Chapter 11
Helena stood tall, eyes gleaming with contempt as she looked at Hera, her posture radiating triumph. She was determined to crush Hera’s dignity and show her who the real heir to the Lewis family was.
Nash’s gaze was fixed on Hera, his eyes betraying curiosity. He wanted to see how she would handle the pressure Helena had imposed upon her.
Hera stood still, weighed down by the looming consequences of her next move. She didn’t want her mother’s hard work to be in vain. Even if she gained her grandfather’s attention, what good would it do? Even if Nash was skilled in martial arts, how would that change anything?
The weight of the wealthiest family in Jonford bearing down on her felt too heavy to withstand. Even the Mares, her mother’s side of the family, were nothing more than ants in comparison to the Watsons.
She took a slow, deliberate step toward Helena. Each movement felt like trudging through a swamp—every inch heavier than the last. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a flash of disappointment on Nash’s face. It stung deeply.
A bitter pang of regret gripped her heart. Perhaps she should have never acted so impulsively yesterday. Had she not proposed to Nash, none of this would have happened. He wouldn’t have had to witness her humiliation.
It took Hera a full minute to cover the short distance of four or five meters.
Skadi, unable to stay silent, hissed, “Hera, you can’t kneel. Maybe you can afford to lose your dignity, but what about Uncle and Aunt? What about Nash? Are you willing to let him lose his face in the entire Lewis family?”
Her voice cracked with emotion as she turned to Nash, shouting, “Nash, do you want your fiancée to kneel before another woman? Are you still a man?”
Nash remained calm, unaffected. He barely knew Hera. Whether she was using him to climb the family ladder or for some other reason, he hadn’t fully figured it out.
Moreover, Hera had to learn to face the pressure on her own. If she couldn’t handle even Helena, how would she ever face the tougher business rivals that lay ahead? Would she always seek help from Skadi or her parents every time a challenge arose?
From Nash’s point of view, it seemed like Hera was about to give in. He turned and walked silently toward the door.
As he passed Albino, the young man with silver hair, Albino glanced at him with a mocking grin. “Is she your woman?”
Nash didn’t respond, simply continuing his way toward the exit.
Albino scoffed, shaking his head. “You can’t even protect your own woman. You’re more useless than trash.”
Nash ignored him, stepping outside. He took a cigarette from his pack, lit it, and inhaled deeply. The crisp sound of a slap echoed from the office.
Nash’s heart tightened. He had only entered this engagement as part of a contract. Yet, seeing her in this position stirred something inside him. Could it be that he had developed feelings for her?
He frowned, his gaze distant, as he took another drag of his cigarette.
Inside the office, Helena’s face had a clear, red slap mark across it, her lips smeared with the remnants of foundation. She was seething with rage, staring at Hera with fury in her eyes.
“You… How dare you hit me, you b*tch?” Helena screeched.
Her anger only deepened.
Albino, watching the scene unfold, grimaced with frustration. He had expected Hera to kneel, not slap Helena. He had been tasked with protecting Helena, and now, the woman he was supposed to shield had been struck—by someone who seemed so weak.
His patience snapped. With a malicious snarl, Albino grabbed Hera by the throat and lifted her off the ground.
Skadi, unable to stand by any longer, rushed forward and attempted a flying kick.
Albino barely moved, and with a swift motion, he sent her crashing into the office desk. Files and papers scattered everywhere as Skadi hit the floor with a thud.
Hera’s face turned red as veins bulged on her forehead. Her nails dug into Albino’s wrist and the back of his hand, leaving deep crimson scratches.
Albino, irritated by her resistance, turned his gaze to Helena. “You won’t mind if I kill her, right, Ms. Helena?”
Helena, consumed by rage, coldly replied, “Kill her. Kai will cover our backs.”
At her words, Albino squeezed harder.
But just as the pressure on Hera’s throat grew unbearable, something changed.
Another hand, stronger and faster, appeared on Albino’s wrist. With a sharp twist, the grip loosened.
Nash stood there, cigarette still in his mouth, his other hand driving a fierce palm strike into Albino’s wrist. The sheer force made Albino release Hera.
Hera fell to the floor in a heap, dazed and struggling to catch her breath. Nash swiftly extended his leg, gently cradling the back of her neck and lowering her to the ground.
Albino stared at Nash, stunned. “Who… Who are you?”
Nash, with a cold smirk, blew a smoke ring and answered, “A problem you don’t need to know the answer to.”
Without missing a beat, Nash struck Albino in the abdomen with his knee. The impact was enough to obliterate his navel region. Before Albino could react, Nash tossed him with terrifying force toward the window.
The glass shattered as Albino flew through it, crashing to the hard ground three stories below. He struggled briefly before going limp.
Inside, all was silent.
Helena stood frozen, eyes wide in disbelief, her body trembling. The bloodstains on Nash’s face seemed to make the scene all the more horrific.
“Ahh!” she screamed. Without another word, she bolted from the room.
Nash flicked the cigarette butt onto the floor and lightly brushed the shards of glass off his clothes before walking toward Hera, who was still dazed on the ground.
He hadn’t expected things to unfold this way. Hera, who had seemed so ready to compromise, had slapped Helena in the face. It meant she had finally shed her fear. Nash felt a sense of satisfaction stir within him.
Slowly, he extended his right hand—still stained with blood. Hera hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand in his. He pulled her up gently, offering a small smile. “Congratulations. You’ve broken through.”
Hera, her face tear-streaked, looked up at him. “How can you smile after all this? We might end up sleeping on the streets.”
She knew her slap would come with consequences. Helena would likely have Kai intervene and stop the Drake Group collaboration, which would bring Baroque to ruin.
Nash, seeing her distressed state, felt a twinge of pity. He gently wrapped his arms around her, his voice soft. “With me by your side, you won’t ever sleep on the streets.”
Hera looked up at him, uncertain. “Really?”
“Well, I can always take you to a motel,” Nash teased, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
“You’re so annoying!” Hera punched him lightly in the chest, her mood lifting a bit.
From the corner of the room, Skadi groaned as she emerged from a pile of scattered documents. “I almost broke my back, and you two are still flirting?”
Hera rushed to her side, concern flooding her face. “Skadi, are you okay?”
Skadi flashed a grin despite the pain. “I won’t die so easily.”
She leaned against the wall, her body creaking as she bent slightly, a sharp crack echoing. Sweat formed on her forehead as her determination flared.
Albino had been a Stage Nine expert, but he hadn’t stood a chance against Nash.
Who was this man?
Hera, still in shock, pulled out her phone and made a few quick calls. Soon, members from the maintenance and environmental departments arrived to clean up the office.
She escorted Skadi to the medical room to treat her injuries, while Nash stepped into the hallway and dialed a number.
“You were woken up early by magpies?” Theo’s voice came through, and before he could continue his usual chatter, Nash interrupted.
“Do you know anything about Drake Group?” he cut in sharply.