Chapter 4

I was utterly dumbfounded by this baseless accusation.

Isabella’s gaze lingered on me for a second, then she effortlessly shifted the blame onto me.

“It’s true, it was him. This person has a history. We’ve already decided to fire him, and we’ll deal with him severely to provide your party with a reasonable explanation!”

The partners snorted.

After much placating and apologizing, they finally ushered the partner out. Mason Rivers peeked his head out, then finally straightened up and cleared his throat.

“Liam Allen, it’s all your fault. This project is completely ruined. Do you know this project had tens of millions in profit? Even if I wanted to speak up for you, you’ll have to compensate us for this project!”

I found it laughable.

“Mason Rivers, are you delusional?”

Isabella shielded Mason, her face arrogant.

“Mason just managed to become VP. He can’t have this kind of blemish on his record. Liam Allen, if you admit your mistake, I might grudgingly have a good impression of you.”

I sneered.

My biggest mistake was letting her waltz into the company and wreak havoc.

Just as I was about to turn, Mason Rivers grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked hard.

My neck felt strangely bare.

I turned back and saw the rare sapphire pendant my parents had commissioned for my eighteenth birthday, now clutched in Mason’s hand as he fiddled with it.

He scoffed.

“What a cheap, superstitious trinket. So clear, must be cheap glass. Liam Allen, if you admit the project is your responsibility, I can buy you a real one.”

My eyes widened.

“Give it back!”

Isabella, knowing full well this was my cherished possession and that I never took it off, frowned and said,

“If you agree to admit to swapping the original file, I’ll have Mason give it back to you.”

Rage burned in my chest. I reached out to grab it, yelling again.

“Give it back right now!”

Seeing my anger, Mason smirked, deliberately letting go. The sapphire pendant dropped to the floor, shattering into several pieces.

My pupils contracted.

The next second, pure rage consumed me. I kicked Mason square in the chest.

He staggered back two steps and fell to the ground.

Everyone gasped, seeing my sudden outburst, and rushed to surround me.

Isabella quickly helped Mason up, but I wasn't about to let him off easy.

A year’s worth of frustration and resentment exploded. I punched him square on the nose.

Immediately, two streams of blood poured down his face.

People from behind grabbed me, pinning my arms, but I still tried to kick him with my legs.

“Mason Rivers, I’m not letting a worm like you get away with this!”

Isabella’s eyes were full of heartache. She shielded the back of Mason’s head and wiped his nosebleed with a tissue.

Mason burst into tears, tugging at her sleeve.

“Isabella, I accidentally dropped his thing, it wasn’t on purpose.”

Isabella suddenly stood up and slapped me across the face, snapping my head to the side.

She snapped,

“Liam Allen, get on your knees and apologize to Mason! That necklace of yours was just a cheap piece of junk. So what if it broke? How could you hit him? I’ll buy you ten more!”

How ridiculous.

My parents spent millions to acquire that rare sapphire, and hired a world-renowned jeweler to craft it. The craftsmanship alone cost hundreds of thousands.

Most importantly, my parents had it specially blessed for me, spending days seeking good fortune for my life at a spiritual retreat. Its significance was immeasurable.

Seeing me silent, everyone pushed me down, forcing me to my knees.

“Liam Allen, what’s with the act? We’re not calling the cops on you, that’s charity enough! Now, apologize!”

I struggled violently, glaring at everyone.

“Mr. Harrison will be here any minute. If you’re so brave, try forcing me to my knees in front of him.”

Mason Rivers still thought I was bluffing. He snorted.

“Isabella doesn’t even know when Mr. Harrison is coming back. You think you can fool us by saying he’s here and get out of compensating for the project going south?”

Isabella said in a low voice,

“Even if Mr. Harrison comes, it’s no use if you complain to him. He won’t believe you.”

I chuckled, poking the inside of my cheek with my tongue, where my tooth had cut it.

“I’m his son. He won’t believe me?”

Mason Rivers looked like he’d heard the funniest joke in the world.

“Liam Allen, have you lost your mind from fear? Your last name is Allen, his is Harrison. If you’re his son, then I’m his grandpappy!”

“Everyone knows Mr. Harrison’s beloved son has been studying abroad. You, a country boy, are quite vain, forgetting your roots!”

After I hit him, he could no longer maintain his gentlemanly facade. His face contorted in a sneer.

Before his words even finished, a steady male voice rang out.

“What is this commotion in the lobby? This is utterly unacceptable!”

I turned my head. The middle-aged man who had just stepped into the company was impeccably dressed, exuding authority.

It was my dad.

I hadn’t even had time to feel happy when Mason Rivers roughly shoved me aside and went to greet him, fawning.

“Mr. Harrison, you’re back! How are you feeling? We were just cleaning house. Everyone knows you value character most, but a certain employee not only plagiarized my proposal to get promoted but also deliberately sabotaged my original file out of revenge, angering our partners and causing our company to lose a hundred-million-dollar deal!”

He looked up, tears in his eyes, and pulled out the bloody tissue from his nose.

“He even deliberately hit me! Such a person is truly disgusting!”

My dad’s eyes widened in fury. He looked at Isabella.

“Isabella, is what he’s saying true? If there’s such a petty person, notify the legal department to make him pay compensation and issue a public statement to blacklist him from the entire industry. I’ll make sure that person knows the consequences of tarnishing my Harrison Corp.!”

Isabella glanced at me imperceptibly, hesitated for a second, then finally nodded her assent.

“Mr. Harrison, I’ve already fired him, but he is an old employee of our company…”

Saying that, she pulled me from the crowd.

“Liam Allen, why aren’t you apologizing to Mr. Harrison? Otherwise, even if I put in a good word for you, Mr. Harrison won’t let you off easy!”

The next second, my dad raised his hand.

Everyone thought he was going to hit me, their faces full of mockery.

Mason Rivers even yelled,

“Mr. Harrison, don’t dirty your hands by hitting him. Why don’t I do it?”

But my dad only touched the slap mark on my face, his eyes full of concern.

“Liam, who hit you? Dad will make them pay!”

Everyone present, who had been gloating, couldn't believe their eyes at this scene. They exchanged stunned glances.

I bit my lip, my nose stung, and I barely managed to keep my tears from falling.