Chapter 2

Now I've seen everything! After years of seeing Mom threaten people, now it was my turn to be threatened.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I turned to Leo. “A dog hiding behind someone else’s power, huh? Even Selena wouldn’t dare say something as crazy as that. And you? Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Who are you calling a dog?” he snapped.

I looked around. “You hear anyone else barking around here?”

“You… You bastard!” Furious, Leo clenched his fist and threw a punch at me.

I stepped back effortlessly, dodging him completely. He missed and slammed face-first onto the floor.

“Wow, Leo, you really committed to the role,” I said. “I call you a dog, and you roll on the ground so spectacularly? I appreciate the performance.”

He scrambled up from the ground, pointing at me as he cursed, “You bastard! Just you wait!”

I warned him, “If you don’t clean up that filthy mouth of yours, I’ll do it for you.”

My mom had me train with martial arts masters for self-defense since I was a kid, and guys like Leo? I could take on three of him without breaking a sweat.

The look in my eyes must’ve hit him hard. He stammered but kept his mouth shut.

More and more people were starting to gather around to watch the show, but I wasn’t in the mood to be some street corner entertainment. Hence, I bent down, picked up the black card he’d dropped, walked back into the store, bought the watch, and turned to leave.

Once again, Leo stepped in front of me, trying to block my way. He’d already burned through all my patience, so without hesitation, I lifted my foot, ready to kick him out of my way when…

“Stop!”

A woman’s voice, low and commanding, rang out from behind me.

Leo immediately rushed to her side, putting on a pitiful face. “Ms. Jackson, you’re finally here! He’s the one who’s been bullying me this whole time…”

I turned to look at Selena, and I’ll admit, I was momentarily stunned.

No wonder my mom said I’d be satisfied with her as a blind date. She had long legs, a slim waist, and porcelain skin. She looked very much like my favorite celebrity crush. Just for that face alone, I decided to give her another chance.

I put on a polite smile. “Ms. Jackson, right? I’m Xavier Hamilton. I’m your blind date today. Your mom should’ve mentioned me.”

Her mom, by the way, used to be a low-level employee at one of our family’s branch companies. My mom appreciated her business sense and personally helped the Jacksons to rise to their current status today.

Selena gave me a quick scan before saying in disdain, “Twenty-eight and still a virgin? We’re not a match.”

She sure had a poisoned tongue because her words hit me like a slap.

Twenty-eight and that was old now? I’d stayed clean, respected myself, and didn’t mess around, and she mocked me for it?

“Did you brush your teeth this morning? That mouth of yours stinks. Didn’t your parents teach you basic manners?”

Her face darkened instantly. “Manners? For someone like you? A hillbilly? I don’t care what spell you cast on my mom to set this up, but I’ll never marry a bumpkin like you.”

Right on cue, Leo clung to her arm and looked at me with open disdain. “Look at your ugly face. How do you think you deserve someone as beautiful and brilliant as Ms. Jackson?”

The crowd jumped in right away, eager to fan the flames.

“Look at his clothes. They can’t be worth more than a hundred bucks! And he’s dreaming of marrying Ms. Jackson? How delusional!”

“She’s got beauty, brains, and a powerhouse background. She could have any man she wants. Why would she settle for him?”

“Just another over-the-hill loser daydreaming. Someone wake him up!”

Sure, I was not as handsome as a movie star, but I was definitely not whatever they were trying to make me out to be.

Honestly, the world really did favor the rich.

“You know what?” I said. “Even if you begged, I still wouldn’t marry you. Go home and tell your mom I’m not interested.”