Chapter 208 Pick a Fight

    Boone’s lips twitched. His voice came out dry and robotic, breaking into fragments. “N–No… don’t… know… no enemies…”

    Sloane’s brow tightened. A flicker of disappointment passed through her eyes. She pulled the device away, and in that instant, Boone slumped over. His body went limp, his eyes shut, and he copsed lifelessly against the wall.

    She stood and nced coldly at the man curled up on the floor. “Pathetic.”

    Without another nce, Sloane turned and walked out. The heavy door groaned shut behind her with a deep, echoing thud. The hallway was just as silent as before, her footsteps echoing through the empty space.

    The director stood waiting at the end of the hall. When he saw her, he rushed over, his voice low and cautious. “Ms. Rivers, you’re… done already?”

    Sloane shot him an icy look, her voice sharp and impatient. “Yeah. Keep Boone locked down. Don’t let anyone from the Rivers family near him.”

    The director let out a breath of relief and nodded eagerly. “Yes, ma’am! I’ll make sure he’s under strict watch.”

    Sloane didn’t bother responding. She walked off without a word, her steps firm and controlled–but her eyes had darkened with thought.

    If Boone didn’t know anything about her past, then chances were the rest of the Rivers family didn’t either. That meant the truth was still buried–most likely with Marshall and Helen.

    Sloane didn’t make it back to the house until dawn–and the first person she ran into was Wesley, waiting by the front gate.

    He was dressed in a crisp blue suit, car keys twirling between his fingers, clearly on his way out. When he saw her walking in from the outside, he smirked.

    “Well, well… if it isn’t the Rivers family’s golden girl. Out all night, huh? Spent the night partying with the rich boys?”

    Sloane didn’t even blink. She shot him a cold nce and brushed past without a word.

    Wesley’s face darkened. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path, his voiceced with smugness. “What, can’t even bother to look at me now? You think you’re important? You’re a ticking time bomb, and everyone knows it. Just a reject who’s going to get dumped sooner orter. You really think the Hawthornes are going to marry you? Keep dreaming.”

    Sloane stopped. Her stare turned ice–cold. Slowly, she turned to face him, her voice low and cutting. “Say that again. I dare you.”

    Wesley faltered under her stare but straightened up and sneered, “I said you’re trash. What, mad now? Just because Lucas agreed to an engagement doesn’t mean they’re actually going to let you into their family.”

    Her eyes flickered. Rage, sharp and sudden, shot through her. She was already on edge–and this idiot had just pushed the wrong button.

    In one swift move, she grabbed his wrist and twisted hard.

    Crack.

    Wesley screamed, copsing to his knees, his face drained of all color.

    “You… you broke my wrist!” He was drenched in sweat, his voice shaking, eyes wide in disbelief.

    Sloane stared down at him with a mocking sneer. “And a useless little punk like you thinks he can talk down to me?”

    Right then, Helen came running toward them. Her face turned white when she saw Wesley on the ground, his wrist twisted at an unnatural angle.

    She rushed forward, shoved Sloane aside, and dropped to her knees beside her son. Her voice was shrill with panic. “Sloane! Are you insane? You actuallyid hands on Wesley?”

    Sloane didn’t move. She stared Helen down, calm andposed. “He disrespected ollime. I taught him some manners.” /li/ol

    “You… you ungrateful little brat!” Helen was trembling with rage, her finger shaking as she pointed it in Sloane’s face. “You’re nothing but worthless! And you think you can act like this in my house? Somebody grab her–now!”

    Servants swarmed in from all directions, surrounding Sloane. But none of them dared make the first move. Her presence was too sharp, too dangerous.

    Just then, Jason, the butler from Mathilda’s estate, rushed over and raised his voice. “By order of Madam Mathilda–stand down. Everyone.”

    Helen’s face twisted with fury. She jabbed her finger toward Sloane. “Look at what she’s done! She broke Wesley’s wrist! We can’t let someone like her stay in this house!”

    Jason nced at Wesley’s injury, frowned, and then turned to Sloane. “Ms. Rivers, that was out of line. Madam Mathilda has always favored you, but even she has her limits.”

    Sloane scoffed. “So what?b” /b

    Jason’s face tightened, but he remainedposed. “Wesley disrespected his sister and stirred up trouble. His allowance is suspended for a month.”

    Wesley rolled his eyes. He couldn’t care less–he knew his parents would cover for him anyway.

    Helen wasn’t satisfied. “And what about Sloane? She assaulted her own brother! What’s the punishment for that?”

    Jason continued, his tone calm but firm. “Ms. Rivers assaulted a member of the family. That kind of behavior is uneptable and won’t be ignored.” He turned to Sloane. “You’re grounded for three days. No leaving the estate, no guests, no calls. Staff are under orders to restrict your movement.”

    Wesley’s face lit up with satisfaction. His wrist was still killing him, but he couldn’t help sneering. “Not iso /itough now, huh? Let’s see how you handle being locked in like a prisoner.”

    Sloane nced around at the servants closing in,pletely unimpressed. “House arrest? Istion? And which one of you thinks you’re capable of enforcing that?”

    Helen was practically shaking with rage. “You arrogant little brat! Jason, what are you waiting for? Get the staff and lock her in her room!”

    Jason frowned and was about to order the servants forward.

    But Sloane moved first.

    In a sh, she took them all down. Three, maybe four seconds–then the hallway echoed with groans.

    “My leg! I think it’s broken!”

    “My eyes! I can’t see!”

    Wesley, pale and trembling, scrambled behind Helen, terrified he was next.

    Jason’s face turned stiff with fury. “Ms. Rivers… you’ve crossed the line!”

    Sloane turned on her heel and walked off, as if the chaos behind her didn’t exist.

    Helen stomped her foot in rage. “You get back here! You think you can just walk away? Madam Mathilda will deal with you!”

    But Sloane didn’t flinch. She didn’t even slow down. She headed straight for the ckhawk Training Camp without looking back.

    When news reached Mathilda, her face went pale with anger. Her cane mmed into the floor. “She’spletely out of control! Does she think there’s no one in this family who can deal with her?”

    Jason stood nearby, his voice low and careful. “Ms. Rivers has crossed the line. Madam, you’ve always treated her well… and this is how she repays you? If she marries into the Hawthorne family like this, she won’t be grateful—she’ll be dangerous.”

    Mathilda let out a cold snort. Her eyes narrowed. “Whether she’s still a Rivers or

    O

    not–that’s up to me. If she refuses to show respect, then she has no one to me but herself.”

    Jason lowered his head, but a glint of something dark flickered in his eyes.