Richard arrived at the restaurant earlier than expected, stepping inside to find the place already bustling with activity. The scent of freshly cooked meals filled the air, mixing with the soft chatter of customers and the occasional clatter of dishes. It was a lively atmosphere, the kind he had grown used to over the past few weeks.The first person to notice him was Lily, one of his co-workers. She turned toward him with a bright smile.“Hi, Richard! You’re right on time today.”Richard returned the smile, adjusting the strap of his bag. “The lecturer didn’t take up his full time today. He had something else to attend to, and since it was my only class, I decided to come straight here.”Lily nodded approvingly. “That’s great! We’ve got a lot of customers today, so we could really use the extra hands.”Richard didn’t mind. He quickly made his way to the staff changing area, swapping his casual clothes for the restaurant’s uniform. He rolled up his sleeves and stepped back into the din

Richard’s slap across Blake Wade’s face echoed through the restaurant, sending a wave of shock through the onlookers. Every pair of eyes widened in disbelief. The entire room fell into an eerie silence.Blake Wade, now clutching his burning cheek, slowly turned his head back toward Richard, his expression shifting from stunned disbelief to unfiltered rage.“How dare you lay your dirty hands on me?” Blake hissed, his fists clenching. “Now, I won’t spare you.”Rachel’s face drained of color. She knew what Blake Wade was capable of, and she feared the worst for Richard. Without thinking, she stepped in front of him, her hands trembling as she tried to reason with Blake.“Please, have mercy on him,” she pleaded desperately. “He’s just a new staff member, and he knows nothing about you.”Blake let out a cruel laugh, his eyes flashing with malice. “Mercy?” he spat. “I was willing to forgive him before, but now? Now, I’ll make sure he regrets ever stepping into this restaurant.”Lily, still s

Richard stood firm as Natt Wade hesitated, his face filled with confusion and disbelief. It was clear that he couldn’t understand why a man as powerful as Mr. James would go out of his way to protect someone like Richard.“What are you doing here, boss?” Natt Wade finally asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of nervousness.Mr. James folded his arms and fixed him with a sharp gaze. “I should be the one asking you what you were trying to do to this young man.”A heavy silence settled over the restaurant. The tension in the air was thick, the weight of Mr. James’s words pressing down on everyone present.Natt Wade struggled to hide his unease. He had expected to punish Richard without interference, yet here he was, facing one of the most feared men in the underworld.“I was just trying to teach this loser a lesson,” Natt Wade muttered, his pride preventing him from backing down. “He humiliated me today, and I can’t let that go unanswered.”The moment the word loser left his m

The Wade brothers were left speechless as Mr. James and Richard stood in their hideout. For years, they had ruled this place with fear, but now, the balance of power had shifted.Without hesitation, they dropped to their knees and kowtowed before Mr. James, their heads pressed against the cold floor.“To what do we owe this esteemed visit of yours?” Natt Wade asked, his voice carrying an edge of fear.It had been a long time since Mr. James had sought them out, and his sudden appearance felt like an omen. Something wasn’t right, and they were desperate to understand why he was here.Mr. James glanced at Richard before speaking. “My boss intends to have a word with you both.”The words sent a ripple of shock through them.A boss?Who could possibly be superior to Mr. James?As if answering their unspoken question, Mr. James lifted a hand and gestured toward Richard.“He is the chairman of the Morgan Empire, and he is the one I work for.”The weight of his words crashed down on the Wade

When Charles and Oliver opened the door, they were met with a shocking sight—Richard, standing unsteadily at the entrance, his eyes slightly unfocused, his body swaying as if he could collapse at any moment.They exchanged glances, confusion evident in their expressions. Richard wasn’t the type to drink or get himself into situations like this. So how had he ended up in this state?Oliver reached forward, steadying Richard before he could fall. “What the hell happened to you?”Richard only groaned in response, his head throbbing too much for him to formulate an answer.Charles sighed. “I don’t think we’ll be getting any answers out of him tonight. Let’s just get him to bed. He’ll talk when he wakes up.”Without another word, the two of them lifted Richard by his arms, dragging him toward his bed. Richard barely registered their actions as they carefully placed him down, covering him with the blanket before stepping back.“I’ve never seen him like this before,” Charles muttered, his bro