Chapter 3

My lock screen was a photo of Sophie and me on a beach in the Maldives. Neither of us was wearing much.

“So that’s why you dressed up and came to my engagement party to show off. You’re here to piss me off on purpose. I fucking hate freeloading pretty boys.”

Logan smashed my phone, then grabbed a glass of red wine and threw it over me.

My seven-figure custom suit was ruined.

Everyone stared at me with fresh contempt.

“I knew he was a kept man the second I saw him. Can’t believe he actually tried stealing Logan’s woman.”

“He’s got two working arms and legs, but he’d rather be someone’s side piece. With a face like that, I bet he’s juggling several rich women. Disgusting.”

“Those rich women get pretty wild. He’d better be careful, or they’ll wear him out so badly he won’t be able to get it up again.”

Onlookers pulled out their phones, eager to record a cheating scandal unfolding in person.

“Your mom was a homewrecker, and now you are, too. The whole family’s trash!”

Logan spat at me, his eyes vicious.

That sent me over the edge. I lunged forward and punched him in the eye.

“Say that again. I dare you.”

Back in high school, Logan’s father had harassed my mom when she dropped me off. His wife had seen it and caused a huge scene.

My dad had died young. Raising me alone hadn’t been easy for Mom.

She’d done nothing wrong, but people had whispered behind her back anyway. For several nights, she’d stayed awake crying in secret.

That was where the feud between Logan and me had started.

Bringing it up now was asking for trouble.

Seeing stars from my punch, Logan lost his mind. He grabbed a painting off the wall and raised it to smash over me.

A server hurried to stop him.

“Sir, that’s an original. It’s worth ten million dollars.”

Logan seized the server by the collar.

“Open your fucking eyes. I own this place. If I want to smash something worth ten million, I will.”

With that, he slammed the framed painting onto the floor.

“Now get the fuck out of here and find me another room for the engagement party.”

Terrified, the server nodded frantically.

Still furious, Logan picked up several more antiques and smashed them. I stood aside and watched coldly.

A rose-quartz ceremonial scepter worth six million. A blue-and-white porcelain vase worth thirty million. A bronze statue worth eighty million. The most expensive piece was a twelve-panel landscape painting worth nine hundred million.

I’d sent them all over to help Sophie impress her guests. Logan destroyed every last one.

Those who recognized their value broke into cold sweats. The clueless fools following Logan around were still clapping and cheering.

“Hell yeah, Logan! Smash it!”

“A lowly server thinks he can tell Logan what to do with his own stuff? What’s a few million to him?”

Once he’d finished, Logan turned to the man who’d promised to eat shit on a livestream.

“You wanted the procurement contract for my hotel, right? Strip that kept boy’s clothes off, and it’s yours.”

The man swallowed, then marched toward me.

“That goes for everyone! Put Daniel in his place and make me happy. There’ll be plenty of contracts to go around!”

The crowd erupted. An opportunity like that was exactly why they’d been sucking up to him.

My expression darkened.

“Touch me, and you’ll regret it.”

They only grew bolder.

“What, you’ll get your rich girlfriends to come after us?”

“You’re just their vibrator. They’ll toss you out when they’re done. You really think you’re somebody? Piss Logan off, and I’ll cripple you. Let’s see if those women still want you then.”

“I hate the way you look at us like we’re garbage. You’re a filthy rag, and you still act like you’re above everyone.”

Logan lit a cigarette and scoffed.

“I don’t do regrets, Daniel. You touched my woman, then came to my hotel to cause trouble. Before I’m done, you’ll be on your knees begging for mercy.”

At his command, more than a dozen people surged forward. I couldn’t fight them all. They soon pinned me to the floor and started punching and kicking, insults pouring from their mouths.

The onlookers had also decided I was the other man and hurled abuse at me.

Everyone wanted to land a kick in the chaos so they could take credit with Logan afterward.

My stomach cramped from the blows. I could only curl up. My suit jacket had disappeared, wine stained my clothes, and my wet hair hung over my face. I was a wreck.

Surrounded by his admirers, Logan strutted over and grabbed my hair with a cruel grin.

“Had enough?”

I clenched my teeth, my gaze deadly.

“You’re finished.”

Logan sneered and drew back his fist.

Suddenly, engines roared outside. Groups of bodyguards in sharp suits filed in with small briefcases and lined up on either side of the entrance…