Robert stood by the bed, his expression unreadable as he watched his family crumble in shock. Beside him, Elena felt a wave of cold nausea. She stared at her uncle and aunt, unable to believe that the people she called family could turn so quickly, driven by nothing but cowardice and fear.
"Young man." Robert's voice came out calm and unhurried. "Let this matter go. Consider it a debt I owe you."
Drake walked toward him slowly. Elena moved to place herself between them.
"Owe me?" Drake stopped and looked at Robert with something close to pity. "You are not in a position to owe me anything."
"My master taught me something," the fighter said, cracking his neck to one side. "Everything in this world can be gotten. If you don't have it, you simply need the power and the right method to take it, whether by force, by cunning, or any other means necessary." He step forward to Robert, "You had your chance to cooperate. But you throw it away. So blame yourself for what comes next."
Alexander's eyes narrowed. He suddenly remembered his own master's command, that he must find a wife. He looked at Elena, his jaw tightening. This girl... he thought bitterly. She rejected me like I was nothing, looking at me like a piece of trash even after I saved her grandfather. Who does she think she is? Just a CEO? Today, I'll use this moment to prove her wrong. I'll teach her a lesson she won't forget. I'll be the one to reject her, and she'll be the one begging me.
He shifted his weight, preparing to step forward and unleash his true strength, but before he could say a word—
The door swung open.
A man named Andrew stepped into the room. Nadia's face instantly lit up with hope. She rushed toward him, her voice frantic. "Please! she said, grabbing his arm. Save us! Look at them," she pointed. "they're threatening everyone! two of them."
The room let out a collective sigh of little relief as they looked at the newcomer and Elena's friend leaning to him for help.
Elena stepped forward. "Nadia — who is this?"
Nadia leaned closer with a small, relieved smile, holding her hands. "The personal bodyguard I told you I found for you.
Alexander swallowed hard, his ego stinging. He had been ready to be the hero, only to be sidelined by another person, could it be that this person can actually knock this man down?"
Elena stepped forward, her confidence returning as she looked at Drake. "Can we stop this now?"
The man stepped forward before Drake could answer. "Stop?" He almost smiled. "In all my years in the underground boxing arenas, In every arena I have ever competed in, when two strong opponents stand across from each other, there is no such thing as 'stop'. There is only 'finish'."
"Then let's finish the fight," Andrew said simply.
He moved without warning — fluid and fast and completely without drama. The fighter reacted, releasing his technique with full force, the air in the room compressing around the impact point.
For two seconds everything was motion and sound and held breath.
Then stillness.
The man was on the floor.
He did not get up.
Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. The room collectively exhaled — long and slow and disbelieving — like people who had been holding their breath underwater and had finally broken the surface.
Drake's mouth was open. He closed it. Then opened it again. He stared at the man on the floor, then at Andrew, then back at the floor. Whatever he had prepared to say next was gone. Apart from Harlan and his mother, the rest of the relatives were pleased. They warmly thanked Andrew and Nadia for bringing such a strong and powerful protector for Elena.
Alexander stood in the shadows, his heart heavy with disappointment. His chance to prove himself had slipped away.
Drake pointed sharply at his fallen fighter. "Useless," he snapped. "After everything I spent on you, after all your bragging—"
Before he could finish, he lashed out and kicked him hard.
The man's body jolted across the floor.
A sharp scream tore out of him, louder than before.
Drake straightened his jacket. He looked at the room one last time, at Robert, at Elena, at Andrew, at Alexander.
His face tightened, a flicker of shame crossing his eyes.
"Listen," he said, pointing at them, his voice sharp with anger, "this isn't over."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and stormed out of the room.
"Elena." Nadia's voice was warm with relief. "As long as Mr. Andrew is with you, there is nothing to be afraid of from now on. Not Drake, not anyone."
The room agreed, voices overlapping, everyone wanting to say it at the same time.
Robert's eyes shone with a newfound light as he looked at the man who had just "saved" his family. "Young man," he asked, his voice gaining strength, "please, tell me your name."
"Andrew." He said, unhurried. "I just relocated to this city. This is my first assignment here—protecting this lady." He glanced at Elena. "I assume she is your granddaughter?"
"You are correct." Robert smiled. "From this moment, I am placing her in your hands. Keep her safe. At all costs."
Andrew let out a short, arrogant laugh, waving a hand dismissively. "Rest assured, sir. There is nothing to be afraid of. I have conquered wolves and tigers in the wild; I have conquered mountains. Nothing is too difficult for me to handle. My strength is beyond what most can even imagine."
"Good," Robert sighed, the tension finally leaving his shoulders.
"I love the courage of this man!" Margaret added, her eyes beaming as she looked Andrew up and down. "He seems more than capable, not like some country bumpkin who only knows how to brag.
Before Elena could respond she continued
"Now my granddaughter can finally stop worrying and focus on moving the company forward."
"Exactly," Robert declared, a smile spreading across his face.This calls for a celebration."
Alexander swallowed hard. He looked at everyone, at the relief on every face, at Andrew receiving thanks from people who had been terrified minutes ago, at Elena standing a little straighter now that the danger had passed.
He cleared his throat.
"Listen." His voice came out even and unbothered. "It seems like this has become a family matter. I am just an ordinary person who happened to be here at this moment." He glanced toward the door. "I think I have somewhere to be. I have things to attend to," he added quickly.
In his mind, his master's voice was ringing louder than the celebration. He had a mission to fulfill, a marriage to secure, and a legacy to protect—and it was clear that staying here as a "piece of trash" wasn't the way to do it. He needed to figure out a way to please his master and fulfill his wish.