Chapter 5

Just as Troy was about to strike, May, with tears in her eyes, rushed forward and stopped him.

Troy looked down to see his mother's weathered, tear-streaked face. His voice was hoarse as he whispered, "Mom..."

"Troy, please listen to me," May pleaded, her voice trembling. "Don't do anything rash. Please, I'm begging you."

Troy's raised hand slowly dropped, and his eyes grew red as he fought back the pain. Seeing his mother like this made his heart ache, his insides twisting with unbearable pain.

His eyes were bloodshot, his voice breaking as he said, "Mom, I promise you, I've made something of myself. I'm capable now. You don't have to worry."

May's voice cracked as she sobbed, "Troy, it's alright. Our family doesn't have much. It's understandable the girl wouldn't want to be with you because of us. Please, don't be impulsive. Just talk to her. Maybe she'll give you a chance."

She turned to Hannah, but before she could speak further, Hannah coldly spat, "You're wasting your breath! I'm not giving this failure a chance! Let me make it clear. I'm the daughter of the Pierpoints, one of the Nine Great Families of Silverton. And you?"

She sneered, her eyes scanning Troy dismissively.

"You're from humble beginnings with no power, no influence! Look at your family, and look at yourself. Do you really think you're good enough for me?"

May staggered back, her face filled with shock. She couldn't believe the woman in front of her was the daughter of the Pierpoints, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families in Silverton. Everyone had heard of them.

The neighbors in the courtyard exchanged whispers, their voices filled with awe and disbelief.

"She's the daughter of the Pierpoints?! No wonder she looks down on Troy... That's one powerful family!"

"Exactly! The Pierpoints are worth billions! How could someone like Troy stand a chance?"

"Right? She's clearly out of his league! Who does he think he is?"

Troy stood motionless, his eyes locked on Hannah as she continued her cruel tirade. Her tone dripped with superiority as she sneered at him.

"Do you hear that? The difference between you and me is like the difference between the sky and the earth! You'll never be good enough for someone like me, and you think you can lay a hand on me? Do you even know how much influence the Pierpoints have? If you dare touch me, I'll wipe out your family in an instant! Don't test me."

Hannah stood tall, her head held high in arrogance as she glared at Troy.

Troy's hands clenched into fists, his body tense with barely contained rage. His eyes narrowed to dangerous slits as he slowly spoke, his voice cold and deliberate.

"You're just from the Pierpoints. Do you really think you're something special? In my eyes, you're no better than ants. Do you know who helped you rise to where you are? It was my mentor! I agreed to this engagement because I thought your family would be grateful. I was even prepared to protect you all. Instead of showing gratitude, you throw my mentor's kindness aside and humiliate my parents. You dare threaten to destroy my family. The Pierpoints will pay for this."

Troy's anger erupted like a storm, his presence overwhelming. His glare cut through Hannah like a blade, sending a chill down her spine.

Hannah sneered, trying to remain composed despite her fear. "You're nothing, a mere speck of dust! My family can crush you with a single finger. Why would the Pierpoints ever need your protection? Look in the mirror! I can end you with a single slap! Who do you think you are?"

Troy's gaze suddenly turned icy cold, sharp and menacing, like the edge of a blade poised to strike.

Hannah's body stiffened—she felt as if she had just become the target of a ferocious wild beast's glare.

Her breath caught in her throat as she stumbled back a few steps, her voice trembling with fear. "Wh-what do you think you're doing? Don't make a move! I-I have bodyguards! Touch me, and my family will kill you!"

"Kill me? Do you think you have what it takes?"

Troy's eyes were filled with a chilling coldness. At that moment, the anger that had been boiling inside him could no longer be contained.

He took a step forward; at that exact moment, the bodyguards behind Hannah moved to block his path.

Hannah, her voice rising in panic and fury, screamed, "Go! Kill him!"

The elite guards, trained and experienced, rushed toward Troy.

Yet, he didn't hesitate. With a swift motion, his body moved like lightning, and in an instant, he was among them.

Troy slapped two of the burly bodyguards across the face, sending them flying across the yard with sickening force. Their bodies crashed into the ground, blood pouring from their faces as they crumpled, unconscious.

The remaining guards hesitated for just a moment, but that was all it took. Troy was upon them again, his movements a blur. His legs swept out like lightning, knocking them one by one out of the yard. They tumbled to the ground, spewing out blood while groaning in pain.

Hannah stood frozen, her face pale. She couldn't believe what had just happened. The Pierpoints' top-tier bodyguards, all trained to handle threats ten men each, had been taken down in mere seconds.

She turned to flee, but before she could move, Troy's voice froze her in her tracks. "Where do you think you're going?"

He appeared in front of her in the blink of an eye, his expression grim. His hand shot out, grabbing her by the throat.

Hannah's eyes bulged in fear, her voice choked with terror. "L-Let go of me!"

"Let go of you?" Troy's voice was dripping with mockery. "Didn't you say you'd wipe out my family?"

His eyes were filled with bitter contempt as his hand swung swiftly, landing a sharp slap across her face.

She screamed in agony, her once-beautiful face now bruised and bloody, her nose gushing red. Half of her face began to swell and distort.

"I-I'll kill you!" she shrieked.

"Kill me?" Troy's voice was cold, his eyes narrowed. "Do you think you're in a position to threaten me?"

Without warning, he slapped her again, the force of it making her stagger. Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth as her face bloomed in purple and red.

"Y-You..."

"What?" Troy's voice was laced with indifference.

With a sudden motion, his hand swung again, striking her with brutal force several more times.

Hannah was left a mess, blood splattering from her mouth as her body swayed, barely able to stand.

Troy let go of her with a flick of his wrist, his gaze as cold as ice, like the glare of a predator about to pounce. He looked down at her with the disdain of a conqueror, speaking each word slowly and deliberately.

"You're just a Pierpoint. Who gave you the audacity to act like you're a queen? That's the price you pay for insulting my parents," he added coldly before turning his back on her.

Hannah collapsed to the ground, trembling in pain and shock, her face a mess of blood.

The courtyard fell silent, the neighbors stunned into disbelief. May and Gordon stood frozen, their faces pale, tears brimming in their eyes.

May, teary-eyed, was unable to comprehend what she had just witnessed. Did her son just hit the heiress of the Pierpoints?

Troy's voice broke the silence, calm and resolute. "This engagement is canceled, but the Pierpoints have no say in it. You have no right to cancel our marriage. It's my decision. I am ending this!"

He turned his cold gaze on Hannah.

"Now scram."

He spoke with such authority, sending shivers into everyone nearby.

Hannah pressed her trembling hand against her face, still seething with hatred. Her voice was bitter as she spoke, her words laced with venom, "Do you think you can get away with this? You'll regret it! The Pierpoints will never forget this!"

Troy didn't flinch. "I've never cared for the Pierpoints. Now get out of my sight."

Hannah's lips trembled as she bit down, drawing blood. Inside, a storm of fury and hatred raged.

Why was he so confident, so arrogant? Why wasn't he afraid of the Pierpoints? Did he not understand what the Pierpoints were capable of?

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Hannah suddenly sneered as her eyes flashed with rage, her voice filled with venom, "So what if you hit me? So what if you act all tough? You're still nothing! You'll always be beneath them. No one will ever respect you! Even if you kill me today, no one will ever marry you!"

Troy narrowed his eyes, his expression cold. "Is that so? How do you know no one would marry me? We'll see about that."

Hannah pressed her hand against her swollen face, her glare filled with hatred. Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard.

The next moment, several striking figures stepped into the courtyard at once.

With a sharp motion, a few marriage contracts were thrown toward the group, and a cold voice rang out.

"The Sommers hereby annuls your engagement, you useless waste of space! This matter is never to be mentioned again!"

"The Xaviers are also calling off this marriage. From this day on, Troy, we have no further ties!"

"The Grahams are also withdrawing from the engagement!"

"The Chadwicks are calling off the marriage too!"

"The Stones are nullifying this engagement as well, and severing all ties with Troy!"

One after another, the voices echoed through the courtyard.

Troy barely registered the rest of what was said. All he could hear was the recurring theme—they were here to call off the engagements.

So, everyone was breaking off the engagement now. Troy wondered whether they were quick to discard him because they saw that he had no power and status.

The harshness of reality hit him.

Looking at his parents' faces, filled with disappointment and sorrow, Troy felt his heart tremble.

He had thought that coming back to choose his bride would be a way to boost his parents' social standing. Instead... He had become the punchline of a joke.

Suddenly, a bitter laugh escaped him. So, this was what his "lovely" fiancées were like.

"Did you see that? No one wants to honor this marriage! It's because you're just too pathetic. You don't deserve us! We are the Nine Great Families! Your family has nothing! We're from different worlds, Troy. Accept it!"

Hannah's voice rang out with a mocking laugh.

Troy smiled grimly, realizing that today had truly become an embarrassment.

At that moment, the sound of high heels echoed again from outside the courtyard. A voice followed, drifting into the room—clear and cold like a mountain stream, indifferent but steady.

"I haven't arrived yet. Who says no one wants to honor this marriage? You all are at the height of power now, but had it not been for the help of Troy's mentor all those years ago, where would your families be? Even though he is of humble origins, the Skeldons still honor the agreement made long ago! This engagement is still valid. I accept it!"

A wave of shock rippled through the room as everyone turned to look at the figure who had entered.

Troy's gaze shifted toward her, and his heart slammed in his chest.

It was...her.