Chapter 7: Coming to Collect

After leaving the Yale family, Liam Cutmore flagged down a cab and headed for the Fierce Tiger Gang. Halfway there, his phone rang. It was Noah Cutmore. "Son, I heard the eldest daughter of the Yale Family came back to life," Noah said, his voice thick with urgency. "Could you introduce us? Just let us meet her once." Liam listened to the pleading tone and sneered to himself. Only a few hours had passed, and Noah's attitude had flipped completely. Of course it had. Olivia Yale was alive, so they regretted everything. It was disgustingly realistic. And the truth matched Liam's guess. Noah was so regretful his guts were practically turning green. If he'd known Olivia Yale hadn't died, he would have sent his real son in the first place. Letting Liam, that useless piece of trash, take the advantage hurt worse than being stabbed. Still, Liam was at least the Yale family's son-in-law on paper. Noah had no choice but to keep his head low. "Son? Are you listening?" Noah pressed. "I don't mean anything else. I just want to make friends with the eldest daughter of the Yale Family." Make friends? Yeah, right. Liam's voice turned flat. "No need to meet. Tell me about my biological parents first." "That's easy," Noah said quickly, then immediately bargained. "But you have to take me to see Olivia Yale." "And if I don't?" Liam asked. "Then I won't tell you." Liam's laughter was cold and quiet. He had expected this. Noah planned to squeeze him endlessly with the information about his biological parents, wringing him dry until he had no value left, then tossing him aside. That trick might have worked five years ago. It didn't work anymore. Liam didn't bother arguing. His tone sharpened. "Noah Cutmore, you're not qualified to bargain with me." "This afternoon, I'll come to your door personally." "If you still refuse to talk, I'll use special methods." "Think carefully." He ended the call. Noah stared at the phone as the line went dead. "Beep, beep." Rage surged up his throat. He hurled the phone to the floor. "He dared to threaten me?" he roared. "That bastard… Does he think marrying into the Yale family makes him some heavenly dragon?" Luna Lapwood had heard everything. Her face twisted with fury. "That little bastard. He just married into the Yale family and already thinks he's somebody." "If it weren't for us, forget the Yale family. He wouldn't even be able to step over a beggar's threshold." "Ungrateful little white-eyed wolf. Not only does he refuse to appreciate us, he even threatens us?" "No. We have to teach him a lesson today." Monty Cutmore, standing to the side, spoke through clenched teeth. "Dad, Mom, wait here. I'll call some friends from the streets." Noah snorted. "Go. Tonight, we'll treat him to a proper 'meal.'" "Let him learn that even if he crawls into Heavenly Palace, he's still just a dog our family raised." Monty nodded, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. He pulled out his phone and dialed. Olivia Yale was the first beauty of Northbank. If he couldn't have her, what right did Liam have? … At the Five Lakes Gang Building, Liam had barely stepped out of the cab when he saw two women walking straight toward him. One wore a black trench coat and kept her hair cropped short. She was pretty, but her gaze was sharp, the kind that screamed bodyguard. The other was a stunning beauty whose looks didn't lose to Olivia Yale in the slightest. She was tall, curvy, and dressed in a crisp office-lady suit that traced every line of her figure with ruthless precision. An elegant, noble air clung to her, like a princess born to command a room. Liam's eyes lingered a moment longer than they should have. Compared to Olivia Yale's icy pride, this woman seemed gentler. A beauty like that deserved a second glance. "Close your dog eyes." A harsh shout snapped through the air. Ruby, the bodyguard, glared at him like she wanted to tear him apart. "Keep staring and I'll carve them out. Believe it." Liam's brows drew together. "Everyone appreciates beauty." "She's pretty. I can't even look?" "No," Ruby said bluntly. "My CEO is a distinguished woman. Who knows what you're planning?" Liam felt a wave of speechless irritation. So she was 'distinguished.' And? A glance was a threat? "Crazy," he muttered with a scoff, pulling his gaze away. "You dare call me that?" Ruby's eyes flared. "Looking for a beating?" She rolled up her sleeves, ready to teach him a lesson. "Enough. Ruby." The peerless beauty spoke, her voice low but firm. "Don't forget why we're here." "Hmph." Ruby swallowed her anger, then stabbed a finger in Liam's direction with her eyes. "You're lucky. Next time, watch yourself. Some people aren't worth offending." She followed the peerless beauty into the Five Lakes Gang Building. Liam couldn't be bothered to argue. He went in as well. He had only taken a few steps when Ruby suddenly spun around. "Why are you following us?" Liam looked amused. "Which eye of yours saw me following you?" Ruby's voice went cold. "Wherever we go, you go. That isn't following?" Liam stared at her as if she'd lost her mind. "Five Lakes Gang isn't your house. Why do you get to enter and I don't?" "Besides, what if I'm here on business?" "You? Here on business?" Ruby froze for a beat, then laughed in contempt. "Fine. Since you claim you're here to handle business with Five Lakes Gang, tell me. What business?" Liam spat out two words. "Collecting a debt." "Collecting a debt?" Ruby sneered. "You?" "In Northbank, who doesn't know the Fierce Tiger Gang never pays what it owes? Anyone who came to collect before didn't get their money. They got their arms and legs broken." "And you, alone, dare come to the Fierce Tiger Gang to collect?" Her eyes narrowed. "Hmph. I think you're targeting my CEO." She raised her fist, ready to strike. It wasn't paranoia. Lately, trouble had been everywhere. In just a month, her CEO had faced seven separate crises. They had dodged them all, but as a bodyguard, Ruby had to stay alert and cut danger off before it formed. And Liam looked pale, his breathing unsteady. Worse, he had been staring at her CEO from the start. He didn't look like anything good. Liam's patience snapped. He had held back again and again, not because he feared her, but because he didn't want to waste time on a lunatic. Did she really think he was someone she could bully? "Enough. Stop." The peerless beauty spoke again, cutting in at the exact moment Ruby was about to move. Ruby turned anxiously. "CEO, don't let him fool you. There are so many people trying to hurt you lately. I'd rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one slip through." The peerless beauty replied with calm patience. "It's been a chaotic time, but that doesn't mean everyone is a bad person." She glanced at Liam, her expression gentle. "This gentleman looks familiar to me. Don't be so sensitive." "But…" Ruby still looked worried. No matter how she looked at Liam, he didn't resemble a decent man. She couldn't understand why her CEO thought otherwise. Still, an order was an order. Ruby withdrew her hand unwillingly, though her eyes stayed locked on Liam. It was the kind of stare that promised she would strike the instant he twitched wrong. The peerless beauty turned fully to Liam, her tone earnest. "Sir, Ruby offended you because she's worried about my safety." "She didn't mean harm. I hope you won't take it to heart." "However, if you truly came to Five Lakes Gang to collect a debt, I advise you to give up while you still can." "Five Lakes Gang has over a thousand fighters. It isn't something you can handle." With that, she turned and led Ruby upstairs. Liam smiled without answering and followed again. She was an oddly decent person, even kind enough to warn him. But in this world, there was no one Rocky Cutmore couldn't handle. A thousand fighters from Five Lakes Gang meant nothing. Even if they had a million soldiers, what could they do to him? With a sword in hand, he could hold back an army.