Fresh off the plane, my work abroad finally behind me, I was expecting the first message to light up my phone to be from my wife, Karen Levine. But instead, the ping came from an unexpected name, a high school classmate I hadn’t spoken to in years. [Cayson Fuller! Tomorrow’s the big day! Westin Saunders, the high school heartthrob, is throwing a baby shower for his kid’s one-month bash. Everyone’s going, but he specifically asked for you to be there. Talk about an honor! You can’t bail on this one, man!] I blinked, caught off guard. “Westin, the ultimate bad boy in our high school, is a dad now? No way!” I murmured. [Thanks for the heads-up, but I just got back from overseas, and I’ve still got a mountain of contracts to finalize. I’m afraid I’ll have to sit this one out.] The second I hit send, my phone buzzed again, and before I could blink, I was yanked into a class reunion group chat I didn’t even know existed. [Well, well, well! Look who it is, our big-shot CEO, fresh off the jet!] I glanced at my net worth, a cool few hundred billion dollars, and chuckled, typing out a modest reply. [Hey, we’re all old friends here. No need to make a fuss over titles.] However, they erupted in a chorus of mocking laughter, the messages flying in faster than I could read them. [Oh, check it out, guys! He’s actually buying his own hype! A few years out of touch, and now he thinks he’s hot stuff?] [Yeah, right! If you’re such a big deal, how come we haven’t seen you at a single class reunion, huh?] [Come on, man. We all know each other’s dirt. No need to put on airs. If you’re married, bring your wife along to give her a chance to see how the other half lives. Bet she’s stuck eating scraps with a deadbeat like you, huh?] [And hey, just so you know, everyone who shows up to the baby shower gets a sweet deal, a brand-new school-district condo! Westin’s wife is the real deal, a total heiress. Those condos? People would kill to get their hands on one, and they’re just her family’s latest project!] I frowned. Their words stung, but I kept my cool, typing out a polite refusal. [Thanks for the invite, but I really can’t make it this time.] That’s when Westin himself chimed in, his message dripping with smug condescension. [Come on, man! Don’t play hard to get. Is your wife too hideous to show off? Relax, bro. We’re all buddies here. I won’t judge. Though, let’s be real, even if your wife’s a total knockout, she’s got nothing on mine. And with your situation, how can you ever afford a place in that school district? Don’t let your pride screw over your kid’s future, man.] Before I could respond, Westin sent a photo. I tapped it open, but my breath caught in my throat. There, staring back at me, was Karen, whose features were sharpened by her latest round of cosmetic tweaks. Then, I glanced at the address for the baby shower. My heart skipped a beat. “Wait a minute. Isn’t that my villa?” I exclaimed.
I was still reeling, trying to wrap my head around the chaos unfolding before me, when my phone buzzed with a message from Karen. Karen: [Honey, I’m heading to a classmate’s baby shower tomorrow, so I might not be able to reply right away. But the second it’s over, I’ll video call you, okay? Oh, how I wish you were here. I hate going to these things alone. I miss you so much, sweetheart!] Staring at her words on the screen, I felt like I had been struck by a bombshell. How could this possibly be a coincidence? My fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating, before I typed out a cautious question. Cayson: [Which classmate?] Karen: [Oh, you probably wouldn’t know them. Anyway, I saw the weather’s turning chilly over there. Make sure you bundle up, okay? I’d hate for you to catch a cold. It’d break my heart!] A year ago, I had left for an overseas business expansion, diving headfirst into the grind to grow our empire. Karen and I had been married for five years, but our love still burned as fiercely as it had on our honeymoon. Especially during my time abroad, we clung to each other through daily video calls, never missing a single night. Her gentle concern wrapped around me like a cozy blanket, keeping my heart glowing even across oceans. Therefore, I worked myself to the bone, pushing our projects onto the fast track, all so I could surprise her by coming home early. I planned to whisk her away to our sprawling villa in the heart of the city, ready to shower her with the romance she deserved. But instead, she had blindsided me with a surprise of her own. Just as I was about to fire off a message demanding answers, a commotion erupted outside. I stepped out of the bedroom and leaned over the third-floor railing, my gaze icy as I surveyed the scene below. The once-quiet grandeur of the first-floor foyer had been transformed into a riot of color, balloons bobbing in the air, streamers cascading from the ceiling, and a towering framed photo standing in the center. There, beaming with picture-perfect happiness, was a family of three: Karen, Westin, and their newborn child. Westin stood at the entrance, greeting guests with an effortless charm. Dressed in a low-key but luxurious white cashmere sweater and tailored slacks, he exuded the aura of a polished, doting husband. His face glowed with uncontainable joy, a stark contrast to the rebellious bad boy I remembered. The guests, familiar faces from our high school days, swirled around him, their voices buzzing with admiration. “Westin’s still got it! The high school legend turned golden boy! Not only did he snag a wife who looks like she stepped out of a fairy tale, but this baby shower? Talk about going all out!” “No kidding! Her dad’s a real estate mogul, you know. If it weren’t for Westin, my kid wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting into that elite private school!” “Exactly! Just look at this villa with a prime location and pure opulence. Without Westin, most of us wouldn’t even get a glimpse of a place like this in our lifetime. And his heiress wife was the one chasing him! Man, Westin’s got some serious game!” My eyes landed on a familiar figure in the crowd, Joseph Parry, our old homeroom teacher. Back in the day, he had zero patience for Westin’s wild, defiant streak, always singling him out for lectures. But now? There he was, his back slightly bowed, his face plastered with a fawning smile. “Westin, my boy,” Joseph said, his voice dripping with flattery. “I’ll admit, I was tough on you back then, but that’s only because I saw your potential shining through. I wouldn’t waste my time on just anyone, you know! Seeing you thrive now warms my heart. And I’ve got a cousin with a kid who’s about to start school.” He slipped a check into Westin’s hands, the implication as clear as day. Westin accepted it without a flicker of hesitation, his head held high, his expression radiating smug satisfaction, though he tossed out a token protest. “Oh, come on, no need for all that. But we’ll work something out. No problem.” Watching him play the magnanimous host, I let out a cold laugh under my breath. Karen had always been obsessed with tweaking her appearance, flitting to the plastic surgeon’s office every other day for “minor adjustments.” At one point, she had even floated the idea of a complete facial overhaul, which scared me so much that I scrambled to find a distraction. I handed her the reins to our city’s real estate projects, not caring if she turned a profit, just hoping it would keep her busy. And now? All that capital had somehow morphed into proof of Westin’s brilliance. A sudden cough rippled through the crowd, followed by a flurry of exchanged glances. One by one, their eyes turned to me. Their stares were laced with amusement, mockery dancing in their expressions. Westin’s old high school lackey, always the first to jump into the fray, pointed at me, his voice dripping with ridicule. “Well, well, look at this guy! Cayson, you didn’t seriously think throwing on some fancy pajamas would make us believe you own this place, did you?” “Yeah, right!” another echoed, egging him on. “You were all high and mighty in the group chat, acting like some big shot, and now that you know Westin’s borrowing this villa for the party, you rented it out just to show off? Man, you weren’t this quick on your feet back when you were running errands for Westin in high school!” The laughter swelled, a chorus of jeers echoing through the hall. “You have never split the bill at reunions, and now you’re pulling this stunt just to look cool? Careful, man, your wife might divorce you over this!” “You think slipping into some nice pajamas makes this villa yours? Why not go all in and claim Westin’s heiress wife is yours, too? Oh, and those billion-dollar properties? Sure, those are yours, right?” “Are you delusional, Cayson? Who does this? Oh, wait, I get it. He’s jealous of Westin, pissed that he’s got nothing to show for himself, and now he’s lost it completely!” I stood there and calmly stated the simple truth. “Actually, it is all mine.” The room erupted in shrill laughter, the sound grating against my ears. Westin, his face twisting with fury, jabbed a finger at me. “You’ve got some nerve, claiming that, you bastard! Oh, I see it now. You’re the other man, huh? Caught you red-handed! Take off those pajamas right now. They’re the ones my wife bought for me! Guess high school didn’t teach you any manners, huh? You shameless homewrecker! How dare you strut around my wife’s house, acting like you own the place?”
The crowd downstairs was left with their jaws hanging open. “What do you mean? I thought this place was rented just for the party? This is actually Westin’s wife’s villa? And that pajama belongs to Westin? No wonder I could tell at a glance it’s luxury, a globally limited edition!” Westin effortlessly pulled out Karen’s property deed from one of the rooms. Once again, the crowd was dumbfounded, their tone tinged with envy. “Never would have guessed that the former ugly duckling could now reel in a rich beauty. Is the bar for kept men really this low these days?” Westin clenched his fists, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. “No wonder you’ve skipped our class reunions all these years. Guilt got the better of you, huh?” Everyone shot me looks of contempt. “Cayson had the nerve to wear someone else’s high-end pajamas. How disgusting can he get? That outfit’s probably tainted now. What a waste!” “I knew something was off when I saw how much he had changed, suddenly looking so handsome and refined. Turns out money does wonders, maybe even plastic surgery.” “Cayson, enjoying being kept, are we? You used to be so hideous that you could scare kids into tears. Now look at you, living the gigolo life. Must feel great, doesn’t it?” “The mere thought of having shared a classroom with such scum makes me sick.” “A male whore who dares show his face in public without an ounce of shame. Guess his sense of decency went to the dogs.” Even Joseph chimed in, and his face darkened with disapproval. “Cayson, I helped you back then, and this is how you repay me? Don’t ever claim we know each other. I’m old, but I still value my dignity.” The commotion drew a crowd of onlookers, who quickly joined the chorus of insults and even started pelting me with stones. Fuming, Westin snatched a stone from one of the bystanders and hurled it straight at my face. The sharp edge grazed under my eye, drawing blood instantly. I let out a bitter laugh and descended the stairs. “You don’t know anything but dare to lay a hand on me. Do you really want to end up behind bars?” Westin scoffed, “You? Don’t make me laugh. Go check yourself in the mirror first. A slut who ruins marriages and has the audacity to strut around like you own the place. You deserve every bit of what’s coming to you.” He grabbed my collar, yanking me close. “No morals, no scruples, a homewrecker daring to lecture me! Even if I beat you to death right here, everyone would only cheer. After all, this is my wife’s house. Let’s see how you’ll live here now!” Blinded by rage, Westin found some spray paint and began defacing the pristine walls. “Live here, will you? Go ahead!” After venting, the walls were covered in vicious curses and accusations against mistresses. I smirked, trying to reason with him, “You might not want to speak so definitively. Are you absolutely sure this house belongs to your wife?” No sooner had I spoken than Westin seethed even more, erupting like a volcano, completely losing control. “Fine. Since you put it that way.” He spun around, surveying everything, and stormed into the storage room, emerging with an axe and began smashing wildly. The crowd stood frozen for a moment before someone snapped out of it and joined in the destruction. Westin roared, “Good job! Whoever trashes it the hardest gets the biggest reward tonight! Since this is my wife’s place, let’s see how you manage to stay after this, you lowlife!” One after another, they eagerly joined the frenzy. Soon, the entire first and second floors were ransacked. All sorts of smart appliances, marble countertops, and imported custom furniture were smashed to bits. Anything indestructible was slashed with sharp objects, creating a chaotic mess. The worst was the graffiti-covered wall, which, after being battered by the axe, exposed the reinforced concrete beneath. I warned them to stop, but Westin sneered, “Compensation? I’ve got plenty to spare. Besides, this is my woman’s house. So what if I wreck it? I could burn it down, and she wouldn’t dare complain!” Cheers erupted from the crowd. “Westin’s the man! Truly a role model!” At this point, Joseph adjusted his glasses, eyes gleaming as he slowly pushed open the door to the last room on the second floor. Instantly, the crowd’s eyes lit up. They exchanged glances, finally turning to Westin. I furrowed my brows, speaking up immediately, “Westin, you should know better. The items inside are worth several properties combined. I strongly advise against rash actions unless you want to spend your life behind bars!” Antique pieces meticulously collected over the years were displayed on shelves. They were my priceless treasures. Ignoring my warning, Westin strode in and gave a gentle nudge, sending a 17th-century vase crashing onto the woolen rug with a dull thud. “I do know. Despite seeing countless luxuries, I can’t help but admire the value of these items. They’re exquisite, but trash like you, who actually believe selling yourself can elevate your status, don’t deserve them!” With a grin, he turned to the others. “My friends, you’ve probably never heard of such an expensive crash before! Let’s enjoy the symphony today!” I rushed forward to stop their madness. “I’ve already transferred the house to Karen. What you do to it is her concern, not mine. But I’ve traveled across countries and worked hard to collect these antiques, so you mustn’t touch them!” But Westin shoved me aside, exasperated. “Are you genuinely insane or just playing dumb? You’re the mistress; I’m the rightful spouse. This is my wife’s money, our joint property protected by law. I have every right to reclaim it, understand? “You’re ignorant, foolish, blindly confident, and utterly worthless. She must be desperate to settle for someone like you!” I burst into laughter and thought, “So this is how they see me? But aside from indulging in food, fun, and cosmetic surgeries, Karen relies entirely on me for everything. When we married, her family couldn’t even scrape together a thousand bucks. It was all thanks to my support. People said I was going in to lift her out of poverty, and now look how it’s turned!” Under Westin’s direction, a new round of chaos erupted in the antique room. Dissatisfied with the lack of crisp sounds, they tossed the rugs out first, followed by continuous smashing. Knowing there was no reasoning with these fools, I stopped trying, issuing commands to the hidden camera in the corner to record and alert the police. No sooner had I finished speaking when the camera was knocked down violently. “Calling the cops on yourself? These are all Westin’s belongings. Who do you think you are? Better call the mental hospital first. Don’t worry about the medical fees. It’s just a sprinkle compared to Westin’s generosity.” Someone even whipped out their phone, arrogantly announcing, “Go ahead and call the cops. With Westin’s solid backing, let’s see who gets arrested first, you or us!” Westin shot him an approving glance. “Not enough evidence earlier? No problem. Let’s add more.” His gaze shifted toward the third floor. My heart sank. The third floor held something so precious that I couldn’t let it be disturbed!
“Look, I can let the antiques slide. But the third floor? That’s my line in the sand. Don’t push this too far. Please.” I swallowed my rage, lowering my voice, trying to reason with Westin as calmly as possible. Westin hesitated for a split second before bursting into mocking laughter. “Weren’t you so cocky just moments ago? Keep it up! If you’d shown this attitude earlier, we could’ve saved ourselves a whole lot of trouble.” A smug grin plastered across his face, he patted my cheek lightly, but his next words were laced with venom. “Since it means that much to you, I’m not completely unreasonable, you know. Here’s the deal: bow down and apologize, shout ‘Westin, I was wrong,’ and maybe, just maybe, I’ll give you a chance. What do you say?” My fists clenched tight, my mind racing. Would my assistant arrive with reinforcements faster than they could destroy everything? Joseph, ever the cunning one, saw right through my stalling tactics. He leaned in close to whisper something in Westin’s ear. Westin’s expression instantly darkened. “I’m giving you five seconds. Five. Four. Three. Two, and one. You!” In the end, surrounded by their smug, gloating faces, I slowly sank to my knees. Some muttered among themselves, wondering what on earth could be upstairs that was worth more than priceless antiques, worth sacrificing even my dignity as a man. My gaze drifted toward the farthest room on the third floor. There was my father’s memorial tablet. When I was young, a massive flood swept through our town. In that moment of crisis, my father handed me the last floating ring and stayed behind. By the time I was rescued and returned with help, the raging waters had already swallowed our house whole, leaving no trace behind. Not even his body was recovered. All I could do was set up a small altar for him. Years later, when Karen fell in love with this property and asked me to transfer ownership to her, I specifically told her about this sacred spot. It was my one untouchable boundary, and I emphasized that over and over again. No matter how badly she acted or what she did, even if she cheated on me, I could forgive it all. But this was unforgivable. With trembling resolve, I pressed my forehead to the ground. But Westin’s lackey, impatient with my slow movements, stepped forward, grabbed the back of my head, and slammed it down hard onto the floor with a sickening thud. Biting down on my teeth so hard that I thought they might crack, I gripped my fingers into fists until my knuckles turned white. After that, blood seeped from my forehead. “Happy now?” I spat out between clenched teeth. Westin clapped his hands together, laughing like a hyena. “Oh, very.” He nodded approvingly, but my eyes suddenly widened in horror. Out of the corner of my vision, several figures charged toward the third floor. Unable to contain my fury any longer, I lunged at Westin with a punch. “You son of a bitch! You tricked me!” The blow sent Westin sprawling to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Before I could land another hit, the others swarmed me, pinning my arms behind my back and forcing me to my knees once more. I struggled, but there was nothing I could do. They held me firmly in place. “And here’s your lesson, scumbag,” one of them sneered. “You’re nothing but a lowly worm beneath our feet. Westin is the real victim, betrayed by his own wife. Consider this a little reminder: some people are off-limits, and messing with them comes at a cost. As old classmates, consider this us doing you a favor. We’re teaching you a valuable life lesson. Next time, think twice before you go sniffing around someone else’s spouse unless you want to end up dead.” Westin staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from his lips. With cold precision, he delivered a series of punches to my face, followed by brutal kicks to my ribs. The final kick sent me flying several feet backward, landing painfully on a pile of shattered debris. A sharp cry escaped my lips as I coughed up a mouthful of blood. By then, the group had already kicked open the last door. The sound of shattering wood echoed through the air. One of them emerged holding my father’s memorial tablet, tossing it carelessly to the ground. He spat on it, “Ew! Is this all? Some crummy piece of junk? Talk about bad luck!” My vision blurred with tears of fury, and an anguished roar tore from my throat. “Stop! Stop!” But I was powerless, restrained, forced to watch as they defiled the memory of my father. I yelled, “I will make you pay for this!” The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I tore off a chunk of flesh from my own lip. “Oh my! I’m shaking in my boots,” Westin mocked, cackling cruelly. He stomped repeatedly on the shattered remains of the tablet, grinding it into splinters under his heel until nothing remained. Then, stepping over to me, he planted his foot squarely on my face, pressing down with deliberate force. “Remember high school? This is exactly how I looked down on you then. And guess what? Even now, after you’ve pimped yourself out and cleaned up nice, you’re still nothing but trash beneath my shoe. That’s who you are and always will be. A useless loser like you is destined to stay that way. You belong in the gutter where you came from. Stop trying to act like you matter to anyone unless you want your daddy’s fate to be yours.” Under Westin’s command, others hoisted me up, tying me to a makeshift rope. Their game began: whoever lost would take their frustration out on me with lashes, and whoever won got double turns venting their anger. Amidst their merciless laughter, the rhythmic pounding of footsteps grew louder outside, shaking the very foundation of the house. The door burst open, and figures poured in like water breaking through a dam. They stood clad in black uniforms, hands clasped behind their backs, legs astride, snapping into two flawless lines with military precision, as if awaiting the arrival of some grand dignitary.
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