Chapter 10

Fiona was equally unrelenting. Seething, she raised her hand to slap Rose across the face. Not adept in martial arts, Rose was completely caught off guard. Still, Steven wouldn't just stand idly by. He grabbed Fiona's wrist. Rose hadn't expected Fiona to be so brazen by assaulting her. "How dare you!" A cold glint flickered in Rose's eyes as her expression darkened. "What? Is there a problem with hitting you? I'll slap whoever I want! I'll shut up that smart mouth of yours." Fiona seethed as she struggled frantically to break free from Steven's grip to slap Rose again. She soon realized her efforts were in vain, given how powerful his grip was. "Steven, let go!" Fiona bellowed. "Fiona, there are some people you shouldn't mess with," Steven remarked, releasing her. "Who do you both think you are? Do you think I can't mess with you? You're hilarious, Steven!" Fiona barked. "Do you have any idea who I am? You'll piss your pants if you find out. My dad's Cavin Lurk! Now who's the clown here?" "Slap yourself twice and apologize to me, then I'll let you off the hook," Rose said. Shaking her head, Rose paid no mind to Fiona's threat. She turned to Steven and said, "Thank goodness you didn't marry her. It'll be a disaster if you married a dimwit like her." Steven rubbed his nose. "Well, it seems like I should've thanked the Lurks for going back on their word by calling off the engagement." Fiona was furious when she saw them joking around, completely disregarding her. "Damn it! I won't have it if I don't teach you two a lesson! "Jack, what are you waiting for? Break Steven's legs and slap this woman hard. Let them know that I'm the one they shouldn't mess with!" she hollered as she turned toward the man accompanying her. Jack was Fiona's cousin. He sought refuge in their family after he left the countryside. Cavin instructed him to work as Fiona's errand boy and part-time bodyguard. Despite his reserved personality, he was diligent and strong. He excelled in combat skills. As Jack strode toward them, Haley stood aside, gloating at their doom. "Great work, Ms. Lurk! They deserved to be taught a lesson." Knowing Rose wasn't skilled in martial arts, Steven stood in front of her. "The audacity you have to step forward, you piece of shit! Jack, do it! Make sure he ends up crippled!" Fiona ordered, folding her arms across her chest. Jack decked him, yet Steven deflected his punch swiftly with a raise of his hand. Jack swayed, and swung his fist at Steven from the side. But Steven used a bit of his energy to shake Jack off instead. With a low growl, Jack mustered all his strength and lunged at Steven. Steven retaliated, hurling Jack across the room with the force of his punch. Collapsing to the ground, Jack groveled before hitting the wall. Suddenly, he stopped moving. His entire arm felt numb, completely crippled by Steven's strength. He was no match for Steven. Fiona and Haley were flabbergasted. They couldn't believe how strong Steven was. "I'm sorry, but I'm no match for him. He's very powerful. I presume he's at least a third-grade expert," Jack said after he rose to his feet. Combat skills were his forte due to his formidable strength. If he were to be graded, he'd suffice as a first-level professional. "You useless fool! You can't even defeat a fucking loser. Get lost," Fiona snapped. Her expression turned sour at her failed attempt to show off. "I didn't expect you to secretly practice martial arts over the past two years," she said arrogantly. "But let me tell you, you're still worthless to me. A third-grade expert means nothing! Money is key. My family is wealthy and powerful. Dealing with the likes of you is a piece of cake for us." Steven flashed a faint smile at her. "Indeed, a third-grade expert is nothing." "Good! Now if the two of you will slap yourselves twice and apologize, I'll spare you! Otherwise, both of you will be doomed if I call the fifth-grade expert back at my house to come over," Fiona threatened fearlessly. Rose sneered at Fiona's insolence. Her fifth-grade expert was nothing compared to Steven, and she bet he couldn't even bear a single blow from Steven. Just then, a harried George turned up at the store. Rushing over to the store was extremely exhausting for that stout and fat body of his. "Mr. Hammond, what brings you here?" Haley greeted him in a haste. Yet, he paid no heed to her and strode past her. He stopped before Rose and began tactfully, "Ms. Miller, I have no idea that you've graced us with your presence. My sincerest apologies for our lack of hospitality in serving you." Haley and the other shop assistants were dumbstruck at his behavior. Even Fiona was equally baffled. As the daughter of the Lurk family, she didn't even have such power over George. "Mr. Hammond, it seems like you've been acting quite arrogant due to how much your business has grown," Rose said coldly. "I dare not! I wouldn't dare to act arrogantly in front of you. I rushed here immediately after I received a call from your secretary. I wouldn't want to upset you, Ms. Miller." George wiped the sweat off his forehead, looking utterly petrified. "I brought my friend over to your store to buy some clothes, yet one of your staff members insulted him and accused him of theft. She even threatened to kick us out. How are you going to resolve this issue, Mr. Hammond?" George's face paled. Perspiration began to form on his forehead again. "Who has the audacity to offend Ms. Miller? Get the fuck out of here! I'll skin you alive!" He spun around and roared at his staff. He used to be a thug, and he exuded a palpable air of menace. All his staff feared him. They began quivering in terror, and refrained from uttering a single word. The new intern was on the verge of tears. Haley was equally horrified. She knew she was in deep waters the moment she saw how docile George became in front of Rose. She was doomed! "I'll ask this one more time. Who did it? Show yourself!" Haley could no longer hold it in. She collapsed to the ground and wept. "Mr. Hammond, I'm sorry! I didn't know she's your friend! Please spare me for Jayden's sake." Jayden worked as the store manager under George, and he was also Haley's boyfriend. George was seething. How he wished he could kick her now! He was mortified at her audacity to offend Rose, who was extremely powerful. He wouldn't even spare his own son, let alone his manager's girlfriend. "Don't fucking apologize to me! Apologize to Ms. Miller now. If she doesn't forgive you, both you and Jayden will be doomed!"