Lahat ng Kabanata ng Her Stepbrother Called Me Nobody, But I Own This City: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 7

In my twenty-six years of life, no one had ever dared to speak to me that way."Say that again," I said, my voice dangerously low. "What, exactly, do you want me to do?""Are you fucking deaf? I said get on your knees like a dog and apologize to me, saying, ' I'm a worthless piece of trash.'"I chuckled. "You're loud enough. I heard you loud and clear—you are a worthless piece of trash."Brian's face instantly flushed red as he realized he'd been played. "You're asking for it! How dare you mock me on my own turf?"He roared and charged at me, his fists flailing wildly. The sight would have been comical if he wasn't so loud.In Veridian City, I had been training with my family's top combat experts since I was a child. This kind of sloppy, undisciplined brawling wasn't even a warm-up for me.I lifted my leg and drove a vicious, clean knee strike straight into his gut. Brian slammed onto the ground, curling up and groaning on the Persian rug.A wave of gasps swept through the banquet hall

The moment my father, Damian Ryder, stepped through the doors, the air in the grand hall turned to ice.His gaze was intensely oppressive, sweeping across the room before finally landing on me.But at that moment, I was still pinned to the floor.Brian, oblivious to the world of trouble he was in, actually sneered and approached him."Perfect timing. Your son tried to steal my property, and then he assaulted me. You both better get on your knees and apologize right now, or the Sinclair Group won't let you leave this place alive!"Whispers erupted from the crowd. A few guests approached my father, lowering their voices to offer urgent advice."Sir, don't be rash. Miss Everly dotes on Mr. Brian.""In Veridian City, angering the Sinclair Group is a death sentence.""For your own safety, and your son's, just bow your head. Staying alive is what matters."My father didn't even bother to look at them. He simply raised his hand with a blank expression.The two elite security guards behind him

Three days later, the annual Veridian Summit convened as scheduled. The venue was our family's private estate on the mountaintop.My father and I entered the main conference hall. The eyes of every business titan immediately focused on us.I was wearing a bespoke suit and carrying a custom ebony cane. A strong painkiller suppressed the agony in my ankle. As long as I didn't move too sharply, I wouldn't limp, which would have been a disgrace to the family.Madeline hurried over, her expression tense."Mr. Ryder, Jax. You've arrived."I gave a polite nod, my gaze sweeping over the powerful figures seated at the long table who controlled the city's economy."Bring them in," my father ordered in a deep voice.Several heavily armed guards pushed a large, reinforced steel cage, stopping it directly under the crystal chandelier in the center of the hall.The entire room let out a collective, stifled gasp as they saw who was inside. Everly and Brian were huddled in a corner, looking utterly w