Standing off to the side, Sophia Quinn felt her composure slipping as she instinctively stepped back, her face turning pale at the sight before her. She had always disliked Ryan Hale's persistence, but she had never imagined things would escalate to such a brutal and humiliating point, especially in front of so many people.
Lucas Reed, however, recovered quickly from his initial surprise. A flicker of disdain and irritation passed through his eyes as he watched Victor Hale, and what bothered him most was not the punishment itself, but the complete indifference Victor showed toward him, as though he were invisible. That silent dismissal struck deeper than any insult.
He stepped forward abruptly, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Enough. Stop."
Victor paused mid-motion and slowly turned around. His gaze, cold and unfathomable, finally settled on Lucas, and the weight of it pressed down like something tangible. For a brief moment, Lucas felt his chest tighten, but he forced himself to stand straight, refusing to show weakness.
"Mr. Hale," Lucas said, his tone firm and controlled, "this may be your family matter, but I cannot stand by and watch this continue. Ryan made mistakes, yes, but he still has dignity. Beating him like this will only push him further down the wrong path. Even animals don't treat their own kind this way."
He took another step forward, his voice sharpening as his confidence returned. "And yet, for the sake of your so-called reputation, you humiliate your own son in public? A man like you doesn't deserve your wealth, let alone respect."
A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he added, "Let's be honest—you're not doing this for him. You're putting on a show. For me. Trying to gain my favor?"
He let out a soft scoff. "Pathetic."
A ripple of murmurs spread across the hall, guests exchanging glances as the tension shifted once again.
Victor did not respond immediately. Instead, a faint smile touched his lips—so slight it was almost imperceptible. Without looking away from Lucas, he casually took out a handkerchief ,wiped his hands and tossed it ,"Mr. Foster."
The old butler caught it instantly, bowing his head. Victor then took out a clean white handkerchief and began wiping his fingers with slow, deliberate movements, as though nothing of significance had just happened.
When he finished, he flicked the stained cloth toward Ryan without even sparing him a glance. "It's just flesh wounds. Stop pretending."
Only then did he raise his head fully, his gaze locking onto Lucas with quiet finality. "You'll show me?" he asked calmly. "Who do you think you are… to tell me how to act?"
Lucas's expression tightened. "What did you say?"
Victor's voice remained even, almost indifferent. "You're nothing more than a slightly stronger ant. I wouldn't even bother dirtying my shoes stepping on you."
"Arrogant!" Lucas snapped, his restraint finally breaking. A surge of energy erupted from him, his clothes fluttering as his aura expanded outward. "Don't think money makes you untouchable! I, Lucas Reed, may have nothing today, but fortunes change. Never underestimate a young man!"
His voice rang through the hall like a declaration, drawing stunned looks from the surrounding guests. Sophia watched him with shining eyes, clearly moved by his defiance.
Victor, however, only shook his head slightly, as though he had just heard something mildly amusing. "Fortunes change?" he repeated quietly. "I don't keep problems for later."
Before anyone could react, he stepped forward—and vanished.
A collective gasp rippled through the hall.
In the next instant, Victor was already standing directly in front of Lucas.
Lucas's pupils shrank, a sudden, overwhelming sense of danger crashing down on him. "How is this possible—?!"
He never finished.
Victor's hand moved.
The sound of the impact cracked through the air as Lucas was struck and sent flying, his body slamming violently into a marble pillar as fractures spread across its surface.
The hall fell silent.
Lucas struggled to breathe, his body barely responding as he looked up in disbelief.
Victor stood over him, his expression unchanged, his voice calm and detached.
"Those words are meant for people who can endure hardship. And you?"
He paused briefly before finishing, "You're just a fool who got lucky and mistook it for strength."
His fingers tightened slightly, producing a faint cracking sound that echoed unnervingly in the silence. "On my territory, you attack my son, pursue my future daughter-in-law, and still dare raise your voice at me."
His gaze turned cold.
"Forget thirty years. I don't even intend to let you live past tonight."
For the first time, fear appeared in Lucas's eyes as the reality of the situation sank in.
Victor released him without another thought and turned away, as though discarding something worthless. His gaze shifted across the hall before settling on a trembling figure in the corner.
"Mr. Quinn," he said calmly.
Chairman Quinn nearly collapsed under the weight of that voice.
Victor continued, his tone quiet but heavy with meaning, "it seems the Quinn family holds this waiter in very high regard."