RETURN OF DON' CARA FROM USELESS TO GREATNESS

Chapter 8

For the first time, Joshua let out a laugh that caught everyone off guard. The sisters, who had been listening to the conversation, exchanged confused glances. Unable to understand why he was laughing, Joshua narrowed his furious eyes across the room.

“You really have no idea what you’ve done, do you?” Joshua asked, averting his gaze toward the footsteps of Elizabeth descending the stairs. “Mark my words, you all will regret today. The Marshall family will crumble,” he declared.

Mrs. Marshall, wearing a bright smile, chuckled. “Is that a threat from nobody?!”

Everyone in the room erupted into wild laughter.

Elizabeth, hearing his statement, let out a laugh. “How can nobody like you do that? The only thing attached to your name is the $1,000 I generously left for you!” she chuckled, lacing her hand with Mark. “Unlike you, Mark is a connected businessman who has secured many deals and is thriving in the real estate industry. You will never reach the heights he has achieved, and yet you still make threats?"

Everyone erupted into another wild laugh. Mark, seizing the opportunity to ridicule Joshua, chimed in, "Don't let such a pest get to you, my love. He is nothing but all bark.”

Joshua grinned, and when his family expected him to respond, he didn't. Instead, he exited the mansion into the pouring rain.

“Don’t you ever come back here!”

Joshua could hear their voices through the downpour, but he didn't look back. He walked straight to the gate, where the security guards quickly opened it for him.

A while later, Joshua was several miles away from the Marshall Mansion. With no taxi in sight and the chill of the night creeping into his bones, he trudged forward in silence.

A few moments later, he noticed a car approaching from behind, its lights flashing at him. Relief washed over him, and he instinctively raised his arm, waving at the car to stop. When it pulled over, Joshua realized it wasn’t just one, but three black vehicles. With a furrowed brow, he watched as several men in black suits slid out of the cars.

Joshua instinctively took a step back. The expression on his face instantly changed when he noticed they weren't just wearing a mask but also holding several metal bats.

“Joshua Idris?” One of the men called, walking towards him with confidence. Joshua, realizing they were more like a foe than a friend, shook his head.

“You have the wrong person,” he replied, mentally counting a total of ten men all dressed in black with their faces covered with black masks.

Joshua, side-glancing at them, continued to walk away, but the words of the men rooted his feet to the ground.

“Stop right there!”

One of the men, a bulky figure covered in heavy tattoos, stepped forward with a photo in his right hand. He glanced from Joshua's face to the photo, and when he realized they were the same person, a smile spread across his lips.

“Oh no, buddy, we’ve got the right person,” he said. With a snap of his fingers, the other men slowly approached him.

Joshua, wiping the rain from his face, took another step back, taking a defensive position. “I don't know who you are, but I don't want any trouble,” he said, monitoring their movement.

“I'm sorry, pal, but the order came directly from above,” the man said with a smile. “I promise you will still be recognizable after today,” he added. Just as the words left his mouth, one of the men lunged at him, swinging a bat.

Joshua instinctively ducked as the metal swung above his head. His eyes widened in realization; the strike would have killed him if he hadn’t dodged it.

The man who swung the bat scoffed. Irritation now creeping into his face. “Why don't you just stay in one place so I can hit without stress!” the man ordered.

The other men spectating the scene erupted in laughter, and through their words, Joshua could tell they were placing bets on his head.

Without warning, the man launched forward again, but he missed his second swing, and with a growl, Joshua instinctively sent his fist into the man's jaw, sending him crashing to the ground.

The other men, seeing the hit, erupted into another round of laughter. One of the men who had won this bet collected his money from his colleagues, who were hard-frowning at his Joshua-defensive response.

The bulky man, who seemed to be the leader of the gang, leaned against one of the vehicles with a can of soda in his hand. “That’s a pretty nasty punch you’ve got there, boy,” he said, taking a sip. He narrowed his eyes at the man groaning on the ground. “I guess you can handle the weakest of my men,” he added with a smirk.

Sensing the amusement in his tone, Joshua took another step back. “You have to stop this; I don’t want any trouble,” Joshua pleaded.

The leader of the gang remained adamant in his words and signaled for another man to attack.

“Boss, let me deal with this rat,” one of the men said, gladly accepting the challenge from his boss. He bowed his head, then pulled out a small dagger and skillfully swung it, preparing to confront Joshua.

Unlike the previous man, this one was faster. His speed was incredible, and his attack caused Joshua to stagger back, clutching his face with his hands. Feeling a cold shiver, Joshua dropped his gaze to his bloodied hands.

When the gang leader saw the reaction on Joshua's face, laughter erupted from his lips. “Finally, something to scar that handsome face of yours,” the man taunted, a grin stretching across his features.