Crack!
A glass of Chapman's cocktail shattered on the floor. Lucy, lost in thought after overhearing Lucas's conversation, had dropped it. Customers turned to stare.
"Second time today?"
"Is she trying to get herself fired?"
"She must be tired of working here."
"Why is it always that table?"
"Maybe she's crushing on the guy."
'' Wo wouldn't, did you see him without a shirt back then?
The murmurs from customers grew louder, heads turning and judgmental looks were thrown in her direction.
Lucas shot Lucy a glare, his voice harsh. "Why are you messing up here, Lucy? If you're tired of working, head straight to HR and collect your last paycheck. You're..."
Jack placed a gentle hand on Lucas's arm, stopping him mid-sentence. Lucas looked at Jack, and his expression softened.
"It's fine, Lucas. Just a simple mistake," Jack said quietly. "Could've happened to anyone."
Lucy, trembling and close to tears, dropped to her knees, horrified at the thought of losing her job, the job she'd struggled to secure over the past three weeks, today was her second day. She knelt, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry, Boss. It was just a mistake, please, forgive me." Lucy kept kowtowing, forgetting her pride completely. Jack, the ex she had once left behind, was now watching her in a position she'd never imagined.
For Jack, seeing Lucy on her knees was a strange, almost painful sight. Here was the girl who had once cast him aside, now bowing in front of him and begging for forgiveness.
But to the onlookers, it was nothing short of a spectacle.
Just then, a loud voice echoed from the entrance. "Jack, you trash!"
Everyone turned to see Fabian storming in, furious. He walked straight toward Jack, ignoring Lucy on the floor.
"How dare you make Lucy kneel in front of you?" Fabian bellowed. "Who do you think you are? You're nothing; just a waste. Lucy, get up now! Jack doesn't deserve to have you kneel for him!"
The crowd watched, stunned by Fabian's outburst. Even Lucas and Thomas exchanged glances, feeling tension building and knowing well what Jack was capable of.
Jack looked at Fabian, a cold smile on his face. His eyes, however, were icy. "You talk too much, Fabian. Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?"
Jack turned to Lucas. "Do what you need to, Lucas."
Fabian scoffed, not intimidated. He marched up to Lucas, pointing a finger at him. "And who are you to make my girlfriend bow in front of you? The manager here respects me. I'm someone who can't be disrespected, especially by you."
Standing tall, Fabian sneered and tapped his chest with pride. "I'm the only heir to the Xu family back in Racoon. So you better think twice about messing with me."
Lucas gave a sidelong glance to Jack, who nodded, signaling him to go ahead. Lucas straightened, his patience wearing thin. "Are you now? Stacy," he called to another waitress, "please go get the manager."
"Right away, Boss," she replied, hurrying off.
Fabian laughed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Look at you, acting all high and mighty with Jack. Just because people call you 'Boss'—what are you even the boss of? A stinky loser?"
Lucas stood in silence, waiting as Fabian continued to rant. Thomas noticed Jack's calm expression and realized this was the "calm before the storm" he'd seen before.
The manager soon arrived, immediately bowing slightly to Fabian before he noticed Lucas. Seeing Lucas, he gave another bow, this time more respectful.
"See that?" Fabian sneered, pointing at the manager. "Jack, did you see that? He didn't even acknowledge you. And you," he pointed at Lucas, "if you're taking orders from Jack, why don't you kneel and apologize to me?"
Jack turned to Lucy, who was still kneeling on the floor. "Get up, Lucy. Why are you still kneeling?"
Shaking, she rose to her feet but still looked nervously at Lucas.
"You're tough, aren't you?" Fabian taunted, stepping closer to Lucas. "Well, let me deal with Jack first, and then I'll deal with you." He turned to Jack, his voice filled with scorn. "What's wrong, Jack? Still mad that Lucy dumped you for me? You think this little stunt will make you feel better?"
He took long strides toward Jack, raising his hand to slap him. Just as he was about to make contact—
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! A series of slaps landed on Fabian's face, followed by a strong punch to his stomach, and then a hard kick that left a sickening crack of bones breaking echoing through the hall. Customers flinched, expecting to see Jack on the floor, but instead, Fabian lay gasping, nearly motionless.
"Fabian!" Lucy shrieked, running to his side, terrified that he might be dead. "Fabian, are you okay?"
Someone in the crowd called for an ambulance, unable to believe what they'd just witnessed. No one had seen Jack move—just the result.
Fabian coughed, blood staining his lips. He looked up at Lucy, dazed. "Lucy… am I still alive?" he muttered, touching her face, almost as if checking if he was dreaming. "Did… did Jack do that?"
Lucy, just as shocked, couldn't even respond. She hadn't seen Jack move either. Only Thomas had and he smirked secretly at the effect of Jack's move on Fabian.
One customer, frozen in place, muttered, "Is he… is he human? Did anyone see him move?" another couldn't believe her eyes; '' He's a monster. ''
The manager, who had previously ignored Jack, stepped back and stood near Lucas, eyes wide. Even Lucas's bodyguards exchanged glances, understanding that Jack's strength was in a league of its own.
Jack walked slowly toward Fabian, who lay on the floor, barely able to sit up.
"Go ahead," Jack said coldly. "Call your father. Tell him there may not be a Xu heir soon."
The entire hall fell silent. Fabian, struggling to sit up, tried to muster a response. "Jack… you're just a nobody. You'll regret this. I swear, you'll pay for this."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "What's that? Do you think you're still in Racoon Village, Fabian? This isn't your playground. Do you want to bring backup? I'm right here." He smirked. "You've got thirty minutes. Make your calls."
Jack then gestured to Thomas, who immediately understood, stepping forward to start guiding customers out. "The Dome is closed for the day," he announced. "Please come back tomorrow."
Fuming, Fabian pointed at the manager. "You're just going to stand there while this happens? Call your boss! He needs to know what's going on here."
The manager, looking horrified, pointed silently to Lucas. "Master Xu, my boss is… right here."
Fabian's face paled as he finally realized who Lucas was. His voice cracked, trying to find an excuse. "You're the boss? But you…"
Lucas stayed silent, his expression stony. Jack just watched Fabian with an unreadable gaze.
Fabian, still defiant, scowled. "I see you've found a way to surround yourself with backup, Jack," he muttered, clenching his fists. "But don't think I'm afraid of a few connections."
Jack calmly returned to his seat, ignoring Fabian's final words. "Think whatever you want, Fabian. Just remember, next time, you may not walk out of here if those bodyguards of yours don't show up."
With that, Fabian, humiliated and struggling to stay upright, his anger rose, his pride and his threats increased, eyes red and ready to see Jack taste humiliation also. Glaring behind him, Jack remained seated, unbothered.
The door to the hall of the restaurant was kicked open forcefully. Twelve bodyguards wearing crested vests of the Xu Family walked in hastily, some hurried towards Fabian; '' Young Master who did this to you, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the head of the bodyguards asked
Fabian pointed at Jack; '' Him! He will pay with an arm
Jack smiled, giving a very chilling fearful effect with his white teeth glowing '' Fabian I believe it's a dog-eat-dog world. If that is what I owe you, then you owe me the same' Are you still watching him speak, break an arm for me, Fabian yelled angrily, the bodyguards rushed toward Jack
'' No rush why don't you come first, Jack pointed at the head of the bodyguards who stood aside allowing the others to go for Jack
I feel afraid to attack a child first, you may find yourself on the floor. It will be regarded as bullying he laughed
''Take your short '' Jack replied with both hands to the back. The middle-aged man began to grow angry, and his image suddenly flashed in front of Jack, thinking he would take Jack unaware, he attacked punching Jack fiercely,
Jack didn't dodge, although the middle-aged man was fast but Jack saw his movement
As he punched, Jack punched at the same time, their hands meeting in mid-air, the sound was loud, bang! The middle-aged man's body had already flown backward and fell to the floor! Screaming in pain, but the sound of bones cracking was also heard. When the middle-aged man looked at his hand, his wrist the bone was broken.
He got up hastily and aimed at Jack's head, Jack slightly turned his body, using his palm to push away the middle-aged man's attack. He fell to the floor again. Frowning he realized something was wrong and that he wasn't a match for Jack.
''As an elderly man who compared me to a child, it is such a shame this is all you can offer,'' Jack stood in the same spot since the fight started with both hands on his back.
Everyone present was shocked including Fabian, Was this the head of the bodyguards of the Xu Family? how was he unable to land a single punch on Jack? The middle-aged man heard the mockery and clawed at Jack this time, faster than before but how could he succeed? Jack just kept dodging all his attempts and finally saw a chance, then punched the middle-aged man behind his knee and did a back flip separating himself from the man. '' You are even far weaker than I thought '' The middle-aged man sat on the floor kowtowing in shame.
'' Young Master, please forgive Master Xu, forgive us.
When the other bodyguards saw this, it was obvious Jack was too strong for them so they backed away, standing behind the middle-aged man
Jack slowly walked to Fabian. Stop! Stop!, don't come closer to me Jack, what do you want to do Jack? somebody stop him. Jack stop! The other bodyguards moved swiftly to stop Jack but they were too slow.
'' Now it's my turn, be ready to give me an arm and I want the right arm. Crack! Jack stepped on Fabian's right arm without hesitation, the shrieking sound from Fabian's mouth was piercing but Jack stood in front of Fabian, looking down on him scornfully '' Today I spared your life, because of Lucy, next time, you will not be so lucky.''
The Xu family guards quickly carried Fabian and the middle-aged man out rushing them to the hospital. Lucy stood up, unwillingly to follow Fabian, who she knew did not love her, and also was not sure if she still had her Job.
After Fabian and his people left, Lucas introduced Jack to the manager and all the staff working at that particular branch of the restaurant as the owner of The Dome nationwide. It came as a shock to all the workers, including Lucy.
'' Do you still want your Job, Jack asked the manager, who looked scared and shaken recalling how ignorant he was toward Jack initially, he nodded, yes boss''
Jack stared at him coldly '' You are very incompetent and Lucy here, he pointed at Lucy, will work directly under you for the next year. Teach her all you know, if after then you are still not capable, Lucy will replace you but if you are, you will be promoted to manage another bigger office while Lucy remains here.
The manager bowed his head in fear and shock. However, he was glad he wasn't fired. All he could do was nod in support, knowing that Lucy who he tried to bully before giving her a job as a waitress was not his Assistant Manager.
Jack turned, walking to the exit, Lucas and Thomas followed, including the bodyguards. Jack left without giving Lucy a chance to thank him, It was nothing to him, just a favor.
After Jack and the others, left everyone looked at Lucy surprisingly, how could she have left such an outstanding man to be with Fabian, was she insane? each had their thoughts to themselves without speaking because she was now the Assistant Manager. How could they question her.