The crowd went silent when they heard Tedmond’s words. Who would have thought the arrogant Kyle would lose to the so-called loser of college and have to become his slave?
“We made a deal,” Tedmond muttered. “You can’t go back on it. From now on, you’ll listen to me and do whatever I want.”
Kyle’s teeth gritted. He had never been this humiliated in his entire life.
“Do it!” the crowd yelled.
"A deal’s a deal—it must be upheld!"
"Don’t back out now!"
Kyle’s eyes darted to Max, who shook his head, before turning back to Tedmond.
“Master,” Kyle said, forcing the words out in a barely audible whisper.
“I can’t hear you,” Tedmond taunted.
“Master!” Kyle yelled, his body trembling slightly as embarrassment overwhelmed him.
Tedmond’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Now that you’ve called me master and have become my slave, go get me a milkshake,” he ordered.
Kyle’s teammates looked on in surprise, but Kyle turned to one of them.
“Go get the milkshake like he asked,” he ordered.The teammate hesitated, and Kyle glared at him.
“I meant you,” Tedmond said, poking Kyle in the chest. “Do it yourself.”
Kyle glared back, his anger rising. “Don’t—” he started but stopped, his fists clenched.
Tedmond arched his brow. “What?”
“No need. I’ll get the milkshake,” Kyle muttered, spinning around and storming off.
“Think he’ll do it?” Liam asked.
“Yes,” Tedmond replied.
In less than five minutes, Kyle returned with a milkshake and handed it to Tedmond.
“Good job,” Tedmond muttered. “I’ll see you later, Kyle.” He turned and walked off with his team, sipping the milkshake.
“How do you know it’s not poisoned?” Oliver asked, glancing at Tedmond.
“It’s not,” Tedmond reassured them. “Poisoning me would be too easy.”
“Still,” Liam began, “I couldn’t drink something he touched.”
Tedmond smiled. He hadn’t expected to gain friends so quickly, but now, he had four—the same people who once wanted nothing to do with him.
“Want to join us for dinner later?” James invited. “It’s at a restaurant that’s trending at school right now.”
“What time?” Tedmond asked, remembering his promise to Bianca to be home by seven.
“Nine,” James replied. “It’s kind of late, but since you’re not at home anymore, are you thinking about moving to the dorms?”
“We have space for one more roommate,” Noah added. “You could apply to join us.”
Tedmond shook his head. Even if he had nowhere else to go, he couldn’t afford a dorm on just $1—at least not without the inheritance.
“No, I have a place to stay,” he said. “But I’ll join you for dinner at nine.”
Night fell quickly, and soon it was time for Tedmond to leave for dinner. After putting Bianca to bed, he headed out, only to be startled by the butler standing outside his room.
“You scared me,” Tedmond said.
“My apologies, young master,” Thomas replied. “I just wanted to inform you that your card has been created. You seem to be going out, so I thought you might need it.”
Tedmond took the card with a curious look, noting his initials: T.J.W.
“I’ve also contacted your school,” Thomas added. “Griffin has been removed from your name, and you’re now officially listed as Julius Washington. I hope you’re okay with that?”
“I am,” Tedmond said. “Thanks for your help, Thomas.”
“I’m just doing my job.”
Tedmond smiled at the butler before walking past him and leaving the mansion.
A little later, Tedmond arrived at the restaurant, easily spotting his friends waving at him. He walked over and took the empty seat they’d saved.
“Hello,” he greeted, and they all replied in kind.
“We thought you weren’t coming,” Liam said.
“So did I,” Oliver added.
As they chatted, Tedmond looked around the restaurant, noting how grand it was. He could tell the meals were expensive, and he would never have dared enter such a place in the past.
Then someone sat down at a nearby table, and the relaxed expression on Tedmond’s face vanished. The people seated next to them were none other than his siblings and Lisa.
‘Why do I keep bumping into them?’ he thought, rolling his eyes and looking away.
Just as he turned, Maxine noticed him and whispered to her brother.
“He’s here,” Maxine said. “Is that why we couldn’t find him in the streets?”
“Maybe he’s staying with those four,” Max replied.
Lisa shook her head. “I asked around at school today. He’s not staying in the dorms with them. What are we going to do? We need the necklace.”
At the mention of the necklace, Max stood up. “I’ll handle it.”
Without hesitation, Max approached Tedmond’s table and leaned close to his ear. “Come with me—we need to talk.”
Tedmond looked up, glaring. “What do you want? Say whatever you have to say here.”
Max’s face twisted with anger. “This is a family matter. I’m not discussing it in front of a bunch of strangers.”
Tedmond glanced at his friends, who were all glaring at Max. As expected, they were on his side.
“They’re my friends,” Tedmond responded. “You’re the outsider here. Why would I care about anything that concerns your family?”
Max’s blood boiled. “Is this how you speak to your elder brother?” he spat. “I only came to help. You’re being taken advantage of. They’re just leeching off you, pretending to be your friends so you’ll pay for dinner.”
He sneered, his voice rising. “I’m sure they have no idea you’re just the child of a maid, with no money to your name.” His tone was taunting and loud enough to attract attention.
Tedmond felt like he’d been punched in the gut, his anger surging. How dare Max insult his mother?
“Your mother was so poor she gave birth to you in the streets after being kicked out of the family. You belong there, on the streets—where you came from,” Max continued, leaning closer, trying to intimidate him. “If only she hadn’t birthed a bastard like—”
Before Max could finish, Tedmond grabbed his head and slammed it against the table. It happened so fast, that no one saw it coming.
With his eyes dark and his hair tousled from the swift movement, Tedmond hissed, “Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that.”
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 879
The noise of the ballroom faded the further Tedmond walked from the glittering chandeliers, replaced by the heavy, echoing quiet of the gallery's private wing. A tall, silent gallery steward dressed in a sharp black uniform led the way, his stride perfectly measured. At the end of the corridor, he pushed open a pair of double mahogany doors to reveal a secluded, dimly lit cigar lounge reserved strictly for the museum’s highest-tier trustees. The room was soundproof, lined with rows of ancient leather-bound books and thick with the faint, rich scent of cedar and aged tobacco.Rony followed close behind, his shoulder tightly supporting Arthur. The old patriarch looked completely defeated, his breathing ragged as his hand clutched his rapidly swelling jaw. Rony carefully guided Arthur into a deep, plush armchair in the corner, ensuring his boss was stable before stepping back.Tedmond moved to the center of the room. Without sparing a glance at Arthur, he smoothly unbuttoned his tu
CHAPTER 878
"Of course," she whispered, plucking a fresh glass of champagne from a passing tray. She surveyed the nervous politicians with the calculating gaze of a wolf sizing up sheep. "Tell Tedmond to go, gentlemen. You wanted to speak to a Washington about the deep-water leases? You can speak to me."The moment the words left her mouth, a heavy chill dropped over the crowd.The politicians and investors looked at Persis, standing elegant and radiant in her emerald green gown, and their desperate smiles instantly froze. A wave of pure terror swept through the swarming circle. They realized, with a sickening jolt of panic, that dealing with Persis was infinitely more dangerous than dealing with Tedmond directly.If they accidentally offended Tedmond, they might face a straightforward corporate beating or a swift punch to the jaw. But if any of them crossed, disrespected, or even slightly annoyed Persis, Tedmond would erase their entire lineage from the capital. He wouldn't just take their
CHAPTER 877
The heavy silence in the grand ballroom stretched on, thick and suffocating. No one dared to breathe. The security guards at the doors stood frozen, hands hovering near their belts, but not a single one moved toward Tedmond. They knew exactly who he was.Tedmond tossed the stained silk handkerchief onto Arthur's chest. He didn't offer the man a hand up, nor did he look at the crowd of horrified politicians and investors watching them."Thomas," Tedmond called out quietly.Like a ghost emerging from the shadows of the marble pillars, Thomas appeared beside the ruined table, his face entirely unreadable."Sir?" Thomas murmured, bowing his head."Have the legal team draft the final transfer protocols for the remaining North Side terminals," Tedmond commanded, his voice clear in the quiet room. "Arthur won't be attending the board meetings anymore. His seats are forfeited as of right now.""Understood, sir," Thomas replied smoothly. He glanced down at Arthur, who was shaking among th
CHAPTER 876
Arthur swallowed hard, desperately trying to force a fake, polite smile onto his face so his powerful friends wouldn’t see how terrified he was."Mr. Washington. Persis. I’m... I'm glad you could make it. I was just telling the committee here that we have a lot of common ground to discuss regarding the new deep-water leases."“It is Mrs. Washington.” Tedmond corrected. Arthur narrowed his eyes.“Ahh. Yes. Mrs. Washington. I am glad to have you here with your husband.” He flashed her a bright smile, which looked even more forced. “Nice to meet you, too.”One of the committee men, a stern old guy with a thick mustache and gold glasses, stepped forward with his arms crossed. "Washington, we need some real answers about the sudden shift in the infrastructure registries today. A forty-percent drop looks an awful lot like a forced monopoly play to us."Tedmond didn't even turn his head to look at the committee member. His eyes stayed locked directly on Arthur, who looked like he was pray
CHAPTER 875
Tedmond looked up as Persis stepped into view at the top of the stairs, and for a fraction of a second, the hard, calculating lines of his face softened completely.She was stunning. She wore a floor-length emerald green silk gown that cascaded down her frame like a liquid jewel, the deep color making her eyes pop and casting a brilliant glow against her skin. A delicate, intricate diamond necklace rested against her collarbone, catching the light of the crystal chandelier with every slow step she took down the marble staircase. Her hair was swept up in an elegant, modern twist, leaving the sharp line of her jaw perfectly visible.Thomas stood near the heavy front doors, holding a dark wrap over his arm, his head bowed in polite deference as she approached the bottom of the landing. Persis paused on the final step, a playful, knowing smile curving her lips as she looked up into Tedmond’s eyes."Well?" she murmured, resting her hand lightly against his lapel, the faint scent of fres
CHAPTER 874
Persis let out a soft, melodic laugh, the tension from the beach dissolving completely as she tossed the invitation back onto Thomas’s silver tray. She stepped closer to Tedmond, her eyes bright with a sudden, playful energy that contrasted sharply with the high-stakes corporate warfare they had been discussing."Well, if we're going to completely upstage a D.C. dynasty in front of the entire infrastructure committee," she murmured, looping her arms around his neck, "we certainly can't wear our beach clothes."She tilted her head up, a brilliant, knowing smile spreading across her face."Should I pick the outfits for us, honey? I think a classic black-tie aesthetic would contrast beautifully with whatever desperate shade of green Arthur is going to turn when we walk through the front doors."Tedmond’s gaze softened as he looked down at her. His hands came up to rest firmly on her waist, drawing her a fraction closer."I leave the wardrobe entirely in your hands," he said, the low ru
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