Chapter 32: Who's the Real Loser?

The live streaming audience kept growing, and the campus buzzed with excitement. Students who hadn't seen Ethan Bear in a while were eager to know what had happened to him. A throng of curious students turned into a parade as they followed the commotion.

Ethan's crew marched with confidence, convinced of their strength in numbers. But when Ethan saw who the opposing group was, his smug demeanor evaporated.

It was Big Jack and his men.

And leading them was Big Jack himself.

"Who claimed to be the king of East Street?" Big Jack's voice boomed like a clap of thunder, silencing the alley.

Ethan Bear, who had once strutted with arrogance, now trembled like a cornered animal. His family may have ruled parts of the underground scene, but they were nothing compared to Big Jack. Ethan had grown up hearing stories of Big Jack's ruthless reputation—he was a true heavyweight.

"Mr. Jack, what brings you here?" Ethan stammered, his voice quivering.

Big Jack's piercing gaze locked onto Ethan. "What area is this?" he asked coldly.

"E-East Street," Ethan answered, barely able to meet his eyes.

"And whose territory is East Street?" Big Jack pressed.

"It's yours, Mr. Jack," Ethan whispered, his head bowed.

"Then why are you here extorting protection money on my turf? Do you take me for a fool?" Big Jack snarled before landing a powerful kick squarely on Ethan's chest.

"Teach this kid a lesson," Big Jack commanded his men.

Chaos erupted as Big Jack's enforcers surged forward. Within moments, the alley turned into a scene of utter mayhem.

Even Big Jack's own men were stunned by the severity of his actions. Normally, Big Jack would handle such conflicts diplomatically, preserving relationships and increasing his influence. But this time, he showed no mercy.

Big Jack wasn't here for Ethan Bear. He was here for Mike Carter.

No one—absolutely no one—was allowed to disrespect Mike.

Mike stood back, watching with a small smile. He could see through Big Jack's calculated decision. The man had clearly figured out who was responsible for the Bear family's downfall and had decided to align himself with the rising power—Mike Carter.

Soon, the alley was littered with groaning bodies, Ethan Bear among them. His once-proud swagger was now reduced to pitiful whimpers.

Students who had been watching from a safe distance cautiously approached the scene, phones out, expecting to capture Mike's humiliation. Instead, they found a beaten and trembling Ethan Bear.

Ethan lay on the ground, mumbling incoherently, "Mike, I was wrong… I was wrong… I'll never mess with you again. I swear, I'll take a different path if I see you."

The spectators were dumbfounded.

What happened here?

Mike and Amelia Song were nowhere to be seen. Neither was Sophia Rivers. The spectators had no idea what had transpired but were left with a vivid image of Ethan Bear's defeated form.

-----------------------------------------------

On the other side of campus, Mike and Amelia were catching their breath. Sophia had practically dragged them to the school's athletic field.

"What are you doing?" Mike asked, still baffled by Sophia's urgency.

"Do you even know who that man was? That's Big Jack, one of the most notorious figures in River Valley!" Sophia scolded, her face pale.

Mike held back a smirk. Of course he knew—it was his "little Jack."

Sophia, oblivious to Mike's connection with Big Jack, continued, "Promise me you'll never go back to East Street. That place is crawling with danger."

Mike nodded, not wanting to argue. Before she left, Sophia said, "We have our graduation party tonight. I'm performing the closing act. Make sure to watch."

Mike gave a casual nod. The graduation party was an exclusive event, attended by only a few students, teachers, and guests. Fortunately, it was live-streamed, so everyone could watch it from their dorms or phones.

As Sophia left, a sleek BMW pulled up. Sophia hesitated but eventually got in. The man driving was none other than the guy who had been trying to impress her earlier.

"Let's go," Amelia said, tugging on Mike's arm.

After packing up the stand and escorting Amelia back to her dorm, Mike finally headed to his car. The thought of relaxing in his villa after a long day brought a sense of comfort.

But as he approached his car, he noticed someone standing next to it.

It was Leila Stewart.

Leila hadn't gone to the graduation party. Instead, she was loitering by Mike's GTR, her expression a mix of annoyance and impatience.

When she saw Mike, she frowned. "What are you doing here?" she snapped.

"What do you think?" Mike replied, confused.

Leila folded her arms. "A guy like you, taking photos with a luxury car? How pathetic."

Mike raised an eyebrow. "Why would I take photos of my own car?"

That response made Leila burst into laughter. "Your car? Oh, Mike, you're delusional. Do you even know what this is? This is a limited-edition GTR! You couldn't afford a single bolt on this car."

Leila's mocking tone didn't faze Mike. He held up his car keys. "I don't have time for this. Move, I'm leaving."

Leila didn't budge. Instead, she pushed him back. "Stay away from my boyfriend's car, loser."

Mike couldn't help but smirk. So, her boyfriend was claiming the car as his own. How ironic.

Before Mike could respond, a man in his thirties approached. He was slightly overweight and carried a briefcase. His thinning hairline gave him a worn-out appearance.

"Finally, you're here, babe!" Leila exclaimed, running to the man's side. "This guy is pretending the car is his. Show him who it really belongs to."

The man, clearly flustered, patted his pockets. "Damn, I must've forgotten the keys."

Leila scowled. "How could you forget something so important? Go back and get them."

The man waved her off. "It's late. Let's not waste time on some random guy. We'll deal with it tomorrow."

Mike decided he'd had enough. He pressed the unlock button on his key fob, and the GTR's lights flashed.

The alley fell silent.

As Mike opened the door, he glanced at Leila and her boyfriend. "Guess we know who the real loser is," he said before driving off.