The Quinn Family Estate — Skyhaven City
The Quinn mansion was ablaze with light, its grand halls filled with elegantly dressed guests who moved about with restrained voices and carefully measured smiles. For a third-rate family in Skyhaven City, hosting such a lavish gathering was rare, yet despite the luxury and glittering decor, an uncomfortable tension hung thick in the air, pressing down on everyone present.
At the center of the banquet hall stood a young man in a white suit, his body trembling as humiliation and rage burned across his flushed face. He pointed sharply at a waiter standing a few steps away and shouted, "Lucas Reed, you damn waiter—how dare you hurt my bodyguards? Do you even know who I am? I'm Ryan Hale, the heir of the Hale family!"
Lucas remained still, his posture relaxed and his expression indifferent, as though Ryan's outburst carried no real weight. A faint trace of disdain flickered in his eyes as he let out a quiet scoff. "The Hale family?" he said calmly. "In my eyes, they're nothing but noise."
Ryan's fists clenched, but before he could fire back, Lucas continued in the same measured tone, his gaze sharpening slightly. "That ginseng you brought is artificially cultivated. Its medicinal properties are unstable, and giving it to Mr. Quinn would likely do more harm than good." He paused briefly, then added without raising his voice, "You're just throwing money around and calling it sincerity. You don't understand medicine, and you certainly don't understand intent."
The words landed heavily, drawing subtle reactions from those nearby.
Lucas then turned toward Sophia Quinn, his tone softening. "You don't need to worry," he told her quietly. "As long as I'm here, no one will deceive you."
Sophia gave a small nod, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before shifting to Ryan with unmistakable displeasure. "Ryan, take your things and leave," she said evenly. "Lucas may be a waiter, but he has real ability and integrity. He's far more trustworthy than you."
Ryan stared at her in disbelief, the color draining from his face before anger surged back in its place. "You'd rather trust him?" he demanded, his voice shaking. "I went all the way to the northern mountains to get that ginseng for you, and this is how you respond?"
"Enough."
Lucas stepped forward and placed himself casually in front of Sophia, cutting Ryan off mid-sentence. His expression hardened slightly as he looked at him. "Do you really think sincerity can be measured with money?" he asked. "Leave now, Ryan Hale, and don't force me to act."
Murmurs began to ripple through the crowd as guests exchanged glances, their whispers carrying curiosity and thinly veiled mockery.
"Is that really the Hale heir?"
"He's being completely suppressed…"
"That waiter… something's not normal about him."
Hearing the whispers, Ryan's face turned pale as shame, anger, and confusion churned inside him. He had always relied on his status and wealth to dominate situations like this, yet now he found himself completely overwhelmed by someone he had dismissed as insignificant.
Lucas lifted his chin slightly, preparing to press his advantage further, when a deafening crash suddenly echoed through the estate. The massive gates were forced open, and the heavy wooden doors slammed violently against the walls, sending dust scattering into the air and silencing the entire hall in an instant.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
A tall figure stepped in from the darkness outside.
Dressed in a black tailored trench coat, the man walked forward with slow, deliberate steps, each one carrying an oppressive weight that seemed to press down on the very atmosphere. No bodyguards followed him; only an elderly butler trailed behind, carrying a first-aid kit. Despite that, the presence he radiated alone was enough to dominate the entire room.
Ryan's eyes lit up the moment he saw him. "Dad! You're finally here!" he shouted as he rushed forward. "That bastard attacked my people and humiliated our family. You have to deal with him—don't let him get away with this!"
In his mind, everything had already been resolved.
With Victor Hale present, no one in Skyhaven City could challenge him.
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly as he felt the shift in pressure, but he didn't step back. Instead, he let out a faint sneer. "So the son calls for help, and the father comes running," he said. "Good. Saves me the trouble. I was just about to teach your entire family what respect looks like—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Victor Hale hadn't even looked at him.
Instead, his gaze remained fixed entirely on Ryan, and the cold disappointment in his eyes was enough to make Ryan freeze where he stood.
"D-Dad…?" Ryan said hesitantly, unease creeping into his voice.
The response came instantly.
Victor's hand moved, and a sharp crack echoed through the hall as the slap landed. Ryan's body spun before he crashed onto the ground, blood mixing with fragments of broken teeth as shock filled his eyes.
The hall fell silent.
Even Lucas showed a flicker of surprise.
Ryan lay there, clutching his face as he looked up in confusion. "Dad… why are you—"
"Be quiet," Victor said calmly, his voice low but absolute.
He began unbuttoning his coat with steady hands before removing a black leather belt. "Mr. Foster," he said without looking back, "iodine."
The butler stepped forward quickly, pouring the antiseptic over the belt as the sharp scent spread through the air.
Victor took it back and flicked it once, the sound alone making several guests flinch. Looking down at his son, he spoke in an even tone. "You've disgraced the Hale family," he said. "If you insist on behaving like a fool, then you'll be corrected properly."
Ryan's face turned pale. "Dad, I—"
The belt came down before he could finish.
His scream tore through the hall as the strike split both fabric and skin, the iodine intensifying the pain. Victor did not hesitate, each movement controlled and deliberate as the blows continued.
"You begged for a woman like a stray dog," Victor said coldly as the belt struck again. "You relied on family power only to be humiliated in return. And when our name was insulted, you stood there and did nothing."
Each sentence was followed by another precise strike.
Ryan's screams echoed again and again, but no one dared to intervene. The guests stood frozen, unable even to look away as the punishment continued with relentless efficiency.
In that moment, a single truth settled over the entire hall.
If the Hale family could be this ruthless toward their own blood, then anyone who stood against them would face something far worse.