Chapter 4: Kneel Down

It was eight in the evening. Under a maple tree near the Eastern International Hotel, Ruxley stood silently, his gaze fixed on the bustling scene in front of him. The hotel was in its prime hours of activity. The entrance buzzed with energy as luxury cars pulled up one after another. The area teemed with affluent, elegantly dressed individuals, each more impressive than the last, adorned in gold and silver. Tonight was the grand birthday banquet of Redlyn Fox, the eldest young master of the Fox family. Redlyn had rented out the entire hotel and invited hundreds of guests. It was a spectacle to behold. "Heh, quite the event," Ruxley muttered, his lips curling into a cold smile. Since learning that Redlyn was the one who had harassed Sherise, Ruxley had been determined to take him down. Tonight was the night. No matter Redlyn's status or background, his fate was sealed. Behind Ruxley, Theoleon and two others approached quietly, bowing respectfully. "My Lord, it's just Redlyn. You don't need to handle this personally. Let us take care of it." Ruxley's power was undeniable. With just a word, he could crush all of Eastern City. There was no reason for him to dirty his hands with someone like Redlyn. But Ruxley shook his head. "No, I want to do this myself. I owe it to Carmelia to make Redlyn regret ever crossing her." With that, he adjusted his collar and walked toward the hotel with calm, steady steps. As he entered, the room's lively atmosphere faltered for a moment. Eyes were drawn to him like moths to a flame, captivated by his presence. Especially the women. They couldn't tear their gaze away from his sharp, chiseled features, their admiration barely hidden. "Hmph!" Vulson noticed his girlfriend stealing glances at Ruxley and snorted in annoyance. Jealousy flared in his eyes. Who does this guy think he is, showing off in front of my girlfriend? Vulson thought angrily. As Ruxley walked by, Vulson decided to make a move. He deliberately stepped to the side, intending to bump into him and teach him a lesson. But just as Vulson was about to collide with him, Ruxley effortlessly sidestepped, avoiding the impact with ease. Thud! Caught off guard, Vulson lost his balance and fell to the ground, earning stares from the entire room. Embarrassment flushed his face as he scrambled to his feet. He pointed an accusatory finger at Ruxley. "You little punk! You bumped into me on purpose!" Ruxley gave him a cool, indifferent glance and continued walking toward the banquet hall without a word. Seeing Ruxley dismiss him like that made Vulson furious. "Hey! You can't just walk away! Get on your knees and apologize, or you'll regret it for the rest of your life!" Hearing Vulson's outburst, Ruxley paused and turned to face him. Vulson, feeling emboldened, crossed his arms and sneered. "Do you even know who I am? In all of Eastern City, no one dares to mess with me. Kneel and apologize now, or you'll be sorry!" Vulson's arrogance didn't surprise the onlookers. After all, he was the only male heir of the wealthy Heulos family, known for his playboy ways and reputation for being untouchable in Eastern City. But Ruxley simply raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips as he walked toward Vulson. "Scared now, huh?" Vulson laughed, thinking he had Ruxley cornered. "If you apologize, maybe I'll let you off the hook…" Before Vulson could finish, Ruxley moved swiftly. He raised his hand and slapped Vulson across the face with a resounding crack. The room fell silent as Vulson staggered from the blow, a trickle of blood running from the corner of his mouth. No one could believe what they had just witnessed. Ruxley had slapped the heir of the Heulos family—right in front of everyone! "You… you actually hit me?" Vulson stammered, holding his swollen cheek in shock. Ruxley didn't stop there. He slapped Vulson again and again. Each blow was harder than the last until Vulson was left bloodied, his teeth scattered across the floor. Finally, Ruxley pulled out a tissue, calmly wiped his hand, and looked down at Vulson with cold detachment. "What were you saying earlier? I didn't quite catch that." His voice wasn't loud, but it sent chills through everyone in the room. Vulson trembled, trying to muster a response, but the icy look in Ruxley's eyes silenced him. He realized with dread that if he pushed any further, he might not make it out of the hotel alive. As the shock settled over the room, a clear, authoritative voice broke through the tension. "Vulson, what's going on here?" All eyes turned to the entrance, where a stunning woman in a red dress walked in. She had a cold elegance about her, commanding attention with every step. Vulson's face lit up at the sight of her. "Sis, help me! This guy is trying to kill me!" The room collectively held its breath. This woman was Vulson's sister? Suddenly, everyone's gaze shifted to Ruxley, now filled with pity. They could already imagine his fate. Vulson's sister was a powerhouse in Eastern City—a ruthless businesswoman who controlled the vast assets of the Heulos family. Even the city's most powerful figures treated her with respect. And now, Ruxley had dared to strike her brother? "Sis, you've got to teach this guy a lesson!" Vulson whimpered, crawling toward her. Her expression darkened as she took in Vulson's battered state. "Who did this to you?" she asked coldly. "That guy!" Vulson pointed at Ruxley. "He doesn't respect our family at all! He even said he'd hit me again if you showed up!" Her face grew colder with every word. "Is that so? I'd like to see who's bold enough to disrespect the Heulos family." But when she turned to look at Ruxley, her expression changed in an instant. Her body went rigid, and her face turned pale as if she'd seen a ghost. "Kneel!" she suddenly barked. Vulson, thinking she was addressing Ruxley, smirked. "Yeah, you heard her! Get on your knees, you—" Before Vulson could finish, he was kicked hard in the back of the knee, collapsing to the ground with a thud. What…? He looked up in shock, only to see his sister standing over him, her eyes blazing with fury. "Sis, why—" he started, but she slapped him hard across the face, silencing him. "Shut up! Apologize to this gentleman immediately!" she ordered, her voice trembling with rage.