Chapter 2 Fake Father
- The beautiful woman on the couch with tear-filled eyes made his heart ache.
- "Who on earth are you? You want trouble?" Hayden yelled at the sight of the visitor.
- "Trouble?" Ashton’s eyes turned cold. In an instant, he had approached Hayden, grabbing his neck and lifting him up.
- After twin cracks, Hayden let out a pained scream. Ashton had crippled his hand.
- "Do you know who the hell I am? Crippling my hand? You're done for!" yelled Hayden
- Smack!
- Ashton gave Hayden another slap, which sent the latter's teeth flying.
- "Done for? Let me show you who's done for!" He tossed Hayden to the ground like a rag before picking up his phone and dialing someone. "Call the Lindonbury police for me..."
- "Ha ha ha..." Hayden laughed suddenly. "The Lindonbury police? You're done for when they arrive!"
- "Excuse me." Freya rose, worry etched on her face. "Thanks for your assistance, but you should get out of here soon. He’s the Flemming heir, and you can’t defeat him. I'm a Lowenstein, so he won’t dare hurt me as long as there is one of my family members around."
- "Is that a joke?" Hayden sneered. "You think you're someone important? Colluding with this man to cripple my arm? I’ll edit it into a video and post it online! You’ll regret it!"
- Hayden retrieved his phone and sent a message. Soon after, Freya's phone buzzed with message notifications. Her expression paled as she saw countless texts, some wondering, some puzzled, and some from strangers requesting to meet...
- Freya trembled with anger. "Hayden, you...shameless jerk!"
- "Shameless jerk?" Hayden sneered. "This is your comeuppance for crossing me."
- He looked at Ashton resentfully. "Oi, you're trying to act heroic and save the damsel in distress? Save her now. Let’s see it."
- Freya was filled with desperation. This man seemed skilled, but what good would that do now?
- Just then, Ashton's cold voice broke in. "You have 10 seconds to delete it, or else..."
- His eyes held a deadly seriousness. The woman he was concerned for was being threatened right in front of him.
- Hayden was asking for it! If it weren’t for Ashton's reluctance to let Freya witness a gruesome scene, Hayden would already be a corpse.
- Hayden looked stunned, then sneered at Ashton. "You think you're powerful because you can fight? My people will be here soon..."
- Before he could finish, Ashton interrupted, "Time's up."
- Bang!
- Ashton kicked Hayden, sending him crashing into the wall. Hayden’s internal organs ached, making him spit out blood and struggle for breath.
- Ashton picked up his phone again. "I want all negative fallout from the video to disappear in ten minutes. Contact the Lindonbury police and tell them to arrest someone. I don’t want to wait long."
- He hung up.
- Freya was stunned, not understanding what Ashton meant.
- Hayden was still defiant. "Within ten minutes? You overestimate yourself..."
- However, he stopped short. A large TV on the building outside, the desktop computers, and everyone’s phones all started playing a news report. "A pornographic video suddenly went viral today but was determined after technical analysis to be a maliciously photoshopped fake and does not involve Ms. Freya Lowenstein..."
- "Forceful clarification? How can that be possible?" Hayden looked at Ashton disbelievingly.
- Such efficiency and power!
- Freya’s eyes widened, unable to fathom how much influence the man before her possessed.
- Ashton smiled slightly. "I have a comrade who currently works in the news industry. I requested a tiny favor."
- Ah, that’s it. He had to be ex-military. Freya nodded.
- The newscaster continued, "Further investigation has shown the culprit for its deliberate digital editing and publication to be Hayden Flemming of the Lindonbury Flemmings. Failing to win Ms. Freya’s affection, he turned to horrible methods to disgrace her. Additionally, he has also intentionally assaulted, raped, and molested other women..."
- Hayden’s photo appeared on the screen alongside a list of his crimes.
- "So it’s him!"
- "That Flemming family scum. I’ve heard of his infamy."
- "Even official news outlets have reported it. Let’s wait to see who can save him.
- Everyone in Lindonbury got it at once after watching the news, while Hayden turned pale after finally understanding the gravity of the situation.
- Police sirens came from outside before several officers rushed in, locking onto Hayden instantly. He was relieved to see the middle-aged man leading them.
- "Mr. Jaunez, here you are. I’ve been framed. Everything was his doing. Arrest him!"
- Before he could finish, Captain Jaunez coldly declared, "Hayden, you’re under arrest. Take him away."
- Several officers handcuffed Hayden and quickly left.
- "It’s all right now," Ashton said to Freya.
- Freya clearly relaxed. "Thanks so much, Mr..."
- "It's Ashton Schwerin."
- Freya reddened slightly. "Mr. Schwerin, here to be interviewed too?"
- Ashton was momentarily stunned, then laughed awkwardly. "Uh Yes…"
- Freya smiled slightly. "Were you in the military? Recently discharged?"
- Ashton gave a nod. "Yes."
- Freya said, "I'm sorry. You might be overqualified for a position in my company with your qualifications. How about this: I'll offer you a monthly salary of six thousand. You'd need to work after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all weekend. Your job scope involves acting as my daughter's father. If she takes a liking to you, I'll consider a pay raise in the future. Does that sound good?"
- Freya was very pleased with Ashton. She believed she had judged his character correctly. After all, he had faced down the powerful Flemming family just to help her.
- "Huh?" Ashton was puzzled.
- What did she mean? Was she really asking him, the actual father of her daughter, to pretend to be a fake one?