“No matter the past or the future, Clive is my brother. That’s not going to change!” Joanna was so furious that her usual icy composure completely fell apart, and her face flushed red.

“If you still want to stay in the Lewis family, apologize to Clive now!”

My cheek burned, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my chest. "Apologize to him? Not a chance! Joanna, even setting personal feelings aside, are you being fair as a leader?

“For the past two years, I haven’t slept more than four hours a day just to close deals. I’ve been running between clients and production lines nonstop. The second an overseas client wasn’t satisfied, I’d get up in the middle of the night to revise proposals. Almost every month, I drank so much at business dinners that I ended up with stomach bleeding. I’ve had three critical condition notices issued.

“And by the end of the year, I brought in 30 million in sales, yet my bonus was only 250 dollars. Meanwhile, Clive sits in his office all day, enjoying the AC and sipping coffee, and his year-end bonus is 800,000 dollars.

“And you still want me to apologize to him? Tell me, on what grounds?!”

Joanna froze for a second, then grew even more embarrassed and angry. “Figures. You’re straight-up broke, and all you ever talk about is money. No class at all. Fine, I’ll pay you out of my own pocket. I’ll give you a 3,000-dollar bonus. That should satisfy you, right?!”

She spoke as though she were doing me a huge favor. I found it amusing.

“No need, Ms. Lewis. You should keep that three thousand and save it for the next sucker you hire. I quit!”

I picked up the box of files on my desk and was about to leave when Clive stepped in front of me.

“Lance, I know you’ve never liked me, but you shouldn’t let your emotions affect your work or lash out at my sister like that.

“Besides… Well, there’s something I didn’t want to bring up. I lost a Richard Mille watch today, and it just so happens that you were the only one who went into my office around that time…” he trailed off, looking hesitant and wronged.

“I know you’re unhappy with your bonus, so maybe you thought you’d help yourself to something from me. If it were any other watch, I’d let it go. But that one was a coming-of-age gift from my sister. It means a lot to me. I’ve always taken great care of it.

“I can give you money of equal value. I’m just asking you to return it, okay?”

He looked humble, but the way he smeared me was anything but subtle.

Watching him put on that act made me sick. “I was in your office for less than five minutes. I didn’t take anything. If you’re going to make things up, at least have some limits. Otherwise, I’ll sue you for defamation!”

Clive turned to Joanna. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled. “Joanna, I’d like to believe Lance didn’t take it, but the security footage on my side shows evidence…”

“I said I didn’t—” Before I could finish, Joanna cut me off sharply.

“Enough! Guards! Search through his things!”

Before I could even say a word in my defense, I was pinned to the ground by four or five burly security guards. The box I had just packed up was overturned, and all my belongings spilled across the floor.

After carefully searching everything, the guards found nothing unusual and shook their heads at Joanna.

Joanna’s expression eased slightly, but before she could speak, Clive let out a soft sigh. “Looks like Lance is pretty professional about this. He knew something like that shouldn’t be hidden anywhere else. It’s safest on his person. But there are so many people here. I can’t bear to have them search you.

“Joanna, maybe we should just let it go? Even though that watch is my favorite, I’ll just go home and cry for a couple of days. It’s not worth humiliating Lance over this…”

As soon as he said that, the last trace of hesitation in Joanna’s eyes disappeared. “The Lewis family has strict morals. We have zero tolerance for thieves! Don’t hold back. Keep searching. Strip him!”

Right there in front of everyone, I was pinned down like a dog. My jacket and shirt were torn off one after another, revealing my upper body—tight, defined muscles and several hideous old scars across my back.

Joanna frowned and asked subconsciously, “How did you get those scars?”

Back when I was in military school, I had been injured saving three classmates who fell off a cliff during a training exercise.

I paid a price for it, but I saved three lives and earned a personal second-class merit award.

Before I could speak, Clive cut in with a sigh, “Joanna, it’d be better not to ask.

“Lance spent years out there, growing up in an orphanage. It’s not surprising he picked up some bad habits and got beaten up after getting caught stealing.

“He’s so proud. He probably doesn’t want to talk about it in front of everyone.”

Before I could even refute it, Clive used the excuse of leaning in to look at my scars and pressed his knee against the back of my neck.

A wave of suffocation hit me instantly. I could not speak, and could barely breathe. Yet Joanna believed him completely. The disgust in her eyes deepened. “No wonder he stole Clive’s watch. He’s got a history! It must still be on him. Keep searching!”

The guards had no choice but to obey and started moving toward my pants. Female employees had already turned red and looked away, while a few curious male coworkers leaned in, pointing and whispering.

“ I didn’t expect it. Lance looks so decent, but he’s actually got a pretty solid build!”

“Heh, no wonder he closed so many deals. Bet he slept his way through rich women. Probably sold his body.”

Joanna did not defend me at all when she heard the mockery. Instead, she looked at me like I had embarrassed her.

“You’re a disgrace, an utter shame! The Lewis family will never shield someone like you. Once the watch is found, I’ll send you straight to the police, and you’ll pay for this!”

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the guards reached for me. At that moment, a stern voice came from the elevator entrance. “What the hell are you doing in broad daylight? Don’t you people have any shame?!”

My father stood there in a perfectly tailored suit. His graying hair combed neatly back, with my mother, dripping in jewelry, right behind him.

When they saw it was me on the ground, their faces showed nothing but shock and disgust. There was not even a trace of concern. After hearing the employees eagerly list off my so-called crimes, the disgust on their faces deepened, along with undisguised contempt.

“Hmph. Figures. Grow up poor long enough, and all you care about is money.” My father shot me a harsh glare and waved a hand at Joanna. “Forget it. It’s just a watch. I’ll get Clive ten better ones later. Get him up!”

Joanna hesitated for a moment. “No! Lance stole the watch I gave Clive. I’m going to find it in front of everyone and clear his name!”

She signaled the guards to continue. The guards had no choice but to obey when my parents did not object. After checking me again and again, they still found nothing and shook their heads.

“Mr. Lewis, Ms. Lewis, we’ve searched him thoroughly. There’s no watch on him.”

At that, everyone in the Lewis family, except Clive, looked surprised—especially Joanna. She stared at me blankly with a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

However, Clive spoke up again. “I know. Lance must’ve hidden it somewhere in the company ahead of time, planning to sneak it out later! We’re already at this point. Lance, aren’t you going to tell the truth?

“I promise, as long as you hand over the watch, I’ll convince Joanna not to hold you responsible.”

As he spoke, pretending to be reasonable, he pressed his knee harder into my neck.

With several guards pinning me down, there was no way I could move at all. The suffocating pressure grew stronger, and my vision started to blur. Still, in my parents’ and sister’s eyes, it only made me look guilty, and too scared to argue.

Joanna trembled with anger. “So this is who you really are, Lance. I thought you just made a mistake at the moment, but you’ve been planning this all along, even hiding the stolen item!

“If you won’t confess willingly, I’ll have you beaten until you tell us where it is!”

My mother glanced at the clock and frowned. “Dr. Collins is arriving soon. Take him to the janitor’s room and question him there. Don’t ruin our guest’s mood.”

My father nodded. “Dr. Collins is a top expert in our field. If we secure a partnership with him, our year-end profits could easily double again. Becoming the richest family is just around the corner for us.”

After Joanna gave the nod, Clive quietly lifted his knee from my neck. As the guards helped me up, he used the moment to drive a punch into my stomach.

Pain exploded through me. My vision went black, and a metallic taste flooded my mouth. While I could not even speak, he clapped his hands lightly and gave the guards a subtle look.

“Have a nice talk with Lance. If fists work better than words, go with fists. You’ll be rewarded.”

The guards got the message. They dragged me roughly into the janitor’s room and tied me tightly to a chair.

“Mr. Lance, we’re all just employees. Why’d you have to be stupid enough to go and piss off Mr. Clive? Now you’re in his hands. He told us to teach you a lesson, and we don’t have a choice but to do it.”

The fake sympathy had barely left his mouth before he slammed a heavy punch into my face.

My head snapped to the side. Stars burst in my vision. Blood filled my mouth, and a few teeth came loose. That was just the beginning. They took turns beating me, each one putting their full strength into it. I curled up in pain. My ears were ringing.

Just as they were about to keep going, hurried footsteps sounded outside. The next second, the door was kicked open.

“Lance, I’m here to save you!”