The Almighty Heir's Return

Chapter 04

“Do you really think we’ll fall for it, Brandon?” Kayle sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. He looked at his friends, who were slowly getting up from the floor, and they all started nodding in agreement. “My dad is rich, and you? You’re just a pathetic, good-for-nothing beggar!”

Brandon stood still, his gaze fixed on the butler working quietly on his phone. His face was blank, unreadable, as if Kayle’s taunts were nothing more than static noise.

Erika, glued to Kayle’s side, glanced at Brandon for the first time. Until now, she had only seen him through Kayle’s filter—a target, a victim. But now, she noticed how his calm demeanor seemed to unsettle the room. His features, though bruised, were sharp and handsome. She flushed at the memory of his kiss, which had been far better than she wanted to admit.

“Kayle’s dad is gonna ruin you!” one of the bullies snarled.

“Yeah!” Kayle smirked, nodding in agreement. “Nobody messes with me and gets away with it.”

“All done, sir,” the butler said, his voice professional and crisp. He turned to Kayle with a calm yet unnerving demeanor. “Your family, Young Mr. Jamerson, will be bankrupt in thirty minutes. Give or take a few.”

The gang burst into laughter, Kayle doubling over as if he’d heard the joke of the century.

“You’re hilarious, old man!” Kayle snorted, wiping a tear from his eye. “Maybe I’ll hire you for a kid’s party. Brandon, you really went all out for this little stunt.”

The butler looked to Brandon, who gave a small shake of his head, signaling him to let the idiots revel in their ignorance a moment longer.

But then Kayle’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, smirking. “Oh, you’re done now! It’s my dad.” He answered with smug confidence. “Hey, Dad! Listen, this—”

Kayle’s expression twisted mid-sentence. His smirk faded, replaced by a look of confusion and growing dread.

“You’re a disgrace to this family, Kayle!” his father’s voice roared through the receiver, loud enough that even those nearby could hear the fury. “Because of you, every one of my business partners is pulling out. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?!”

Kayle staggered, the blood draining from his face. “But… what? How is this on me?”

“How?” his father thundered. “I warned you to stop bullying people, didn’t I? But no, you never listen! I’ve always cleaned up your messes, but this time? This time you’ve destroyed everything!”

Kayle’s friends shifted uncomfortably, exchanging nervous glances. Even they knew when something serious was happening.

Kayle stammered, his confidence crumbling. “T-this can’t be real! Brandon—he’s a nobody! He has nothing!”

“A nobody?” his father hissed. “If you spent less time tormenting people and more time paying attention, you’d know that the Ashford family is one of the most powerful in this country! And you, my son, have just declared war on them!”

The line went dead. Kayle stared at the phone, his mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.

“Who… who the hell are you?” he demanded, his voice shaking as he glared at Brandon.

Brandon remained silent, his piercing gaze locked on Kayle. Gone was the timid, beaten boy they had tormented for years.

One of the bullies, Diego, broke the silence. “Man, I’m sorry, okay? My family… we can’t afford to lose everything! Please!” His voice cracked, desperation seeping into every word.

Another chimed in. “Yeah, forgive us, Brandon. We didn’t mean—”

Brandon didn’t even glance at them. He spoke only to the butler. “What should we do about them?”

Kayle’s friends froze. Even Erika paled, realizing Brandon’s power wasn’t just a bluff. She shrank back, unsure of what her betrayal would cost her.

The butler’s expression remained stoic. “As you wish, sir.”

Brandon stepped toward the door, his steps measured, and deliberate. The butler followed closely. Before leaving, Brandon turned slightly, his voice cold and emotionless. “Consider yourselves lucky. This time.”

The door closed behind him, leaving the room in suffocating silence.

“Are we heading to Ashford Manor, sir?” the butler inquired as they exited the hotel.

“No.”

“But, sir—”

The butler stopped mid-sentence when Brandon cast him a sharp, icy look. His aura was commanding, dangerous, and even the seasoned servant dared not press further.

Brandon strode into the night, texting precise instructions to the butler for how to handle each of the bullies. He thought that would be the end of it, a way to move on and leave the past behind.

But Kayle had different plans.