Chapter 1

A basin of dirty water was flung onto the floor Charles Xavier had just finished cleaning. His mother-in-law, Melinda Smith, stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him with icy disdain. "Useless! You can't even mop the floor properly!" she snapped.

Charles froze for a moment, gritting his teeth, but he took a deep breath and continued mopping in silence.

She leaned against the couch. With crossed arms, she sneered, "Listen up, you good-for-nothing! Yarra has invited Mr. Zeller over later. If I see even a speck of dust on this floor, you're dead meat!"

He remained silent, keeping his head down as he wiped the floor. However, his silence only fueled Melinda's arrogance.

"You're just a worthless freeloader who eats and lives off the Simpson family! Even a dog is more useful than you—it can at least guard the house! What can you do besides housework? You're not even as good as a dog!" she barked.

To Melinda, Charles was nothing but a worthless freeloader. If the Simpson family hadn't faced a crisis back then, she never would have allowed her precious daughter to marry such a useless man!

Ignoring her insults, he picked up the bucket and mop and walked into the bathroom to clean them.

He knew the truth about what had happened back then.

Joe Simpson had left an inheritance for his granddaughter, Yarra, but under one condition—she had to marry Charles.

Melinda had only agreed to the marriage out of desperation.

Charles shook his head. He was used to Melinda's scorn. The only thing that mattered to him in this household was Yarra's attitude toward him.

Just thinking about her made him smile.

Under Yarra's leadership, the Simpson family's business had been thriving. Of course, she had no idea that Charles had been secretly helping from behind the scenes.

He didn't think she needed to know. As long as he could see her smile, it was enough for him.

"Yarra, you're back!" Melinda's excited voice rang out from the living room. Charles quickly washed his hands and hurried out to greet her.

However, when he arrived at the living room, his expression froze.

Yarra had returned, but she wasn't alone. Beside her stood a man in a sharp suit with his hair slicked back and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

He exuded an air of sophistication. Yet, what stunned Charles the most was the fact that the man was holding Yarra's hand.

The two of them gazed at each other with affection, as if they were a pair of longtime lovers.

"Mr. Zeller, I'm absolutely delighted to have you visit the Simpson family!" Melinda beamed, practically unable to hide her excitement as she looked at Yarra and Jacob Zeller, who were arm-in-arm.

The Zeller family was one of the most powerful families in River City, and Jacob Zeller was the heir apparent.

If Yarra could marry him, the Simpson family's status would skyrocket!

At that moment, Melinda's hatred for Charles deepened. If Yarra was going to marry Jacob, then Charles had to go.

As soon as she turned around, Melinda saw Charles standing at the bathroom door.

"Charles, are you an idiot? We have guests! Don't just stand there—get us drinks! Get moving!" Melinda barked.

He ignored her and walked straight toward Yarra. His gaze landed on her hand, which was still holding onto Jacob's. "Yarra," he asked calmly, "who is this?"

Before Yarra could respond, Melinda stormed over and dug her nails into Charles' arm, squeezing so hard that red marks appeared on his skin.

"You useless fool! Are you deaf? I'm talking to you!" Melinda screeched.

Charles frowned in frustration. He moved his arm slightly, trying to shake her off.

The next second, she staggered backward and collapsed onto the floor with an earth-shattering scream. "You brute! How dare you push me!"

"I didn't—"

"Charles! What do you think you're doing?" Yarra's sharp voice cut through the air. She couldn't believe Charles would dare to mistreat her mother right in front of her.

Melinda sat on the floor, wailing dramatically. "Yarra! Look at this good-for-nothing! He pushed me! I'm his mother-in-law! If he dares to push me today, who knows what he'll do to you tomorrow?"

Yarra quickly helped Melinda up. She cast a deep, lingering glance at Jacob before turning to Charles. "Charles, apologize to my mother," she insisted.

Charles stared at her in disbelief. The gentle, understanding Yarra he once knew was now acting completely unreasonable. Anyone with eyes could see he hadn't done anything wrong.

When he remained silent, Yarra grew even angrier. "Charles, did you hear me? I told you to apologize to my mother!"

"Forget it, Yarra. I'm old and useless now. You already work so hard managing the company, and now you have to worry about the house too. I've suffered, but it's nothing compared to what you go through," Melinda commented, feigning resignation.

She dabbed at her dry eyes, pretending to wipe away tears.

"Yarra, is this really your husband?" Jacob chimed in, his tone dripping with concern. "Someone who disrespects his elders like this doesn't deserve you."

Then, he looked at Melinda with a warm, chivalrous smile. "Mrs. Simpson, are you alright? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"

Melinda waved him off. "Oh, no need! Mr. Zeller, you're so kind and considerate. Having a son-in-law like you would be a true blessing! But what a shame—Yarra ended up with this useless waste instead!"

"Well, marriage isn't always forever," Jacob said with a faint smile, glancing meaningfully at Yarra.

Yarra pursed her lips as if making a firm decision. "Charles, you've disappointed me too much. It seems my decision is the right one after all."

Charles felt like something was off about her words. Before he could ask, a stack of papers was thrown in his face.

"Charles, let's get a divorce."

Charles was momentarily dazed. "Yarra, why?"

They had been married for three years. He had done everything he could for her, cared for her down to the smallest details. Had she really never felt anything for him?

"Why?" Yarra let out a cold laugh. "Do you really want me to say it? Charles, let me be blunt. The only reason I married you was because it was Grandpa's dying wish. I never loved you."

Chapter 2

In response to Charles' question, Yarra looked at him arrogantly and said coldly, "For the past three years, I've built the Simpson family into a thriving business. My name is in Coniston Financial Times, yet you remain a nobody, wasting your days away without a single skill to your name. Even the Simpson family's chauffeur is more useful than you."

She scoffed and continued, "I'm going to become Coniston's top female CEO, and you? You can't help me in any way, so you don't even deserve to stand by my side! Considering you've done some work for the Simpson family over the years, let's part on decent terms. Sign this divorce agreement, and you can take this card with one million dollars as compensation."

Yarra held out a bank card.

For an ordinary office worker, earning one million dollars would take years of hard work, let alone someone like Charles, whom Yarra considered utterly useless. In her mind, offering him this amount was her being more than generous.

Melinda's eyes nearly popped out of her head as she stared at the bank card. "Yarra, have you lost your mind? You're giving this waste of space a million dollars? He's nothing! Why would you give him so much money?"

Yarra didn't respond, instead casting a meaningful glance at Jacob.

Melinda immediately understood. If a million dollars could get rid of Charles, clearing the way for Yarra to marry Jacob, it was well worth it.

Charles let out a bitter laugh. All his silent efforts had only earned him the label of "unworthy".

"I knew how ambitious you were, so I chose to put everything aside to support your dreams. I thought the higher you climbed, the happier you'd be. Now that you've succeeded, you've changed."

Feeling guilty, Yarra avoided meeting his gaze. "If you think the compensation isn't enough, I can add another million. I'll even give you a car."

Hearing her resolute tone, he took a deep breath. "Fine. I'll sign the papers, but I don't want your money. I just want one thing."

He scribbled his signature onto the divorce papers and tossed the bank card onto the table as if it were worthless.

Yarra's expression darkened with disgust. She thought Charles was refusing the two million dollars because he wanted to make an even more outrageous demand.

Melinda sneered. "You ungrateful bastard! How dare you make demands! Who do you think you are?"

Charles ignored Melinda completely. Instead, he pointed to the emerald bracelet on Yarra's wrist. "That bracelet is a family heirloom, meant for my wife. Since we're divorcing, I want it back."

He could let go of everything else, but not the bracelet. It held deep significance for him.

Yarra was taken aback. She hadn't expected him to ask for that.

Without hesitation, she took it off and handed it to him. However, Melinda continued to grumble. "Who takes back a gift? You're such a petty loser!"

Charles didn't respond. He simply clenched the bracelet in his palm, turned around, and walked out of the Simpson family home without looking back.

Life was unpredictable. One moment, he was the Simpson family's son-in-law. The next, he was being thrown out like garbage.

Looking down at the emerald bracelet in his hand, Charles sighed and looked up at the sky. "Grandpa Joe, if you're watching from above, this is the path the Simpson family has chosen for themselves. There's nothing more I can do for them."

He let out a bitter laugh, saying, "Yarra, I just hope you don't regret your decision today. But even if you do, it'll be too late."

Just then, Charles' phone rang. The number was familiar.

"Mr. Xavier, I apologize for disturbing you."

The voice on the other end was old yet full of authority and respect.

Charles rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "What is it? Speak."

It seemed the person on the other end of the line picked up on Charles' irritation, as he hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Mr. Xavier, did something happen?"

"It's nothing major. Just a divorce," Charles replied bluntly. There was no point in hiding it. If the person on the phone wanted to know the details, they could find out everything within an hour anyway.

"I truly don't understand why Mr. Xavier Senior insisted on sending you to the Simpson family back then. Ms. Simpson is utterly unworthy of you! Over the years, you've put so much effort into the Simpson family, and she hasn't the faintest clue. She actually thinks she's the one who built the Simpson Group into what it is today. Does she even have the ability to do that?"

Charles chuckled dryly. "Enough nonsense. Just cut to the chase."

The person on the other end chuckled awkwardly. "Well, here's the thing. When Mr. Xavier Senior was young, he became acquainted with the Lincoln family from Ashton and owed them some favors. Now, the Lincoln family is in a bit of trouble and hopes you could step in to help them, as a way to repay the debt Mr. Xavier Senior owed them."

"If that old man owes them, they should find him. Why come to me?"

Charles was exasperated. Did everyone think he was an easy target?

A nervous chuckle came through the receiver. "Mr. Xavier, I wouldn't ask if there were another way. If you refuse to help, Mr. Xavier Senior's reputation might—"

"Forget it," Charles interrupted. "I'll head back to pack my things. Have the Lincoln family send someone to pick me up at Westfield Estates. If they're late, I won't be waiting."

"Alright! I'll notify the Lincoln family right away!"

...

After Charles left, Melinda's face lit up with joy, as if she couldn't wait to announce Yarra's divorce to the world. She even began planning a grand celebration for Yarra.

"Mr. Zeller, you're an honored guest of the Simpson family. I hope you won't laugh at what happened earlier," Melinda mentioned with a sycophantic smile.

Jacob smiled, shaking his head. "Of course not, Mrs. Simpson. In fact, I'm delighted to see Yarra divorced. Now I can finally pursue her openly."

She feigned regret, sighing dramatically. "Yarra is both beautiful and talented. If it weren't for that old man meddling with her marriage, she would never have ended up with that good-for-nothing Charles!

"Mrs. Simpson, let's not dwell on the past. From now on, we're family. Whether Yarra has been divorced or not, she'll always be the woman I love most."

Melinda was overjoyed. "Exactly! Yarra, get ready. We'll finalize your engagement to Mr. Zeller today."

"Mom!" Yarra protested with a coquettish tone.

For some reason, ever since the emerald bracelet had been taken off, Yarra had felt a strange emptiness in her heart. Even though she and Jacob had already established their relationship, and even though she had long grown tired of Charles, she still felt as though she had lost something.

Feeling restless, Yarra shook her head. "I'm tired today. I'll head upstairs to rest. Jacob, I won't be keeping you company."

Without waiting for a response from Melinda or Jacob, Yarra hurried upstairs.

Worried that Jacob might be offended, Melinda quickly reassured him, "Mr. Zeller, don't take it personally. That's just how Yarra is."

Jacob's eyes softened with affection. "No matter what she's like, I love her all the same."

Chapter 3

At that moment, a young man with dyed blond hair rushed into the room.

"Mom, you promised me! Once Yarra divorces that loser Charles, the Westfield Estates house will be transferred to me. You can't go back on your word now!"

Felix Simpson, Yarra's younger brother, had been out chasing girls when he received a call from Melinda. He hurried home for one reason only—to claim the house at Westfield Estates.

Before Melinda could respond, a smiling Jacob clapped Felix on the shoulder. "Felix, Westfield Estates is nothing. Once I marry Yarra, I'll gift you a brand-new villa."

"Really?" Felix's eyes lit up, and he immediately started addressing Jacob as his brother-in-law with great enthusiasm.

Soon, relatives of the Simpson family arrived, filling the house with lively chatter. They all ridiculed Charles, saying that his marriage to Yarra had been an overreach, like a nobody daring to dream of a life far beyond his worth.

Now that Yarra was divorcing Charles and marrying Jacob, it was as if she had soared to the top of the social ladder. The Simpson family would finally step into the true upper class alongside the Zeller family.

As the discussion grew livelier, Yarra's father, Harry Simpson, returned home. He was dressed in scholarly attire, holding a rosary in his hand, looking every bit the refined gentleman.

"Harry, you're finally back! Come and meet your future son-in-law!" Melinda said eagerly, pulling Harry over and excitedly introducing him to Jacob.

Jacob greeted Harry politely, but his gaze was soon drawn to the rosary in Harry's hand.

"Mr. Simpson, the rosary in your hand is from the standard collection of the Dominican era. You have excellent taste!" Jacob complimented, his eyes lighting up.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Harry looked utterly confused, having no idea what Jacob meant.

Jacob was momentarily stunned. "Mr. Simpson, don't tell me you have no idea that this rosary is an antique from the Dominican era?"

Harry's eyes widened in excitement after catching the few keywords—Dominican era. "Are you saying this is an antique?"

Seeing that Harry was genuinely unaware of the significance of the standard rosary, Jacob quickly explained, "Of course it is! The rosary has a long, extraordinary history and is incredibly valuable. Years ago, I heard they surfaced in Coniston.

"My father spent a long time trying to track them down but never found a single lead. I never imagined they'd end up in your hands, Mr. Simpson!"

Harry took a sharp breath. "If it's really from the Dominican era, then it must be worth a fortune, right?"

Jacob chuckled. "Mr. Simpson, you're quite the jokester! This piece isn't just valuable—it's a collector's treasure. Based on current auction estimates, the starting price alone would be no less than eight million dollars. Let me tell you, artifacts of this caliber aren't even eligible for ordinary auctions. They're in a league of their own."

Harry turned to Melinda, and the two exchanged looks of shock and disbelief.

"Jacob, come with me!" She suddenly beckoned, leading Jacob upstairs.

Jacob was puzzled but followed her nonetheless.

Melinda led him to a cluttered storage room and pointed to a pile of items in the corner that looked like discarded junk. "Jacob, you're well-informed. Could you take a look at these things for me?"

He curiously walked toward her. Among the clutter was a wooden barrel filled with old scrolls.

There, he saw a wooden barrel filled with several rolled-up scrolls. He picked one up at random and unrolled it carefully. The moment he saw the painting, his jaw dropped. "This can't be! This is Lance De Vinci's Clouded Moonlight! How is this possible?"

Harry and Melinda might not have known what Clouded Moonlight was, but they certainly knew who Lance De Vinci was. They might not have been history buffs, but they'd seen enough movies to recognize the name.

Jacob carefully held the painting in his hands, his heart aching at the sight of such a priceless masterpiece being stored in a dusty storage room. To him, this was nothing short of a crime against art.

He had mentally prepared himself before unrolling the other paintings, but each one delivered another devastating blow. Every single piece was a masterpiece by a renowned artist, their value immeasurable. The couple's sheer recklessness in storing such treasures in a neglected barrel was beyond comprehension. It was no different from burying a fortune in the ground, left to be forgotten.

"Mr. Simpson, Mrs. Simpson!" Jacob exclaimed. "These are all works of legendary artists! How could you leave them lying around like this? It's an absolute tragedy!"

What Jacob didn't realize was that Harry and Melinda had no idea of the true value of these items.

His heart ached with envy. Each of these paintings was worth tens of millions, yet the Simpsons treated them like common junk. Were they trying to show off their wealth in the most absurd way possible?

Jacob initially assumed that Harry and Melinda had deliberately stored the paintings this way, but in reality, neither of them had any idea of their true value.

Harry frowned in confusion. "Jacob, are these paintings really worth that much?"

Jacob chuckled. "Mr. Simpson, you must be joking. You've collected these paintings, yet you don't know their worth? Every single piece here is worth tens of millions, and they're so rare that even money can't buy them!"

Harry and Melinda stood frozen in shock as if they had turned to stone.

"How is that possible? These are things that worthless Charles brought with him! How could they be worth so much?" Melinda gasped in disbelief.

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "Mrs. Simpson, what do you mean? What do these paintings have to do with Charles?"

Her face flushed red, and she avoided his gaze.

Harry cleared his throat awkwardly. "These were part of Charles' wedding gifts when he married Yarra."

Back then, when Charles brought these items to the Simpson family, they had dismissed them as worthless junk, thinking he was trying to fool them. They hadn't taken the items seriously—let alone taken Charles seriously.

For three whole years, no one in the household had recognized the true value of these items. It was only by chance that Harry had found the rosary comfortable to hold and had shown them to Jacob, inadvertently revealing the hidden treasures in their home. Otherwise, these priceless artifacts might have remained buried in dust, completely unnoticed.

"No way! This is impossible!" Melinda shouted hysterically. "If Charles really had so many valuable paintings and antiques, why would he keep quiet about it? I don't believe it! He must have stolen them! That's why he never said a word! He probably used our family as a place to hide his stolen goods!"

Her sudden outburst startled Harry, who paled.

She glared at him. "What are you so scared about? If Charles stole these things, it's his problem, not ours! If anything happens, we'll just claim we had no idea. Simple as that!"

"Right, you're absolutely correct," Harry replied, nodding repeatedly as he let out a sigh of relief.

Jacob's eyes gleamed as he smirked. "Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, don't worry. Since these things were brought here by Charles, if anything goes wrong, the authorities will go after him. If nothing happens, then these treasures are all yours."

Harry and Melinda burst into laughter, their eyes gleaming with greed.

Just as Melinda was basking in her excitement, a sudden realization struck her, and her face twisted in horror. "No! This is bad! That useless Charles took an emerald bracelet with him after signing the divorce papers!"

Chapter 4

Melinda stormed downstairs, cursing under her breath.

At the foot of the stairs, Felix was busy greeting their relatives when he turned and saw her furious expression.

"Mom, why are you so angry?" he asked. "Who upset you?"

"Who else could it be besides that good-for-nothing Charles? That shameless waste actually dared to steal our family's treasure!" Melinda ranted.

In her eyes, the emerald bracelet already belonged to the Simpson family.

Those paintings she couldn't understand were priceless treasures, so surely the emerald bracelet was also worth a fortune. If it was something valuable, there was no way she would let that worthless Charles take it.

Upon hearing Melinda's words, the Simpson family's relatives joined in, hurling insults at Charles.

She knew Charles must have returned to Westfield Estates. After all, he had nowhere else to go. Without wasting another moment, she grabbed Felix and headed straight there.

Felix gritted his teeth. "If that bastard doesn't hand over the emerald bracelet, I'll cripple him!"

…

At Westfield Estates, Charles was packing his belongings. The house was filled with memories of him and Yarra, and a wave of emotions washed over him.

"The most unpredictable thing in the world is the human heart," he thought bitterly.

Just as he placed the emerald bracelet into a brocade box, a loud pounding erupted at the door.

Charles frowned. He had assumed it was the Lincoln family coming to pick him up, but was this really how they treated someone they were asking for a favor? This wasn't a polite knock—it sounded like they were trying to break the door down.

When he opened the door, however, he was met with the sight of Melinda and Felix.

"What are you doing here?" Charles asked expressionlessly. "Don't worry. I've already said I don't want anything from the Simpson family. I won't overstay my welcome here either. Once I've finished packing, I'll leave."

He had no interest in arguing with them and went back to packing.

However, Melinda caught sight of the light green keepsake box in his hands, shrieking, "You lying piece of trash! You act all noble, yet you stole our Simpson family's treasure!

"Felix, go grab it back for me!" she ordered.

Without hesitation, Felix lunged at Charles.

Charles' eyes narrowed, and he sidestepped smoothly, avoiding Felix's grasp.

"Don't push your luck!" he snapped, his patience wearing thin.

Their baseless accusations were ridiculous. He hadn't taken a single thing from them.

"We're pushing our luck? Do you hear yourself?" Melinda shot back, panting heavily with her hands on her hips.

Her bulging eyes made her look like a pufferfish, and her snarling expression was downright exaggerated.

"When we asked you to sign the divorce papers, you didn't say a word. I thought you finally understood your place and knew you weren't good enough for my daughter! Turns out you were just biding your time, scheming to steal our family's treasure!"

Felix rolled up his sleeves, cracking his knuckles as he glared at Charles. "Quit pretending. Hand over the emerald bracelet! That's ours, and your filthy hands don't deserve to touch it!"

A glint of coldness flashed in Charles' eyes as realization dawned. Melinda and Felix were here for one reason only—the emerald bracelet.

He hadn't even protested when Yarra asked for a divorce, yet these shameless people still had the audacity to try and take what was his.

"Since when did my emerald bracelet become the property of the Simpson family?" Charles demanded sharply.

He was also a bit puzzled. The things he had brought to the Simpson family had always been met with disdain. Why were they suddenly so interested today? Had they finally realized those items were priceless antiques?

Charles scoffed inwardly. To him, those so-called antiques were nothing more than broken relics, hardly worth mentioning. If the Simpson family wanted them, they could have them. However, he would never let the Simpson family lay a finger on that emerald bracelet.

"Your things? Give me a break! Charles, you've got some nerve! You lived off my sister for years, depending on her for food, clothing, and shelter. What do you even own? You're nothing!"

Felix sneered, spitting in contempt before jabbing a fist in Charles' direction. "You'd better wise up and hand over the emerald bracelet, then get the hell out of here! Waste my time, and I'll make sure you won't be able to leave this house today!"

Charles remained unfazed by Felix's threats. A faint, mocking smile played on his lips as he calmly retorted, "The Simpson Group didn't grow to its current size solely because of Yarra's efforts! I've never bothered to argue about that with you. However, this emerald bracelet is mine! It has nothing to do with the Simpson family!"

He continued, "Besides, Yarra was the one who asked for the divorce. If you keep pushing me, I can go through the formal legal process instead of leaving with nothing. If I do that, I'll be entitled to half of Yarra's assets!"

Charles knew Melinda only cared about money, so he deliberately used this to make her back off.

Sure enough, as soon as he said this, Melinda's face turned red with rage, and she stomped her feet furiously. "What did you say? You worthless trash! How dare you?"

Charles shot her an indifferent glance and coldly added, "I used to respect you as an elder. Whether you were being unreasonable or pulling rank, I let it slide. But now—tell me, what exactly do you think you are?"

She was so furious she could barely catch her breath. Trembling, she pointed at Charles and ordered Felix to teach him a lesson.

Felix was also seething with rage. He clenched his fists and swung at Charles' face.

However, Charles took two steps back, effortlessly dodging the attack. He warned, "I'm giving you one chance. Leave now, and I'll let this go."

His patience was wearing thin. If these two continued to push their luck, he would no longer hold back.

"Let this go? Who the hell do you think you are?" Felix sneered disdainfully.

Meanwhile, Melinda was screeching like a mad woman, urging Felix to kill Charles and snatch the emerald bracelet.

Felix's focus was entirely on the keepsake box in Charles's hand, but no matter how many times he tried, he couldn't even graze Charles' clothes. Frustrated, he grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it at Charles.

If Charles got hit, that was his own damn fault.

Of course, the vase didn't hit Charles. Instead, it shattered on the floor, breaking into countless pieces.

The crisp sound echoed through the room, and a dark, menacing glint flashed in Charles' eyes. He had held back long enough.

He had given Felix a chance, but Felix had thrown it away.

"You asked for it!" Charles roared.

Before Felix could react, he felt a tight grip on his collar. In the blink of an eye, Charles was standing right in front of him, clutching his shirt.

A terrifying force surged over him like a violent storm, nearly ripping him apart.

A chill ran down his spine, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably. "What are you doing? Charles, you worthless piece of shit! If you dare lay a finger on me, my sister won't let you off!"

He couldn't believe this was the same Charles who had always been meek and submissive. It was as if he had become a completely different person.

Chapter 5

Charles smirked coldly as he slapped Felix's face.

"Get the hell out!"

Felix fell to the floor with a loud thud, clutching his stinging cheek. "You worthless bastard! Have you lost your mind? How dare you hit me? My sister won't let you off for this!"

Charles shot him a cold look. "Your sister? So what? Listen up—I have nothing to do with the Simpson family anymore. If you try to push me again, you'll bear the consequences."

The cold, menacing look in Charles' eyes sent a chill down Felix's spine. He gulped nervously and dared not utter another word.

Melinda was just as stunned. She stood frozen for a moment, unable to process what had happened. She snapped back to reality only when she saw Felix sitting on the ground, holding his swollen cheeks.

Fury boiled inside her as she stomped her foot in rage. She stomped her foot in rage, momentarily forgetting about the emerald bracelet. With a screech, she lunged at Charles like a wild beast. "You worthless scum! How dare you hit my son? I'll rip your filthy mouth apart!"

A flash of cold light flickered in his eyes as he roared, "Get out!"

His voice was like rolling thunder.

Melinda felt as if her feet were nailed to the floor. Her face turned ghostly pale, and her eyes widened with terror.

However, Felix was frantic. He grabbed his phone and barked into it. "Where the hell are you guys?! I'm about to get killed here! Get your asses up here now!"

A flattering voice came from the other end. "Mr. Simpson, we're already downstairs! Don't worry; we're coming right up. That punk dared to offend you? Today, I'll make sure my boys take him apart!"

Felix grinned and hung up, his eyes narrowing into a malicious glare at Charles.

He wasn't an idiot. There was no way he would come here with just his mother. Of course, he had called for backup.

Soon, a group of thugs with menacing expressions stormed up the stairs. Their bodies were covered in tattoos. Without hesitation, they blocked the entrance to Charles' apartment.

A burly man with dyed yellow hair stepped forward, gripping a metal rod in one hand. "Mr. Simpson, which blind fool dared to cross you? Point him out, and we'll make him regret it!"

Felix's confidence surged. He pointed arrogantly at Charles, saying, "That's the guy. Hold him down for me. I want to break his limbs with my own hands!"

The blond thug, whose name was Leo Burlock, chuckled dismissively. "Mr. Simpson, you're overestimating this weakling. You don't need all of us to handle him. I can take him down by myself!"

With that, he lit a cigarette for himself, exhaling a cloud of smoke while waving his hand to signal the others to step back.

"You've got some nerve causing trouble on my turf, kid. You're asking for death!"

With a sharp swing, he brought the rod crashing down toward Charles.

A dull thud echoed through the room as the metal rod came to a sudden stop—mere inches from Charles' face.

Before anyone could process what had happened, they saw Charles gripping the rod tightly. His expression darkened as he yanked the thug off balance, sending the 180-pound man stumbling forward uncontrollably.

Charles followed up with a powerful kick, sending the thug flying into the wall before he crumpled to the ground.

The thug's companions stood frozen for a few seconds, then erupted into shouts. "Damn! This kid's got some skills! Leo couldn't handle him. Let's take him down together!"

"Kill him!" one of the thugs shouted.

As Charles was surrounded, Felix was practically trembling with excitement. Leo must've slipped up earlier, but it didn't matter. With so many people ganging up on Charles, he was as good as dead.

Melinda stood to the side, screaming, "Kill him! Beat him to death, but be careful with that bracelet he's wearing! Don't let it break!"

That emerald bracelet was worth a fortune.

Charles clenched his fists tightly as he expressionlessly scanned the room. This time, he wouldn't hold back.

"Stop!"

A crisp, icy voice cut through the chaos like a gust of wind.

Before anyone could see who had spoken, they saw two neat rows of elite bodyguards in black suits.

Then, a young woman in a white gown emerged from between the rows of bodyguards, like a flower blooming in the night.

Her breathtaking beauty captured everyone's gaze. Her fair skin seemed almost translucent under the light, radiating an ethereal glow.

The overwhelming aura of the bodyguards instantly cowed the rowdy thugs, leaving them frozen in place.

The girl's delicate features radiated a gentle elegance, but when her gaze swept over the crowd, it carried an unmistakable chill.

"Let's see who dares to lay a finger on Dr. X in my presence!"

Felix's eyes widened in awe as he stared at the girl, momentarily forgetting even his own mother. He quickly smoothed his hair and adjusted his posture, stepping forward with an ingratiating smile. "Miss, hello! My name is Felix. May I know your name?"

The girl ignored Felix and turned her attention to Charles. "Dr. X, hello. My name is Vanessa Lincoln. I've come specifically to escort you."

Vanessa from the Lincoln family?

Realization dawned on Charles. She was the one the Lincoln family had sent to pick him up.

"Dr. X? Miss, you must be mistaken. He's just a worthless nobody, not some Dr. X!" Felix spat through gritted teeth.

How could a loser like Charles deserve the attention of such a beautiful lady? It had to be a mistake.

Felix realized he had only introduced his name earlier without mentioning his background. This must be the reason she hadn't recognized that he was leagues above Charles.

"Miss, I must not have introduced myself properly earlier. I'm Felix Simpson of the Simpson Group!"

A flicker of displeasure crossed Vanessa's eyes as she frowned. "The Simpson family from Coniston? The one that secured its footing in the industry through beauty products in recent years?"

Felix was oblivious to the mockery in her tone. He puffed up with pride, thinking his family's reputation had impressed her.

"Yes, exactly! It seems you've heard of us. What a coincidence! Fate has brought us together. Miss, it would be my honor to invite you to dinner. Your name is Vanessa, right? You don't mind if I call you Nessa, do you? It's more intimate and—"

A crisp slap cut him off. Felix's left cheek had barely recovered, and now his right cheek burned red. He stared at Vanessa in utter disbelief.

She scoffed. "A mere Simpson family? I don't even consider you worth my attention. Who do you think you are to disrespect Dr. X and address me so familiarly?"