The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 30

Stefan vaguely felt the woman before him looked familiar. The more he looked, the more a figure from his memory surfaced. He said with disbelief, "You are... Eliza?"

"That's right!" Eliza Frost smiled, sitting down across from him, her face beaming. "I stayed quiet earlier to see if you'd remember me. If you hadn't..." She suddenly realized that even if Stefan hadn't remembered her, there wasn't much she could have done, so... her words trailed off.

Seeing this, Stefan couldn't help but chuckle, a warm feeling flickering in his eyes.

His thoughts were pulled back to high school, to that girl in class with long bangs, quiet and gentle. If not for this chance encounter, he would never have imagined that the once reserved young girl had grown into such a tall and striking beauty.

Growing up in an orphanage, Stefan had been determined to study hard from a young age. In high school, his grades were outstanding. Because of this, many classmates came to him for help with their studies, including Eliza. Gradually, the two became familiar.

"After graduating high school, we never saw each other again. In the blink of an eye, several years have passed," Eliza sighed with emotion.

Stefan smiled and said, "They say time is a butcher's knife. But in your case, I'd say time is a beauty filter. Look, it's sculpted you into such a stunning, unforgettable beauty."

A faint blush tinted Eliza's cheeks, and a strange sense of joy bloomed in her heart. She pretended to be annoyed, shooting Stefan a glare. "So, you're saying I was ugly in high school?"

"No, no, don't set a trap for me to fall into," Stefan said with a wry smile, then asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"

Stefan thought that with Eliza's education and striking appearance, she shouldn't be working as a waitress in a small restaurant.

"Oh, this place is my parents'. I help out when I have time," Eliza explained with a smile. Her beautiful eyes blinked. "What about you? What are you doing now?"

"Me?" Stefan said calmly, "I just got out. Not doing much at the moment. Currently... collecting debts."

"Collecting debts?" Eliza was taken aback for a moment but didn't press further. She changed the subject. "You know, many from our class are already married. You must be married too, right?"

Stefan shook his head. "Not married. But... I have a fiancée."

The thug named Leo Edwards chuckled darkly, "Beautiful, what's with the attitude? Dawson has taken a liking to you, told us to take good care of your shop. So, we're just doing our duty, patrolling and protecting with the brothers. Without our protection, how could this restaurant of yours keep running smoothly?"

"That's bullshit! Get out right now, or I'm calling the police!" Eliza's eyebrows shot up as she immediately pulled out her phone.

Amid the commotion, Eliza's mother, Ava Frost, rushed out from the kitchen. When she saw her daughter confronting Leo and his gang, her face instantly turned pale.

"Call the police? Go ahead, make the call! But think about what will happen after you do," Leo said, narrowing his eyes and staring coldly at Eliza, looking utterly unruffled.

"Eliza, don't call. Let's talk this through properly." Ava immediately rushed over, stopping Eliza. Then, turning to Leo with a placating smile, she said, "Gentlemen, please calm down. How about I prepare some food and drinks for you? We can talk properly then."

Ava knew these men were backed by a powerful figure. Calling the police wouldn't solve the problem; it would only provoke them, and their retaliation could mean ruin for the family.

"Ah, the proprietress is here," Leo said with a toothy grin. He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and spoke in a patronizing tone. "No need for food and drinks. I'm here today on Dawson's behalf to deliver a message. Proprietress, you have only two choices today. First, pay the 50 thousand protection fee immediately. Second..."