Chapter 3

I had heard from Mom that Yvonne's father had gone to great lengths to secure this marital alliance with my family. If he were to learn that his daughter had personally ruined it, she would certainly face severe consequences.

I felt a bit better as I thought of that. I couldn't be bothered dealing with these idiots anymore, so I turned to leave.

Samuel refused to let it go, though. He once again reached out to block my path, relying on the backing he had. "You're not going anywhere, you bastard! You took the suit I wanted and hit me—I'm not done with you!"

I shot him a contemptuous glance. "How do you want to settle this, then?"

Thinking that I was scared of him, Samuel swung his hand to slap me. "I'll keep hitting you until I've had enough!"

I caught his wrist with one hand and used the other to deliver a swift, clean slap to his face.

Samuel looked at me in disbelief and bellowed, "How dare you hit me, you wretched—"

I backhanded him with another slap and asked coldly, "Is that enough for you?"

Those two slaps totally quelled Samuel's insolence. He sought refuge behind Yvonne with tear-filled eyes, pleading, "You have to do something about this, Yvonne!"

Yvonne protectively shielded Samuel, clearly pained by his distress. She then snapped, "You've got a lot of nerve laying a hand on someone who belongs to me! You must have a death wish!"

She then gestured for the bodyguards behind her to seize me.

I made the first move and knocked one of the men down, but I couldn't handle the second one. I collapsed to the ground in pain after taking several blows. They then hauled me up and dragged me over to stand before Yvonne and Samuel.

Yvonne offered her support to Samuel, stating, "You can do whatever you want to him today, Samuel. I've got your back no matter what!"

Upon hearing that, Samuel was instantly emboldened. He slapped me twice and then spat directly in my face. "You were acting so arrogant earlier, weren't you? Why don't you try being a tough guy now, you scumbag!"

After saying that, he kicked me right in the stomach.

I clutched my stomach in agony and looked up at him and Yvonne. "You've got a lot of nerve treating me this way! I'm going to make you pay for it!"

Samuel let out a derisive laugh. "You ought to know that the Gardner family is one of the three biggest powerhouses in Bellevue! Do you really think a mere pauper like you can go against me? I'll show you exactly what happens when you cross me!"

He produced a fruit knife from his bag and slashed it across my face. A searing pain hit my cheek at once as it swelled and began to bleed.

It was then that someone in the crowd lamented, saying, "He was told early on not to provoke the Gardner family, but he ignored the advice. He's now paying the price for it."

"It really is a shame to see such a good-looking face ruined like that."

"It's better for ordinary people like us to just keep our heads down and put up with things when we're out."

Samuel clutched the fruit knife, ready to cut my face again.

I was terrified of being permanently disfigured, so I hastily pleaded for mercy. "I'm sorry—it's all my fault! I'll give you the suit! I shouldn't have fought you for it!"

I simply thought that vengeance was a dish best served later; for the moment, the priority was getting out of there in one piece.

Samuel, however, ignored my plea and cut my face again. "It's a bit too late for an apology. I'm going to make sure I'm able to satisfy my grudge today. Don't think for a second that you're getting away from me!"

I screamed in pain and turned to Yvonne for help. "Do you not fear the implications of my true identity, Yvonne? You'll eventually regret letting him abuse me like this!"

Yvonne looked at me with contempt and asked, "What kind of identity could you possibly have? You only have this engagement because your manipulative mother bewitched my father into making that forced arrangement!"

Samuel's eyes flashed with malicious intent. "You're just as trashy as your mother! I'll strip you bare today and teach you a lesson in humility!"

"No!"

It was then that the phone in my bag started ringing. I struggled violently to reach it, but Samuel beat me to it. He swiped the screen to answer, and Mom's voice came through immediately. "How is the suit shopping going, Nathan?"

I shouted for help right away. "You have to come help me, Mom! I'm being attacked, and he's trying to strip me naked!"

Mom immediately panicked. "What? Who is responsible for it?"

Samuel cut in arrogantly. "I'm the one who did it! You're a whore who raised a son just like you! He's been acting like a total slut, so I'm just giving him what he deserves!"

Mom exclaimed anxiously, "I don't care who you are! You'd better let my son go this instant; otherwise, you'll be sorry when I get there!"

"I dare you to show up! I'll be waiting right here! I can't wait to tear you apart when you get here!" Samuel exclaimed. He then ended the call and threw the phone away, shattering it into pieces.

Samuel slapped me across the face again and snarled, "You're a fraud just like your mother! I'll strip her naked right alongside you once she gets here!"

I could feel the time slowly passing by, and even though only five minutes had passed, it felt like half a century to me. I eventually spotted a familiar Lincoln limousine heading our way.

Mom pushed the car door open and stepped out. "I want to see exactly who thinks they have the guts to lay a hand on me!"