WITH JUST one command, the bodyguards let go of him and took one step away from him. August turned his body to see who ordered them, only to see Samantha and Bruce.

“So, it’s him…” whispered Bruce to Samantha before he leaned towards her, licking lightly onto her earlobe. "No wonder why you wanted to dump him so badly, baby."

“B-Bruce…” said Samantha, feeling awkward as Bruce was doing naughty things in front of her ex-boyfriend. 

However, Bruce didn’t even budge. All she could do was close her eyes and feel how good Bruce’s tongue was. August suddenly clenched his fists at the sight.

Bruce has everything everyone could ask for. Wealth, a good reputation, oozing sex appeal, and stamina that could make her moan in ecstasy every night, what more could she ask for?

Everything Bruce has was the exact opposite of August. She never loved him, not even a bit. She just used him to buy the things she wanted, and to enter the Sandoval Corporation so she could execute her plan.

‘Samantha…’ 

August could only speak her name. It seems like his voice left his throat already. And when Bruce noticed it, his hand gently went up to the side of Samantha’s chest, followed by a sly smile— trying to irritate August more.

“Nice to meet you, August Fordman.” Bruce let go of Samantha’s waist and extended his hand. “I’m Bruce Sandoval, heir of the Sandoval family, and the future CEO of the Sandoval Corporation.”

August grimaced as he sensed the arrogance in the tone of his voice.

‘I already knew that this guy was a bastard who only knows how to play with women,’

His mischievous smirk, his choice of words, his pretentious smiles, and the way he makes Samantha feel uncomfortable with his touches led August to that conclusion.

For him, Bruce was just a money-sucker and a credit grabber— Because he isn’t the rich man here, but Jake— his father, the current CEO.

“Why won’t you take my hand?” asked Bruce in a soft and gentle tone.

August was spacing out, and Bruce is losing his patience either… although he concealed it by his calmness. However, August could see that Bruce’s eyes were telling something else. It was cold and provocative— yet no one notices it.

That’s when August realized that Bruce’s main intention was to show him his bad side.

‘This two-faced jerk!’

August flickered Bruce’s hand forcefully, causing the three bodyguard’s eyes to widen. Samantha and the live viewers of the broadcast had the same reaction, too. 

August, at this point, wasn’t aware that they were being filmed. He doesn’t know that everything from the start was a disaster in process for him. Bruce went outside the restaurant, even though he didn’t think of August as a worthy opponent, all because of this.

‘You’re poor, and you don’t know how to respect the rich? Let me give you a lesson,’ said Bruce at the back of his mind as a wicked smile escaped his lips.

Bruce snapped his neck, and his hands went onto Samantha’s waist again.

“Get your filthy hands off my girl,” August thundered and clenched his fist, ready to attack at any time.

“This bastard—“

“No. It’s fine.” Bruce raised his other hand to stop his bodyguards from beating August. “Leave us for a while,” he added, and his bodyguards suddenly obliged.

Bruce, although it doesn’t show, was just trying to hide his inner demons. This is the first time someone tried to command and humiliate him like this.

‘Who does he think he is? Hah. Just a pathetic commoner, yet he acted like he could scold me like this?’ Bruce wanted to punch August at this point.

Despite not being hands-on in their company, he was aware of August’s horrible nickname in their department, which is the reason why even Samantha doesn’t want to be associated with him in the first place.

Pathetic commoner. 

That’s what everyone calls him.

“This woman? My fiancee?” Bruce held onto Samantha’s waist tighter. “Why would I let go of her?”

“Because she isn’t yours. She’s mine,” August answered without hesitation.

As Bruce heard his answer, his demeaning laughter filled the entire place. He took one step forward as his gaze went deadly. Despite that, August didn’t even flinch or blink an eye.

The live viewers, including August’s co-employees, were watching the livestream intently.

“I’m certain. He already lost his mind, isn’t he?” said Kaylee as she shook her head while watching the live stream.

“I think so,” Peter answered and shook his head. 

He couldn’t believe the courage August was showing to everyone right now. Actually, anyone couldn’t believe that their pathetic commoner was suddenly involved in Bruce’s live stream that was only meant for rich people!

“How naïve of you, Mr. Fordman…” Bruce shook his head. “Do you think someone would believe you?”

Bruce subtly glanced at the camera behind him— informing August that he wasn’t the only one who heard his ridiculous sentence. 

“It was broadcasted worldwide, fucker,” Bruce whispered, causing August to freeze in his spot.

August clenched his fists, and his jaws moved angrily. “H-How—”

 “You’re one of my employees, right?” asked Bruce with a wicked smile. “I know who you are, what you do, and how poor you are.”

August’s brows furrowed. He didn’t understand what Bruce tried to say. Bruce made him feel that he was the villain in their story, even though it was the exact opposite.

“I tried to be patient with you, but since my girl was involved here, I’ll act without mercy.” 

Bruce held onto Samantha’s arms, which were already trembling. August thought that it was true, but when his gaze went to her, a mischievous smile showed on her lips.

‘What are they planning to do?’ August asked. He didn’t like where this scenario is going.

“Samantha, baby, don’t be afraid. Tell us the truth,” Bruce told him and caressed her back, pretending to comfort her.

It didn’t last long as Samantha started producing her fake tears, and told everyone the story Bruce and her agreed with.

“He— He threatened me!” exclaimed Samantha and pointed at August. “He told me that he’ll make my life miserable if I don’t follow him!” 

It was the most painful and probably the easiest way to destroy August’s reputation. To be honest, she didn’t care about his feelings at all. 

But seeing his pained expression awaken a little bit of conscience in her heart.

However, the show needed to continue.

"That was back in college. He never stopped following me and even recruited me at the company he’s working at to keep an eye on me!” she added, making the people who heard it gasp in shock.

“What a jerk!”

“Poor people like him would do anything they like, wouldn’t they?”

“Why is that man even alive? He should be beheaded because of what he did!”

August was startled. He wasn’t able to defend himself immediately.

“Sam… What are you saying? That’s not what happened—”

“Don’t come near me!” Samantha exclaimed when August tried to approach her. “I don’t want to see you anymore!”

“Sam!” August’s voice got louder this time. “Why are you doing this to me?!” 

The lack of sleep and the excruciating situation in front of him made August burst out with anger. He wanted to punch Bruce right out of his face, but it would make the situation worse. 

August almost wanted to break down. He couldn’t understand why both of them would twist the truth, and why Samantha became an accomplice in destroying him.

He tried approaching Samantha again, but Bruce suddenly went in front of him.

“Get out of my sight before I lose all my sanity, Mr. Fordman,” Bruce muttered in a low tone. 

No one could see his real expression. Bruce knows how to avoid the camera as he was also the one who set that up.

“I won’t! Not until I take Sam with me!” shouted August with desperation this time.

“If that’s what you want…”

He glanced at the bodyguards behind him before pointing his hand at August. “Drag him out of here, and I don’t care what you’ll do to him before you let him go.”

Meaning that they could beat him up into a pulp, the bodyguards smirked in unison as they were finding someone to release their stress with.

“Come here, bastard," one of the bodyguards spoke as they pulled August away from the restaurant.