Chapter 28
Seeing Troy standing there petrified, a few of his companions curiously gathered around.
It would have been better if they hadn't looked; upon seeing whatever it was, they all trembled uncontrollably and fell to the ground.
They struggled to get up, but their legs continued to shake.
This was just too unlucky, trying to collect some protection money and ending up with a check from the big boss.
Marcus wanted to take a look, too, but unfortunately, Troy had already handed it back to James.
" Troy, two thousand dollars in protection money is too little for you." At that moment, James stepped forward and smiled at Troy. "Take this check; consider it a little token of our appreciation."
Hearing that the check was for ten million dollars, many bystanders were instantly abuzz, not expecting the son of a coffee seller to be wealthy.
Marcus was also shocked, not expecting James to be so wealthy. Could it be money from the Smith family?
Then, his face lit up with excitement. Troy wanted two thousand dollars in protection money, but James whipped out ten million dollars, which seemed like a no-brainer.
Marcus said enthusiastically, " Troy, my cousin, is offering such generosity; give me a face and take the ten million."
He also glanced at Mary, thinking the Smith family really was loaded.
He thought about how perfect his life would be if he took over the Smith family's fortune and Mary one day.
Marcus was excited, but Troy was stiff all over, his mouth dry, and after a long time, he managed to squeeze out. "Who are you?"
"Troy, he's James, my aunt's adopted son." Marcus quickly clarified James's identity. "The son-in-law of the Smith family."
Troy was shocked at the mention of the name 'James.'
Was this person James?
The next second, he fell to his knees with a thud and said, "James, no, Mr. Williams, we were wrong; please give us a chance."
Troy kept kowtowing to James, tearfully begging for forgiveness.
Although Jacob had kept the sweep of the SH Corporation under wraps, the core members of the business community still understood the battle to some extent.
After all, it was one against a hundred.
Jacob had issued an order throughout the SH Corporation. All members were not to mess with James, and anyone who defied this would be dealt with by family law.
So, the name 'James' was etched deep into the bones of the leaders of the SH Corporation.
Realizing that he had challenged James and combined with the ten-million-dollar check, Troy immediately knew he was wrong.
"Troy, why are you doing this?" James stuffed the check into Troy's hands and said, "Get up and take your protection money."
Troy pushed it back and said, "I can't take it."
"Take it!"
"No, no!"
This scene dumbfounded the stall owners around.
It was their first time saw someone actively offer a management fee, and Troy refused like he was being slaughtered, saying, "Mr. Williams, I really can't take it; I was really wrong."
Troy was about to collapse, slapping himself four times.
He added, "Mr. Williams, I'm sorry, I was blind."
This scene left countless onlookers with shocked expressions.
No one expected the tough Black Troy to be so fearful of James.
Mary was also surprised, looking at James with an added hint of inquiry.
Marcus was completely confused and asked, "Troy, why are you apologizing to a loser?"
Troy slapped Marcus and shouted, "Shut up, how do you speak to Mr. Williams?"
"Kneel right now."
Troy changed his indulgent attitude towards Marcus.
Marcus fell to the ground, his face pale but still resentful. He said, "Troy, he's just a loser. He became the Smith family's son-in-law by luck."
To his shock, as soon as Marcus finished speaking, Troy stood up and kicked him furiously. Then he slapped him twice more.
The force was powerful, and the sound crisp.
Marcus lay on the ground screaming, half of his face swollen.
"Damn it!" Troy forcibly controlled the panic and unease in his heart, saying, "If you disrespect Mr. Williams again, I'll kill you."
The bystanders all around were stunned.
What was going on?
Marcus felt his worldview being turned upside down but still shouted resentfully, "Troy, he's just my aunt's adopted son; you must have mistaken him for someone else."
"Idiot, are you still talking?" Troy shivered and slapped him again. "James is no ordinary person!"
Marcus said, "Not ordinary?"
"He's been with the Williams family for over a decade; I know better than anyone whether he's a loser."
Marcus, covering half his face, shouted defiantly at James, "James, quickly tell Troy that you're the adopted son my aunt picked up. You're the loser who brought luck to the Smith family, not some James. He's mistaken."
"Otherwise, once things are cleared up, you and my aunt will be in trouble."
He was annoyed with James, who was enjoying the show. Troy had mistaken someone, but James didn't step forward to clarify, resulting in him getting beaten up.
Marcus added, "Aunt Michelle, come out and testify for me too; you're not any big shots; speak up."
"You got me hurt; see how my parents deal with you."
Marcus swore angrily, determined to seek justice from Michelle and James.
"Idiot, you're going to get me killed." Troy became even angrier at the words, grabbing a stool and smashing it onto Marcus.
Marcus's two ribs broke.
Seeing James's lack of reaction, Troy rushed over and kicked him several more times.
Blood spurted from Marcus's mouth and nose. He finally realized something was wrong, saying, "Troy, I was wrong, I won't say it anymore, I won't say it."
Troy grabbed Marcus by the collar, whispering inaudibly, "James is a friend of Mr. Davis; this check is from Mr. Davis to James."
"If you want to die, do it yourself; don't drag me and the brothers into it."
Marcus was dumbfounded, unable to believe that James had a relationship with Jacob.
His face filled with reluctance.
Marcus asked, "Is he clinging to Mr. Davis's coattails?"
"Clinging to Mr. Davis's coattails?" Troy was almost grinding his teeth, barely spitting out the last sentence. "Mr. Davis fears him..."
Even though he tried to suppress his emotions, his voice was barely audible, but the last sentence, as if it drained all his strength, made Troy struggle to breathe.
In an instant, Marcus, from excessive shock, stood frozen in place.
"Kneel, all of you." Troy kicked all his henchmen down, neatly kneeling in front of the coffee stall.
"Mr. Williams, you're a magnanimous person; give us a chance," Troy kept kowtowing and begging for mercy, "We won't dare to mess with Ms. Williams and you anymore."
The other thugs echoed repeatedly, "Never again."
Only Marcus had resentment in his eyes; although he was frightened, he was even more defiant.
He could never accept that James, who had always been bullied, was now leaning over him. But he didn't persist any further, or Troy would have stabbed him.
"Give you a chance? Did you ever give everyone a chance?" James looked coldly at Troy and said, "Any slight disagreement over the protection money, and you either beat people up or smash their shops."
"People rely on small trades to feed their families, but you bleed them dry. Have you ever given them a way out?"
The market vendors all cheered in agreement.
Mary looked at James with interest, her usually somber eyes flashing with a rare light.
James stepped forward, the oppressive aura emanating from him growing stronger, making Troy and others feel as if they couldn't breathe.
"Mr. Williams, I'm sorry, I'm a beast, I'm a brute, I won't collect anymore." Troy's forehead was bleeding from the kowtowing. "And I'll return all the money I collected this month to everyone."
Seeing Troy and his gang in such genuine fear, Michelle gently tugged at James's sleeve and said, "James, let it go."
Mary also leaned close to James's ear, saying, "Leave them a way out; the other vendors still need to do business."
James stepped forward, looked at Troy, and said, "Which hand did you want to use to touch Mary?"
Troy, kneeling, trembled all over and bravely stretched out his right hand. "Mr. Williams, this one."
James was calm and said, "From now on, eat with your left hand."
"Understood." Troy's eyelid twitched, then he pulled out a switchblade and, without a word, stabbed it into his palm.
One knife, two holes, blood gushing out!
Many around screamed.
Michelle and Mary turned their heads away.
James kicked Troy over and shouted, "Get out!"
Troy, clutching his bloody right hand, hurried away...
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