As soon as the men stepped into the warehouse, their eyes landed on Tedmond, seated calmly on a chair. The gang leader, Remi, broke into a wide grin the moment he saw him.That chair was usually reserved for the poor souls they dragged in to torture, and now that Tedmond was sitting on it, Remi knew they had themselves a new plaything—someone to mess with for hours while they drank and laughed.“Looks like we’ve got ourselves a gift,” Remi said, his grin deepening as he glanced at the others. One by one, they nodded, grins spreading across their faces.They’d been out all night, bored and hoping to find someone to mess with, but had returned empty-handed—until now. The sight of Tedmond sparked excitement in them. The games could wait, but their entertainment was secured.Remi’s gaze finally shifted from Tedmond to the person who had brought him. He hadn't paid attention earlier, too focused on their new toy. When his eyes landed on Ottis, recognition lit up his face.Ottis was one of

Upon coming to a conclusion, the customary grin Remi had returned. He just needed to give the order to his men to start, and they would begin.As Remi turned to give the order, Tedmond’s voice finally cut through the air.“You should’ve asked for more,” he said coolly, his tone calm and firm. “How much is the money that had been doubled? I would like to triple it.”The room froze.The men turned toward Tedmond, stunned that he had the nerve to speak, let alone offer more money.Ottis’s head snapped in his direction, a deep frown settling on his face.Remi raised a brow, caught off guard by what he’d just heard. The amount he was set to receive from Ottis was already generous—he had even convinced him to double it. And now Tedmond was offering to triple that doubled sum?The rest of the men were just as shocked.Triple the already doubled money?For a moment, they were genuinely tempted. After all, in their line of work, loyalty usually went to whoever paid the highest price.However,

Not knowing what to say to them anymore, Tedmond decided not to bother trying to convince them. Ottis had dragged them into this mess when he could’ve simply handed over the money.Tedmond tucked his phone back into his pocket, calm as ever. “If you’re so confident, then come at me. Don’t hesitate now.” His gaze swept across them, daring. “And when you’re writhing on the floor, try not to beg too much. It’s pathetic.”That was the last straw.“GET HIM!” Remi roared.The thugs charged at Tedmond like a pack of wild dogs—fists clenched, eyes blazing with rage.But just as they closed in—CRASH!The ceiling burst open, and masked men dropped down like shadows. The walls cracked open, revealing hidden panels from which more men in black silently stepped out. The front door slammed shut as two more guards entered, locking the exits. Even the corners of the floor opened up, and more men rose from hidden compartments.Everyone froze.Even Tedmond was stunned. He knew help would come—but he h

Max regretted mentioning his brother the moment Neil asked that question. He hadn’t even adequately told his new friends that Tedmond was his brother. He’d only dropped subtle hints, letting them piece it together themselves. It wasn’t like he was proud of the connection.He hated the fact that he and Tedmond shared the same blood. He’d even taken multiple DNA tests, hoping—praying—that the results would prove otherwise. But the papers always said the same thing:They were related.‘I didn’t want to tell Alicia about Tedmond,’ he thought, sneaking a glance at Neil. ’It would’ve been better if she found out on her own, in her own time.’Neil raised an eyebrow, watching Max spiral into silence over a simple question. “What’s with the sudden mood drop? Did I say something wrong?”Max blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. “No, you’re good. It’s just... complicated.”Neil leaned back, folding his arms. “Complicated how? I just said you never told me you had a brother. I was curious about

Tedmond looked at Finn. He had just arrived on campus and hadn’t even done anything yet, and still, he was bombarded by Finn—someone who clearly had no idea how to read the room before acting.Giving Finn a blank stare, Tedmond genuinely wondered if he was just stupid. Not only did Finn fail to read the atmosphere, but he also just said the most ridiculous thing ever.This wasn’t the first time Tedmond had eaten in the cafeteria. It wasn’t even the second.The only reason he had avoided the cafeteria in the past was because it was one of the main places Max and his friends had humiliated him the most.He hadn’t wanted them to do something to his food and make him eat it.So, he’d stayed away—not because he couldn’t afford the meals that only cost a few bucks—but to protect himself.“What the hell are you talking about now?” Persis asked, frowning as she looked at Finn. “Don’t tell me you came to join the table just to say that?”She was already irritated that Lisa was at the table, ev