Felicity felt a wave of satisfaction wash over her. She wasn’t someone who enjoyed revenge, but her Aunt Clara had gone too far this time. Watching someone put Clara in her place made her feel undeniably relieved.
Annie, on the other hand, was gripped with fear.
Each slap Kayden delivered landed with a resounding force on her mother’s face, but the pain seemed to echo in Annie’s heart. It wasn’t that she cared much for her mother; what terrified her was the thought of those same slaps landing on her.
Annie had also been part of the bullying against Felicity earlier. She’d pushed her luck far enough, especially since this man was obviously connected to Felicity. Watching Kayden’s imposing demeanor now, she found him completely terrifying.
And just as Annie feared, Kayden turned his gaze toward her after finishing with the plump woman.
His bloodshot eyes locked onto Annie, and her entire body trembled. She instinctively raised her hands to shield her face, stammering, “W-What are you doing? I know Mr. Kane! I know Mr. Kane!”
Mr. Kane was the town’s local thug-a man who had once tried his luck in the outside world but failed and returned to rule this small place with an iron fist. Though he couldn’t make it in the big leagues, in this little town, no one dared provoke him. He was notorious for his cruelty and had a reputation for preying on young women.
Kayden’s voice was calm as he looked at the trembling Annie. “Hmm. Then go and call Mr. Kane.”
Annie froze, stunned. Did she hear that right? Kayden wanted her to call Mr. Kane?
“You… you wait! Just you wait!” Annie spat out, her fear momentarily replaced by disbelief, and then she turned and ran.
“Kayden!” Felicity suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Kayden’s arm.
When Kayden turned to look at her, his heart softened. This was the Felicity he remembered-her true self, no longer hidden under insecurity and scars.
Felicity’s heart raced as she met his gaze, his fiery eyes making her feel flustered. She wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Her eyes darted nervously, unable to meet his.
“You’re beautiful,” Kayden said before she could speak.
Caught off guard, Felicity let out a soft “Ah” and quickly lowered her head. She had never imagined she could look this beautiful.
Behind them, Felicity’s mother spoke up, her voice filled with gratitude. “Young man, thank you for helping Felicity so much! She’s suffered so much because of her scars, always feeling so small and insignificant. Now that her face is healed, she can finally live like a normal person again. We can never repay you for what you’ve done. Please, let me kneel before you!”
Felicity’s mother, of course, recognized Kayden. After all, he had not only saved Felicity but also recovered the money they had lent-a kindness the family would never forget.
Kayden quickly helped her to her feet. “There’s no need for that,” he said, shaking his head. “You don’t have to be so formal. Felicity is my friend, and helping her is the least I can do.”
Felicity’s mother sighed deeply. “If that’s the case, then as her friend, I must warn you-leave now before that Adams Kane arrives. He’s not someone you want to mess with! He’s been a troublemaker since he was a kid, and he even went to jail for stabbing someone before he finished middle school. Please, go before it’s too late!”
Adams Kane was the undisputed king of this small town, someone no one dared provoke.
“Yes, Kayden, you should leave,” Felicity chimed in nervously.
Kayden gave her a steady look. “What? Do you not believe in me either?”
Felicity had seen Kayden take down hundreds of men in a single fight. She knew what he was capable of, but she still shook her head quickly. “No, no, that’s not what I mean. I just don’t want you to get into unnecessary trouble because of me.”
Kayden smiled faintly. “I’ve traveled all this way from Inassea to see you. Are you really going to send me away now?”
Before Felicity could respond, Kayden leaned forward and lightly tapped her nose with his finger. The intimate gesture made her cheeks flush a deep red.
Lowering her head, Felicity stammered, “I’m not asking you to leave. I just…”
Kayden interrupted her. “If you’re not asking me to leave, then don’t say anything else. Let’s wait for that Kane dog together.”
He paused, his expression softening. “By the way, the noodles you made were quite good, but next time, don’t add so much meat. Too much meat ruins the flavor of the noodles. I’ll teach you some tricks to improve your noodle shop’s business. I guarantee it’ll be packed every day.”
Felicity and her mother were baffled. This wasn’t the time to talk about noodle recipes-Mr. Kane was on his way, and he wasn’t coming for noodles.
Meanwhile, Clara, who had been unconscious after the beating, began to stir. When she opened her eyes and saw Kayden, her previous arrogance disappeared. Her face was pale, her demeanor timid, and her entire body trembled with fear.
There was a saying: “Only a villain can deal with another villain.” And in this world, there was no one more ruthless than Kayden.
For ten years, he had lived a life of bloodshed, treating human lives as insignificant as ants.
“Kayden, thank you,” Felicity said nervously, unsure of what else to say.
Kayden glanced at her, noticing how her face had regained its natural beauty. However, her clothing still seemed too simple, almost out of place with her now radiant appearance.
“By the way,” he said, “didn’t I buy you some clothes? Why aren’t you wearing them?”
Felicity lowered her head even further, her voice barely above a whisper. “They’re too expensive. I couldn’t bring myself to wear them. I’ve never owned anything so expensive before. I was afraid I’d ruin them.”
Every night, Felicity would carefully touch the clothes Kayden had bought her, as if they were a precious treasure. They reminded her of him, so she didn’t dare wear them, fearing they might get damaged.
Kayden sighed. “Fine. But from now on, you can wear them. Those clothes suit your style perfectly.”
Felicity had a natural charm, a kind of innate grace that no amount of makeup or decoration could replicate. It radiated from within her, making her truly unique.
At that moment, Annie returned-with thirty men in tow.
Leading the group was a bald man in his thirties, wearing loud, patterned trousers. A deep, menacing scar ran down his face, making him look even more intimidating.
“Mr. Kane, it’s him!” Annie shouted, pointing at Kayden. “He said you’re trash and that you should kneel before him! He even hit me and my mom, saying this town is full of useless nobodies!”
Her words were exaggerated, dripping with venom, as she tried to rile up the infamous Mr. Kane.