Chapter 180: I Hit Her

Without hesitation, Jared stepped forward. "I hit her!"

The man sized him up, then glanced at Zayne and the others. He barked, "Kid, I might spare you if you fall to your knees and apologize to my wife. Otherwise, none of you are escaping today!"

Zayne, realizing the man assumed they were with Jared, panicked. He waved his hands, denying, "Sir, you've misunderstood! We're not with him. We know him, but we don't know what he did!"

The man looked at his wife, who nodded. "That kid," she confirmed. "He rammed my car and slapped me!"

"Kid," the man said, "we'll settle the car later. For slapping my wife, you might still live if you kneel!"

The man glared murderously at Jared.

Jared chuckled softly. "You all love kneeling, huh? I only kneel for my parents. And you're not worthy."

Stunned, the man thundered, "What did you say?"

He couldn't believe Jared dared to defy him. (The sentence with the website reference has been removed as it is irrelevant and inappropriate.)

"Jared, you're courting death!" Maria shouted.

Zayne smirked. "Just kneel, Jared. We wouldn't laugh, much less tell anyone at the office!"

Lydia echoed sneeringly, "Exactly! Just do it, or you'll be on your knees anyway after we beat you up!"

Jared said to Zayne and Lydia, "Since you like kneeling so much, you two do it."

Zayne snorted. "Oh, so high and mighty! We'll see who's begging later!"

Seeing Jared's defiance, the man's expression turned cold. "You have backbone, kid. But you're unlucky to meet me. I'll change your tune!"

He waved a hand. "Cripple him!"

A dozen men charged Jared. Zayne and the others backed away in terror. Maria was anxious but helpless.

"Stop!"

A roar echoed. The property manager, Mark Ziegler, rushed over with security guards.

Seeing Ziegler, the man, Toby Daniels, demanded, "What's this, Mr. Ziegler? Are you stopping me?"

Mark smiled fawningly. "Do me a favor, Mr. Daniels. Forget this. I'll cover your losses."

They knew each other—a property owner and manager.

Daniels looked puzzled. "Mr. Ziegler, is this kid related to you? Why are you pleading for him?"

Mark glanced at Jared, then whispered, "Mr. Daniels, Mr. Chance lives in the mansion on the hill. He's lived there for a while."

Toby was startled. "Isn't that the Sullivan family's mansion?"

Mark nodded. "Yes. He's connected to the Sullivans!"

Toby eyed Jared again, sneering disbelievingly. "I don't believe it! A pauper like him, driving a beat-up Ford? You're trying to fool me, Mr. Ziegler. I won't help you."

He couldn't believe it. Jared's clothes and car didn't suggest a connection to the Sullivans.