The Pauper heir rises

chapter 2

Chapter Two

My ears rang as my vision blurred, not from the slap, but from the realization that everything I had believed about our relationship had been a lie. I had been used—nothing more than a convenient source of money.

Linda turned back to Ethan, completely ignoring me as if I were invisible. I stood there, the laughter and whispers of the crowd echoing in my ears, my world crashing down around me.

I stood there, feeling the heaviness of Linda's cruel words. My heart pounded, every beat hammering in the reality of what was happening. Just minutes ago, I was certain I could fix things between us, but now, with Ethan's arm wrapped possessively around Linda's waist, it felt like the ground beneath me was slipping away.

A part of me wished I could do something at the very least but I knew it was just a waste of time. I was a nobody compared to Ethan whose father could have my life put into misery with a single snap of his fingers.

Linda turned to me with a condescending smile, playing the role of the innocent girl caught in a misunderstanding. Her voice, dripping with fake sympathy, barely hid the venom behind her words.

"Jason," she began softly, like she was talking to a child, "I don't know why you keep doing this to yourself. You really need to stop chasing after me." Her eyes flickered to Ethan, who smirked. "I have a boyfriend now. You don't stand a chance."

I felt my blood run cold. "What?" My voice was sharp, filled with disbelief. "You never told me we were done. You've been stringing me along, making me think we still had something going on. What have I been to you all this while?" I asked with a croaking voice.

Linda sighed dramatically, shaking her head as if she were tired of the conversation. "I didn't string you along. You just couldn't take a hint. Ethan's been my boyfriend for months. I've moved on, and it's about time you did too."

My chest tightened as her words sank in. My hands curled into fists at my sides, my mind racing between the betrayal, the lies, and now, the public humiliation. I couldn't let her get away with this—not after everything I had sacrificed, all the effort I had put in just to make her happy.

Ethan, watching with a wide grin, took a step forward. "Man, don't make this harder than it already is. You really thought someone like Linda would stay with you forever?" He chuckled, the sound grating in my ears. "Face it, you're not in the same league. Linda belongs with someone who can give her everything she deserves." He gestured around with a wave of his hand. "Everyone here knows it."

The crowd, watching silently, began whispering among themselves. I could hear their comments, each one like a blade to my heart.

"Can't he see she's way out of his league?"

"He's just embarrassing himself now."

"What a creep. She's with Ethan, and he still won't leave her alone."

I could feel my skin burn with shame, but I wasn't going to let them turn me into a laughingstock without a fight. My gaze locked on Ethan, fury bubbling beneath the surface.

"You think your money makes you better than me?" I snarled, stepping forward, my voice rising. "You're just hiding behind it, thinking you can walk all over people. You don't even care about her. You just want to show off."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by my outburst. "Oh, you think this is about money?" His smirk widened. "No, it's about knowing your place. And right now, your place is way beneath me. And as for the money, it is not my fault I was born rich," he said, sliding on top of the car with Linda between his thighs.

Without warning, Ethan stepped closer and spat directly at my feet, the crowd gasping in shock at the blatant display of disrespect. My face twisted in fury. My body tensed, my vision narrowing as anger consumed me. I could no longer hear the whispers or see the onlookers—all that existed was the overwhelming need to wipe that smirk off Ethan's face.

Before anyone could react, my fist shot out, connecting squarely with Ethan's jaw. The impact sent Ethan stumbling backward, his hand shooting to his face in surprise. The crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs, some shocked by my sudden aggression, others secretly cheering me on.

But I had barely a moment to savor the brief victory before Ethan's bodyguards, two large men dressed in black, rushed forward. In an instant, they grabbed me by the arms, holding me in place as I struggled to break free.

Ethan, recovering quickly, straightened up and touched his lip, finding a small drop of blood. His expression darkened, and his eyes blazed with anger. "You really shouldn't have done that," he hissed. He motioned to his bodyguards. "Hold him still."

My heart pounded, but I refused to back down, glaring defiantly at Ethan. "You deserve it," I spat. "You both do."

Ethan chuckled, though there was no humor in it now. He approached me, his steps slow and deliberate, like a predator savoring its prey. "You're a fool, Jason. A broke, pathetic fool."

With a swift motion, Ethan landed a hard punch to my stomach. I doubled over in pain, gasping for air, but the guards held me upright, refusing to let me collapse. Ethan's foot swung out, kicking my legs from under me. I fell to my knees, barely able to stay upright as Ethan towered over me, his foot pressing down on my shoulder, forcing me lower.

"You see?" Ethan said, raising his voice so the crowd could hear. "This is where you belong—on your knees, in the dirt."

The crowd was silent, watching as I was pushed further down, my face pressed against the ground. Some whispered among themselves, others looked away, unwilling to meet my gaze.

I groaned, struggling to lift my head, but the weight of Ethan's foot on my back was too much. The pain radiated through my body, but worse than that was the shame. The complete and utter humiliation of being so publicly crushed.

And yet, through the haze of pain and humiliation, a single thought pierced through: I won't stay down. Not forever.

Just as Ethan prepared to deliver another blow, a voice from the crowd broke through the tension. "What's going on here?"

My heart skipped a beat. The crowd parted slightly, revealing a figure walking toward us with an air of authority. Ethan hesitated, his grin faltering, as a professor stepped into view, her eyes sharp with disapproval.

My breath caught in my throat. This could change everything.

The professor's gaze swept over the scene—me on my knees, Ethan's foot on my back, the bodyguards looming behind us. Her eyes narrowed, and her voice was cold and cutting as she addressed Ethan.

"Get your foot off him, now."

For a moment, everything seemed to hang in the balance. Ethan looked down at me, his expression unreadable, before slowly removing his foot. The bodyguards let go of me, and I crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.