Chapter 397:

“I’ve had enough of your excuses,” Brook thundered, his grip tightening on Jayden’s collar as he tried to yank him from his wheelchair. Failing to move Jayden, as he had failed with his earlier kick, Brook’s eyes blazed crimson with fury. Losing all control, he drew back his fist and struck Jayden in the face.

The punch landed with a sickening thud, snapping Jayden’s head to the side. He grunted, wiped his lips with his thumb, and fixed Brook with an icy stare. He remained silent, his motives unclear.

Fear gripped Corrie. Her thoughts raced; she envisioned Jayden revealing his true self, shedding the pretense of disability. She imagined Brook, all bluster and no strength, defenseless against Jayden’s wrath. She'd noticed Jayden could easily have dodged the punch; a flicker of hesitation had allowed the blow to land. She was certain he was planning something.

Brook’s incandescent rage distorted his face, blinding him to Jayden’s true identity—the formidable head of the Bayzee Group—and the likely retaliation he faced. Debora gasped softly, seeing Jayden’s bloodied lip, and felt a surge of sympathy. Remembering Jayden from his younger, stronger days, she recalled the aura of royalty he exuded, even in a simple black suit.

When Debora went abroad for her studies and heard about Jayden’s car accident and subsequent paralysis, she hadn't given it much thought. She assumed he remained the same, untouchable. Seeing him absorb the punch without retaliation shattered that illusion.

When Jayden was the presumed successor to their grandfather, Debora hadn't considered competing with him, believing the position rightfully his. But now, seeing the former golden boy so vulnerable in his wheelchair, she believed she had a chance, despite his founding of the Bayzee Group.

Brook, still raging at Jayden, suddenly pivoted toward Corrie, his bloodshot eyes fixing on her. Corrie, previously uninvolved, found herself the target of Brook’s redirected anger. Startled, she backed away until her back hit the icy wall. With a placating smile, she tried to calm him. “What’s gotten into you? I haven’t done anything to offend you. Please don’t take your anger out on me.”

Brook lunged forward, grabbing her hair and pointing an accusing finger at Jayden. “Wasn’t he your ex? Do you still have feelings for him now that you see him like this?”

Corrie was speechless. What was wrong with Brook? Biting her lip, she vehemently denied it. “I don’t, and I never did. He’s nothing to me. I love you.”

Brook’s icy stare remained fixed on her, piercing her defenses. Corrie felt her scalp tingle under his gaze as realization dawned: Brook had spiraled into madness.

“How will you prove that?” Brook demanded.

Corrie was exasperated. “How am I supposed to prove it?”

“It’s simple,” Brook replied, pointing at Jayden’s legs. “I heard he hurt his knees in that accident. Go on, kick him there.”

Debora watched in frozen shock. “Brook, this is too much. Jayden’s already crippled, and you’re still tormenting him.”

Brook remained unmoved. “This is between Jayden and me. If you can’t handle it, leave.”

Debora’s voice lowered, disappointment heavy in her tone. “You’ve lost your mind.”

Brook scoffed. “Lost my mind? You don’t know me at all. This is payback for his betrayal. He could have helped me but chose not to. Then he had the nerve to bring up our family rules. I knew he just wanted to humiliate me.”

Recognizing Brook’s instability, Debora sighed, deciding further argument was pointless.

Jayden sat hunched in his wheelchair, his expression blank. His fingers tapped softly on the armrest; beneath his lowered lashes, a storm of danger and sarcasm brewed unnoticed.

Corrie knew she had to prove herself to Brook. She locked her gaze on Jayden, bracing herself. She had to kick him as Brook ordered. If Jayden sought revenge, he could take it up with Brook. She believed he wouldn't resort to violence against women. Buoyed by this belief, Corrie lashed out at Jayden with two swift kicks, taking a perverse satisfaction in the act.

Brook’s laughter rang out. In one swift move, he wrapped an arm around Corrie’s waist, gripped her chin, and forcibly kissed her. The kiss caught Corrie off guard. She concealed her revulsion.

But for Brook, the kiss wasn't enough to humiliate Jayden. He grabbed Corrie's breast and pinched it forcefully, eliciting a cry of pain. Sneering, Brook said, “Jayden, it must suck that your ex-girlfriend treats you like dirt. But now you’re crippled, and everything you had is mine.”

Debora shook her head, seeing Brook's self-esteem thrive on bullying Jayden. In her eyes, Brook was no match for her in any competition.