Chapter 3 Teaching Him A Hard Lesson

Inside the elevator, Kimberly fixed her gaze on Erik.

Her expression was one of deep resentment, her striking eyes cold and dismissive.

Feeling her intense stare, Erik chuckled uneasily and asked, "What's wrong?"

"You..." Kimberly's frustration bubbled over, and she couldn't help but say, "Can you actually do anything beyond empty threats? Do you even qualify as a man?"

Erik was startled, his eyes darting around.

"Noreen mocked you, Harold threatened and demeaned you, and you just took it. I understand you're gay, but what happened just now..." With no one else present, Kimberly didn't conceal her emotions, glaring at Erik with indifferent disapproval. "You've disappointed me."

Erik felt lost.

Unable to explain that she had misunderstood him, he attempted a defense, saying, "I was trying to avoid making a scene."

"You're only kidding yourself," Kimberly retorted sharply. "He embarrassed you, and you should have stood up for yourself. If not a fight, at least a gesture of defiance."

Erik's lips twitched, then he forced a smile. "Well, if that's your opinion, I'm glad."

He paused, his face taking on a fierce, somewhat exaggerated look. "Honestly, I can be quite frightening when I resort to violence. Next time, I'll make sure to set him straight."

"Huh, I doubt that." Kimberly gave an exaggerated eye-roll, convinced he was doing nothing more than puffing himself up.

She had thought that this man had no interest in women, making him at least a safe choice for her.

However, his cowardliness had profoundly let her down.

She even felt a bit of regret.

At that moment, the elevator doors opened, revealing the plush VIP suites on the eighteenth floor.

"By the way, Lana has asked you to learn something about military matters, right?" Kimberly suddenly asked as they walked down the hallway.

"Why is that?" Erik looked bewildered.

Seeing his reaction, Kimberly's disappointment grew. She explained, "My grandfather also served in the military. He always hoped I'd find a boyfriend who had served as well..."

"I understand now," Erik responded with a nod, smiling reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'm well familiar with military matters."

"Let's hope so."

As they continued their conversation, a voice called out from behind.

"Kimberly, wait for us!"

Harold and Noreen emerged from the elevator, with Noreen calling out.

At the sound of this, a look of displeasure crossed Kimberly's face.

She shot Erik a look filled with disdain and mockery, then stopped.

The siblings quickly closed the gap.

Harold first acknowledged Kimberly with a warm nod, then turned to Erik with a smile. "Mr. Smith, would you mind stepping aside? I prefer not to have you there."

Harold maintained his smile after speaking.

Erik's relaxed expression began to disappear.

Now that he was standing next to Kimberly, Harold's request was clearly meant to offend.

"What if I refuse?" Erik asked, holding Harold's gaze.

Harold's expression briefly darkened, but he quickly resumed smiling. "Then you'll soon regret it."

Erik returned the smile. "Here's a piece of advice: don't make threats lightly, or you might offend someone you shouldn't."

"Huh! Mr. Smith, you have quite a sharp tongue." Noreen spoke up, casting a quick look at Kimberly's blank face before curling her lip into a sneer. "There's no way you're Kimberly's boyfriend. Why would someone like her waste a second on a weakling like you?"

Kimberly's expression grew even sterner.

She was beginning to see him as a true coward, standing there unaffected by such humiliation.

"Noreen, it's not surprising. Individuals like him often shape their morals early on. If you lack proper guidance growing up, submissiveness gets ingrained. Isn't that right, Mr. Smith? Haha."

As Harold delivered these words, he nudged Erik, his smile twisted, though his voice carried indifference.

"Get lost!"

Noreen watched and cackled derisively.

Kimberly's expression turned thunderous, and she was on the verge of lashing out.

But right then, in that exact moment, a loud crash resounded.

Kimberly didn't see what initiated it but witnessed Harold being hurled against the corridor wall, then collapsing to the floor.

Doctors, nurses, and passersby in the hallway turned their heads toward the sound.

What had just happened?

No one was sure.

At this point, Harold had managed to get back on his feet.

Only this time, the calm and superiority were gone from his expression, replaced entirely by a look of stunned disbelief.

Beyond that, he was enraged.

Fuming with uncontrollable anger, he shouted, "You dare strike me?" His face reddened, his teeth bared, his eyes seething with fury, he screamed, "I'll kill you!"

Harold could not stand the disgrace and yelled as he rushed at Erik, his hand raised to strike him.

Suddenly, Harold stopped in his tracks.

His hand hadn't even made contact with Erik, yet he felt a sharp pain on his own face.

"You… You actually struck me? Ah—how dare you…"

A look of disbelief crossed Harold's face, which quickly morphed into fury as he lunged forward once more.

"So what if I did hit you!"

By this point, Erik saw no reason to restrain himself any longer.

He raised his hand and another forceful slap struck Harold's face.

"Damn it!"

The two slaps struck with such force that the veins on Harold's face bulged, and his skin turned visibly red and swollen.

He was among the most prominent young figures in Neburgh's high society, unaccustomed to such treatment.

Never had he been cursed at, much less struck.

People of his stature typically commanded others, insulting them at whim, without ever facing physical retaliation.

"You motherfucker! I will destroy you and your family..."

Blinded by rage, Harold's judgment deserted him, his eyes ablaze as he charged again.

This time, Erik seized Harold's wrist, his tone icy as he said, "You want to destroy my family? Say that again!"

"You bastard, I won't just destroy your family. I'll enslave them..." Harold's gaze was filled with malice as he cursed, struggling to free his hand.

His wrist was locked in an unrelenting grip, leaving him completely frozen in place.

"Repeat that!"

As Erik demanded a repetition, a distinct sound of snapping bones filled the air.

One of Harold's fingers was forcibly bent backward at the joint, snapping completely.

"Ah... it hurts!" Harold cried out in agony.

Both Kimberly and Noreen gasped, shocked by the scene.

When Noreen finally came to her senses, she rushed forward with a scream.

Erik turned to face her, his expression cold.

Noreen halted abruptly, falling silent.

Kimberly's expression also transformed dramatically, her mouth opening but no words coming out.

She stared at Erik in disbelief.

It felt almost impossible to accept as real.

The man she had once perceived as weak was now displaying merciless ruthlessness, breaking Harold's finger without hesitation.

"Repeat that!"

Erik showed no mercy

as he snapped another of Harold's fingers.

"Repeat that!"

Then another crack of bones echoed through the air.

"Why the silence?" Erik sneered, not receiving any response from Harold.

The sounds of bones breaking occurred one after the other. Not only were all five of Harold's fingers broken, but his wrist was also violently twisted, resulting in a snap.

"Ah... please... have mercy!" Harold screamed in agony.