THE EXILED LORD

CHAPTER 6

The moment the name Brown Gang was uttered, Leon’s face drained off color and a sharp gasp escaped his lips, in an instant, his fear turned into obsequiousness (submissive). He forced a smile, nodding quickly agreeing to everything the gang leader said.

“Ahh yes, yes! I did borrow $10 million from the Brown Group.” Leon admitted, sweat beads had formed on his forehead. “But the loan isn't due for another six months. I–I have it invested right now! I can’t just pull it out overnight, you know?”

The gang leader’s expression darkened like a storm rolling in.

He grabbed Leon by the collar and yanked him close, his voice a low growl.

“Oh, are you teaching me the law of investment right now? The boss wants the money now!” His fingers tightened, almost choking the old man, “You don’t get to decide when to pay. If the Brown Gang says it’s due today, then it’s due today!”

June was trembling and feeling embarrassed that today of all days, that Jason Stewart was here in her home, something like this even happened.

Leon choked, gasping for air. His legs trembled.

“W-Wait! Just give me a little more time…”

“Not my problem, you are paying up right now!” the thug snapped.

“I…” Leon wanted to stammer another excuse but no words were coming out.

Luca was feeling agitated by this, he wanted to step forward but Jason did first, so he reclined to see how it all played out.

Jason's steps were slow and deliberate.

A smirk played at the corner of his lips as he adjusted the cuffs of his suit.

“You don’t want to do this,” Jason said smoothly. His tone was calm, but his eyes held an unshakable confidence. “I am Jason Stewart, heir of the Stewart family. We’re about to form a major partnership with a powerful family from the capital. Crossing me now would be… unwise.”

June, who had been trembling moments ago, suddenly brightened at his words. She latched onto the opportunity instantly.

“You heard him!” she barked, “Let my husband go this instant! If you lay a finger on him, the mysterious family from the capital won’t take it lightly with the Brown gang or group! You would be digging your own graves!”

A low chuckle rumbled in the gang leader’s throat. He let go of Leon, just as Jason and June started looking smug and coolly he turned on Jason with a sneer.

Then, without warning, a resounding slap cracked through the air.

SLAP!!

Jason’s head snapped to the side, a red welt already forming on his cheek, his lips were trembling as he held his cheeks.

He stumbled back, his arrogant facade shattering as he crashed to the floor.

June gasped in horror.

Amelia gasped, holding her mouth with both hands in shock.

“How dare you… do you think you will get away with this?”

The thug stepped on Jason’s chest, pinning him down. His cocky grin widened.

“You think I fear your family? What does the entire Stewart own?” He scoffed. “News flash, rich boy—I don’t care who you’re working with or who your family is, you have no power here!”

Jason wheezed, stunned and humiliated by the thug's words.

June trembled, her lips parting to scream, but no sound came out.

The gang leader turned, his gaze sweeping across the room, until it landed on Amelia. A slow, smirk curled on his lips.

“Well, well…” He took a step toward her. “Since your family doesn’t have the money, we’ll take her instead.” He licked his lips. “She’ll stay with us until all of the debt is paid off.”

Amelia’s heart plunged, her eyes wide open in fear.

Leon’s eyes widened in horror. He immediately lunged forward, his voice shaking with rage, he borrowed money with the plan of investing and making huge profits and then return the money alongside profit shares to the Brown Group, but then he never thought they would do something like this against the agreement.

Now after breaching the contract, they want to take away his daughter? He couldn't possibly let them. These gangsters could use his only daughter as a prostitute to make money or worse yet, sell her to pay the debt.

Lots of thoughts were piling up in his head, some he couldn't deal with.

“No way!” he bellowed. “You’re not taking my daughter!”

The gang leader didn’t even flinch. “You don’t have a choice, old man.”

“Well I do, you guys breached the contract first, let me call my lawyer and sort this out amicably. I will pull it out, just give me at least by the end of the day.” Leon uttered sternly, over his trailing body would his daughter be taken away from him and sold off.

The gang leader then said; “It's already far too late for that. I no longer have the luxury of spending time here, she is coming with me and that's final! Next time, old man, you pay your debts. Don't worry old man, I will take care of her, really well.”

The gang leader began heading towards Amelia.

“Get away from her, you animal!” Jason yelled out, but it fell on deaf ears.

June was sobbing, she couldn't say a word as she was still shocked by everything.

The gang leader wasn't in any way interested in what was being said by them.

Amelia backed away in fear, intense fear was clawing at her chest. Her breath came out in ragged gasps.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, please…”

The thug reached for her wrist to pull her

And then…

BANG!

A deafening crash shook the entire room as the gang leader was suddenly sent flying across the villa.

His body slammed into the floor, rolling several feet before coming to a painful stop.

He coughed violently, blood trickling from his lips, he held his chest in pain, trying to figure out what just happened.

“Boss!!”

His subordinates ran towards him, trying to get him up from there, he was their boss after all and their priority.

Every eye in the room snapped to the figure standing in the center of it all.

It was Luca Ashford.

He was done watching it all and taking it all in, he couldn't take it anymore.

If this thug was in the quarry, he would have been dealt with mercilessly.

His expression was sharp, cold, and merciless.

His presence alone was suffocating, it exuded an overwhelming aura of power radiating off him.

The remaining gang members froze, their brave and stern looks evaporated in an instant.

Luca’s voice was deadly and calm, but it carried a force that sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

"Get out of this villa. You have five seconds."

Silence fell.

The remaining gang members hesitated, staring at their fallen leader.

"One."

They exchanged nervous glances amongst themselves.

The thug leader wasn't one to get intimidated that easily and he was not going to back down.

He rushed and threw a punch towards Luca.