Stepmother in the Rain

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Alysa Johnson knelt in the pouring rain, her clothes soaked through, outlining curves that shouldn't have been visible on a sixteen-year-old. Three supercars worth tens of millions were parked around her.

Please, give me back my medication...

The lead boy pressed his foot down on the back of her hand, grinding it into the ground, his laughter excited.

"Sleep with me for one night, and I'll give it to you."

This was the scene I saw when I transmigrated into this novel.

As the original character, the vicious stepmother who would trade her stepdaughter to business partners for resources, I figured if I was going to be evil, I'd at least do it with class.

I walked over, carrying a golf club I'd just bought, said nothing, and swung it directly at the boy's kneecap with full force.

His scream drowned out the thunder.

I pulled up the stunned Alysa and wiped the muddy water from her face.

"Remember this. From now on, whoever makes you cry, you make them bleed."

Lila POV

The rainstorm hammered against the asphalt like popping corn.

The titanium alloy club in my hand was still vibrating with the aftershock of shattering bone.

That swing had felt perfect. No resistance, just a crisp "crack," followed immediately by pig-like squealing.

Ethan curled up in the muddy water like a cooked shrimp, clutching his knee, screaming until his voice cracked.

The rich kids around him who'd just been filming with their phones and egging him on instantly went silent, like chickens with their necks wrung.

They stared at me wide-eyed, not one of them daring to help him up.

After all, none of them had ever seen anything like this.

In their world, wealthy socialites maintained composure. Even when angry, they'd elegantly throw a check or splash some wine.

Who the hell just swung a metal golf club and crippled someone's leg?

I wiped the rain from my face and looked down at Alysa, still kneeling on the ground.

The kid was terrified.

Those eyes described in the novel as "dewy like a fawn's" now held only fear, her whole body trembling like a sieve.

She looked at me, then at Ethan writhing on the ground, her lips quivering, unable to form a complete sentence.

"What are you spacing out for?"

I planted the club on the ground with a sharp clang, making those spoiled heirs collectively take a step back.

"His leg's broken, not yours. Stand up."

My voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the storm with piercing clarity.

Alysa instinctively tried to push herself up, but her hands were covered in bloody marks from where Ethan had stepped on them. The moment she applied pressure, pain shot through her and her knees buckled again.

I didn't help her.

I just watched coldly.

If she didn't even have the strength to stand up, saving her this once would be pointless. This damned plot inertia would eventually push her back into the mud as a plaything.

Alysa seemed to sense my coldness. She bit her lip, tears mixing with rainwater streaming down her face, but she didn't make a sound. Using her elbows, she shakily pulled herself up.

Good.

Though pathetic, at least her spine was still straight.

I bent down and picked up the crushed asthma inhaler from beside Ethan's still-twitching hand.

Filthy, covered in mud and sand.

I wiped it on Ethan's custom suit worth hundreds of thousands until it was clean, then turned around, grabbed Alysa's chin, forced her mouth open, shoved the inhaler in, and pressed it twice.

The medication entered her throat, and Alysa's rapid wheezing finally began to settle.

"Thank... thank you."

Her voice was barely audible, still trembling.

"Don't thank me."

I released her and turned to look at the group of rich kids who'd retreated to their cars, my gaze finally settling on Ethan, still wailing on the ground.

"Mr. Hayes, how does it feel?"

Ethan's face was covered in cold sweat, his features twisted in pain, glaring at me viciously.

"Lila... you crazy bitch! You dare hit me! My family won't let this go! I'll kill you! I'll destroy your whole family."

"Alright, save your energy."

I cut off his impotent rage, playing with the club in my hand as I approached step by step.

The bodyguards finally snapped out of it and tried to rush forward. I raised the club directly at Ethan's other leg.

"Anyone moves, I'll put him in a wheelchair for life. Symmetrically broken."

The bodyguards froze.

Everyone could see I really would do it.

I crouched down, the cold club head tapping Ethan's pale face.

"I know who your father is. I know the Hayes family runs this city. But Ethan, did you forget? Those with nothing to lose don't fear those with everything. Crazy people don't fear idiots."

I lowered my voice to a volume only he could hear.

"That illegal offshore account your dad has, and those twin illegitimate children he's keeping in the western suburbs. Mrs. Hayes doesn't know about them yet, does she? Tell me, if I sent all that information to her email, do you think she'd come after me first, or your dad?"

Ethan's eyes widened in shock. He stared at me in disbelief, even forgetting his pain.

This was the perk of transmigrating into this novel. My head was full of every wealthy family's dirty secrets.

"Looks like you're not stupid. You understand."

I stood up, looking down at him.

"Today's lesson was about being human. Did you learn it?"

Ethan gritted his teeth. Though hatred remained in his eyes, fear dominated.

I laughed derisively, turned around, opened the car door, and shoved the still-dazed Alysa into the passenger seat.

"Get in."

Even after my taillights disappeared into the rain, none of them dared move.

The car's heat was on full blast.

Alysa huddled in the leather seat, gripping the seatbelt tightly, staring blankly ahead.

I glanced at her and tossed a towel from the glove compartment.

"Dry off."

She mechanically took the towel, drying her hair, then suddenly asked quietly.

"They'll come after us, won't they?"

The kid wasn't stupid.

In this world's setting, the four major families were gods. Laws meant nothing to them.

Ethan's broken leg. The Hayes family would never let it go.

"Scared?"

I steered with one hand and lit a cigarette.

The original character didn't smoke, but I needed nicotine to suppress the adrenaline spike from earlier.

"I'm... I'm not scared for myself."

Alysa lowered her head, looking at her swollen hands.

"But I'm scared of dragging Dad down, and... dragging you down."

Even in this household where the original character had treated her badly-even cruelly-this kid still worried about implicating others.

This was the terminal illness of abuse novel heroines: kindness bordering on weakness, consideration that made you furious.

"Dragging me down?"

I exhaled a smoke ring and laughed coldly.

"Alysa, listen carefully. In this world, besides yourself, no one can drag you down. As for revenge..."

I looked in the rearview mirror at the headlights flickering in the rainy night and smiled.

"Let them come. If I dared break his leg, I'm prepared to tear a hole in the sky. Starting today, this show has a new director."

Lila POV

Early the next morning, the Lin family mansion's gate was blocked.

The show of force was substantial.

Three black Rolls-Royces completely blocked the entrance. Over a dozen black-suited bodyguards emerged, surrounding a middle-aged couple.

The man's face was dark, the woman dripping with jewels and looking sharp and mean.

They were Ethan's parents, Marcus Hayes and Vivian.

Behind them followed four elite lawyers carrying briefcases.

This wasn't about negotiating compensation. This was about causing trouble.

My convenient husband James Johnson was currently circling the living room like an idiot, sweating profusely in panic.

"Lila! Look what you've done!"

James pointed at me sitting leisurely on the sofa drinking coffee, his finger trembling.

"That's the Hayes family! Ethan Hayes! And you dared break his leg! Are you trying to destroy our whole family? Now they've come knocking with a whole legal team. They're going to put us in prison forever!"

Alysa huddled at the stair landing in her pajamas, face pale, eyes red.

She wanted to come down but didn't dare, just gripping the railing tightly.

I set down my coffee cup and looked at James with disgust.

This was the scumbag father from the original novel, the epitome of selling his daughter for advancement. When trouble came, all he did was shift blame and beg for mercy. No backbone whatsoever.

"Panicking about what?"

I stood up, straightened my silk robe, and walked unhurriedly to the entrance, opening the door.

Outside, Vivian saw me and immediately rushed forward, raising her hand to slap me.

"You bitch! You dare hit my son! I'll tear your face off today!"

If this were the original Lila, she would've taken the slap.

Or knelt and begged for mercy.

But I wasn't her.

I raised my hand and precisely caught her wrist, applying slight pressure and twisting.

"Let go! You crazy bitch!"

Vivian screamed in pain, her delicate makeup contorting.

Marcus said coldly, his face dark.

"Let go! Lila, are you going to assault someone again? Believe it or not, I'll have the police arrest you right now!"

I released Vivian's hand and wiped mine with a wet wipe in disgust.

"Arrest me? On what grounds? Because your son committed school bullying, or because you want to break into private property?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

Marcus's face turned iron with rage.

"You deliberately injured someone! My son is still in the hospital with a comminuted fracture! We have surveillance footage. Can you deny it?"

"Surveillance footage..."

I smiled, turned back to the living room, and picked up the remote from the coffee table.

"Perfect. I also have some videos I'd like you both to enjoy."

The massive projection screen in the living room slowly descended.

I pressed play.

What appeared on screen wasn't last night's rainy scene, but various angles and scenarios.

Ethan forcing a classmate to drink urine in the bathroom.

Ethan cutting a girl's hair and sticking gum in it.

Ethan and his gang locking Alysa in the equipment room and releasing dogs on her.

And last night, the complete high-definition footage of him stepping on Alysa's hand, forcing her to agree to sleep with him.

Even with sound.

"Beg! Who do you think you are acting pure! Your mother was a whore, and you're just a little slut!"

The voice echoed through the spacious mansion hall, particularly jarring.

James froze.

Marcus and Vivian froze too.

They hadn't expected me to have these.

I'd bought all of these last night at high prices from those lackeys. Those rich kids were scum, but they loved money more, and had no loyalty. Give them enough cash and they'd sell out their own fathers, let alone Ethan.

"I've made dozens of backup copies of these videos."

I leaned against the sofa back, looking at the Hayes couple's pale faces.

"If I go to the police station, or if the Johnson family goes bankrupt, these videos will immediately appear on every major news website's homepage, in the Department of Education's complaint inbox, and in the email boxes of every major shareholder of Hayes Corporation."

"You wouldn't dare!"

Marcus roared.

"This is blackmail! Extortion! Even if you release them, it's useless. I have ways to suppress it!"

"Is that so? Mr. Hayes certainly has influence."

I smiled even more brightly.

"Then what about this?"

I pulled out a document from under the coffee table and casually threw it on the floor, where it slid right to Marcus's feet.

Marcus looked down suspiciously.

Just one glance, and his pupils earthquake.

It was a record of him embezzling company funds to purchase overseas property, along with the illegitimate child's birth certificate and DNA test report.

Vivian was still shrieking.

"Why waste words with her! Just trash this place!"

"Shut up!"

Marcus whipped around and slapped Vivian across the face.

The slap was vicious. Vivian was completely stunned, covering her face and staring at her husband in disbelief.

"Why did you slap me?"

Marcus ignored her, turning to stare at me intently, cold sweat trickling down his temples.

He was a smart man.

School bullying could perhaps be suppressed with money and connections. At worst, his reputation would stink a bit.

But embezzlement and illegitimate children. Once exposed, his position at Hayes Corporation would be finished, and the Lee family wouldn't spare him.

"Lila,"

Marcus's voice trembled.

"What do you want?"

James watched from the side, completely dumbfounded, unable to understand how the situation had suddenly reversed.

I pointed at Alysa at the stair landing.

"First, have your son transfer schools or repeat a grade. I don't want to see his face at school again."

"Second, compensation for Alysa's emotional distress. Ten million. Not a penny less."

"Third,"

I paused.

"Have your son publicly apologize to Alysa over the school's PA system. I'll write the content, he'll read it exactly as written, and it better be heartfelt. If I detect even a hint of insincerity, I'll consider it breach of contract."

Marcus gritted his teeth.

"The first two are fine. The third... could we do it another way? The Hayes family still needs face."

"Face?"

I laughed derisively, stood up and walked to him, lowering my voice.

"Mr. Hayes, dignity is for people, not for scum. When your son did those things, did he think about others' dignity?"

"Or would you prefer your wife's family to learn that those twins you're keeping outside are already in elementary school?"

Marcus's whole body shook.

He looked at me like I was a monster.

"Fine... I agree."

Marcus forced those three words through clenched teeth.

Vivian was still screaming.

"Why should we! Are you insane? Apologize to that little bitch? And pay money?"

"Take her away!"

Marcus completely ignored her tantrum, signaling the bodyguards to drag Vivian out.

Not until the Hayes family completely disappeared did James come back to his senses, collapsing onto the sofa and looking at me with awe and... fear.

"Honey... where did you get all that stuff?"

I ignored him and turned to look at Alysa still standing at the stair landing.

She stared at me blankly, tears still clinging to her lashes.

I walked over and wiped away her tears.

"Did you see clearly?"

I pointed toward where the Hayes family had left.

"That's high society. As long as you have them by the throat, they'll kneel faster than anyone."

"In this house, right now, the person I choose to protect, even Satan can't take away."

Lila POV

The day Alysa returned to school, the sky was blue and the clouds white, but I knew beneath that calm surface was nothing but filth.

Though Ethan had transferred, the mess he left behind remained.

The Hayes family's influence at the school ran deep. The ringleader was gone, but plenty of bootlickers remained.

Not to mention the male second lead, Adrian Locke?.

He was student council president, aloof and ascetic, also the enforcer of rules at this elite school.

Upon entering the classroom, we discovered Alysa's desk was missing.

Her assigned spot was empty, just a lonely chair lying on the floor.

The entire class was silent, dozens of eyes watching us mockingly, like we were monkeys at the zoo.

Alysa's face instantly paled, instinctively reaching for my sleeve.

"Oh, if it isn't that 'Miss Johnson' who drove away Mr. Hayes?"

A girl spoke sarcastically, twirling her pen.

"What, even the desk found you too dirty and threw itself away?"

The whole class burst into laughter.

Alysa bit her lip and bent down to pick up the chair.

"Don't move."

I grabbed her hand and scanned the classroom.

"Who did this?"

No one spoke.

Everyone was watching the show. Some even pulled out phones to film.

Just then, the classroom door opened.

A boy wearing gold-rimmed glasses with every button fastened to the top walked in.

Adrian.

He didn't even glance at me, walking straight to the podium and saying coldly.

"The school is conducting an asset inspection. Damaged public property must be paid for. Miss Alysa's desk had too much graffiti, seriously affecting the school's appearance, so the maintenance department has taken it for disposal."

What a sanctimonious excuse.

"Until new desk and chair are approved, Miss Johnson can stand and listen to class."

Adrian pushed up his glasses, a trace of barely concealed disgust in his eyes.

"It's also a good time to reflect on why, out of everyone in the entire school, only your desk got graffitied."

Typical victim-blaming.

Alysa trembled with anger.

"You drew it! It was all... all insults about me!"

"Do you have proof?"

Adrian asked coolly.

Alysa was speechless, tears welling up in her eyes.

I laughed.

This little bastard, looking all proper, but more rotten than anyone.

"Reflect?"

I released Alysa's hand and walked up to Adrian.

"Adrian, is it? Since you love making people reflect so much, how about everyone reflects together."

I pulled out my phone and made a call.

"Come in."

As soon as I spoke, deafening drill and hammer sounds came from the hallway.

Then over a dozen construction workers marched in.

"What are you doing!"

Adrian finally changed expression.

"This is a classroom! Who gave you permission to enter!"

I ignored him, directly pointing at the desks and chairs in the classroom.

"Get to work. Except for the podium, tear down all the desks and chairs."

The workers had already been paid. Their efficiency was extremely high.

Before those pampered students could react, drills were whirring, screws flying, desk boards being violently dismantled.

"Ah! My limited edition stationery!"

"Are you crazy! This is destruction of property!"

"Security! Call security!"

The classroom descended into chaos.

Adrian rushed up to me, furious.

"Lila! This is illegal! I'm calling the police!"

"Go ahead."

I pulled out a stack of documents and slapped them against his chest.

"This is a complaint receipt from the Department of Education, along with relevant legal provisions. And... I've already donated ten million to the school board, specifically to improve the learning environment for this class."

I pointed at the desks and chairs being dismantled.

"Since this garbage isn't good enough for our Alysa, none of you should use it either. I've ordered top-of-the-line ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks for the entire class. Fifty-eight thousand per set."

The class instantly fell silent.

Fifty-eight thousand per set? These rich kids had money, but the school's desks and chairs were just ordinary stuff.

The students who'd been cursing moments ago suddenly looked different.

"However."

I changed my tone, looking at Adrian's livid face.

"This batch of donations specifically excludes Adrian."

"Since you think standing during class helps with reflection, please stand from now on. After all, as student council president, you should lead by example and reflect more on why you're so unlikeable."

Adrian trembled with rage, pointing at me.

"You... this is discrimination! Isolation!"

"Isolation?"

I laughed coldly, surveying the whole class.

"No, I'm just returning the methods you use to isolate others."

"Also,"

I walked to Alysa's side, pulled her to the center of the podium facing everyone.

"From now on, if anyone dares draw even one stroke on her desk, I'll remove everyone's desks and you can all stand for class. Anyone who doesn't want to stand, watch the people around you."

Unreasonable, but most effective against these refined egoists.

Half an hour later, brand new top-tier desks and chairs were moved into the classroom. Only Adrian's spot by the podium remained empty.

Alysa sat in that expensive chair, touching the smooth desktop, looking up at me with light in her eyes for the first time.

"Ma'am..."

"Call me Lila."

I patted her shoulder.

"Remember this. When do victims need to reflect? Do you think school rules are toilet paper? From now on, whoever tells you to reflect, you make them reflect on their whole family."

Lila POV

Alysa's "fragile constitution" was a real pain.

Even though I wanted to armor her up like an iron warrior, this damned character setting would occasionally rear its head.

Like during this week's PE class.

It was just simple jogging warm-ups. Alysa was running along when she suddenly tripped over her own feet on flat ground.

With a small cry, she pitched forward.

Normally, this kind of fall would at most scrape her knees.

But the plot god's twisted humor kicked in.

Rip.

Alysa's supposedly loose athletic shirt actually tore open from the collar. Two buttons flew off somewhere, exposing a large expanse of snow-white skin and the edge of her pink bra underneath.

The boys playing basketball nearby instantly swarmed over like sharks smelling blood.

"Holy shit! Fan service!"

"That skin is so white, it turns red from just a fall?"

"If this isn't seduction, what is?"

That seemingly innocent classmate Nathan even pulled out his phone.

Alysa lay on the ground, dying of shame, frantically covering her chest, tears about to fall again.

This kind of plot full of male gaze and vulgar taste made my blood pressure spike.

I wasn't just watching from the sidelines. I charged onto the field with scissors.

I took off my coat and wrapped Alysa up tightly, blocking those lewd stares.

"What are you looking at? Never seen cheap clothes before?"

I shouted, and those boys dispersed somewhat reluctantly, but their eyes kept drifting toward Alysa.

I helped Alysa up, took the scissors without a word, and cut off a piece of her athletic shirt.

"Let's go. To the hospital."

Alysa cried and asked.

"Am I really that shameful? Am I... slutty?"

This was the brainwashing this damned world had given her.

I smacked the back of her head. Not hard, but enough to clear her mind.

"Slutty? Are you out of your mind?"

I held up the cut fabric piece in front of her eyes.

"Look carefully. This fabric isn't even pure cotton. The synthetic fiber content is over the limit, and the stitching uses the cheapest thread. This school charges hundreds of thousands a year and gives you this garbage to wear?"

I dragged her straight to the principal's office and threw the fabric in the principal's greasy face.

"I'm suing the school's procurement department for corruption and bribery, and for providing substandard products to minors."

The principal was stunned.

"This... Lila, this was just an accident..."

"Accident? I'd say it's attempted murder!"

I pointed at Alysa.

"This happened on the field. What if it was in the chemistry lab? This kind of flammable synthetic fabric. Are you trying to roast my daughter alive?"

My words were extremely harsh, but they genuinely scared the principal.

Next, I took Alysa to the best private hospital.

Not for the fall injuries, but for orthopedics and endocrinology appointments.

"Doctor, please give my daughter a full-body checkup, especially balance function and muscle strength."

I told the doctor.

"I suspect she has serious vestibular dysfunction and muscle weakness. Otherwise why would she trip while walking normally?"

The full examination cost tens of thousands.

When the results came out, the doctor looked at the report and pushed up his glasses.

"Well... indeed, core strength is very poor, and cerebellar balance is a bit weak. Also, the skin barrier is damaged. It's too thin, which makes it prone to redness and swelling."

Alysa held the report, stunned.

"So I'm not... naturally slutty?"

She asked quietly.

"Of course not."

I slapped the report against her chest.

"This is called lack of exercise, called sub-health! Understand?"

"Those boys said you looked provocative when you fell? That's because their brains are full of pornographic garbage. In a doctor's eyes, you're just a patient who needs rehabilitation training."

Alysa looked at all the professional medical terminology on the report and suddenly smiled.

A smile of relief.

"Then... Lila, what should I do?"

"What should you do?"

I laughed coldly.

"If the clothes are poor quality, blame the manufacturer. What kind of logic is it to blame yourself for having breasts? This fabric that tears with one pull. Did the school procure it according to lingerie standards?"

"As for your body..."

I looked her up and down.

"Starting tomorrow, Pilates and Muay Thai. Since you can't stand steady, practice until no one can push you down."

Alysa nodded vigorously, a new determination in her eyes.

I hoped she understood that her body wasn't a pillar of shame for pleasing others, but armor that needed to be fortified.

Lila POV

The male third lead, Nathan, had a baby face but a twisted heart.

He had a baby face and cute little fangs when he smiled. He was in the same club as Alysa.

His favorite thing was using that innocent tone to say the most twisted things.

Like putting thumbtacks in Alysa's dance shoes.

That day Alysa came home limping.

Her soles were full of bloody holes, socks stuck to the flesh.

While treating her wounds, my hands were shaking. Not from fear, but from rage.

"Who did this?"

Alysa winced in pain but didn't dare say.

"Maybe I was just careless..."

"Careless enough to step on over a dozen thumbtacks? Were you practicing iron palm?"

I checked the surveillance footage. Sure enough, it was Nathan.

He'd been sneaking around the dance studio locker room door. After Alysa changed shoes and came out, he hid in a corner smirking, watching Alysa's face pale with pain as she forced herself to keep dancing. His expression was like he was appreciating some artwork.

This little pervert enjoyed watching people endure pain.

Fine.

Liked playing these games?

The next day I had someone tow away Nathan's prized limited edition sports car.That was his eighteenth birthday gift, one of only three in the world. The kid treasured it like nothing else. He wouldn't even let anyone touch it.

I had his car towed to an abandoned quarry on the outskirts, parked it right on the cliff's edge with half a wheel hanging over.

Then I filmed a video and posted it directly to his Instagram.

I'd gotten his account from Alysa's phone.

In the video, I held a wrench, gesturing at his brake pads.

Caption: "I heard you like thrills? This car has a nice view by the cliff. The brake line seems a bit loose though. Want to come up and try it out?"

Less than ten minutes later, Nathan's call came through.

"Lila! Are you insane! That's my favorite car! Do you know how much it costs!"

He screamed into the phone, his voice trembling.

"How much?"

I casually tapped the hood.

"Is it worth more than my daughter's feet?"

"You... if you dare touch my car, I'll kill you!"

"Oh my, so scary."

I smiled at the camera, then pointed the phone at the brake caliper and made a cutting motion with a "snip."

"Don't! Don't cut it! I was wrong! I was wrong!"

Nathan completely broke down on the other end, begging through tears.

I laughed coldly.

"So you do know pain? I thought twisted people like you had no pain receptors."

That afternoon, Nathan came running to the quarry in tears.

When he saw the car was actually intact, just positioned for the shot, he collapsed on the ground, a large wet stain spreading across his pants.

He'd literally pissed himself from fear.

I leaned against the car door, looking down at this demon who usually acted like a little angel.

"Scared yourself into pissing? Where's your persona?"

Nathan's face turned bright red, wanting to crawl into a hole and die.

"A child's prank?"

I crouched down, tapping the unused wrench against his face.

"Then you'll have to endure this adult's prank too."

"Remember this. Next time you dare put anything in Alysa's shoes, I won't just touch your car. I'll cut your tendons."

"Don't shake. The game's just beginning."

I stood up, looking disgustedly at the puddle on the ground.

"Go change your pants. The smell is awful."

From then on, Nathan took detours whenever he saw Alysa. The twisted excitement in his eyes was gone, replaced only by deep fear.

Watching this scene, though Alysa thought it was a bit excessive, she couldn't help but giggle when she saw Nathan's pathetic state.

"Lila," she said quietly.

"Turns out when you strip the demon naked, he's just a little pants-wetter."

I patted her head.

"Yes. As long as you're crazier and more ruthless than them, they're nothing."

Lila POV

So-called high society galas were really just large-scale human markets.

To salvage his crumbling business, James Johnson forced Alysa to attend a business cocktail party.

He made it sound nice.

"Let you see the world, meet some people."

In reality, he wanted to sell Alysa for a good price.

The male fourth lead, Mr. Todd Shaw, a notorious playboy who claimed he never fell for anyone, walked toward Alysa with a wine glass, smiling.

"Alysa, long time no see. You've gotten even more beautiful."

That drink was drugged.

Alysa could smell something wrong.

This was also a plot device. Whenever the female lead appeared at such events, she'd inevitably be drugged, then inevitably have some indescribable encounter with the male lead.

Alysa felt her body starting to heat up. That was the plot's forced mechanism taking effect.

She looked at me in panic.

I was standing by the buffet table eating lobster. Receiving her distress signal, I put down my plate and walked over casually.

"Todd, is it?"

I inserted myself between them, blocking Shaw's lewd gaze.

"I heard the Shaw family's stocks have been crashing lately. Still have the mood to go hunting?"

Todd frowned.

"Who the hell are you? Get lost. I'm talking to Alysa."

"I'm her mother."

I smiled, and while he wasn't paying attention, with lightning-fast hand speed, I switched the glass he'd handed Alysa with the one in his own hand.

This was hand speed I'd developed doing crisis PR. I specialized in dealing with all kinds of troublemakers.

"Since Todd is so enthusiastic, I'll drink this on Alysa's behalf."

I raised the actually clean glass and clinked it against his now-spiked one.

He didn't suspect anything, just wanted to get rid of this nuisance quickly so he could make his move on Alysa.

"Fine, fine. Drink up and get lost."

He tilted his head back and downed it in one gulp.

I watched the red liquid slide down his Adam's apple, my smile deepening.

"Alysa, let's get some air over there."

I pulled Alysa away and left.

Less than ten minutes later, the show began.

A commotion suddenly erupted in the center of the hall.

The previously composed man now had a flushed face and unfocused eyes, frantically tearing at his tie and shirt.

"Hot... so hot..."

He shouted while hugging a Roman column in the hall's center like a dog in heat.

Then, under the gaze of hundreds of guests, he started performing a striptease.

The scene was absolutely eye-searing.

"Oh my god! Is that Todd?"

"Did he take drugs?"

"Quick, film this! This is too wild!"

Everyone around was holding up phones taking photos and videos.

I pulled Alysa to the second-floor railing and started a livestream on my phone.

"This is what they call high society breeding?"

I commented coldly.

Alysa watched the man making a fool of himself below. Her previous fear evaporated, replaced by disgust and absurdity.

"Lila, was that... the drug he prepared for me?"

"Yes."

I said flatly.

"Since he likes aphrodisiacs so much, let him go perform himself."

"Want to scheme against my daughter? First see if his kidneys can handle it."

Todd's drug was too potent. Not only did he strip completely naked, he also tried to forcibly kiss the arriving security guards, and finally was carried away in an ambulance foaming at the mouth.

I heard that due to excessive cardiac stress, he might not function in that department anymore.

This was what you called physical castration.

From then on, the entire circle spread tales of Todd's "heroic deeds," and his reputation was completely ruined.

Alysa watched the viral videos on her phone, looking thoughtful.

"So this is real counterattack."

"Don't dirty your own hands, yet completely destroy the opponent."