Chapter 5: Don't Ever Mess with Him

"Kevin Letherdale, don't do anything reckless. Move aside." The moment Faye Sowden panicked, she started to get up, reaching to pull him back. But right then, the driver moved. He pushed off the ground and lunged at Kevin like a tiger. One hand curled into a claw, snatching for Kevin's arm. If he got a grip, Kevin's arm would be twisted clean off. "Boom!" The instant the driver's fingers brushed Kevin, a terrifying force surged out of Kevin's body and blasted the man away. The driver flew like a cannonball, rocketing from the living room into the courtyard outside. He hit the ground with a heavy thud and stayed there, unable to rise. It happened too fast. Faye and the others only came back to themselves after a long beat. No one understood what they had just seen. All they knew was that the driver had pounced at Kevin and somehow went flying, while Kevin stood rooted in place, not even lifting a hand. "What the hell?" Zeke Lashbrook shot to his feet, staring blankly at the courtyard where the driver lay half-dead. Kevin turned to Faye with a bright, innocent grin. "So, sis, how was my performance?" "K-Kevin Letherdale… what just happened?" Faye asked, still dazed. Kevin did not bother explaining. "If you didn't catch it, I can have that Zeke Lashbrook put on another show for you." Faye grabbed his arm hard. "Kevin Letherdale, don't. If you push this, the consequences will be serious." She did not know how he had done it, but one look at the driver's condition told her Kevin was responsible. If Zeke ended up like that too, things would spiral out of control. If the Lashbrook family retaliated, they would never be able to bear it. "Alright. I'll listen to you." Kevin's smile did not change. "I'll go check on the driver." He left Zeke alone and walked into the courtyard, stopping in front of the man. Kevin crouched slightly, studying him with mild curiosity. "You're clearly skilled. How did you end up being a rich brat's lapdog? Doesn't that embarrass you?" He had sent the man flying with a single burst of aura, yet Kevin could tell the driver counted as a real fighter. He had just been unlucky enough to run into Kevin. The driver lay on the ground clutching his chest. When he saw Kevin, raw fear flooded his eyes. His whole body trembled. "Y-You… you're actually…" He seemed to have guessed who Kevin was, but terror strangled the words in his throat. His voice shook so badly he could not finish. At that moment, Zeke came outside as well. He fixed Kevin with a hard stare. "Kid, who are you?" Kevin glanced back at him. "I'm Faye Sowden's husband. I already said that. What, you forget that fast?" Then he added, as if it mattered, "And my name's Kevin Letherdale." Zeke's pupils tightened. He ground his teeth. "Kevin Letherdale. Fine." Seeing the driver's miserable state, Zeke did not dare explode. He knew what his driver could do. Even a fighter like that had not lasted a second against Kevin, and no one had even seen how he got launched. If that was the case, Zeke himself had no chance at all. Zeke looked over Faye and the others, then back at Kevin. He said nothing more. He went to the driver, hauled him up with effort, shoved him into the car, and drove off. "This is trouble," Chandler Sowden said grimly as he followed them out. Zeke had not thrown out any threats, but Chandler knew what it meant. They had made an enemy of the Lashbrook family, and retaliation would be vicious. Even so, Chandler did not blame Kevin. For one, he still did not understand how Kevin had sent the driver flying. More importantly, Zeke had gone too far, humiliating his daughter like that. Kevin had at least helped them swallow that insult. "Mr. Sowden, dinner's ready! Everyone can wash up and eat!" Elisa Urwin called from the living room. She had been cooking in the kitchen, the range hood roaring, so she had not heard any of what happened. She only knew Faye had brought home a new son-in-law, so she had made a full spread. Elisa looked about Kevin's age, not even twenty. She was pretty and well-behaved, a relative from Skyla Zimmerman's side of the family. For certain reasons she had dropped out of school and came to work at Faye's home as a maid. But "maid" was just a title. The Sowden family treated her like one of their own and never shortchanged her. "Let's eat first," Skyla said, forcing her voice steady. Kevin was still a guest, and they could not exactly leave him hungry. She ushered everyone toward the dining room. … At the same time, Zeke drove the driver to the hospital. "Uncle Wu, what's that guy Kevin Letherdale's background? How did you end up hurt like this? I didn't even see him move," Zeke demanded, gripping the wheel. He truly could not make sense of it. Kevin's clothes were worn and shabby, like some janitor off the street. His face even carried that harmless, almost naive look. How could someone like that be so strong? The driver lay in the back seat, blood froth bubbling at the corner of his mouth from time to time. The fear on his face never faded. He could not erase the image of being blasted away. With difficulty, he rasped, "Third Young Master… don't… don't provoke him. He… he's an expert." He had already guessed Kevin's identity, but he did not dare say it. That name carried too much terror. He could not speak it casually. "Heh." Zeke let out a cold laugh, anger and killing intent simmering in his eyes. "The Lashbrook family has always been the one stepping on others. Today, some nobody climbed onto my head. Where does that leave our face?" The driver's complexion turned deathly pale. "Please don't. If you do… the Lashbrook family will… will be in trouble." "In trouble?" Zeke snorted. "Uncle Wu, stay out of it. I know what I'm doing. Focus on getting treated." He ignored the warning and did not believe it. So what if Kevin could fight? In this world, fists were not what mattered. Power did. Influence did. Zeke believed the Lashbrook family had more than enough means to erase Kevin. Besides, Faye Sowden, Jermon's number one beauty, had to become his wife. And it was not just her looks he wanted. He wanted her business talent. Kevin had appeared out of nowhere to block his path, so Kevin had to die. The driver tried to speak again, but he had no strength left. He could only sigh, shake his head, and close his eyes. In his heart, he had already sentenced the Lashbrook family to death. If they truly did not know the heights of heaven and tried to move against Kevin, they were finished. A figure like that was not something mere "influence" could stand against. After dinner. Chandler sat on the sofa with a deep frown, kneading his temples in silence. Skyla sat beside him, wanting to say something, but nothing came out. She understood the Lashbrook family's strength. This time, they had stepped straight into disaster. Faye poured tea for everyone and set the cups on the coffee table. "Dad, Mom… if there's no other way, I'll go to the Lashbrook family first thing tomorrow and apologize." "No." Skyla stopped her at once. "If you go, you'll be walking into a trap." The Lashbrook family would be furious. Faye would only suffer for it. Chandler shook his head as well. "I already called your grandfather. We'll talk after he gets here." Ian Sowden was the one steering the Sowden family. With something like this happening, they had to consult him. Hearing her grandfather was coming made Faye's stomach knot. She knew his temper. It was explosive. If he found out she had casually gotten married, that Zeke's engagement gifts had been ruined, and that their driver had been injured, Ian would probably be so angry he passed out. They all lived in Lakehaven Estates, so it did not take long for Ian to arrive. He was old, but still sturdy, his voice booming when he spoke. The moment he heard Chandler explain the situation, he erupted. "Outrageous! Outrageous!" He cursed twice in a row, shaking with rage, then jabbed a finger at Faye. "You unfilial girl. You didn't just disgrace the Sowden family, you're going to kill us!" "Grandpa… I-I really don't want to marry Zeke Lashbrook," Faye said, her voice small with fear. "If you don't marry him, what happens to our business?" Ian roared. "Do you want the whole family to suffer because of you?" He did not spare a thought for the fact that she was his granddaughter, nor for what kind of life she would have if she married into the Lashbrook family. If sacrificing Faye saved the Sowden family's business, it was worth it. Then he whipped his glare onto Kevin and bellowed, "And you. Right now, this instant, you're coming with me to the Lashbrook family to confess. You injured their driver, so you take responsibility. This has nothing to do with us!" He intended to hand Kevin over to the Lashbrook family and cut the Sowden family free, hoping the Lashbrooks would not drag them into it. "Grandpa, you can't-" "Shut up!" Ian snapped. "You're going to tear your face with your grandfather over some outsider?" Faye tried to plead for Kevin, but Ian slammed her down with a single line. Then Kevin spoke, calm as ever. "Ian Sowden, you shouldn't get that angry. It's bad for your health." Kevin's face still looked simple and honest, and his words even sounded like genuine concern. That only made Ian angrier. "Where did this wild brat come from? You did something like this and you expect me not to be angry? I'd be justified beating you to death!" "That's not what I meant," Kevin said. His tone stayed mild, almost matter-of-fact. "It's just that I noticed you have a serious illness. You've got about a month left. If you keep blowing up like this, you might drop before that." The room went dead. Those words were a disaster. Ian was so furious he could not even speak. "You little bastard, what nonsense are you spouting?" Chandler shouted, eyes blazing as he glared at Kevin. Faye stared too, shocked. She had not expected this guy to dare curse her grandfather like that. Yes, her grandfather's temper was awful. Yes, he wanted to marry her off to the Lashbrook family in exchange for business cooperation. But even so, how could Kevin say something like that? Kevin ignored their anger, still wearing that guileless expression. "I'm telling the truth. If you don't believe me, go get checked at the hospital as soon as possible." "Y-You… you little animal. I… I'll kill you!" Ian finally snapped. He grabbed the teapot off the table and hurled it at Kevin, boiling water and all. At his age, nothing terrified him more than someone declaring his death to his face.