Revenge of the Abandoned Heir

Bottom of the Food Chain

“Sir, your friend is capable of doing that. I’m not a servant.” Stephen did his best to sound respectful and to avoid a fight. 

He was well aware that Emerson and his friends were the type that got everything that they wanted. He also knew that Emerson came from one of the large and powerful political clans in Lowe city.

Stephen’s collar was suddenly grabbed, making him close his eyes. He recalled how his father had started with the same actions when he beat Stephen up over a mistress and an illegitimate child.

“Do you know who you are refusing?” One of Emerson’s friends asked.

Stephen slowly opened his eyes when he realized that Emerson’s friend wasn’t going to beat him up, or at least wasn’t yet.

“Now, now, David, don’t be so rash.” Emerson’s tone was mocking and cold, as if he wanted to make things worse for Stephen.

“He disrespected you.” The man called David complained to Emerson.

“Poor boy here can still change his mind. So will you pick it up?” Emerson asked as he looked Stephen in the eyes, challenging him to refuse.

Stephen smiled and shook his head.

“As I said, I’m not your servant.” Stephen’s tone was poisonous, offending the man in front of him.

As soon as Emerson’s friend’s heard Stephen’s words, he was dragged from the bar, out to the back alley.

Having been a pampered young man his entire life, Stephendn didn’t know how to fight or take a punch. 

Emerson’s friends were more than happy to beat him up, punching and kicking Stephen until he had started coughing up blood. 

“I don’t think Young Master Emerson would appreciate it if he died, we don’t want him to have the image of being a killer.” One of Emerson’s friends said as he gave Stephen one last strong kick before walking away.

Unwill to believe that he had been let go, Stephen remained curled up on the ground for what felt like hours. 

“Stephen?” He heard Charlie’s panicked voice as his vision began to blur. “What the fuck happened?”

“That kid.” Stephen groaned as Charlie helped him stand up. 

Just as Stephen managed to stand, the world around him began to spin and everything went dark.

- - - - 

After what felt like a very long time, Stephen opened his eyes to find himself in a hospital. 

He tried to get up but everything hurt. 

“Don’t, the doctor said you need to rest, you lost a lot of blood, Stephen.” Stephen heard Charlie say.

He turned to his side to find his boss frowning as he looked at Stephen.

“What happened?” Charlie asked Stephen. “I couldn’t get you into any of the hospitals because Emerson Yu ordered that you were not allowed to be helped in Lowe city.”

Stephen couldn’t help but laugh despite the pain.

Charlie looked at him as if he had gone mad. 

“Young masters such as himself really can’t take their egos getting bruised.” Stephen couldn’t help but think how badly Emerson would fare when he moved to Marina. He would be chewed up by Stephen’s friends.

“You really offended him.” Charlie said in a somber tone.

“I merely refused to pick up something his friend dropped on purpose.” Stephen explained to his boss. “Where are we?”

“A province down where the Yu family can’t get their hands on you.” Charlie explained. “This is owned by the Cho family, they can’t get their hands on you.”

Stephen froze at the mention of his real family. The longer he was here the more dangerous it was for him. He needed to leave as soon as possible.

“Can we leave? I can recuperate back in Lowe City.” At the mention of Lowe City, Charlie frowned. 

“What is it?” Stephen asked.

“That’s the thing, you can’t go back.” Charlie told Stephen. “They trashed your apartment. I got what I could, but it isn’t much, just your documents, money, no clothes.”

Stephen turned pale at the news.

“I just got here.” Stephen said as he laughed and shook his head.

“Well, there is a little bit of good news.” Charlie said as he handed Stephen an envelope. “I’m sorry, I opened it and read it.”

Stephen looked at the letterhead, it was from the university in another country that he had applied to. He didn’t expect to hear back from them so soon.

“Congratulations.” Charlie said with a cheeky smile as Stephen read through the letter

Stephen couldn’t believe his eyes, the university had just accepted him and even offered him a scholarship.

“Wow.” Stephen said as he looked at the letter in his hands.

“I guess you should get better as quickly as possible now.” Charlie said with a smile. 

“Yeah.” Stephen said with a nod. After all, he too wanted to get out of that hospital as soon as possible so that he could distance himself from the Cho family.

- - - - - -

In the Vice President’s office of Cho Industries.

William Cho was looking out of his office window when his assistant knocked telling him that he had an urgent matter to discuss with the vice president.

“Let’s hear it.” William told his assistant as he walked back to his desk and sat down behind it.

“Sir, that man, Stephen Sy that you asked us to look after. He’s been admitted to one of our hospitals near Lowe city.” The assistant reported.

“Why was he admitted so far from where he has been living?” William asked as he looked at the medical documents and the photos from the hospital.

“From what our people have managed to gather he managed to offend the local family.” The assistant told William as he produced a photo of Emerson Yu. 

“Is he alive? Stephen I mean?” William asked.

“From what we can tell he is fine.” The assistant said with a nod.

“Very well, let it be.” William said calmly, making his assistant worry.

“Sir, won’t you have the bill erased or have the Yu kid pay. I mean, after all Mr. Stephen is-” William cut him off before he could say anything else.

“He cannot be connected to me. Let him be. Stephen Cho is dead.” William then dismissed his assistant as he continued to look out into the city.

Stephen was his back-up plan, he needed to keep him close, but he also had to be disposable.