and caught him.

Blood seeped from his forehead. His face had turned purple, and his entire body was trembling violently. I turned toward Elaine and roared, "Call an ambulance. Now!"

Her face tightened with panic, and she immediately reached for her phone, only for Brian to slap it out of her hand.

He tugged on her sleeve, putting on a pitiful expression.

"Old people these days love pulling scams like these. For all we know, he's just pretending to pass out to get sympathy! And once you get a doctor here, he'll pin the whole thing on you. Then, we'll have to miss our interview this afternoon."

At that, the concern that had just flickered across Elaine's face vanished instantly. The panic on the crowd's faces quickly gave way to anger, too.

Someone even kicked Grandpa and stepped on his wrinkled, aging face.

"The old bastard runs scams, while his grandson sells his body. Like grandfather, like grandson!"

I charged forward like a madman and started kicking and punching wildly. "Let go of my grandpa! You're going to kill him!"

Lisa couldn't stand watching any longer. She quietly slipped away and tried to make a call, but someone snatched her phone, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it until it shattered into pieces. They even punched her a few times before pinning her firmly to the ground.

I tried to move, but two people had me by the hair, holding me in place. I tilted my head up and looked at every single one of them.

"Let my grandpa go while he still can be saved. If anything happens to him, I swear I'll make every last one of you pay!"

Brian scoffed. He walked over and punched me in the face twice.

"Keep talking tough! It won't save you or that old geezer! Once my interview wraps up this afternoon, the producer position will be mine. And you…"

He sneered in a hushed tone. "You'll forever be known as the renowned journalist who traded his body for interviews! Your reputation will be ruined, and your career will be officially over!"

Elaine seemed to feel a momentary pang of guilt and made a motion to step forward to help Grandpa up, but Brian threw both arms out to block her.

"Elaine, as long as Luke promises to get down on his knees and apologize to me, I'm willing to risk getting scammed and help his grandfather," he announced with righteous conviction.

She didn't hesitate at all. She turned to me, her voice completely flat and unbothered as she urged, "You heard him. Apologize to Brian. Unlike you, he's a magnanimous person."

Brian could barely hide the smug smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

I stood frozen in place. It felt as though my heart was being ripped clean in two. Half of it was overwhelmed by the suffocating humiliation of being slandered. The other half was filled with pure concern for Grandpa's life.

Seeing his breathing grow weaker by the second, I closed my eyes. Then, with a thud, I dropped to my knees.

I ducked my head before Brian, who was looming proud and tall over me. Slapping my face repeatedly, I squeezed out an apology through gritted teeth.

"It's my fault. I'm a bastard for trying to seduce Ms. Crowley. Please, I'm begging you. Call an ambulance…"

The very next second, a loud clang rang out. The Cullinan parked right beside us was slowly hoisted into the air by a crane, revealing a group of people standing behind it.

Before Brian could even react, someone kicked him flying.

"A good dog doesn't block the way. And even if you were remade from scratch, you still wouldn't be worth my brother kneeling to you!"