Chapter 70

The next day.

Jaden sat calmly at a quiet rooftop café overlooking Ravenmoor. The chaos from last night hadn't touched him. He sipped tea like nothing had happened—until a man with one arm slowly walked up to him and bowed deeply.

It was Bob.

His face was pale, lips chapped, and his coat couldn't hide the fresh bandages where his left arm used to be.

"Boss," Bob said, eyes low. "I failed. I couldn't protect her."

Jaden didn't speak immediately. He set his tea down, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a sleek, black titanium card-the same one he took from Stanwell the night before.

He held it out.

Bob stared at it.

"That's worth a hundred million," Jaden said plainly. "You lost your arm saving Julie. You obeyed my orders. That's more than most can say."

Bob's eyes widened in disbelief. "Boss, I—"

"Use it. Start over. Somewhere peaceful," Jaden interrupted. "You've done enough."

Bob bowed again, but this time tears mixed with his voice. "Then let me do one last thing before I go."

Silvercreek High School - Later That Day

The school was buzzing like any other normal afternoon. Students laughed in the hallways, teachers reviewed papers, but inside the staff room, something uglier was happening.

Mr. Harrison-the chemistry teacher-was cornering Hannah.

"Come on," he said, grinning. "Just one movie. You keep saying no... it's starting to hurt my feelings."

"I already told you I'm not interested," Hannah snapped, trying to leave.

But Harrison stepped in her way. "Keep this up and maybe Julie gets hurt again. Yeah... maybe next time she doesn't come back so lucky. Maybe she gets punished for making you like her useless brother!"

Her eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He leaned in close enough she could smell his sour breath. "It means if you keep rejecting me, bad things might happen. Again. Maybe next time she doesn't come back. Maybe next time she disappears for good."

She froze.

Then-SLAM!

The door burst open with a loud bang.

Bob stood there.

Half his face was in shadow. His coat flapped in the wind. The entire staff room went still.

And then-SMACK!

Bob's palm crashed across Harrison's face, sending the man spinning into a desk. Papers flew. A coffee mug shattered.

"Remember me?" Bob's voice cut like glass.

Harrison groaned, trying to crawl away. "W-Wait—"

"You made me wait at reception that day. You stalled me. You slowed me down."

He kicked Harrison square in the chest.

CRACK!

The man flipped backward into the wall.

"Because of you, Julie got taken."

He stomped forward, eyes glowing with rage. "Because of you... Norman's dead. And I lost my arm."

Harrison wheezed, clutching his ribs, trying to speak-but Bob didn't let him.

He grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into the wall.

"You sick freak. Threatening her again?" Bob's voice dropped to a growl. "You threaten the King's sister... you don't get a slap. You get crushed." THUMP!

One punch to the stomach. Harrison coughed blood.

WHAM!

Another to the jaw. Teeth flew.

Screams erupted from nearby staff, but no one dared intervene. One teacher tried to call for help-but her phone slipped from her trembling hands.

Harrison collapsed. Broken. Bleeding. Unconscious.

Bob adjusted his coat.

Spat on the floor.

Then turned and walked out, passing Hannah without a word.

After School - Outside the Gates

The final bell rang. Students poured out like a flood. Laughter, chatter, and the

usual chaos. The city buzzed behind them.

Then came the scream.

"HEY! LET GO OF ME!"

Fatima. Silvercreek's queen bully. Loud, arrogant, and cruel.

She was yanked backward by her hair and slammed to the pavement.

Bob towered over her, fury on his face.

"Thought I'll let you go easily?" he snarled.

Students froze. Phones came out. Cameras started rolling.

"You helped them. Helped them track Julie. Gave them her schedule. Made it easy."

"I didn't-"

CRACK!

His fist met her cheek. She spun, hitting the ground hard.

"How dare you try to lie even when you've already confessed with your mouth?"

He grabbed her by the collar, lifted her halfway up, and slammed her down again.

WHAM!

Blood splattered.

"Clout?! That's what this was about? Clout?! You don't get to walk away from that."

THUD! WHACK! CRACK!

Every punch was savage. Her face swelled. Teeth hit the ground. One of her shoes flew off.

The crowd gasped. Some screamed. No one stepped in.

Then came Julie.

She stepped through the stunned crowd, her schoolbag still slung awkwardly over one shoulder. Her face was pale, lips trembling. slightly not from fear, but from shock. She didn't speak.

Bob stood still, looming over Fatima's bloodied, broken form. The girl wheezed and whimpered, blood dripping from her nose and onto the concrete Her hands twitched as if trying to crawl away, but her body wouldn't move.

Bob glanced at Julie, then back at the students. Follow current novᴇls on

His voice came low and cold-sharp enough to cut through the hush.

"Touch her again," he said slowly, "and I'll come back."

He took a single step forward. The crowd recoiled.

"She's under my protection now. So go ahead-try something stupid."

His eyes scanned their faces, daring them.

"You'll wish you ended up like her."

With that he left

A girl muttered, “Guess Queen Fatima just got dethroned."

All eyes dropped to Fatima-Silvercreek's worst bully-now curled in the dirt, face

ruined, pride shattered, choking on her own sobs.

Everyone laughed, but Julie only stared at her in disgust and walked away.