CHAPTER 19

The Penthouse security guards attempted to intervene, but Adam's heavily armed soldiers swiftly neutralized them. Meanwhile, Adam stood at a distance, his hands casually tucked into his pockets, observing everything going on.

Rhea's eyes locked onto him, and she stormed over, her face twisted in anguish and fury. "Why did you do this, Adam? Why!" she yelled, her voice cracking with emotion.

Adam's smirk was a thin, cruel line. "It's almost... funny," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "how you're the actual cause of all this."

Rhea's eyes blazed with accusation. "So, you're doing all this to get back at me?"

"No, this isn't about you. It's about punishing your entire family. You and your sister's twisted game cost me my mother. And this is just the beginning. I'll dismantle your family's empire, brick by brick."

Rhea's anger boiled over, and she swung a slap at Adam, but he caught her wrist in a lightning-fast move, his grip like a vice. "This isn't the past," he warned, his eyes flashing with a deadly intensity. "I won't hit a woman, but try this again, and you'll regret ever crossing me."

Adam's gaze was a palpable force, making Rhea's knees tremble. She felt like collapsing under the weight of his stare, which sent shivers coursing down her spine. When he finally released her arm, the imprint of his palm remained, with a reddened mark.

Rhea didn't hesitate, turning to flee back to her family, who were still reeling from Stacey's relentless onslaught.

“Let's go, everyone!” Mr. Penthouse bellowed. “But don't think it's over. I'll ruin your lives!” Mr. Penthouse threatened, as he shook his fist.

Stacey mocked them, watching them walk down the road on foot, with the humiliation they'll have to face in public.

“You really have a thing with reading off script.” Adam said from behind her.

“I thought it was time to spice things up. Make it more…interesting.” Stacey replied, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Adam's expression turned cold. “I'll take care of the final act myself.”

Stacey's eyes widened in intrigue. “You're not done with them yet?”

“You know me Stacey, I never forgive those who try to hurt me, I'll stop until I finally bring down the Odias. I must avenge my mother!” Adam said, clenching his fist.

“Whatever is your decision, Lord Adam, I'm hundred percent with you. Just tell me what I need to do next.” Stacey said with a slight bow.

Adam's lips curl into a smile, barely curving one side of his lips. “That won't be needed, it's already in motion and would need neither of our presence. they'll go home and be welcomed by a huge surprise.”

***

The Odia arrived at their mansion, the penthouse also went with them since it was closer and they needed to change their clothes.

"I will annihilate those people! They will pay for this humiliation!" Mr. Penthouse continued to seethe.

Racheal, meanwhile, had cried so hard that her eyes were swollen and puffy.

Rhea, trying to distract herself from the chaos, pulled out her phone to check her notifications. Her heart sank as she saw the I*******m alerts. She hesitated for a moment before opening the app, and her worst fears were confirmed. Pictures of their humiliating ordeal were trending online, with mocking captions and hashtags.

Rhea felt a deep sense of embarrassment and shame as she showed the phone to Racheal. "Racheal, look..."

Racheal's eyes widened in horror as she took in the posts. "No! No...it can't be!!" she screamed, her voice shrill with despair. In a fit of rage, she tore off her wig and smashed Rhea's phone to the floor.

Monica, concerned by the commotion, rushed over to investigate. "What's going on? What did she see on the phone?"

Rhea explained, still trying to process the online backlash. "It was a post on I*******m...about what happened earlier. Pictures of us...of our humiliation.”