The Unshackled King (by David Wu) novel Chapter 71

Britton swallowed hard, then finally bothered to look at Stefan. Recognition flickered across his face. "Wait—you're that... Stewart family live-in son-in-law? Yeah, that's you! The one everyone's been talking about. So you're the guy."

Christy blinked. "He's connected to the Stewarts? Does that mean—"

"Relax." Britton's tone turned mocking. "He's an ex-con. Got out a few days ago. Lucky break, that's all—landed himself an engagement to some Stewart girl." He waved a dismissive hand. "Doesn't matter anyway. Even if he marries into the family, the Stewarts wouldn't dare cross my father."

The mall fell under the Marevia Consortium. Britton's father sat on the board, handling River City operations. And the Chamber? They were a monster. Only the Dragon Sea Chamber of Commerce could even compete with them in the whole province.

So no. Britton wasn't scared of the Stewarts. And this ex-con? Please.

Christy relaxed, a nasty smile spreading across her face. "An ex-con! That's priceless. No wonder he's causing trouble in a mall. Some people never change. They should've kept you locked up."

Stefan ignored them completely. Turned to Amy. "Ring it all up. We'll take everything."

Eliza's eyes went wide. "No—Stefan, absolutely not. One dress. Max."

Stefan just smiled, "It's fine. Maybe a few hundred thousand total. Nothing serious."

Britton's eye twitched. He'd stormed in here ready to tear someone apart, and this guy was acting like he didn't exist. Worse—he was showing off in front of that girl.

"A few hundred thousand? Big talk for an ex-con." Britton's voice dripped contempt. "Where's a guy like you getting that kind of money?"

"Not your business."

Stefan didn't even look at him.

"That's the way it works." Britton's smile was slow, cruel. "You're nobody. Just some regular people with no power, no connections. And people like us?" He gestured at himself. "We run things. You exist to take what we give you. Fight back? You'll learn real quick that's a bad idea."

He glanced at Stefan, lip curling. "This ex-con loser assaulted my girlfriend. Clear as day. One call to the cops, and he's back in prison for years." He let that hang in the air. "Unless..."

Eliza's heart dropped. "Unless what?"

Her mind raced back to the Dynasty Club. She'd seen Stefan fight—seen him take down dozens of men like they were nothing.

But this was different. This wasn't thugs in a club. This was the system. The law. You couldn't punch your way out of handcuffs.

No matter how strong you were, what could you do against police? Against the military? Against the kind of power people like Britton's family had? You couldn't fight that. You could only break against it.