Chapter 4: The Price of Betrayal

I was pulling three consecutive all-nighters at the office when Stella pushed open the office door, smirking.

"You're still pulling an all-nighter, huh? You're really working yourself to the bone as a lackey, Daniel. It's no wonder you've managed to stick around for so long."

Hunter, who was standing behind her, scoffed. "Simon put him in his place so hard he couldn't say a damn thing, yet he still acts as if he belongs in the Fullerton family."

I didn't waste my time on them and pulled the blanket over my head.

They both lost interest and left after realizing that they couldn't get a reaction out of me.

It was then that the janitor on duty walked in and left me a glass of warm water on my desk. She pointed to my eyes and said, "You should stop pulling all-nighters. Your eyes are completely bloodshot."

I looked up at her and smiled faintly. "Thanks. I'll be finished soon."

She sighed, then turned and left the office.

I smiled faintly, thinking that it would all be over soon. If I didn't have internal access, gathering this evidence would have taken much longer.

…

Simon was too busy partying and drinking when I handed him the proposal. He didn't even reach out for it.

He just kicked the coffee table and said, "Just leave it there."

I didn't budge. "I surely don't have to remind you that this is a 300-million-dollar project, right, Simon?"

"I don't need you to remind me of that," Simon said as he sat up with an irritated look.

He flipped through a couple of pages, picked up a pen, and signed it, leaving a blot of ink across the paper. He then looked up and let out a belch. "I've signed it, so get out."

I checked the signature again before hearing Stella's voice coming from behind me. "Aren't you worried about Daniel tampering with it, Simon?"

Simon replied firmly, "He wouldn't dare. He's nothing without the Fullerton family. He'll do whatever it takes just to stay by my side like a loyal lackey, no matter how much he hates it."

It was just a shame that things didn't go the way he expected.

The following day, before I could close my documents, someone kicked the office door open.

Simon stormed in, grabbed me by the collar, and hauled me to my feet. "What the hell did you do, Daniel?"

He pressed his thumb into the space above my collarbone, making it hard to breathe. "It's a 300-million-dollar project! What the fu—"

"You're the one who signed it. It had nothing to do with me, so let go of me. I still have some work to do," I said, cutting him off as I swatted his hand away.

I heard footsteps echoing down the hallway before Dad's solemn, indifferent voice rang out. "What's going on?"

He stood in the doorway, his secretary and Stella right behind him.

Simon explained, "Daniel's proposal had a problem, so the 300-million-dollar project has been called off!"

Having heard that, Dad scanned the documents scattered on the desk, then looked directly at me. "Daniel…"

I shifted my gaze toward him.

He didn't raise his voice, but each word landed like a blow. "Is this how you repay the Fullerton family after raising you for over 26 years?"

Stella joined in, yelling, "He did it on purpose, Dad! He simply can't bear the thought of Simon thriving!"

He took a step forward and stood right beside Simon, blocking my way on both sides. He tapped his finger on his desk and said, "Do you have any idea who they are? They're one of the biggest conglomerates around! You've completely humiliated the Fullerton family with a screw-up of this scale!

"Did you do it on purpose? You're actually willing to hurt yourself just to mess with the Fullerton family? Is this really where you put your smarts to work?"

Simon's fists tightened. "I don't give a damn how you do it, but you'd better drag yourself back there and win that project back, Daniel!"

He raised his other hand and swung a fist right at my head, only for me to counter it by grabbing his wrist. He froze for a moment, not expecting me to defend myself.

"How dare you block me, Daniel!"

Dad scowled deeply. "Have you forgotten your place?"

I pushed Simon's hand aside, an obvious smirk tugging at my lips. "You know very well that the proposal I submitted wasn't the issue, as well as where the real problem lies."

Dad gestured to the people behind him and snarled, "How dare you talk back to me! Grab him and hold him down—it's time to deal with him according to family rules!"

In that instant, two men rushed in from the hallway. I took half a step back until my back hit the edge of the desk. I had nowhere else to go. They eventually held my shoulders down and bound my wrists.

Then, Dad brought the barbed whip down on me with full force.

At that moment, someone bellowed, "Hold it right there! You're not allowed to lay a hand on him!"