The Untouchable Derek Cross

chapter 7

Nathan's entire body convulsed with terror as Derek's eyes bore into him eyes so cold they could freeze hell itself. Sweat poured down Nathan's face in rivers. His lips trembled, trying to form words, but nothing came out except pathetic whimpers.

“This isn't real. This can't be real. How did that prison trash become this... this monster?”

Claire's voice sliced through the tension like a rusty blade, shrill and dripping with entitled rage. She marched forward, each click of her designer heels an arrogant declaration of superiority. Her face was twisted into something ugly despite its beauty pure contempt mixed with fury.

“Release my brother this instant, you worthless piece of gutter filth! Do you have any idea what I'll do to you? I will make your miserable existence so unbearable you'll pray for the sweet release of death every single second! I'll make you watch everyone you love suffer! I'll—”

“Shut your mouth.”

Derek's voice was barely above a whisper, but it cut through her tirade like a guillotine.

He turned his head slowly, deliberately, his eyes landing on that beautiful, proud face the face that had smiled so sweetly while she framed him, while she testified against him in court, while she took everything from him and laughed about it later with her family.

The face he'd once loved, the face that made him sick now.

His hand moved faster than anyone could track.

“CRACK!”

The slap echoed through the ballroom like a thunderclap.

Claire's body lifted off the ground. She flew backward through the air, her designer gown fluttering, her body rotating almost gracefully before she crashed onto the marble floor six meters away. She skidded another meter, her face bouncing against the polished stone.

Blood exploded from her mouth, splattering across the white floor in an abstract pattern. Her entire left cheek swelled immediately, turning purple and grotesque. Her perfectly styled hair came completely undone, falling around her face in wild, disheveled tangles. Both her crystal high heels flew off in different directions. One shattered against a marble pillar.

She lay there sprawled out, her dress torn, her face destroyed, blood pooling beneath her head.

The ultimate picture of humiliation, where was the goddess now? Where was the untouchable queen of Riverstone City, She looked like trash. Discarded. Broken.

The room went silent. Not a single person breathed. Hearts stopped. Eyes went wide.

"He... he actually hit her."

"He hit Claire Morrison."

"In front of everyone."

"Oh my God..."

"Is he insane? Does he have a death wish?"

“That's Claire Morrison! Do you know who her fiancé is?”

“Adrian Freeman! The heir to the Lin family! They control half the city!”

“The Freeman family doesn't just have money they have connections everywhere. Legal. Illegal. They've made people disappear for less.”

“Hitting Claire in public is like declaring war on the Freeman family.”

"He's dead. He's so fucking dead."

Claire lay there on the cold marble, her mind reeling, unable to process what just happened. Pain radiated through her skull. Her vision blurred. Blood filled her mouth.

But worse than the physical pain was the humiliation.

“Me. Claire Morrison. Slapped. Like a common whore.”

She turned her head, her one good eye focusing on Derek, burning with such intense hatred it could ignite the air.

“I'll kill him. I'll torture him. I'll make him beg. I'll destroy everyone he's ever loved in front of him and make him watch.”

But Derek wasn't even looking at her anymore.

She was nothing to him, his gaze had already returned to Nathan, cold and merciless. A predator staring at prey. A trace of bloodlust flickered in his eyes, barely contained.

Then his grip tightened.

CRACK!

Nathan's arm shattered. The bone exploded, fragments piercing through skin and muscle, bursting out in a grotesque display of white and red. Blood sprayed. The jagged edge of bone protruded obscenely from his forearm.

Nathan's scream tore through the ballroom. It wasn't human. It was the sound of an animal being torn apart alive. Raw. Primal. Soul-shattering.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHH! MY ARM! MY ARM! OH GOD, MY ARM!"

Guests turned away, hands covering their mouths. Some of the women started crying. One man vomited.

Derek's voice was calm. Clinical. Like he was discussing the weather.

“You destroyed my sister's legs. Crippled her for life. Tried to rape her and when she fought back, you left her broken and helpless.”

His voice dropped lower, colder.

“You tortured and humiliated my fiancée. Dragged her across the floor like an animal. Tried to hand her over to be gang-raped by homeless men.”

Derek's eyes narrowed.

“Those are unforgivable sins, Nathan. Today, I'm collecting some interest. Just a small down payment.”

Nathan's eyes went wide with terror. He tried to pull away, tried to crawl backward, his broken arm flopping uselessly.

“No, no, please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll do anything! Please don't—”

Derek's boot came down on Nathan's knee.

CRACK!

The kneecap exploded backward, bending at a horrifying, impossible angle. The leg twisted completely around. Tendons snapped. Ligaments tore.

Nathan's scream reached an even higher pitch. His body convulsed. Foam formed at the corners of his mouth.

Unable to support himself, his body collapsed forward. He fell hard, his face smashing into the marble. Then his ruined leg gave out completely and he dropped to his knees, kneeling before Derek in a grotesque mockery of supplication.

Blood pooled around him. His broken arm hung at his side, bone sticking out. His leg was twisted behind him at a sickening angle.

And he knelt there, sobbing, shrieking, begging.

The once lively and opulent birthday celebration had become a scene of absolute horror.

Shock. Terror. Disbelief. It was written on every face.

"This has gone too far."

"Way too far."

"There's no coming back from this."

"No way he survives tonight."

“Derek...”