Nathan staggered backward, almost seeing stars, from the impact of the heavy punch.
"Nathan, are you okay? Oh God, you are bleeding..." Scarlett's hands were on him instantly, steadying him.
He pulled out his handkerchief and quickly pressed it to his nose.
"I'm fine." He assured her but Scarlett shook her head in disagreement.
"You shouldn't have done that!" She maintained, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and concern.
"Pretty boy wants to play hero, huh?" The loan shark leader asked, cracking his knuckles.
"No. I want to talk business." Nathan's voice was calm as he lowered the handkerchief.
"Nathan, don't-" Scarlett started.
"Listen." Nathan faced the men squarely.
"What you are doing is illegal. Assault, extortion, harassment... I could have you all arrested right now." He pointed out.
The leader's smirk faltered slightly.
"You threatening us, rich boy?"
"No, just stating facts. My family has the best lawyers in the city. How long do you think you would last in court?" Nathan retorted, his eyes hardening.
The men exchanged uneasy glances.
"And trust me, my father would love nothing more than to crush people like you. One call, that's all it takes." Nathan continued.
"Violence isn't the answer here. How much do they owe? Total amount." Nathan finally asked, his voice softening as he saw how scared the men looked .
"This isn't your business! I won't let you throw your money at our problems!" Scarlett stepped forward, her eyes flashing.
He turned to her, gently taking her trembling hands in his.
"Scarlett, please. Let me help. Just this once."
"No, I don't want you to get involved in this. We are not weak." She whispered, tears threatening to fall.
"Sometimes, accepting help is its own kind of strength, sweetheart." Henry spoke up weakly from the wall.
"Fifty thousand bucks, with interest." The leader cut in impatiently.
Nathan didn't even blink. He pulled out his phone.
"I will transfer it now. But first, I want documents stating the loan is paid in full. And a written agreement that you will never contact this family again." He requested.
"Nathan, no! You can't just..." Scarlett protested but got cut off again.
"Deal. We can do that right now." The leader's eyes gleamed.
"It is done." Nathan announced as his fingers moved across his phone screen.
"Write those documents. Now." He ordered.
"Boss, maybe we should-" One of the thugs wanted to hesitate.
"Shut up and write!" The leader snapped, but his hands shook slightly as he pulled out a pen.
Scarlett stood frozen, looking helpless as the men hurriedly prepared the papers. Her dignity lay shattered at her feet, and no amount of money could bring it back together.
~~~~~~~~~
The following day, Nathan arrived at his father's penthouse, and headed straight to Richard's study.
"Finally decided to grace us with your presence?" Richard said sarcastically as he set eyes on his son.
"I have been busy." Nathan said after blinking knowingly.
"Busy? I have been calling you for two days! What happened to respecting your father?" Richard snapped.
"Respect? Like the respect you showed Scarlett at the hospital, huh?" Nathan huffed and let out a hollow laugh.
"Watch your tone, young man!" Richard slammed his hand on his desk.
"When did you become so tactless? So disrespectful?" He demanded furiously.
"When did you become so cruel?" Nathan shot back.
"What you did to her-" He began but got cut off.
"I did nothing!" Richard's voice rose.
"I was trying to help that girl! And this is how my own son repays me?" He bellowed.
"Help her? By humiliating her? By treating her like some charity case?" Nathan asked, clenching his fists angrily.
"You dare lecture me about how to treat people? You? My own son? I built this empire from nothing! I know how this world works while you don't!" Richard snapped again.
"No, you know how your world works. A world where everything has a price tag. Where people are just assets or liabilities." Nathan argued.
"Don't you dare-" Richard was saying but it was Nathan's turn to cut him short.
"But Scarlett showed me a different world, one where people help each other without expecting anything in return. Where love isn't measured in dollar signs." Nathan stated firmly.
"Love?" Richard spat the word like poison.
"You think that girl loves you? She loves your money!" He roared exasperatedly.
"I'm doing what is best for you! Everything I have done - everything! - has been for you!" He added.
"I never asked for any of that, Dad. And you know. Scarlett is my girlfriend, not some project for you to fix!" Nathan maintained.
"A girlfriend? Is that what you think she is? Wake up, Nathan! Girls like her... they see our name and dollar signs light up in their eyes!" Richard retorted and let out an amused laugh.
"Stop it! You don't know her! You have never even tried to know her!" Nathan shouted in protest.
"I know her type, I have seen it a thousand times. Poor girl, working her way around, taking care of a sick father... It's the perfect sob story!" Richard sneered.
"She works harder than anyone I know. She is an admirable, strong and beautiful woman and I love her. And one day, I'm going to marry her." Nathan dropped the bombshell.
Color drained from Richard's face at that announcement.
"Have you completely lost your mind?" He asked rhetorically.
"No. For the first time in my life, I'm thinking clearly." Nathan argued.
"You are twenty-two! What do you know about love? About marriage?" Richard exploded with anger.
"I know that when I'm with her, I'm not just your heir. I'm me. Just me. And that makes me happy!" Nathan responded, standing his ground.
"I won't allow it. I will not watch my son throw his life away on some... some gold-digger!" Richard declared, shaking his head.
"Don't call her that when you don't know anything about her." Nathan shouted again.
"I know enough! And I'm telling you now - if you insist on this... this disgraceful union..." Richard trailed off, glaring at his son.
"What will you do?" Nathan challenged, his heart pounding.
"If you choose her... you are no longer my son. I will disown you." Richard declared sharply.
Nathan was flabbergasted.
"What did you just say?" He asked unsure he heard that right.