Chapter 22: The Reaping

"Aaron?" Marcus sneered. "What the hell are you doing here? Did you follow me? Are you here to beg my father for a job?"

Before Aaron could respond, David Johnson moved fast and slapped his son's arm. "Marcus, shut up!" he hissed. "Show some respect! This is the important guest I told you about!"

Marcus stared at his father like he'd lost his mind, then looked back at Aaron and laughed. "Dad, you've got to be kidding me. This can't be your important guest. This is Aaron Turner. The Prescott family's live-in maid. He's a charity case. Everyone knows it."

He puffed out his chest. "Actually, he'll be losing that pathetic title soon. Grandma Prescott already promised me Sarah's hand in marriage. It's practically a done deal."

Aaron slowly turned his head, his calm expression vanishing. Cold eyes settled on David.

"David," Aaron said quietly, his voice carrying weight. "Is this how you raised your son? To brag about breaking up marriages?"

David started trembling. "No! Sir, please, forgive him! He doesn't know what he's saying! He's just joking around!"

"Joking?" Aaron's voice stayed dangerously soft. "Doesn't sound like a joke to me. Sounds like a plan. He's been harassing my wife for a long time, David. Making advances, insulting our marriage, showing zero character. And now he's talking about promises from her family. This isn't a joke. This is a conspiracy."

David looked at his son with dawning horror.

Marcus, still clueless, scoffed. "Harassing? I was saving her! Sarah will finally be free of this loser and get the man she deserves!"

David lost it. He lunged forward and slapped his son across the face. The crack echoed through the room.

Marcus stumbled back, clutching his cheek. "Dad! Why did you hit me?!"

"Why?" David screamed. "Didn't I tell you not to do anything stupid? Didn't I warn you to be respectful? You idiot! You arrogant, blind idiot! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"He's nobody!" Marcus tried to argue. "He's a worthless—"

David kicked his son's shin hard, making Marcus cry out. "Apologize!" David roared. "Apologize to Mr. Turner right now!"

Marcus looked between his father's twisted face and Aaron's calm expression. He saw the murderous fear in his father's eyes and finally realized he'd crossed a line he didn't know existed.

"I... I'm sorry," Marcus muttered, staring at the floor.

Aaron tilted his head. "Sorry, couldn't hear that. And honestly, even if I could, it's not enough." He stepped forward, making David flinch. "Your son doesn't just lack manners, David. He lacks discipline. He doesn't understand consequences. An apology won't cut it. He needs a lesson."

Aaron's eyes were ice cold. "Discipline him."

David's blood ran cold. "Sir... please. He's my only son. He's stupid, but he didn't mean real harm. I'll send him away. He'll never see your wife again, I promise!"

"That's not your call anymore," Aaron said flatly. "You'll teach him his lesson. Now. Here. In front of me. Or that arrangement that saved your family years ago gets terminated. Your debts come back. Your assets get frozen. Your legacy turns to ash. Discipline your son, David."

David looked at Marcus with tragic despair. Marcus finally grasped how serious this was and started backing away. "Dad... no. Please, don't. I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

But David saw the cold certainty in Aaron's eyes. It was his son's pain or his family's complete destruction. With a strangled sob, he went after Marcus, throwing clumsy punches to his stomach and back, pushing him to the ground and kicking his legs and sides.

Marcus curled up, weeping. "Dad, stop! Please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Natalie stood by the door, silent and unmoved.

After what felt like forever, when Marcus's cries turned to broken sobs, Aaron spoke.

"Stop."

David staggered back, breathing hard, tears streaming down his face as he looked at his son on the floor.

Aaron walked over and looked down at Marcus. "Get up."

Marcus struggled to his feet, his suit torn, his face swollen and streaked with tears.

"Listen very carefully," Aaron said. "First, you go to Lady Eleanor Prescott and tell her you're rejecting her proposal. You tell her you won't be marrying my wife, not now, not ever. Second, you go to my wife and confess you lied about the thirty-million-dollar donation. Make it clear you had nothing to do with it. Third, you never speak to, look at, or come within a hundred feet of Sarah again. If I even hear your name mentioned with hers, I won't be so nice. Got it?"

"Yes," Marcus choked out. "I understand."

Aaron turned to David. "Make sure he follows through."

"Yes, sir. Of course. It'll be done," David promised.

Aaron and Natalie walked out without another word.

---

The next day, a bruised Marcus arrived at the Prescott estate. Lady Eleanor greeted him eagerly.

"Marcus, wonderful to see you! I was just looking at venues for the engagement party..."

"Grandma," Marcus interrupted, his voice flat. He couldn't look at her. "I can't marry Sarah."

Lady Eleanor's smile froze. "What is this nonsense? Did that useless Aaron threaten you?"

"Sarah's a married woman," Marcus recited mechanically. "It's wrong for me to mess with her marriage. I have to respect her vows and her husband." He bowed stiffly. "Please accept my regrets."

Before she could question him, he turned and practically ran from the mansion.

He drove straight to Sarah's company. She was surprised to see him and smiled. "Marcus! What a nice surprise."

He didn't smile back. He stood stiffly in front of her desk. "Sarah... I'm here to apologize."

"Apologize?" she asked, confused. "For what?"

"For how I've acted these past years. For harassing you. For not respecting your marriage. My advances were inappropriate, and I promise it won't happen again." He took a breath. "And there's something else. The thirty million that was put into your company account... it wasn't from me. I lied. I took credit for something I didn't do. I'm really sorry for lying."

Sarah stared at him, stunned. "Then... if it wasn't you, who was it?"

"I don't know," Marcus said quickly. "I have to go."

He left her office without another word, leaving Sarah standing there more confused than ever.