Chapter 9
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"Kyle!" The man called, his voice commanding. Kyle's heart raced as all eyes turned to the car. He had been careful not to reveal his new identity, but now, with the arrival of Mr. Gray, everything was about to change.
Kyle stepped back a little as Mr. Gray walked to his side and whispered to his hearing alone. "Your grandfather wouldn't want you to get hurt. You can leave while I handle this." He had no choice but to face the truth. The truth would come out now, whether he was ready or not. Kyle shook his head. "Know I will take care of Stephen on my own."
Gray nodded and stepped back a little, while the four bodyguards who had accompanied him also stood in position behind him.
Some onlookers were already murmuring among themselves, speculating that Kyle had gotten himself into trouble with some rich rogue, and perhaps they had come to get him.
Kyle's blood boiled as he turned his attention back and watched Tara and Stephen humiliate his grandmother yet again. Seeing the frail woman, who had sacrificed so much for him, being treated like trash was the last straw. He clenched his fists, stepping between them with a deadly calm.
"Get away from her," Kyle's voice cut through the tension, sharp and cold.
Stephen raised an eyebrow, a mocking grin spreading across his face. "Or what? You think you can stop me? I'll have you expelled for good if you touch me."
But something had changed in Kyle. The fear that had once kept him submissive was gone, replaced by a newfound confidence that even Stephen couldn't ignore. He wasn't that scared, humiliated student anymore. His life had changed, and with it, so had he. Kyle wasn't backing down now.
"Go ahead," Kyle replied daringly. "Try me."
For the first time, Stephen hesitated. The arrogance in his grin faltered, and his eyes narrowed as he studied Kyle. "What's gotten into you, huh? You think you're some tough guy now?"
Kyle didn't respond. He didn't have to. His silence was more threatening than words, and Stephen could sense it.
Kyle's grandmother, trembling with fear, grabbed his arm. "Kyle, please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Let's just leave. Don't cause any more trouble."
But Kyle gently pulled away, his gaze fixed on Stephen. "Not this time, Grandma."
Stephen snared again. "You think you can walk away from this? Apologize right now. And pay me for the damage you caused when you hit me, or I'll make sure you're expelled if you don't."
Kyle's grandmother, desperate to avoid conflict, reached into her purse, pulling out all the money she had—a few crumpled bills. "Please," she begged, holding them out to Stephen. "This is all we have. Just take it."
Stephen sneered, slapping the money from her hand. The bills scattered to the ground like worthless trash, and he spat at her feet, laughing cruelly. "You think this is enough? What a joke. I don't need your pity money."
The sight of his grandmother's dignity being trampled was too much for Kyle. His vision blurred with rage, and before anyone could react, he lunged at Stephen, knocking him to the ground with a force that silenced the onlookers.
"You don't get to touch her!" Kyle's voice was low, filled with fury as he pinned him to the ground. The bodyguards were about to rush forward, but Mr. Gray stopped them with his raised hand.
The students gathered around and gasped in shock, some cheering for Kyle, others backing away in fear. Tara's voice rang out as she frantically dialed the school director; her voice panicked as she called for help. But Kyle wasn't done yet.
Stephen squirmed beneath him, trying to push Kyle off, but Kyle was relentless. Unfortunately for Stephen, his bodyguards were not with him at that moment that could help him or bail him away from Kyle's wrath. Kyle grabbed him by the collar, pulling him up just to slam him back down again, his eyes blazing with an anger he had kept bottled up for too long.
"This is for my grandmother," Kyle growled, his fist connecting with his face, leaving him dazed and bloody.
Stephen whimpered, barely able to defend himself. Kyle's strength was overwhelming, his punches fueled by years of humiliation and rage he had gone through in the school. He lifted his foot and pressed it against Stephen's head, pinning him to the ground as just he had done to him a few days ago.
"Kyle! Stop!" His grandmother cried, her voice breaking with fear. At this moment she knew Kyle could not escape being expelled from school, but she just wants him to be fine and go home with her. They could try to work something else out.
But Kyle didn't hear her. All he saw was the man who had tormented him in this school for years, reduced to a pathetic figure beneath his foot. He could end it all right now. He could make Stephen pay for every insult, every slight, every wound he had inflicted.
Just as Kyle was about to deliver another blow, a commanding voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Kyle! That's enough!"
The director had arrived, his face twisted with anger as he stormed toward them. Kyle's foot still pressed down on Stephen's head just as he had done to him a few days ago, but he didn't move. Not until the director grabbed his arm and yanked him away.
"Get off him, now!" The director barked, pulling Kyle to his feet. Stephen groaned on the ground, barely conscious, his face bruised and swollen.
Kyle wiped his mouth, his breathing heavy, as he stared at the director. "He shoved my grandmother," Kyle said, his voice raw. "He humiliated her."
The director glanced down at Stephen, who was still lying in the dirt, and then back at Kyle. His face hardened. "I don't care what he did. You're already suspended, and now you've made it worse. Violence isn't the answer."
Kyle's jaw clenched, anger flaring again. "Violence isn't the answer?" He gestured to his grandmother, who was still trembling on the ground. "Tell that to him!"
The director's gaze flicked over to Kyle's grandmother, but his face remained impassive. "You've crossed the line, Kyle. You're finished here."
Just then, Mr. Gray stepped forward with the bodyguards in toll. The crowd fell silent as the tall figure was carrying a commanding aura with him. His sharp eyes were taking in the scene before him.
"Kyle," Mr. Gray said, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Are you okay?" Kyle only nodded as he wiped the side of his lips off with the back of his hand.
The director's face twisted in confusion, his eyes narrowing at the mysterious figure. "And who are you? But Gray didn't grant him any audience. Then Mr. Hainsworth turned to Kyle and questioned. "Who is this? What's going on here?"