Chapter 2

Lila POV

Early the next morning, the Lin family mansion's gate was blocked.

The show of force was substantial.

Three black Rolls-Royces completely blocked the entrance. Over a dozen black-suited bodyguards emerged, surrounding a middle-aged couple.

The man's face was dark, the woman dripping with jewels and looking sharp and mean.

They were Ethan's parents, Marcus Hayes and Vivian.

Behind them followed four elite lawyers carrying briefcases.

This wasn't about negotiating compensation. This was about causing trouble.

My convenient husband James Johnson was currently circling the living room like an idiot, sweating profusely in panic.

"Lila! Look what you've done!"

James pointed at me sitting leisurely on the sofa drinking coffee, his finger trembling.

"That's the Hayes family! Ethan Hayes! And you dared break his leg! Are you trying to destroy our whole family? Now they've come knocking with a whole legal team. They're going to put us in prison forever!"

Alysa huddled at the stair landing in her pajamas, face pale, eyes red.

She wanted to come down but didn't dare, just gripping the railing tightly.

I set down my coffee cup and looked at James with disgust.

This was the scumbag father from the original novel, the epitome of selling his daughter for advancement. When trouble came, all he did was shift blame and beg for mercy. No backbone whatsoever.

"Panicking about what?"

I stood up, straightened my silk robe, and walked unhurriedly to the entrance, opening the door.

Outside, Vivian saw me and immediately rushed forward, raising her hand to slap me.

"You bitch! You dare hit my son! I'll tear your face off today!"

If this were the original Lila, she would've taken the slap.

Or knelt and begged for mercy.

But I wasn't her.

I raised my hand and precisely caught her wrist, applying slight pressure and twisting.

"Let go! You crazy bitch!"

Vivian screamed in pain, her delicate makeup contorting.

Marcus said coldly, his face dark.

"Let go! Lila, are you going to assault someone again? Believe it or not, I'll have the police arrest you right now!"

I released Vivian's hand and wiped mine with a wet wipe in disgust.

"Arrest me? On what grounds? Because your son committed school bullying, or because you want to break into private property?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Marcus's face turned iron with rage.

"You deliberately injured someone! My son is still in the hospital with a comminuted fracture! We have surveillance footage. Can you deny it?"

"Surveillance footage..."

I smiled, turned back to the living room, and picked up the remote from the coffee table.

"Perfect. I also have some videos I'd like you both to enjoy."

The massive projection screen in the living room slowly descended.

I pressed play.

What appeared on screen wasn't last night's rainy scene, but various angles and scenarios.

Ethan forcing a classmate to drink urine in the bathroom.

Ethan cutting a girl's hair and sticking gum in it.

Ethan and his gang locking Alysa in the equipment room and releasing dogs on her.

And last night, the complete high-definition footage of him stepping on Alysa's hand, forcing her to agree to sleep with him.

Even with sound.

"Beg! Who do you think you are acting pure! Your mother was a whore, and you're just a little slut!"

The voice echoed through the spacious mansion hall, particularly jarring.

James froze.

Marcus and Vivian froze too.

They hadn't expected me to have these.

I'd bought all of these last night at high prices from those lackeys. Those rich kids were scum, but they loved money more, and had no loyalty. Give them enough cash and they'd sell out their own fathers, let alone Ethan.

"I've made dozens of backup copies of these videos."

I leaned against the sofa back, looking at the Hayes couple's pale faces.

"If I go to the police station, or if the Johnson family goes bankrupt, these videos will immediately appear on every major news website's homepage, in the Department of Education's complaint inbox, and in the email boxes of every major shareholder of Hayes Corporation."

"You wouldn't dare!"

Marcus roared.

"This is blackmail! Extortion! Even if you release them, it's useless. I have ways to suppress it!"

"Is that so? Mr. Hayes certainly has influence."

I smiled even more brightly.

"Then what about this?"

I pulled out a document from under the coffee table and casually threw it on the floor, where it slid right to Marcus's feet.

Marcus looked down suspiciously.

Just one glance, and his pupils earthquake.

It was a record of him embezzling company funds to purchase overseas property, along with the illegitimate child's birth certificate and DNA test report.

Vivian was still shrieking.

"Why waste words with her! Just trash this place!"

"Shut up!"

Marcus whipped around and slapped Vivian across the face.

The slap was vicious. Vivian was completely stunned, covering her face and staring at her husband in disbelief.

"Why did you slap me?"

Marcus ignored her, turning to stare at me intently, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

He was a smart man.

School bullying could perhaps be suppressed with money and connections. At worst, his reputation would stink a bit.

But embezzlement and illegitimate children. Once exposed, his position at Hayes Corporation would be finished, and the Lee family wouldn't spare him.

"Lila,"

Marcus's voice trembled.

"What do you want?"

James watched from the side, completely dumbfounded, unable to understand how the situation had suddenly reversed.

I pointed at Alysa at the stair landing.

"First, have your son transfer schools or repeat a grade. I don't want to see his face at school again."

"Second, compensation for Alysa's emotional distress. Ten million. Not a penny less."

"Third,"

I paused.

"Have your son publicly apologize to Alysa over the school's PA system. I'll write the content, he'll read it exactly as written, and it better be heartfelt. If I detect even a hint of insincerity, I'll consider it breach of contract."

Marcus gritted his teeth.

"The first two are fine. The third... could we do it another way? The Hayes family still needs face."

"Face?"

I laughed derisively, stood up and walked to him, lowering my voice.

"Mr. Hayes, dignity is for people, not for scum. When your son did those things, did he think about others' dignity?"

"Or would you prefer your wife's family to learn that those twins you're keeping outside are already in elementary school?"

Marcus's whole body shook.

He looked at me like I was a monster.

"Fine... I agree."

Marcus forced those three words through clenched teeth.

Vivian was still screaming.

"Why should we! Are you insane? Apologize to that little bitch? And pay money?"

"Take her away!"

Marcus completely ignored her tantrum, signaling the bodyguards to drag Vivian out.

Not until the Hayes family completely disappeared did James come back to his senses, collapsing onto the sofa and looking at me with awe and... fear.

"Honey... where did you get all that stuff?"

I ignored him and turned to look at Alysa still standing at the stair landing.

She stared at me blankly, tears still clinging to her lashes.

I walked over and wiped away her tears.

"Did you see clearly?"

I pointed toward where the Hayes family had left.

"That's high society. As long as you have them by the throat, they'll kneel faster than anyone."

"In this house, right now, the person I choose to protect, even Satan can't take away."