Alfie snorted with laughter and turned to his gang. “Did you all hear that? She just said she’s going to call the police!”
“Haha!” His followers burst into laughter as if they’d heard a great joke.
Alfie paced a few steps, shaking his head. “Too bad, sweetheart. Calling the police won’t do you any good here. I’m the law in these parts.”
“Fine! Then can I leave? I don’t want the jade anymore,” Lacey snapped, flushed with anger and embarrassment. This was her first encounter with such a shameless thug.
Alfie shook his head, his facade completely dropped. He sneered, “No, you’re not going anywhere. Today, you have two choices: either pay 5 million for the jade, or spend the night with me for 2 million.”
As he finished speaking, his gang moved into the shop, eyeing Kayden and Lacey menacingly.
Lacey frowned and turned to the fat shopkeeper. “You know this is illegal, right? Forcing people to buy your items?”
The shopkeeper shrugged. “What’s it got to do with me? The jade belongs to Mr. Lowe now. Talk to him.”
“You…” Lacey was at a loss dealing with such shameless people. She looked awkwardly at Kayden, who still maintained his aloof attitude. Lacey couldn’t help but wonder if he was even a man. How could he be so indifferent to injustice?
Any other man would at least say something.
Was Kayden afraid? Seeing so many opponents, he must be scared!
But ultimately, this was her fault. If not for her, Kayden wouldn’t be here. Feeling guilty, she said to Kayden, “I’m sorry, Mr. Scott. Why don’t you leave first?”
Kayden shook his head. “We’ll leave together, and we’re taking the jade.”
Lacey gasped, still processing his words when Kayden stepped forward and said coldly to Alfie, “I choose a third option: knock you to the ground and walk over you.”
Alfie looked at Kayden with disdain. “You’re just a bodyguard. You’re not even worthy of fighting me.”
Bodyguard! In his eyes, Kayden was merely Lacey’s protector.
Kayden didn’t bother arguing. He stepped forward and landed a swift, hard punch right on Alfie’s face.
This was the epitome of quick, fierce, and precise!
He didn’t give Alfie a chance to react before landing another punch squarely on his face.
Alfie stumbled back several steps. His gang rushed forward, crying, “Mr. Lowe, are you okay?”
Alfie touched his bruised cheek, cursed under his breath, and shoved his men aside. He roared, “You bastard, you’re asking to die here today. You’re forcing me to kill you.”
“Smack!” Before Alfie could finish his threat, Kayden’s fist connected with his face again.
Alfie staggered, nearly falling. But Kayden didn’t give him the chance to go down. He grabbed Alfie’s collar and started raining blow after blow on his face.
The sound of the impacts echoed around them, making Lacey cover her mouth in shock.
She stared at Kayden with wide eyes. He was so cool, impossibly cool!
Kayden was about 6’1″, while Alfie was well over 6’6″ and burly. Standing together, Kayden looked like a child. But in action, Alfie was the one who seemed like a helpless child, constantly pummeled by Kayden.
Alfie’s gang stood dumbfounded. If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn’t have believed it. Their boss, who could take on dozens of men single-handedly, was being thrashed so brutally.
Soon, Kayden stopped. Alfie collapsed heavily to the ground. His face was swollen beyond recognition, and he lay motionless, knocked out cold.
Kayden looked around at Alfie’s gang. One glance from him sent the cowardly bunch scurrying back.
He then turned to the stunned shopkeeper, who recoiled at the sight of Kayden’s bloodshot eyes.
“This… this has nothing to do with me,” the fat shopkeeper stammered. “Mr. Lowe made me do it. He was going to take 4 million of the 5 million anyway. I wouldn’t dare take a penny more. If I didn’t go along with it, I’d be out of business. I have a family to support. I had no choice. Please, have mercy on me, considering how pitiful my situation is.” As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. He was literally crying, terrified by Kayden’s display of power.
Kayden ignored the fat shopkeeper’s pleas and asked coldly, “So can we take this now?”
The shopkeeper nodded vigorously, trembling. “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll give you a 20% discount. Just eight hundred thousand will do, yeah.”
Kayden glanced at the still-stunned Lacey. “What are you waiting for? Pay and let’s go.”
Lacey approached the counter and said, “I’ll pay by card.”
As the shopkeeper prepared the card machine, he said nervously, “Miss, your husband is really something! Is he a big shot in Hiphia’s underworld? If I’d known your husband was such a formidable man, I wouldn’t have dared to do this. Please, Miss, ask your husband to spare me just this once.”
Lacey blushed, lowering her head shyly. “He’s not my husband!”
Just as she finished speaking, Kayden stepped forward and grabbed her hand. “Let’s go after you’ve paid.”
This sudden move caught Lacey off guard. She found herself being led by Kayden, stepping over Alfie’s body as they left Dorsey’s Antiques Store.
Following behind Kayden, Lacey felt comfortable and safe. Especially with Kayden’s large hand holding her small one, she experienced an unprecedented sense of security.
If Kayden were to lead her off to be sold right now, she wouldn’t even know it, so entranced was she.
She had thought she’d never pay attention to any man, believing no man could catch her eye. But now, meeting Kayden, she changed her mind. Even though this man had a wife, he still gave her a fresh perspective.
Just as her mind was filled with these thoughts, suddenly, Kayden let go of her hand!