Chapter 17 You Made Your Choice

"If you keep this up, the school's not going to be happy. Your scholarship is on thin ice," Merlin warned, his voice tinged with annoyance.

Moses snapped out of his thoughts, remembering that Dillon was still a scholarship student.

If he truly came from an influential family, wouldn't he have put an end to the daily torment he endured?

"You'd do well to heed his advice," he sneered, fixing a harsh gaze on Dillon.

Dillon, recognizing the tension, reluctantly released the follower's hand.

"Good boy. Now, do what a good boy does and apologize for your earlier insolence," Moses exhaled, satisfaction evident in his tone, thinking Dillon was finally caving under pressure.

With nearly all the students supporting Moses, the odds were stacked heavily against Dillon. Playing along seemed like his best option.

Moses grinned smugly, convinced that Dillon was starting to understand his place.

"Don't test my patience, or it won't end well for you," Moses warned, his patience wearing thin.

Dillon glanced at his watch. His visit to Titanium Corporation was fast approaching.

Noticing Dillon's apparent disregard, Moses seethed and reached out to grab Dillon's arm, but Dillon deftly evaded his grasp.

Dillon stood up, carefully arranging his books as he prepared to leave the classroom.

"You worthless scoundrel! How dare you ignore Moses?" one of Moses' followers muttered angrily, grabbing whatever he could find to strike Dillon.

Merlin intervened with a stern warning, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I did say that standing up to them would get you in trouble. But let me be clear, those consequences don't apply to me."

"If harm comes to you, I'll be expelled from the university and sent abroad for my education. Your name will be forgotten, and no one will remember who dealt with you."

The aggressive follower hesitated, glancing at Moses, who remained silent. He realized he was just one of many vying for Moses' approval and didn't want to jeopardize his chances.

"Smart choice. Now, the rest of you," Merlin pointed towards the classroom's exit. "Disappear before I change my mind."

Most of the students retreated, leaving only those closest to Moses. Among them were four imposing young men who, despite their average appearance, seemed out of place in a classroom setting. Moses had found a way to sneak them in.

"Hey, Moses. Didn't you agree to stop bothering Dillon and I after the guy you hired turned on you back at the hotel?" Merlin suddenly recalled and asked.

Merlin's recollection disrupted the tense atmosphere.

"What's he talking about? We would've known if something like that happened."

"Merlin doesn't lie," another student chimed in. "If he says it happened, it happened."

"You know, I'd heard whispers of this before, but the entire scheme fell apart because the guy hired to do it switched sides. I never thought it was true," Merlin mused.

"That guy just seems to have a knack for luck. He's been taking down some big names for days now. Everyone's dying to know his secret," another student chimed in.

Moses clenched his jaw upon hearing their comments. He'd invested a fortune in keeping this news under wraps, only for it to spill out so carelessly.

"But why is Moses hesitating? Wasn't he here to teach Dillon and James a lesson for the trouble they caused him?" someone wondered aloud.

"Don't tell me he's all talk; that would be seriously disappointing," another student added.

All talk? Moses? Not a chance. He was determined to show everyone why the Lake family was held in such high esteem.

"Boys, if necessary, do whatever it takes," he whispered through gritted teeth to his four companions.

Before everyone's eyes, the four boys reached into their clothing and produced sharp daggers and knives.

Merlin's breath caught as he watched the blades glisten menacingly.

"What's your game here, Moses? Bringing outsiders into the school to do your dirty work? That's a whole new level of weakness. You should be ashamed, especially with a prestigious family name like the Lakes," Merlin said, his lips pursed tightly.

"Watch your words, Merlin. While the Wright family may seem on par with the Lakes in power and influence, there's a significant difference between our families," Moses warned, his tone grave.

Merlin's lazy gaze locked onto Moses's face, his determination evident. The Wright family may appear stronger externally, but they'd recently faced a significant setback due to a poor business deal his father had made.

As it stood, the Lake family could easily bring the Wrights to their knees without breaking a sweat.

"It seems like you rely solely on your family's name. Whenever you're in trouble or need something, you run to them to clean up your mess. Without that name, you're as helpless as the 'p' in psychology," Merlin huffed, cutting through Moses's bravado.

"Of course, I turn to my family when I need help or when they need to fix something for me. They're family, after all, and the only ones who can truly take care of me. I'm not an orphan like your companion here, nor am I from a broken home like you. Where I come from, we have harmony. By the way, does discussing my happy family bring back any fond memories for you?" Moses taunted, striking a sore spot.

Merlin's eyes darkened when Moses mocked him about his family. It was a wound he had carried since his parents' divorce when he was a young boy.

He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening at his sides, a silent reminder of the anger he still harbored.

Moses scoffed and advanced, his voice dripping with disdain, "You really don't know when to quit, do you?"

Dillon, who had been biding his time to intervene and defuse the situation, found himself halted by a provoked Merlin.

"Your composed words won't put an end to this brawl. Go ahead. This guy is far weaker than James," Merlin remarked, briefly glancing at Dillon.

"Let me help. We can resolve this quickly," Dillon offered.

"If you engage in another fight, no one will prevent your expulsion. So go ahead and safeguard that scholarship, even if it doesn't mean much to you," Merlin persuaded.

Dillon nodded with a faint smile and took a step back. "Alright."

Moses seethed, his frustration mounting when he realized Dillon and Merlin weren't taking him seriously.

However, the boys Moses had brought to the school were no match for Merlin, as they lacked the abilities or enhanced strength found in wealthier families.

Moses could only clench his teeth in anger as he watched Dillon leave the classroom at a leisurely pace.

His other followers were hesitant to intervene, knowing that Merlin had Dillon's back.

Dillon exited the school building and hailed a taxi, his thoughts preoccupied with Joel's defection.

After Joel's betrayal, the Lake family had enlisted the services of a man named Castillo Red to target Dillon.

Dillon stared at the message for a moment before replying, urging Joel to prove his loyalty in the current situation.

The taxi came to a halt, and Dillon peered out the window to see a towering building with the imposing letters 'Titanium Corporation' displayed prominently.

He paid the driver, stepped out, and attempted to call Dahmer Wade but couldn't get through.

A familiar, aggressive voice rang out behind him, "You seem to pop up wherever I go! I know you're crazy about me, but we've already broken up. Leave me alone, you destitute orphan!"

Dillon recognized the voice immediately, though he was surprised to find her here. He turned to see Rachel, accompanied by a friend who exuded arrogance and privilege.

Rachel's friend, who had initially shown interest in Dillon, scowled deeply upon hearing Rachel's words.

It was common knowledge that Rachel was previously dating the only scholarship student at Yale University.

According to the rumors, Dillon had struggled to afford a mere $5 meal at the university and had only managed to save face a few days earlier because the eldest son of the Wright family had covered their food expenses.

"So this is the guy who took down James Roderick? I can't believe James let someone like him get the best of him. It's embarrassing," Rachel's friend sneered in disdain.

As always, she found herself growing indifferent to his good looks once she learned of his financial struggles. She wanted nothing to do with someone like him.

"I don't think we should associate with him, Vanessa," Rachel said gently, reaching out to touch Vanessa's shoulder.

Vanessa hailed from a second-tier family, the Brads, which made her an attractive friend for Rachel. With no knowledge of the day's events between Moses and Dillon due to their absence from class, they pondered over Dillon's presence.

"You're right. But what is someone like him doing here?" Vanessa whispered and signaled a nearby security guard who promptly approached, recognizing her as someone of importance.

"I'm Vanessa Brad. My father is one of the managing directors at Titanium Corporation!" Vanessa proudly revealed her identity.

The security guard's demeanor became notably deferential upon hearing this. Vanessa's father could potentially secure him a job or a bonus for assisting his daughter today.

With this in mind, he smiled graciously and surveyed the area. "Is there anything you need, Miss Vanessa?"

"Look at him," Vanessa scoffed, pointing at Dillon. "Does he appear fit for Titanium Corporation? I know the company doesn't discriminate, but what if he were to steal something? Wouldn't the blame fall on you security guards for letting him in?"

The security guard followed her gaze to Dillon, whose attire did indeed contrast with the refined appearance of the two ladies. Considering Vanessa's privileged background, her judgment held some merit.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Miss Vanessa," he replied with a smile before turning to Dillon and adopting a stern expression. "I'm afraid I must ask you to leave."

Dillon, who had remained silent since Rachel and Vanessa's arrival, continued to ignore the security guard and resumed dialing Dahmer's number. When he received no response, he decided to call Brayden instead.

The security guard simmered with frustration and rushed off to summon other guards to assist in ejecting Dillon from the premises.

As the security team left, Vanessa wore a triumphant expression, anticipating Dillon to beg for forgiveness on bended knee.

She waited expectantly, her head held high in disdain. However, her curiosity compelled her to steal a glance at Dillon when he failed to respond.

What she witnessed left her astounded. She had anticipated him trembling, pondering an apology, but instead, he remained engrossed in his phone, displaying no hint of concern.

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She turned to see a swarm of security guards hurrying towards them.

"You made your choice," she muttered bitterly. "You should be grateful that such a beautiful place is going to be your last."