My Friend, the Fake Rich Kid

---- Chapter 6 The Cost of Betrayal The moment I stepped out, James stood up, plastering a fawning smile across his face. "Rena, are you okay? I should've taught my son better. I'm sorry you had to go through this." His wife chimed in, just as insincere. "Yes, Rena. Daniel's spoiled, but I know you're kind-hearted. Please forgive him." Iooked at them, their fake smiles twisting in my mind, and a hollow laugh escaped my lips. Years ago, when James' business failed, it was my father who lent him a hand, giving him both funding and connections.

Since then, they had shown up at my house every holiday, calling me "Rena'" as if we were close. And now, when their son did something like this, their first thought wasn't an apology; it was how to beg for leniency. Icut them off, lifting my arm to reveal the bandaged wounds. "He burned me with a cigarette and hung me from the jet's landing gear. You call this just being spoiled?" James and his wife froze, their faces tight with embarrassment. He stammered, "This... This kid's really out of line! Rena, don't worry. I'll make him apologize properly.

He'll bow and beg for your forgiveness!" "Apology isn't necessary," my father replied, his tone ice- ---- cold. "James, I helped you back then because I knew how hard you worked. But I never expected ingratitude. Starting today, Vale Group is terminating all investments in the Carter family's projects. You're on your own now." James went pale in an instant. "Rena, for the sake of ten years of friendship... please, show mercy to us this once!" Suddenly, Isabella Bennett, Daniel's mother, tore herself free from the bodyguards and lunged at me, grabbing my pant leg with a fierce grip.

"It's all Daniel's fault. This brat doesn't know anything. I will teach him a lesson for you!" As soonas she finished speaking, she spun, snatched a glass from the table, and slammed it down on Daniel's back. The glass shattered with a sharp crash, spraying shards everywhere. Daniel let out a muffled groan as blood instantly soaked through his shirt. "You ungrateful snake! The Vale family saved us once, and you dare treat Rena like this?" Isabella's eyes were rimmed with red as she lunged at Daniel, twisting and pinching his arm. James moved up behind her and kicked at Daniel's legs.

"What did I do to deserve a son like you? Where's your conscience?" he spat. "If it weren't for Mr. Vale back then, we'd have starved in the streets. And you hung his daughter from a jet? Do you want our family to die out?" ---- His fury built as he spoke. He snatched a metal clothes hanger from nearby and started striking Daniel. At first, Daniel bit down and endured it, but the pain made him curl inward, and tears streamed down his face. "Dad! Mom! I was wrong! I truly know I was wrong!" "What good is admitting you're wrong?" Isabella sobbed, yanking his hair and shoving his head down.

"Get on your knees for Rena. Beg her. Kiss her wounds. If she forgives you, you can drop dead for all I care." Daniel's groveling sounded jarringly loud in the jet's cabin. " Rena, I'm sorry. Please forgive me! I'll never do it again!" When James saw that I didn't respond, he suddenly dropped to his knees before me, tears pouring down his face. "Rena, I beg you. If the Carter family collapses, we'll have nothing. Do whatever you want with us. Just make Mr. Vale withdraw his order." Isabella tore free of the bodyguards and, eyes blazing, lunged at Clara. "This is all your fault.

If you hadn't pushed him to bully Rena, how would we have ended up like this?" Clara, stunned, stepped instinctively behind Daniel. "You're insane. Daniel chose this himself. What does any of this have to do with me?" James shook with rage, snatched the metal hanger he'd been using on Daniel, and swung it down at Clara. "What do you ---- mean it's none of your business? If you hadn't badmouthed Rena in front of him, do you think he'd have dared harm Mr. Vale's daughter?" Clara's tears streamed down her face, but she still pushed back, voice raw. "Daniel wanted to chase me.

He did it of his own free will." "You've got the nerve to lie?" Isabella snapped, slapping Clara hard across the face. "You stripped her and hung her froma jet. How could you be so cruel?" Clara covered her cheek and glared at Isabella. "You'll regret this. My parents won't let you get away with it." "Your parents?" James sneered. He kicked Clara's leg so hard she landed on her knees. "How long do you think your parents ' company can survive? One word from Mr. Vale and your whole family goes under with us. You ruined my family.

Do you expect your parents to have an easy life after that?" Daniel moved as if to shield Clara, but Isabella jabbed him with a vicious kick. "You want to defend her? She's nothing but trouble. If not for her, you wouldn't have betrayed Rena or angered Mr. Vale." Isabella jabbed a finger into Daniel's face. "Worried about her now? Wait until our family is bankrupt. See if she sticks by you then." Daniel stood frozen, staring at Clara's tear-streaked face and ---- then at his parents' furious, reddened eyes. When Clara kept sobbing, James' fury boiled over.

He grabbed a water glass from the table and splashed it into her face. " Shut up! Someone like you is venomous. You deserve to be taught a lesson." Cold water ran down Clara's hair and soaked her skirt. She was humiliated and finally terrified. She fell forward and begged. "Mr. Carter, Mrs. Carter, I was wrong. It was my fault. Istirred Daniel up. Please, spare me. I won't do it again." "Spare you?" Isabella crouched, yanked Clara's hair, and slammed her face into the floor. "If the Carter family collapses, don't expect an easy life.

You liked being the campus queen bee, liked everyone fawning over you. Let's see who cares about you when your parents are ruined."