CHAPTER 10

The crowd went silent when they heard Tedmond’s words. Who would have thought the arrogant Kyle would lose to the so-called loser of college and have to become his slave?

“We made a deal,” Tedmond muttered. “You can’t go back on it. From now on, you’ll listen to me and do whatever I want.”

Kyle’s teeth gritted. He had never been this humiliated in his entire life.

“Do it!” the crowd yelled.

"A deal’s a deal—it must be upheld!"

"Don’t back out now!"

Kyle’s eyes darted to Max, who shook his head, before turning back to Tedmond.

“Master,” Kyle said, forcing the words out in a barely audible whisper.

“I can’t hear you,” Tedmond taunted.

“Master!” Kyle yelled, his body trembling slightly as embarrassment overwhelmed him.

Tedmond’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Now that you’ve called me master and have become my slave, go get me a milkshake,” he ordered.

Kyle’s teammates looked on in surprise, but Kyle turned to one of them.

“Go get the milkshake like he asked,” he ordered.

The teammate hesitated, and Kyle glared at him.

“I meant you,” Tedmond said, poking Kyle in the chest. “Do it yourself.”

Kyle glared back, his anger rising. “Don’t—” he started but stopped, his fists clenched.

Tedmond arched his brow. “What?”

“No need. I’ll get the milkshake,” Kyle muttered, spinning around and storming off.

“Think he’ll do it?” Liam asked.

“Yes,” Tedmond replied.

In less than five minutes, Kyle returned with a milkshake and handed it to Tedmond.

“Good job,” Tedmond muttered. “I’ll see you later, Kyle.” He turned and walked off with his team, sipping the milkshake.

“How do you know it’s not poisoned?” Oliver asked, glancing at Tedmond.

“It’s not,” Tedmond reassured them. “Poisoning me would be too easy.”

“Still,” Liam began, “I couldn’t drink something he touched.”

Tedmond smiled. He hadn’t expected to gain friends so quickly, but now, he had four—the same people who once wanted nothing to do with him.

“Want to join us for dinner later?” James invited. “It’s at a restaurant that’s trending at school right now.”

“What time?” Tedmond asked, remembering his promise to Bianca to be home by seven.

“Nine,” James replied. “It’s kind of late, but since you’re not at home anymore, are you thinking about moving to the dorms?”

“We have space for one more roommate,” Noah added. “You could apply to join us.”

Tedmond shook his head. Even if he had nowhere else to go, he couldn’t afford a dorm on just $1—at least not without the inheritance.

“No, I have a place to stay,” he said. “But I’ll join you for dinner at nine.”

Night fell quickly, and soon it was time for Tedmond to leave for dinner. After putting Bianca to bed, he headed out, only to be startled by the butler standing outside his room.

“You scared me,” Tedmond said.

“My apologies, young master,” Thomas replied. “I just wanted to inform you that your card has been created. You seem to be going out, so I thought you might need it.”

Tedmond took the card with a curious look, noting his initials: T.J.W.

“I’ve also contacted your school,” Thomas added. “Griffin has been removed from your name, and you’re now officially listed as Julius Washington. I hope you’re okay with that?”

“I am,” Tedmond said. “Thanks for your help, Thomas.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

Tedmond smiled at the butler before walking past him and leaving the mansion.

A little later, Tedmond arrived at the restaurant, easily spotting his friends waving at him. He walked over and took the empty seat they’d saved.

“Hello,” he greeted, and they all replied in kind.

“We thought you weren’t coming,” Liam said.

“So did I,” Oliver added.

As they chatted, Tedmond looked around the restaurant, noting how grand it was. He could tell the meals were expensive, and he would never have dared enter such a place in the past.

Then someone sat down at a nearby table, and the relaxed expression on Tedmond’s face vanished. The people seated next to them were none other than his siblings and Lisa.

‘Why do I keep bumping into them?’ he thought, rolling his eyes and looking away.

Just as he turned, Maxine noticed him and whispered to her brother.

“He’s here,” Maxine said. “Is that why we couldn’t find him in the streets?”

“Maybe he’s staying with those four,” Max replied.

Lisa shook her head. “I asked around at school today. He’s not staying in the dorms with them. What are we going to do? We need the necklace.”

At the mention of the necklace, Max stood up. “I’ll handle it.”

Without hesitation, Max approached Tedmond’s table and leaned close to his ear. “Come with me—we need to talk.”

Tedmond looked up, glaring. “What do you want? Say whatever you have to say here.”

Max’s face twisted with anger. “This is a family matter. I’m not discussing it in front of a bunch of strangers.”

Tedmond glanced at his friends, who were all glaring at Max. As expected, they were on his side.

“They’re my friends,” Tedmond responded. “You’re the outsider here. Why would I care about anything that concerns your family?”

Max’s blood boiled. “Is this how you speak to your elder brother?” he spat. “I only came to help. You’re being taken advantage of. They’re just leeching off you, pretending to be your friends so you’ll pay for dinner.”

He sneered, his voice rising. “I’m sure they have no idea you’re just the child of a maid, with no money to your name.” His tone was taunting and loud enough to attract attention.

Tedmond felt like he’d been punched in the gut, his anger surging. How dare Max insult his mother?

“Your mother was so poor she gave birth to you in the streets after being kicked out of the family. You belong there, on the streets—where you came from,” Max continued, leaning closer, trying to intimidate him. “If only she hadn’t birthed a bastard like—”

Before Max could finish, Tedmond grabbed his head and slammed it against the table. It happened so fast, that no one saw it coming.

With his eyes dark and his hair tousled from the swift movement, Tedmond hissed, “Don’t you dare talk about my mother like that.”