Cesar slapped Desmond to the ground.
Desmond screamed in pain, clutching his cheek in anger. “How dare you hit me? You must be looking for trouble.”
Cesar didn’t waste words. He stepped forward and kicked Desmond, who was trying to get up, back down again.
Desmond cried out in pain, clutching his stomach.
“Desmond!”
Four tattooed men rushed over to help Desmond up. “Are you okay?”
“How could I be okay after being beaten like this?”
With the help of his four companions, Desmond stood up and angrily shouted at them, “Get him.”
In the midst of Pablo’s panic, the four tattooed men charged forward with a roar.
Cesar grinned, revealing two gold teeth.
The conflict erupted suddenly. Before anyone could react, the four tattooed men were heavily beaten down.
After Cesar’s five punches landed, only Desmond was left standing, pale and gasping for air.
His eyes bulged as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.
His stomach had taken a heavy punch from Cesar, causing him immense pain and rendering him speechless.
He envied his subordinates who could still lie on the ground groaning, while he didn’t even have that luxury.
Cesar grabbed his hair, forcing him to stand straight.
He felt like his scalp was being torn off by Cesar.
But what frustrated Desmond more was that he had no idea who Cesar was. “Why are you hitting me?”
Harry and his companions rushed over and started kicking and punching the four tattooed men, completely breaking their will to resist. Pablo shivered in fear.
“Who the hell am I?”
Cesar slapped Desmond’s face again. “I am Bailee’s creditor.”
Creditor?
Desmond and the Lennards were stunned. Bailee felt confused. When did she get a creditor?
At that moment, she saw a familiar figure. Darnell, sitting not far away, winked at her. She immediately understood.
Cesar slammed Desmond onto a table. “Bailee!”
“I am a debt collector from Lifeguard Security Services. You owe us $100, 000, which is now seriously overdue. With interest, it’s $120, 000. You must repay it immediately.”
“Otherwise, we will go after your parents or friends for the debt and may even take extreme measures to protect our rights.”
Cesar glared at Desmond and growled, “Otherwise, scenes like this with your brother will keep happening.”
Bailee hesitated for a moment but then saw Darnell waving at her again. She quickly responded,
“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t have any money right now, but I will repay you as soon as possible.”
Pablo and Maci trembled upon hearing this. Desmond was furious. It turned out he was suffering because of Bailee.
“Enough talk! The money must be repaid today.”
Cesar took on a gangster’s demeanor. “If you don’t repay the money, your family will pay the price.”
He picked up a cup of coffee and poured it over Desmond’s head, scalding him into cries of pain.
Desmond shouted repeatedly, “I’m not her brother! You’ve got the wrong person!”
Cesar slapped Desmond twice more across the face. “I’ve seen plenty of people playing dumb. Do you think I’ll believe you?”
Desmond’s face swelled up. “I’m really not her brother! I’m also here to collect debt! I’m Desmond from the Apex.”
He pleaded with Pablo, “Pablo! Tell them I’m not a Lennard! I’m not Bailee’s brother!”
Pablo and Maci were about to speak when Cesar glared at them. “And who are you?”
Pablo and Maci immediately shut their mouths, worried that revealing their identities would lead to beatings or forced repayments.
“He really isn’t my brother. He’s my parents’ creditor.”
At this point, Bailee chimed in appropriately, “You’ve got the wrong person.”
Desmond looked grateful, thinking she was kind-hearted.
Cesar slapped Desmond again. “Are you two trying to fool me?”
Bailee shouted again, “He’s really not my brother. He’s my parents’ creditor here to collect debts from me.”
Cesar dragged Desmond next to Bailee. “Do you think I’m an idiot? Look how similar you two are.”
“How can you not be siblings?”
Desmond wanted to cry. What kind of eyesight did this gold-toothed guy have? He looked nothing like Bailee, more like Beauty and the Beast.
Darnell leisurely drank his cola. He was starting to appreciate Cesar’s rogue style.
Cesar called out to Harry and his crew, “Look at them! Aren’t they siblings?”
Harry and his group nodded in unison. “They look alike! They must be siblings.”
Cesar slapped Desmond twice more until he couldn’t even cry. “What’s wrong with admitting you’re Bailee’s brother? Coward!”
Desmond was furious but couldn’t resist anymore to avoid more beatings. “Yes, I’m her brother!”
“That’s more like it! Not recognizing your own family, what kind of person does that make you?”
Cesar rummaged through Desmond’s pockets and took out his wallet. “As Bailee’s brother, it’s your duty to pay off her debt.”
Desmond felt utterly miserable. He came to collect debts but ended up having debts collected from him instead. What was wrong with this world?
Cesar pocketed over $600 in cash from Desmond’s wallet before pulling out his ID card with surprise.
“Your surname isn’t Lennard? So you’re really not a Lennard?”
Desmond managed to squeeze out a sentence, “I told you I’m not her brother.”
Cesar slapped him again. “I hate liars the most! If you’re not her brother, why did you admit it?”
Desmond wanted to kill Cesar, cursing inwardly, “I admitted it because you forced me!” However, all he could do was cry out, “I was wrong.”
“It’s good that you know your mistake.”
Cesar released the bruised and swollen Desmond in satisfaction. “You’re also a creditor? Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“I thought you were Bailee’s brother, so I gave you a beating as a warning. That’s just our way of collecting debts. You understand that right?”
“Damn it! Do I have a choice? If I talk back, you’ll beat me again!” he thought to himself.
Desmond felt intense pain all over his body and suspected internal injuries. Hearing Cesar’s words made him want to beat him up, but all he could do was nod. “I understand.”
“Good that you understand. Sorry, buddy!”
Cesar patted Desmond on the shoulder and wiped coffee off his hand onto him. “Alright then, you can go now.”
Shit!
Just going to let it slide after a beating? No mention of compensation? Not even returning the $600 taken? What kind of rogue was this?
Desmond felt utterly aggrieved but managed to ask, “Do you mind telling me which gang you’re from?”
Revenge was best served cold.
Cesar proudly looked at Darnell. “We are from the Pantheon! And our boss is Darnell!”