Chapter 4: This Is An Order

As soon as the words left Kayden Scott’s mouth, the room fell silent. Everyone stared at him, stunned.

That fool had just done it again—blurted something that left everyone floored.

Georgia’s gaze lingered on him, a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite name flickering across her face. Confusion. Embarrassment. Something else.

Tony, however, was the first to snap out of it. He laughed, loud and mocking. “What’s this? You think you’re in some kind of TV drama?” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a crisp hundred-dollar bill, and waved it in the air. “Here, take this. Go buy yourself some candy, kid.”

Kayden met Tony’s smug grin without flinching. Slowly, he reached out, plucked the bill from Tony’s hand, and studied it for a beat.

Then, without warning, there was a sharp "rip" as Kayden tore the bill clean in half.

The room collectively gasped as Kayden tossed the pieces into Tony’s face. His voice was cold, deliberate. “Get out.”

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Tony’s face twisted with anger. “You little—” His words choked off as he lunged forward, fist swinging. But before the blow could land, Kayden caught Tony’s fist with ease, his grip like iron.

Tony’s eyes widened in shock as he tried to pull free, but Kayden’s strength was unyielding.

Scarlett, finally breaking free from her daze, shrieked, “You idiot! Who do you think you are? How dare you do this in my house?”

“Mom!” Georgia jumped to her feet, stepping between them. “Tony, you should go. Now.”

Tony’s face flushed red, his voice shaking with a mix of humiliation and fury. “Georgia, are you really choosing him over me? That fool?”

“Tony, don’t listen to him, I—” Scarlett began, but Georgia cut her off.

“Mom, stay out of this!” Her voice cracked with frustration. She turned back to Tony, her tone softening, though her words were firm. “Tony, please leave. I’ll return everything you’ve given us. Just... go.”

Tony clenched his jaw, but before he could argue further, Harvey, who had been silently watching from the corner, stood and stepped forward. “You heard her. It’s time for you to leave.”

Kayden, still holding Tony’s fist, shoved him back with a single push. Tony stumbled, landing hard on the floor. Glaring up at Kayden, he spat, “You’ll regret this, you freak. Just wait.”

Kayden didn’t respond. He simply watched as Tony stormed out, his expression calm, almost indifferent.

As the door slammed shut, Georgia turned to Kayden, her voice sharp. “What the hell were you thinking, Kayden? You can’t just hit people!”

Scarlett, still fuming, jabbed a finger at him. “You idiot! Haven’t you caused this family enough grief? Do you have any idea how much we’ve suffered because of your nonsense these past three years?”

Kayden’s gaze didn’t waver. “I know. But don’t worry—no one will ever make fun of Georgia or your family again.”

The conviction in his voice silenced the room. Scarlett blinked, caught off guard. Since when did Kayden speak like this? His words were usually cryptic, nonsensical—a reflection of the fool everyone believed him to be. But this... this was different.

“Kayden,” Georgia said hesitantly, studying him. “Have you... remembered something?”

Before he could answer, Georgia’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen. “It’s Grandma,” she said, answering immediately. “Hello? Grandma?”

Elizabeth’s voice crackled through the line, sharp and commanding. “Georgia, bring your parents and we need to talk. Come to the meeting room. Thirty minutes.”

Ten minutes later, the Adams family was seated in the meeting room.

Elizabeth’s piercing gaze locked onto Kayden the moment he walked in. Her lips curled in disdain. “Georgia, why did you bring him here?”

The Adams siblings snickered.

“If we don’t keep an eye on him, he might jump off a building again,” one of them muttered.

“I think Georgia’s gotten a little overly attached to her little pet,” another sneered. “Can’t bear to let him go.”

“What I can’t understand,” Layla added, smirking, “is why Mr. Scott is showering a married woman with gifts. Seems awfully generous for no reason.”

“Enough!” snapped Elizabeth, silencing them with a glare. “Let’s get to the point.”

The room grew quiet, save for the faint rustle of papers.

“This is good timing,” Elizabeth continued, her tone brisk. “We’ll finalize the divorce today.”

Georgia stiffened, but before she could object, her grandmother pressed on.

“The Atkinson family—the wealthiest in the Southwest—plans to expand into the city. If we can secure a contract to supply their materials, the Adams family will thrive like never before.”

“How are we supposed to compete with the other families in Hiphia?” one of the siblings asked, doubt lacing their voice.

Elizabeth’s sharp eyes softened as they landed on Georgia. “We have Georgia. If she marries Mr. Scott, we’ll have the connections we need. The deal will be as good as ours.”

Scarlett’s face lit up. “Grandma’s right! Georgia, this isn’t just about you. It’s about the future of the entire family.”

“Exactly,” Layla muttered, her voice dripping with envy. “Though I still can’t believe Mr. Scott would marry a divorced woman.”

Georgia’s hands curled into fists. She took a deep breath, then spoke. “Grandma, I promised Grandpa I’d take care of Kayden. I won’t break that promise—not for a business deal.”

Elizabeth’s face darkened. “Your grandfather is dead. If he were alive, he’d support me in doing what’s best for the family.”

Georgia’s voice wavered, but her resolve didn’t. “No, Grandma. I won’t do it.”

“This isn’t a request, Georgia—it’s an order!” Elizabeth slammed her hand on the table, her voice ringing through the room.

Georgia flinched but didn’t back down. “If you want me to secure the deal, I’ll find another way. But I won’t break my promise to Grandpa.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out, leaving the room in stunned silence.