Chapter 4

Seeing me ignore him, Chad pointed the baseball bat directly at my nose.

"Tsk, tsk. The stray's got some fight in him. But I love breaking unruly mutts."

"The last stubborn kitten that hissed at me is currently purring softly in my lap."

His sleazy implication made my blood boil instantly.

The Sterling family had indeed been a dominant power in this city back in his great-grandfather's day. But with each generation, their influence had dwindled. By the time it trickled down to Chad, even his seat at the table had to be bought with bribes.

Meanwhile, the Miller family—Vivian's family—had struck gold overnight through a sudden stroke of luck. Her father was desperate not to let that newfound wealth slip away. He needed an old-money connection to anchor his empire.

He threw his cash around, courting several prominent families, but they just took his money and treated him like a clown.

That was when he set his sights on the declining Sterlings. He targeted Vivian, the eldest daughter from his first marriage, using her sick mother as leverage to force her into an arranged marriage with Chad.

During that week she disappeared, she had tried desperately to fight back. In the end, she had no choice but to bend to her father's threats.

Seeing me disregard him once again, Chad, who was used to throwing his weight around, snapped at the perceived disrespect.

He swung the bat straight toward my head.

"Look out!"

Vivian's terrified scream pulled me from my thoughts.

I reached out, catching the baseball bat mid-swing, and yanked it forward with all my strength.

Chad was completely unprepared for the sudden resistance. He lost his footing and crashed heavily onto the deck.

His massive belly hit the wooden planks with a loud, dull thud.

The surrounding socialites bit their lips to stifle their laughter, though they hurried to voice their fake concern.

"Mr. Sterling, are you alright?"

"Where did this bum come from, putting hands on the Sterling heir?"

"He's completely out of his mind!"

Vivian skidded to a halt just a few feet away. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress a smile before rushing over to Chad's side.

"Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere? I've never seen such a massive yacht before, let's not waste our time on someone like him."

Chad's face darkened even further at her arrival.

No man wanted to be humiliated in front of his peers, let alone in front of his romantic rival.

His face turned as red as a tomato as he glared at me with pure malice. "You dare play me? If I don't peel the skin off your back today, where is the Sterling family pride supposed to go?"

He barked at his surrounding bodyguards, "Grab this bastard! I'm going to break him myself!"

Seeing the guards move, Vivian threw herself in front of me, shoving my chest violently. "Who gave you the nerve to push Mr. Sterling? Do you want to die? Get lost! Get out of my sight!"

Her words were razor-sharp, but the terror in her eyes was threatening to spill over.

She shoved me hard, desperately trying to create an opening for me to slip away in the chaos.

Furious as he was, Chad was never going to let me walk.

With the help of his guards, he hauled his heavy frame back onto his feet, his rolls of fat trembling with rage.

"I'll make this clear right now: anyone who lets him leave is an enemy of the Sterling family!"

Vivian tried to appease him. "Mr. Sterling, why lower yourself to get angry over a nobody? I'm still waiting for that surprise you promised me."

Chad grabbed her by the chin, his gaze venomous. "Don't think I don't know what you're doing. This pretty boy of yours pisses me off. I'm putting him down today."

He signaled with a flick of his wrist, and several guards instantly grabbed both of my arms.

"I hear there are sharks lurking in this bay. I don't mind tossing them a mid-afternoon snack. And if anyone tries to stop me, they can go overboard right along with him."

The yes-men hanging around Chad chimed in immediately.

"A stray dog is just a nuisance anyway. Mr. Sterling is doing the city a public service!"

"Exactly. A generous soul like Mr. Sterling is hard to come by these days."

"In this town, who dares cross Mr. Sterling?"

Just then, a deep, commanding voice cut through the noise from the back of the crowd.

"Oh? Since when does a little boy from the Sterling family call all the shots around here?"

The crowd instantly parted down the middle in hushed reverence.

A distinguished man in an impeccably tailored three-piece suit walked forward with steady, measured steps.

Chad's eyes widened, his lips trembling as he scrambled to find his words.

"I was just... putting a stray in its place, Mr. Vance. I didn't mean to make a scene in front of you. Of course your word is law in this city! Quick, drag the boy over here, let Mr. Vance have the first crack at him!"

Vivian tugged urgently at my sleeve, whispering under her breath, "Watch your tone. Mr. Vance is the only man here with the power to save your life."

I casually shook off the bodyguards' grip and strolled leisurely toward Mr. Vance.