Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The boy was thrashing about, baring his teeth with comical and futile defiance against the towering Curtis before him. He was like a chick flapping helplessly in the face of a hawk, yet his voice rang out with a rebellious squawk. “She’s hideous! Blah, blah, blah!”

Curtis chuckled dryly. “What kind of school did you attend where they teach you to confuse beauty and the beast?”

He plucked the water gun from the kid’s grip, weighing it in his hand. It was surprisingly hefty.

With a casual toss, he passed it to Leanne. “Here, honey, have some fun with it.”

Leanne caught the water gun, her arms reflexively wrapping around it.

What was she supposed to do with it?

Hearing Curtis mention ‘my wife’ in the conversation, Billy finally realized his son had crossed the wrong person and hurried over to make amends.

“What’s gotten into you, kiddo? Get over here now!”

He reached to drag his son away, but at Curtis icy lift of an eyelid, Billy’s movements froze, not daring to proceed.

“If you can’t teach him, stand aside and watch someone who can.”

Curtis glanced at the boy. “What’s your name?”

The brat retorted, “Name your ass!”

Curtis responded with feigned interest, “Oh, so your name is ‘ass’. Your dad must be quite creative, giving you such a charming name.”

Billy’s face turned a shade of green with embarrassment, his teeth grinding as he scolded, “How dare you speak like that! You’re speaking to my friend!”

“Don’t go around claiming acquaintance. It’s a shame to know someone with a brat like this.” Curtis continued calmly, “But you’re in luck today. Do you know why? Because not everyone has the fortune to run into a good Samaritan like me. Since your dad doesn’t know the first thing about raising a child, I’ll give you a lesson.”

After saying that, Curtis hoisted the boy by the collar and spun him around.

Holding the kid upside down by one ankle, he dangled him over the swimming pool.

Billy was fretting like a cat on hot bricks. “My boy just wanted to play with Mrs. Richardson because she’s so pretty. He meant no harm.”

“Don’t fret,” Curtis said. “His sense of beauty is all twisted. I’m setting it straight.”

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11.15

Chapter 21

The reckless child, hanging head down, flailed and screeched, “Put me You think I won’t take you down?”

own, you idiot!

Curtis licked his tongue. “Guess your parents never taught you manners, judging by that

filthy mouth. Let’s give it a rinse.”

Without further ado, he dipped the upside-down kid into the pool.

The boy’s head got plunged into the water and then yanked out, his previously defiant face then ashen with terror as he began to bawl.

Billy was torn between heartbreak and fury, wishing to smack some sense into the fool of a child who had to mess with the Richardson family. His company was hanging by a thread, desperately awaiting a lifeline from Vector Vista Bank!

“Apologize to Mr. Richardson right now!” Billy shouted.

“I did nothing wrong!” The spoiled child was as stubborn as a donkey, crying and cursing incoherently, “Let me down, bastard. Damn it.

“Seems it wasn’t a thorough wash,” Curtis remarked. “Let’s try that again.”

As Curtis was about to give the boy a second dunk, Billy dropped to his knees with a thud. “Mr. Richardson, please! It’s my fault for not raising him right. Please, have mercy on him!” Leanne was also stunned by Curtis’ brute-force approach.

The commotion by the pool soon alerted the rest of the house, and a crowd rushed out to see what was happening. They could see from afar that Curtis was holding a child upside down over the pool while Leanne stood by with a toy gun.

At first glance, it looked like a couple was ganging up on a poor kid.

“Oh my God, what’s happening here?”

Leanne snapped out of shock, hurriedly tugging at Curtis’ sleeve to urge him to let the boy

down.