Now I've seen everything! After years of seeing Mom threaten people, now it was my turn to be threatened.

A cold smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I turned to Leo. “A dog hiding behind someone else’s power, huh? Even Selena wouldn’t dare say something as crazy as that. And you? Who the hell do you think you are?”

“Who are you calling a dog?” he snapped.

I looked around. “You hear anyone else barking around here?”

“You… You bastard!” Furious, Leo clenched his fist and threw a punch at me.

I stepped back effortlessly, dodging him completely. He missed and slammed face-first onto the floor.

“Wow, Leo, you really committed to the role,” I said. “I call you a dog, and you roll on the ground so spectacularly? I appreciate the performance.”

He scrambled up from the ground, pointing at me as he cursed, “You bastard! Just you wait!”

I warned him, “If you don’t clean up that filthy mouth of yours, I’ll do it for you.”

My mom had me train with martial arts masters for self-defense since I was a kid, and guys like Leo? I could take on three of him without breaking a sweat.

The look in my eyes must’ve hit him hard. He stammered but kept his mouth shut.

More and more people were starting to gather around to watch the show, but I wasn’t in the mood to be some street corner entertainment. Hence, I bent down, picked up the black card he’d dropped, walked back into the store, bought the watch, and turned to leave.

Once again, Leo stepped in front of me, trying to block my way. He’d already burned through all my patience, so without hesitation, I lifted my foot, ready to kick him out of my way when…

“Stop!”

A woman’s voice, low and commanding, rang out from behind me.

Leo immediately rushed to her side, putting on a pitiful face. “Ms. Jackson, you’re finally here! He’s the one who’s been bullying me this whole time…”

I turned to look at Selena, and I’ll admit, I was momentarily stunned.

No wonder my mom said I’d be satisfied with her as a blind date. She had long legs, a slim waist, and porcelain skin. She looked very much like my favorite celebrity crush. Just for that face alone, I decided to give her another chance.

I put on a polite smile. “Ms. Jackson, right? I’m Xavier Hamilton. I’m your blind date today. Your mom should’ve mentioned me.”

Her mom, by the way, used to be a low-level employee at one of our family’s branch companies. My mom appreciated her business sense and personally helped the Jacksons to rise to their current status today.

Selena gave me a quick scan before saying in disdain, “Twenty-eight and still a virgin? We’re not a match.”

She sure had a poisoned tongue because her words hit me like a slap.

Twenty-eight and that was old now? I’d stayed clean, respected myself, and didn’t mess around, and she mocked me for it?

“Did you brush your teeth this morning? That mouth of yours stinks. Didn’t your parents teach you basic manners?”

Her face darkened instantly. “Manners? For someone like you? A hillbilly? I don’t care what spell you cast on my mom to set this up, but I’ll never marry a bumpkin like you.”

Right on cue, Leo clung to her arm and looked at me with open disdain. “Look at your ugly face. How do you think you deserve someone as beautiful and brilliant as Ms. Jackson?”

The crowd jumped in right away, eager to fan the flames.

“Look at his clothes. They can’t be worth more than a hundred bucks! And he’s dreaming of marrying Ms. Jackson? How delusional!”

“She’s got beauty, brains, and a powerhouse background. She could have any man she wants. Why would she settle for him?”

“Just another over-the-hill loser daydreaming. Someone wake him up!”

Sure, I was not as handsome as a movie star, but I was definitely not whatever they were trying to make me out to be.

Honestly, the world really did favor the rich.

“You know what?” I said. “Even if you begged, I still wouldn’t marry you. Go home and tell your mom I’m not interested.”

Not only did I look down on her, but I also fully intended to complain about her when I got back so that Mrs. Jackson could deal with that idiot herself.

Refusing to waste another second arguing with that pair of clowns, I turned around, ready to leave. However, Leo suddenly reached out and snatched the watch from my hands.

“You piece of trash! You want to leave? Fine, but the watch stays!”

I thought, ‘Wow. So we’re just robbing people in broad daylight now?’

I grabbed his arm and twisted hard. He let out a yelp of pain and dropped the watch, which landed back in my hand.

“If I don’t want something, I’ll toss it, but no one takes what’s mine.”

Leo turned to Selena pitifully. “Ms. Jackson, he just attacked me! Are you really going to let a trash like him get away with this?”

Without even thinking, I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. “If I hear that word ‘trash’ from your mouth one more time, I’ll make sure you never speak again.”

Some people just wouldn’t learn until they had been taught the hard way.

He looked stunned, holding his cheek, and then scurried behind Selena like a beaten dog, sighing. Selena, clearly distressed, touched his swollen cheek and glared at me with rage.

“How dare you lay a hand on my man? I’m going to teach you a lesson you won’t forget!”

She turned to the bodyguards behind her and barked out an order, “Get him! Take this lunatic down!”

I could handle myself in a fight, but I wasn’t a superhero. The trained bodyguards had me pinned to the ground within seconds.

That was when Leo strutted over and slapped me across the face, twice. My cheeks swelled up instantly, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth.

Flexing his wrist, he sneered, “You hit me once, so now I’m going to make you pay a hundred times over.”

People around us started whispering, casting sympathetic looks my way.

“A hundred slaps? His face will be ruined.”

“What a shame. He’s a pretty good-looking guy. Soon, he’s going to look like a monster.”

“I told him not to mess with Mr. Woodalf, but did he listen? Now he’s getting what he asked for.”

I knew better than to resist. Leo seemed crazy enough to actually disfigure me, and I didn’t want to test how far he’d go.

“Fine!” I gasped. “Take the watch. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

However, he hit me again and spat, “You really are pathetic. But a watch isn’t enough to cool me down.”

Biting through the pain, I said, “I’ll pay you whatever you want. Just let me go.”

He smirked. “Alright then. Give me a hundred million dollars, and I’ll let you off the hook.”

“I can do that,” I replied without hesitation. “I’ll call someone right now to bring it.”

Selena scoffed beside him. “You’re such a terrible liar. How many people in this city have a hundred million in cash? Who do you think you’re fooling?”

I held back my anger. “Give me ten minutes. If the money doesn’t arrive by then, do whatever you want to me.”

“Fine. Ten minutes it is.”

Leo started the timer on his phone and raised his voice to the crowd, “Everyone heard that! If he doesn’t get a hundred million dollars here in ten minutes, I’ll strip him down in front of everyone as punishment.”

People erupted in cheers and jeers.

When I finally got my phone back, I quickly called my mom.

“Hey, Xavier! How’s the blind date going? Is she your type?”

Hearing her voice almost made me break down. My throat tightened, and I choked out the words, “Mom, your precious son just got beaten up.”

“What?” Her tone changed instantly. “Who the hell touched my son? Do they have a death wish?”

I rushed to explain everything that had just happened.

“He said if I can’t get a hundred million to him in ten minutes, he’ll destroy my face and strip me down in the middle of the street…”

My mom’s voice roared through the phone. “This is unbelievable! Hold on, Xavier. I’m sending someone right now!”

After I hung up, I finally felt a bit of relief. Once her people arrived, I’d be fine.

Meanwhile, Leo stared at his phone, watching the seconds tick away. When there were only ten seconds left, he looked at me with smug satisfaction.

“Time’s almost up. Be a good boy and take your clothes off yourself.”

Just as he said that, dozens of heavy-duty trucks rolled up and screeched to a stop at the entrance of the mall.

The lead driver jumped out and shouted, “One hundred million dollars in cash, delivered as requested!”