Chapter 2

2.

My hidden bodyguards, seeing me get insulted repeatedly, were ready to pounce from the shadows.

I shot a warning look toward the nearby shrubbery, and they immediately got the message.

They walked past us like total strangers, pretending they hadn't seen a thing.

Baron Zeller leaned forward with a ridiculous smirk, sliding his sunglasses down to squint at me with his beady eyes.

"Hey, kid, was I hallucinating, or were you just trying to signal those high-end security guys?"

"Do you see them looking at you? How embarrassing is that?"

He was practically dancing with joy, his yellowed teeth flashing as he spoke.

Taya's brow furrowed, her eyes filled with nothing but worry and grief.

I ignored Baron's taunts, keeping my focus entirely on Taya.

I knew her. Leaving me wasn't her idea; I could see the lie in her posture.

We had been together for three years, the golden couple of the university.

Whenever we walked together, people would stop and stare, calling us the perfect match.

Our relationship had even won the 'Sweetest Couple' award at a campus festival.

We had a custom heart-shaped trophy sitting in our old apartment.

But the most enviable part wasn't the awards.

It was the fact that we had been introduced by the most prestigious professor in our department.

She was a brilliant humanities student, and I was at the top of the engineering program.

One of us was on a full ride, and the other was drowning in academic awards.

When the professor introduced us, he joked that if we actually made it, he'd be bragging about his matchmaking skills for years.

To his surprise, Taya and I really did fall for each other.

We loved each other fiercely for three years, and any small arguments we had were never serious.

I thought we had no secrets.

I knew she was the heiress to the Townsend family, a mid-tier name in the city's business world.

As for me being the crown prince of the most powerful family in the country, I couldn't just say it, but I'd dropped plenty of hints.

She just never believed me.

So, when she dumped me, I truly thought it was because she had finally discovered our supposed 'status gap' and chose money.

But looking at her now, I realized that wasn't it at all.

I walked right up to her, ignoring the greaseball beside her.

"Come with me, Taya. I promise I can make sure your family's company thrives again."

Baron let out a sharp, mocking sound, his eyes turning cold and predatory.

"You trying to steal my woman, kid? Have your balls even dropped yet?"

His henchmen erupted in laughter again.

"Hey kid, you have no idea who my boss is, do you? He runs this entire district! Kneel down and call him Grandpa if you want to keep your teeth!"

Baron, fueled by the flattery of his minions, grabbed me by the collar and tried to shove me toward his car.

"My girl says she found you a job? I don't like that position. Come on, Big Brother Baron is going to find you some real work."

Taya finally snapped. She rushed over and tried to push me away with all her strength.

"Quinton, just get out of here! Go! Don't ever come looking for me again!"

When I didn't budge, her panic took over, and she swung her hand, landing a sharp slap across my face.

I stood there, my head turned to the side, as Baron shoved me into the back of the car. "You think you're going somewhere? Not today!"

I looked through the rearview mirror and saw Taya acting submissive toward him.

"Baron, don't be mad. Quinton knows some martial arts, and I was just worried he'd try something stupid against you."

My hands clenched into fists on my lap, and my heart, which had been burning with hope, went cold.

"Taya, do you really not care if you break my heart?"

Her body went rigid for a second before she let out a hollow, bitter laugh.

"Does a broken heart put food on the table? Does it pay the bills? Can it... can it save my family from total ruin?"

Her voice cracked at the very end, turning into a muffled sob.

"Quinton, you're a great guy, I admit that."

"But our status is too different. Don't be obsessed, and don't take any of this seriously."