Chapter 20

The crowd gasped as they realized the thugs showed no concern for the Fields family.

Baldy snarled, “I hate showoffs like you! Let’s see how tough you really are. Boys, teach him a lesson!” The gang immediately attacked Shawn, kicking and stomping him mercilessly.

“Stop it, you bastards!” Shawn screamed, his bravado vanishing. “Stop! Or I’ll make you all disappear!” His threats quickly devolved into pitiful pleas. “Please, stop! I’m begging you! You’re going to kill me!”

Shawn’s face was a bruised mess, his nose broken. A vicious kick to his groin caused excruciating pain, leaving him questioning his future ability to father children.

Christina stepped forward, her face ashen. “You thugs! What gives you the right to beat someone like this?”

Just as she moved to shield Shawn, Baldy ordered his men to stop. He sneered at Shawn’s battered form. “Your pathetic Fields family is nothing to Mr. Garner. Got it? Since you claim a stake in the orphanage property, you’re coming with us to see the boss. Grab him and the girl!”

Trembling, Shawn asked, “Wait… When you say Mr. Garner, are you talking about Mr. Dylan Garner, the South City crime lord?”

Baldy grunted in affirmation. “It’s too late to realize who you’re messing with! Take him and Christina away!”

Irene and the barely conscious Leroy watched in terror, too afraid to intervene. These men were ruthless and clearly disrespected the Fields family; their courage had evaporated.

Shawn's demeanor suddenly shifted. “Wait! I have something to say,” he pleaded. “That orphanage property has nothing to do with me. Just leave me out of this.”

Christina, Irene, and Leroy stared at him in disbelief. Shawn, however, no longer cared. To hell with everything, he thought. If I can't save myself, nothing else matters.

He grabbed Baldy’s leg, begging, “I’m being honest. The land is in Stevens Corporation’s hands. Neither the Fields family nor I had anything to do with it.”

Baldy chuckled. “Weren’t you just bragging about helping her acquire it? You seemed pretty proud of yourself then.”

Shawn forced a laugh. “I was just boasting. I don’t have that kind of influence. Mr. Garner must want the property, right? Go after Stevens Corporation and Christina. They have it. The Fields family and I are completely uninvolved.”

Irene gasped. “Shawn, what are you saying? Didn’t you help Christie get that property?”

“Shut up, you old hag! Don’t pin this on me!” Shawn snapped, then turned to Christina. “I’ll come clean, Christie. The Fields family had nothing to do with getting that property. It wasn’t me.”

Christina’s face paled. “So… Andrew was right all along? I’ve wronged him…”

She frantically searched the room for Andrew.