Chapter 685

At 10 PM, Lawrence left some bills on the counter as he staggered drunkenly out of the bar. His tall frame stumbled into the alleyway.

In his haze, he seemed to bump into someone.

A figure stepped out from the moonlight and shoved Lawrence back forcefully, letting out a mocking laugh. "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Rodriguez! Been a while since you got out of the slammer?

"What a coincidence running into you here!"

Caught off guard and utterly plastered, Lawrence tumbled backward into a ditch. He squeezed his eyes shut, grimacing, before looking up to get a clear view of the face before him.

It was Jesse with a pack of his buddies trailing behind.

"Look at this sorry sight, fellas! The once high and mighty heir of the Rodriguez family. Mr. Rodriguez used to be so arrogant back in the day. But now your family's gone belly up, and you still can't swallow your pride! Remember when I generously offered $30 billion to acquire the Rodriguez Group, just to help you losers scrape by? But how did you respond? By telling me to get lost!"

He let out a wheezy cackle. "Lucky for me, you ended up behind bars for murder! Lawrence, Lawrence...look at you now."

Jesse slammed his foot down on Lawrence's chest in the ditch and tossed over a document. "You didn't value that $30 billion offer before. Well, now I'm not paying a dime. Sign over the Rodriguez Group to me, or I'll make you wish you were dead by morning!"

He sneered at the dazed Lawrence. "What's the matter? Too drunk to bark like the dog you are? Maybe letting my boys rough you up first will loosen your tongue before you sign."

Jesse's crooked teeth showed as he roared with laughter, his posse joining in the raucous jeering.

"Jesse, the Rodriguez family is nothing now. I heard they even had to move out of their estate!"

"That's right, for you to even consider acquiring them is already a kindness."

"Can you imagine? We're not even worthy enough to look Mr. Rodriguez in the eye normally."

Jesse bellowed again, "But now you get to see him poor and pathetic!

"Not just see him! You can beat him until he signs! Everybody get him!"

His crew closed in, some with knives, others gripping makeshift clubs, all converging on the ditch where Lawrence lay.

Lawrence staggered up from the muck, his breath ragged, his vision a blur. He could barely make out how many people were closing in on him.

Within moments, a dozen or more figures brandishing sticks and knives were closing in for the attack.

His crimson eyes burned with fury as he lifted his legs, kicking and pounding at anyone who came too close. At first, he managed to knock several attackers down.

Jesse, watching the scene unfold, realized something was terribly wrong. Despite the supposed weakness from Lawrence's time in prison, he was holding his own against the onslaught.

Jesse thought, 'Was Rock lying to me? Have I been misled about Lawrence's condition?'

Jesse's unease grew. He had come for revenge, but deep down, he knew who Lawrence was-once a titan in business and formidable in a fight. Rock's threats and Ronnie's pressure had pushed him into this. Jesse was desperate to acquire the Rodriguez Group and claim credit with Ronnie, and he also had a personal vendetta against Lawrence.

As he quickly reviewed Rock's instructions, a scowl crossed Jesse's face. He cursed loudly, waving his knife and rallying his gang. "Surround him from the back! He's drunk and vulnerable! Go for the kill!"

He sneered down at Lawrence, his voice dripping with malice. "Lawrence, I heard you've become a complete wreck. What's this act of toughness? Still thinking you're a man? Ha! If I were you, I'd be too ashamed to go on living.

"You ruined your family's company. Your best friend Jeremy's missing because of you. And Winnie, the woman you loved? She probably hates you with a passion now. At this very moment, she's probably with another man in bed. What can you do about it? Just watch and suffer.

"You're nothing now. What's the point of you even fighting back? You're useless, a joke."

Lawrence's expression stiffened, his powerful arms momentarily frozen. Then Jesse delivered a brutal kick to his knee from behind.

Lawrence's long legs buckled, and his once handsome face paled as he collapsed to the ground. The buzzing in his ears drowned out all other sounds.

His mind was consumed by Jesse's cruel taunts. "You ruined your family's company. Your best friend Jeremy is missing. Winnie, the woman you loved, now despises you, probably with someone else at this very moment."

All he could think was, 'What can I do? I can only watch as Winnie becomes someone else's wife and Jeremy remains lost. It's all my fault. My negligence led to all this. I'm reaping what I've sown, paying for all the times I hurt Winnie.'

As a fist flew towards him, he could have easily dodged it.

But for some reason, he felt no urge to move. Perhaps only pain would distract him from the relentless ache in his heart.

Yet, his sharp, hawk-like eyes remained fixed on Jesse, burning intensely. He asked coldly, "How did you know I would be here? You don't even know me that well. Was it Rock who told you?"

Jesse hesitated for a moment before landing a heavy blow to Lawrence's handsome face.

Lawrence, now a heap on the ground, was covered in mud and water.

Self-mockery crept into his thoughts. Let it end here. He had made so many mistakes, losing her. There was no longer any point in a mere existence, especially not as a man who had become incapacitated.

Seeing Lawrence motionless, Jesse kicked him, spat on him, then turned to retrieve a contract for the company takeover.

On the other side of the alley, a BMW was parked outside the restaurant. Today was a high-level gathering for the Blanchet family, and Winnie, newly appointed as a junior director, was attending an important departmental event. She had asked Lysander to reserve a table, and after the employees had their fill and left, she was about to return to the private room to fetch her clothes.

Suddenly, she heard a commotion coming from the alley. She stopped, frowning, and glanced over.

After the rain, there was a large mud puddle at the intersection, and now, it seemed to be where a man was lying. A dozen people were kicking and beating him; a glint of steel caught her eye, which seemed to be a knife.

Winnie immediately pulled out her phone to call the police but stopped when she noticed a familiar, tall figure on the ground.

Though the distance was some, it was hard for her to discern exactly who it was. Automatically, she started walking towards the alley.