The Quinn Family Estate — Skyhaven City
The entire mansion was brightly lit.
As a third-rate family in Skyhaven City, the Quinns rarely hosted such a grand event—but tonight, the hall was filled with distinguished guests.
Yet despite the luxury…
The atmosphere was suffocatingly awkward.
At the center of the banquet hall, a young man in a white suit stood trembling, his face flushed with humiliation and rage. He pointed at a waiter standing opposite him and shouted:
"Lucas Reed! You damn waiter—how dare you hurt my bodyguards? Do you even know who I am?!"
"I'm Ryan Hale—the heir of the Hale family!"
Across from him, Lucas stood calmly, his expression indifferent, his eyes filled with quiet disdain.
"The Hale family?" he scoffed.
"In my eyes, they're nothing but noise."
Ryan's fists clenched.
Lucas continued coldly:
"That ginseng you brought? It's nothing more than artificially cultivated trash. Its medicinal properties are unstable. Giving it to Mr. Quinn would do more harm than good."
"You're just a spoiled rich kid throwing money around. You don't understand medicine… and you definitely don't understand sincerity."
After speaking, Lucas turned toward the woman beside him.
Sophia Quinn.
Her beauty was striking, her temperament cool and distant.
The moment Lucas looked at her, his tone softened.
"Don't worry, Sophia. With me here, no one can deceive you."
Sophia nodded slightly. Her gaze lingered on Lucas for a moment before shifting to Ryan—with undisguised disgust.
"Ryan, please take your things and leave."
"Lucas may be just a waiter, but he has real ability and integrity."
"He's a thousand times better than someone like you."
Those words hit harder than any slap.
Ryan's expression twisted. His composure shattered completely.
"Sophia! You'd rather trust a waiter than me?!"
"I went all the way to the northern mountains to get that ginseng—"
"Enough."
Lucas stepped forward, casually blocking Sophia.
His voice turned sharp, arrogant.
"Ryan Hale, do you think you can measure feelings with money?"
"Get out."
"Or don't blame me for what happens next."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"So this is the Hale heir? Pathetic."
"The Hale family's reputation is finished."
"That waiter… his skills earlier weren't normal."
Ryan's face turned pale.
Shame. Rage. Confusion.
He couldn't understand it.
He had everything—power, wealth, status.
So why…
Why was he being crushed by someone like this?
Just as Lucas lifted his chin, ready to deliver the final blow—
BOOM!
The massive gates of the Quinn estate were kicked open.
The heavy wooden doors slammed against the walls, sending dust into the air.
The entire hall fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the entrance.
From the darkness outside—
A tall figure stepped in.
Dressed in a black tailored trench coat, he moved with calm, measured steps.
Each step felt heavy.
Oppressive.
As if he were walking over the hearts of everyone present.
Behind him, there were no bodyguards.
Only an old butler carrying a first-aid kit.
But the aura he radiated alone—
Was enough to suffocate the entire room.
Ryan's eyes lit up instantly.
"Dad! Dad, you're finally here!"
He rushed forward like a drowning man seeing land.
"That bastard attacked my people and humiliated our family!"
"You have to handle this—kill him! I want him ruined!"
He pointed at Lucas, his face twisted with resentment and smug relief.
In his mind—
Now that his father had arrived…
No one in Skyhaven could touch him.
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly.
He sensed the pressure—but didn't back down.
Instead, he sneered.
"Oh? The son calls, and now the father shows up?"
"Good."
"Today, I'll teach your entire family what respect looks like—"
He didn't get to finish.
Because Victor Hale—
Didn't even look at him.
His gaze locked onto his son.
Cold.
Disappointed.
Sharp enough to cut.
Ryan's body stiffened.
"…Dad?"
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The next second—
SMACK!
The sound exploded across the hall.
Victor's hand struck Ryan's face with brutal force.
Ryan's body spun through the air before crashing onto the ground.
His cheek swelled instantly.
Blood mixed with two broken teeth scattered across the floor.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Everyone froze.
Even Lucas.
His mouth opened slightly in disbelief.
What… just happened?
Wasn't he supposed to support his son?
Ryan lay on the ground, clutching his face, eyes wide with shock.
"D-Dad…?"
"Why are you hitting me?"
"He's the one—!"
"Shut up."
Victor's voice was calm.
Too calm.
He slowly unbuttoned his coat… and pulled out a black leather belt.
Then he extended his hand.
"Iodine."
The butler, Mr. Foster, trembled as he opened the bottle and poured the antiseptic over the belt.
The sharp scent spread instantly.
Victor flicked the belt.
WHOOSH.
The sound alone made people flinch.
He looked down at Ryan.
No anger.
No warmth.
Only cold disappointment.
"You've disgraced the Hale family."
"You want to act like a fool? Fine."
"Today… I'll teach you properly."
The air froze.
No one dared speak.
The richest man in Skyhaven…
Was about to discipline his own son in public.
"Dad… I was wrong—AAAH!"
SMACK!
The belt lashed down.
It tore through Ryan's expensive suit, splitting fabric and skin alike.
The iodine seeped into the wound.
The pain—
Exploded.
Ryan screamed.
Like an animal being slaughtered.
Victor didn't stop.
"Begging for a woman like a dog—no spine!"
SMACK!
"Using family power just to be humiliated in return—pathetic!"
SMACK!
"Letting others insult your family and doing nothing—useless!"
SMACK!
Each strike was precise.
Controlled.
Relentless.
Ryan's screams echoed through the hall.
No one dared move.
No one dared breathe.
This wasn't discipline.
This was punishment.
And for the first time—
Everyone truly understood.
If the Hale family could be this ruthless to their own blood…
Then what would they do to their enemies?