Chapter 23

Marvin watched in disbelief, the corner of his lip twitching as he muttered, "I didn't know Julie's brother had such a hidden identity... I'm glad she has someone like this in her life. Someone who can protect her But his relief quickly twisted into concern.

"Still," he whispered to himself, eyes narrowing, "the mastermind behind all this... was Baron from the Gravesend family. No matter

how powerful this young man is, the Gravesends aren't people you face alone."

The Gravesends were ranked just under the Thornfells, second among the Seven Elite families. Their grip on Ravenmoor was undeniable. In most places, they weren't under the government- they were the government. Opposing them wasn't just foolish. It was suicide.

Clara stood frozen, her throat dry. She had assumed Jaden was powerful-

maybe even dangerous-but this?

Even her grandfather, who commanded entire districts with a word, seemed like a shadow next to this storm of a

man.

"But

even with that," she thought grimly, "the Gravesend family... that's not something he can handle alone."

Across the lot, Bob shakily crawled forward, trying to save himself. (1)

"Your brother tried to harass my sister,” Jaden said coldly, eyes pinned on him like a predator. “And you showed up to support him. Now you've got the gall to beg for forgiveness?"

Jaden didn't wait for a reply.

SMACK!

The slap landed

with a thunderous crack, sending Bob tumbling meters through the air. His body slammed against the hood of a car with a metallic dent. "Fuck off," Jaden growled.

Kane, groaning from where he'd crashed earlier, barely lifted his head. His jaw was clenched, blood dripping from his mouth. No one dared help him.

Then Jaden turned.

His gaze locked onto the man who'd mocked him earlier with the gutter water.

," he barked. "Come here."

"You,"

The man jolted like he'd been electrocuted and stumbled forward, hands trembling.

Jaden seized him by the neck, hoisting him effortlessly into the air. The man kicked and wheezed, clawing at Jaden's wrist.

"Where's the tea I asked for?" Jaden asked in a voice as calm as it was lethal.

"I-I'm sorry! I'll go get-"

THUD!

Before he could finish, Jaden tossed him like garbage. The man crashed onto the pavement and rolled, coughing. Get full chapters from find{n}ovel.net

Then came the whimper.

"P_

Please, King," Bob begged from the ground, his face streaked with dirt and fear. "I swear I was only following Baron's orders. It wasn't my idea. The Baron... he's the one who has his eyes on your sister. I didn't Jaden's stare didn't soften. "I'll deal with that animal myself," he said coldly. "But first-"

He grabbed

Bob by the hair and dragged him across the pavement, ignoring his screams.

"You see this?" Jaden pointed to the side mirror of his black custom car, still stained with dried urine. "This is what you did to my car."

Jaden slammed Bob's face in front of it.

"Lick it clean."

Bob's eyes bulged. "Wh-what? King, I-

I know I offended you, but licking urine... please, that's too much. Have some mercy-"

CRACK!

His head slammed into the glass. Blood sprayed from his forehead. The car didn't even flinch- the mirror was reinforced.

"You've got the guts to beg for

mercy now?" Jaden said coldly. "Where was your reason when you

were pissing on my car? Wh

you

laid your filthy hands on my sister?"

SMASH!

Another blow. Even harder. Bob let out a shriek as his face slammed again into the mirror.

"I'll lick it! Please! Just don't hit me again!" he wailed.

"Good."

Jaden released his grip.

Bob leaned in, tongue out, and began licking the glass like a starving animal. The crowd watched in stunned horor. No one dared speak. The Crusher had become the crushed. 1

Then Jaden's eyes shifted again.

"You. Come here," he said, pointing to another thug lurking at the edge of the crowd.

The man jolted, nearly collapsing as he crawled toward Jaden on all fours.

"K-King! I was wrong!" he blabbered. "Please, let me atone! I'll lick your shoes, I'l-"

He bent forward to press his tongue to Jaden's shoe.

WHAM!

Jaden's foot met his face mid-

motion, launching him backward. The man gasped as he landed flat.

"Trash like you isn't even worthy of kneeling at my feet."

Jaden yanked him up again by the collar and began slapping him without restraint.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

The man's cheeks bloated red, his lips split open. His nose bled freely. Teeth clattered to the ground.

"Please!" the man cried. "It's my fault! I did the wrong thing! Forgive me, King!"

But Jaden didn't reply. His hand gripped the

man's jaw, squeezing it until bones creaked.

Jaden's voice was low, like thunder in the distance.

"Every one of you touched the wrong

person. You came after my sister you pissed on my car, and you

mocked me Now look at

you-groveling like worms.