chapter 056 The Shield

"""Who is it? "Who dares to embarrass me!"" Donald grittedhumiliate me?" Donald's voice was a low growl, his teeth, looking clenched in fury, his gaze as if he wanted to devour someone.

""sought to consume the one who dared to cross him."The Power Group. If I'mmy intuition serves me right, it must beit's Eric, seeking revengehis vengeance on you,""," the manager said.

""replied, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty."It's him! It's him again!"" Donald became!" Donald's rage was so furiousintense that he coughed up blood again.

He was really furious. He didn't know once more. His fury was palpable, and he couldn't help but wonder how his subordinates would seeperceive him after receiving thiswitnessing the video.

"""Eric, I swear, even if you are Sean Williams's grandson, I will tear you limb from limb!""apart!" Donald's eyes flickeredwere ablaze with uncontrollableunbridled anger.

, a promise of retribution etched in his fiery gaze.Meanwhile, Eric was on his wayen route to school when he suddenly received his phone buzzed with a call from Cooper.

"""Mr. Phillips, the video has been sentdispatched. I betwager Donald is furiousseething right now.""," Cooper's voice cameechoed through the phone.

""Great! He brought this upon himself., a hint of satisfaction in his tone."Excellent! He keeps causing brought this upon himself. He continually stirs up trouble for us. He really thinkstruly believes we're easy targets!"" Eric sneered.

prey!" Eric's voice was laced with a sneer.Indeed, the ideaconcept of filming the video was Eric's brainchild, and sendingdispatching it to Donald was his waymethod of badly hurting him.

inflicting a significant blow.Eric now followed only oneadhered to a single principle- "": "If someone doesn't offendprovoke me, I won't offendprovoke them. But if they offend medo, I will exterminateannihilate them!""

!" Donald had repeatedly causedinstigated trouble for him and, even wantedattempting to kill himend his life. Eric hadwas determined to teach him a lesson this time!

""Yes around."Indeed, Donald must be fuminglivid right now. Mr. Phillips, your plan is truly brilliant!""ingenious!" Cooper's laughter came fromechoed through the phone.

, a testament to his admiration for Eric's strategy.After hanging upending the phonecall, Eric felt quite good because he had succeeded in landingwas filled with a sense of satisfaction, having successfully landed a direct hit on Donald.

At that momentBy this time, Eric had already reachedarrived at the school gate.

Standing A tall, striking figure stood at the gate was a tall and beautiful figure.

entrance. The woman hadwas fair skin. She was wearing a-skinned, dressed in a pristine white dress. Her golden-blonde hair cascaded in large waves, and her outfit was fashionable and meticulously chosenselected. She even heldclutched a new LV handbag. Her, her features were exquisite.

Her name was Tina Gory, the most famousrenowned campus belle at New York University.

She was also the epitome of wealth and beauty

. With her stunning looks and wealthyaffluent family background, she was considered perfect in the hearts of many men.

Because of this, she was a goddessthe object of adoration for countless male students at the university.

Of course However, not many dared to pursue her since, as there weren't manywere few who hadboasted a better family background than Tina at New York University.

At this moment, a young man was talking to engaged in conversation with Tina.

Eric knewrecognized him. Everyone calledreferred to him as Royce, and he belonged toa scion of an extremelyextraordinarily wealthy family.

His family owned a chain of restaurants and had a hugevast business empire. Their assets amounted to about totaled approximately 700-800 million dollars. Among otherthe wealthy young men in New York, he was quite formidable.

As far as Eric knew, Royce had been pursuing Tina for a whilesome time. It was a well-known fact inwithin the school.

"""Royce, can you please stop botheringpestering me? I reallygenuinely have a boyfriend now,"" Tina said unhappily.

""," Tina's voice was tinged with irritation."Alright, then tell me, who is your boyfriend? I want to see who dares to steal my girl,"" Royce said arrogantly.

," Royce's voice was laced with arrogance.At that moment, Eric happened to passstroll by them. He could hear, their conversation clearly.

"" audible."It's him!"" Tina said while turning!" Tina's voice rang out as she turned her head, and her eyes metgaze meeting Eric's.

Tina directlyswiftly grabbed Eric and immediately linked, linking her arm with his.

Eric was instantly confused.momentarily taken aback. What was going onhappening? Was the campus belle using him as a shield?

"""He is my boyfriend,""," Tina said, holding ontodeclared, her grip on Eric.

"" unwavering."This guy? Do you think I would expect me to believe that, Tina?""?" Royce sneered.

Then, Royce turned to Eric and disdainfully asked in a mocking tone, "", his voice dripping with disdain, "Tell me, are you Tina's boyfriend?""

?"Seeing this, Tina quickly pinched Eric's hand while continuously giving him signals with , her eyes, as if requesting pleading with him to say yes.

""play along."Think carefully before you speak. Don't sayutter anything foolish. Otherwise, you won't be able to bear the consequences,"" Royce said arrogantly.

""," Royce warned, his voice dripping with arrogance."Uh... I am indeed her boyfriend. Is there a problem?""?" Eric smiled.

Originallyresponded with a smile.Initially, Eric didn't wanthad no desire to get involved in such matters. After all, it had nothing to do with him.

But Royce's earlier dismissive attitude towards Eric and his contemptuous wordsremarks about Eric being poor madehad irked him extremely displeased, so, prompting Eric chose to respond with ""I am.""

affirm his role as Tina's boyfriend.As soon as Eric said thisuttered these words, Royce's face immediately darkened.

"""You dare to admit it! Do you know who I am?"" Royce raised his head.

""?" Royce's voice was laced with incredulity."You are Royce. How could I not know?"" Eric said calmly.

""?" Eric's voice was calm, his gaze steady."Now that you know who I am and still dare to admit it, do you know understand the consequences of opposing me?" Royce's voice was icy."Oh? What are the consequences of going against me?"" Royce said coldly.

""Oh? What are the consequences?""?" Eric asked with, a smile.

"" playing on his lips."Half a year ago, someone openly confessed their love for Tina at school, and the next day, that person becamewas paralyzed. He's still paralyzedbedridden at home, a useless personindividual for life. I'll tell you the truth, I didwas responsible for that!""!" Royce saiddeclared arrogantly.

"""So cruel?"" Eric ?" Eric's eyes narrowed his eyes slightly.

"""Good that you knowunderstand I'm cruel. I'll give you a chance to answer me again. Are you Tina's boyfriend? Think carefully before you reply!"" Royce glared fiercely at Eric.

""!" Royce's gaze was fierce, his voice threatening."There's no need to think. I am Tina's boyfriend."" Eric didn't hesitate at all.I am Tina's boyfriend." Eric's response was immediate, his voice unwavering."You..." Royce's face darkened further, his expression a mask of disbelief and fury.

""You..."" Royce's face completely darkened.

Royce originally thoughthad initially assumed that by revealingthe revelation of his identity and threatening Eric, he would definitely scare away this jerk. But it turned out to be useless, and it only made him angrier. Did this guy look down on him?

Even Tina seemed surprised after hearing Eric's words. She also thought that Eric wouldn't dare to help her anymore subsequent threats would be enough to deter Eric, a seeming interloper. However, his tactics proved futile, only serving to stoke the flames of Eric's anger. He couldn't help but wonder, did this man have no respect for him?Tina, too, was taken aback by Eric's bold defiance. She had anticipated that under Royce's threat, the weight of Royce's threats, Eric would abandon his efforts to aid her, especially considering that they were completetheir status as mere strangers.

WhoAfter all, who would willingly risk their life for a stranger?

"""Royce, did you hear that? He is my boyfriend. I reallytruly have a boyfriend now, so I hopekindly request that you don't bother me anymore,""cease your disturbances," Tina said.

declared.A look of displeasure washed over Royce's face looked unpleasant. After. He cast a fleeting glance at Tina before shifting his gaze to Eric."Very well, await your fate. You will pay for this," Royce sneered menacingly.With those words, he turned on his heel and departed."Tina, may I request that you release me now?" Eric asked, glancing at Tina, he turned his head and looked at Eric.

""Alright, just wait for me. I will make you pay!"" Royce said wickedly.

After saying those words, Royce turned around and left.

""Tina, can you let go of me now?"" Eric glanced at Tina, who was gripping his hand tightly holding his fair hand.

.Throughout the entire timeconfrontation, Tina had been holding onclung to Eric, a strategic move to create an effect.

""enhance their pretense."So many people want to willingly hold onto me, but they never getyearn for the chance, and to hold my hand, yet here you are, urging me to let go.""relinquish my grip," Tina pouted and let go ofretorted playfully, finally releasing Eric's hand.

"""I don't know aboutcan't speak for others, but I'mI simply not interestedhold no interest in you,""," Eric said nonchalantly.

""Not interestedresponded, his tone indifferent."Uninterested in me?""?" Tina wasechoed, taken aback.

AsBeing a typicalclassic beauty from a wealthyan affluent family and the most famousreigning campus belle atof New York University, Tina was very confident in herself.

Tina jokingly said, ""held a high level of self-confidence.She teased, "If you're not interested in me, it could only mean you have an issue with your sexual orientation.""

"".""You're toooverly confident in yourself,""," Eric chuckled and shook, shaking his head.

""Anyway, in amusement."Regardless, I thank you for your assistance today. I never expected you to persist in helping me today. I never expected that you would continue to assist me despite Royce's threats,""," Tina said.

expressed.After pausing for a moment, Tina smiled and said, ""brief pause, she continued with a smile, "We are complete strangers, yet you are willingwillingly came to help me like this.my aid. I can'tfind it hard to believe that you when you say you're not interestedhold no interest in me.""

."In Tina's eyes, the fact that Eric was willingEric's willingness to helpassist her in this situation, even though they were complete strangers, despite their unfamiliarity, could only mean thatone thing - she had charmedbewitched him. She thoughtwas convinced that Eric was attracteddrawn to her because of her beauty.

Eric was left speechless. """You're overthinking it. I helpedaided you simply because I didn't likefound Royce's attitude distasteful. That's all. I'm really not interestedI truly hold no interest in you.""

."Eric didn't expecthadn't anticipated that the schoolschool's beauty, Tina to, would be so narcissistic.

self-absorbed.Of course, she had theevery right to be narcissistic.

.At thisthat moment, Tina openedreached into her LVLouis Vuitton bag and tookpulled out a stackwad of money.

""No matter what the reason is, sincecash."Regardless of your reasons, you helped me,. Consider this is your reward.""," Tina handedsaid, offering the stack of money to Eric.

Eric glanced at it. Thisthe stack of moneybills. It was worth at least ten thousand dollars.

No wonder she was known as a wealthy beauty. SheHer generosity was being extremely generous.

""Sorry,unparalleled."I'm sorry, but I'm not interested. As II've said, I helped you onlysolely because I couldn't stand Royce, nothing more.""," Eric refuseddeclined, refusing to takeaccept the money.

For the Eric of the past, this amount of money would have been a huge sum.

of money would have been a fortune.However, for the Eric of the present Eric, he wouldn't even bother bending down to pick up this amount of money if it fellwere lying on the ground.

"""You don't want it? Do you think it's too little?""?" Tina frowned.

Tina also assessedqueried, her brow furrowing.She took a moment to assess Eric's attire.

In Tina's opinioneyes, this money was mere pocket change for herself, but for someone like Eric, it should behave been a considerablesignificant sum.".